OT: Phantom Smells/Odors

Something odd that I have been experiencing on an off since surgery, and still experience every once in a while...

Out of nowhere, I suddenly start smelling a burned plastic smell. It smells like when something plastic falls to the bottom of the dishwasher and gets melted by the heating element, or that wax smell of a just snuffed candle.

I did some research online, and there isn't much information, and most people smell phantom "smoke" and a few people a "chemical" smell and one or two mentions of my plastic/wax smell.

Possible causes? No definite answer but several sites mention a brain tumor!

I just wondered if anyone else here ever experienced something like this post surgery or if I'm alone.

I doubt this will help, but I used to smell burning plastic periodically in my home. Turns out a piece of plastic had somehow got sucked into the furnace, and was melted inside it. The smell came when the heat kicked on.

Just thought I'd share...

Right, but this happens everywhere...I was at the grocery store the other day and smelled it for about 2 hours while out and about. :)

I do think I smell a little of that but I attribute it to be the expelled fat/oil but I dont remember why I decided that was the source . .

When I used to get migraines (either the DS or menopause cured them), I would get olfactory auras.  For me, it was usually the smell of baby puke - slightly sour milk.  Occasionally something else (burning insulation?).  And then I would usually get a migraine.

Maybe they are aborted migraines.

 are you taking nsaids?

Nope. I did once, and Diana will kick my ass if I do it again.

I have always thought of it as the smell of burning rubber or old rubber, like old rubber tubing.  I first smelled it about 1 or 2 days after surgery, and at first I thought my brain must have fixated on whatever sort of tubing they used to help you breathe during surgery. When i got home, I noticed that I smelled if very strongly when I went to the bathroom, so then I thought it was anesthetic still coming out of my body.  I finally realized that it was the smell of the rebber/plastic used on a toilet seat that I bought to use temporarily after surgery so that the toilet seat is higher up, and its not so difficult to get up from a lower seat.

Then, everytime I went out to my car and opened the door I would smell it pretty stronly again.  I finally realized that it was my tires.  I had never noticed that smell before surgery, but now I always notice it when I get in and out of my car.  I also smell it when I sit on our leather sofa, and just a couple of days ago I realized that it is probably the rubber foam in the cushions. 

But you are right, sometimes it seems to go away for a while and then it comes back again.  I am surprised to hear that you are still smelling it, as far out as you are.  I lalways figured it was just a temporary thing following surgery.

For the past couple of months I have been smelling that same phantom wax smell like a candle has been snuffed out. All of the posts I see are about brain tumors, but I will not overly worry about such a thing, it is in Gods hands but I will get checked out when I can.