Phantosmia During Perimenopause—Cigarette Smoke Smell?
Hi everyone,
I'm 44 and recently entered perimenopause—ugh, even the word makes me feel ancient! I've always been in good health, but this transition has brought on a slew of strange and unexpected symptoms.
One of the weirdest? Phantosmia—smelling something that isn't actually there. For me, it's cigarette smoke. It's so strong that if I closed my eyes and you said someone was chain-smoking next to me, I'd believe you. My nose even starts to burn as if it's real. Of course, I couldn't hallucinate something pleasant like fresh cookies—nope, it had to be cigarette smoke!
I was surprised not to find anything on Earth Clinic about phantosmia, especially since a few doctors in my women's health groups say perimenopause is still under-discussed, especially compared to menopause.
It went away for about two months, and I forgot about it... until it came back a few days ago. Now, when I'm sitting at my desk or idle, it's like someone is lighting up in my office. But when I get up to clean, cook, or move around? Nothing. It only seems to happen when I'm still.
To cope, I use a little Maty's Vapor Rub on a Q-tip just around the outside of my nostrils. It clears the smell for maybe five minutes, which feels like heaven while it lasts.
Has anyone else experienced this?
Any remedies or suggestions are welcome—especially if they last longer than five minutes!
