[CChick]

Hi all PsychCentralites!

I have a question.

My friends Nanna has been suffering lately from smelling a strange smell.
She complains that it is a very strong and nasty smell.
She can't find the source, and others who come to here house can't smell it.
She convinced that someone is messing with her mind by sneaking around and putting bad smells around her house.
So she's decided to sell the house she's been living in for the past 50years (her late husband built it) to escape the perceived harassment.

Her family are quite upset by it.

She also went for a holiday to her daughters place and noticed that the smell came too. So to some degree she knows that it's in her head, but she's got her mind made up on moving house anyway.

What do you think she has???
Have you ever heard of this type of complaint?

First thought was schizophrenia, but being 80, she's well out of the 25-35 year old onset range.
Then I thought Delirium, but that's more of a confused reality, not a faulty sensory complaint.
Also I think it would be really hard to test for synesthesia, as she's so old and this type of thing hasn't occurred before.

What do you think????

[serafim_etal]

We can't diagnose the problem here...or really even online, but my advice would be to have her see her primary care physician. This could be something as simple as a sinus infection...quite literally the smell could be in her head (upper sinuses).

[Rhiannonsmoon]

Though we can not diagnose there are other possibilities that may need to be checked Epilepsy brings with it olfactory hallucinations as does schizophrenia

Sinus infections usually bring with them a swelling around the eyes and cheeks close to the nose and headaches and throbbing behind the nasal cavities and eyes

There are some types of mental illness that are late onset and are typical to older age groups I hope your friends Nanna is alright any one of the conditions here is treatable

Heleni

[FooZe]

Just to show how wide the range of possibilities is:

When I was 12 or so I happened to be hanging around a sandbox with some other kids and somebody started throwing sand. I eventually managed to extricate myself from the battle and brush myself off, but for the next half hour or more I'd randomly smell something like coffee roasting. I asked my family if they smelled it too but they just looked at me like I was crazy.

It was only after a good deal of nose-blowing that I managed to free myself of the smell. I'm pretty sure I'd gotten some sand in my nose and whatever was mixed in with it was working havoc on my smell receptors.

I think serafim's suggestion, getting her nose and sinuses checked, is well worth considering.

[Princess_Obsidian]

Greetings,

Perhaps a medical professional could truly assist you.

Have a good one.

[Melbadaze]

I use to smell things when I was pregnant, oh but wait a minute....

[ECHOES]

I hope you can convince her to see a good geriatric medical doctor to rule out something physical, such as sinus problems. She may very well be smelling something real, but something that comes from within her.

Since she noticed the smell somewhere besides her home, I hope she can see that selling her home may not bring her any relief.

Maybe there is some metaphorical aspect to it as well? Perhaps she wants to not have to have a house to take care of at her age, would like to have a flat instead. But she might feel guilty or worry about making her family angry to not want the house that her husband built. Perhaps life in that house 'stinks' and she wants a change?

[CChick]

Thanks for the insight guys,

I wasn't looking for a diagnosis, but just trying to get ideas.
I'm a 3rd yr psych student, which is probably why my friend asked me in the first place...
I told him I couldn't give diagnoses :P
But the symptoms had me baffled.
Been searching through my books etc but finding nothing.

Originally Posted by ECHOES

I hope you can convince her to see a good geriatric medical doctor ...

Have told my friend that this is the best option.
It's so sad that people can have the misconception that people 'lose their marbles' when they get old.
Especially when some conditions are treatable/reversible!

Originally Posted by ECHOES

Maybe there is some metaphorical aspect to it as well? Perhaps she wants to not have to have a house to take care of at her age, would like to have a flat instead. But she might feel guilty or worry about making her family angry to not want the house that her husband built. Perhaps life in that house 'stinks' and she wants a change?

Great point!
My first reaction was, are you sure she's not making it up to get out of the house?

Thanks again.

[lonegael]

A student of my father-inlaw's had very similar symptoms and thought she was overly sensitive to cleaning chemicals. It turned out to be a brain tumor. Please advise your friend to get that checked right away, it could be any number of things, not just her imagination or even an halucination. HUGGSSSSSS and my best wishes to her.

[lynn P.]

Could be dementia or beginning alzheimers. Also could be what the others mentioned about sinus problems. Sometimes people who have layers get fungus skin infections and don't forget stinky feet/fungus infection.

[donut]

Hi

Could be anything as others have mentioned. I suffer with olfactory hallucinations quite a bit. Mine are often associated with migraines. Good idea to get a check up from the doc!

[ivyblessed]

It is an interesting story.. you got some great advice here

[kikki27]

Originally Posted by CChick

Hi all PsychCentralites!

I have a question.

My friends Nanna has been suffering lately from smelling a strange smell.
She complains that it is a very strong and nasty smell.
She can't find the source, and others who come to here house can't smell it.
She convinced that someone is messing with her mind by sneaking around and putting bad smells around her house.
So she's decided to sell the house she's been living in for the past 50years (her late husband built it) to escape the perceived harassment.

Her family are quite upset by it.

She also went for a holiday to her daughters place and noticed that the smell came too. So to some degree she knows that it's in her head, but she's got her mind made up on moving house anyway.

What do you think she has???
Have you ever heard of this type of complaint?

First thought was schizophrenia, but being 80, she's well out of the 25-35 year old onset range.
Then I thought Delirium, but that's more of a confused reality, not a faulty sensory complaint.
Also I think it would be really hard to test for synesthesia, as she's so old and this type of thing hasn't occurred before.

What do you think????

It sounds like bipolar

[planetjanka]

Definitely start with a primary care physician, it does not have to be anything psychological, as people mentioned before, could be a neurological disorder, like a series of small strokes...

[Lillyleaf]

It reminds me of scizophrenia, or dimentia, but there isnt a point to a dix. I think... Try to have them go get help before it gets worce or they can get into trubble... Just be there an be supportive as a friend your job is to help them become safe and get help. and then dont juge and just be there for them. I hope you are well and things get better.!

[Miss.psychology]

personally i have beliefs that concern this that many would call a dulsion. i believe in earthbound spirits or ghosts and visits from the other side i also believe in demons that look for weekness and follow it i have smelled a funny smell or 2 that had no source when i was dealing with recruiting followers for a perticular demon evacuation. but at all times i have jesus by my side. so it could have been anything from a loved one to my own mind. but if i were to guess this 80 year old woman wasn't deling with demons then i would say schizophrenia a dulsion most likely. kinda like my demon evacution was prob a dulsion. lmao sorry no help here.