Re: my baby...smelling sensitivity

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

This is really strange for me to say, but I hardly remember anymore

what we did to overcome the smelling sensitivity. Funny, because

it was so all consuming at the time. I do know that we did lots of

exposure to strong smells in a safe setting. For example, while with

the therapist, was given a towel that she could use for wiping

her dirty hand after touching something offensive.....or put the

towel to her nose if a smell was too strong. Usually, in therapy,

the smell and touch things were one and the same; for example, the

shaving cream.

At home, suntan lotion was a real challenge. Again, it is a mixture

of smell and touch. But for that, actually came up with her

own coping mechanism. She holds her favorite stuffed animal, Olive,

to her nose while I put it on. Towards the end of the summer last

year she said, " Look Mommy, I don't even need to smell Olive anymore "

On recommendation, we used scented lotion on her legs and feet. In

the beginning, this always produced a retch....slowly it stopped.

The therapist also encouraged us to light scented candles in the

house. We did it for a little while, but neither my husband nor I

like those either!

It is not uncommon for her to tell me she doesn't like how I smell

right after I get out of the shower! Also, if I put my hand near

her face...for example, to clean her face with a washcloth, she

sometimes says she doesn't like how my hand smells. I used to take

it personally, but I'm slowly getting over it!!!

She still has sensitivities like this, but they are no longer as

extreme....and almost never cause her to retch.

Not sure this is very helpful....it's all I can recall.

Irene

Mom to ...still very curly but growing her hair out in futile

defiance! Also just measured at the endo. today!! A whopping 34

pounds and 41 " at 5 years old.

> In a message dated 6/1/2002 10:15:46 AM Eastern Standard Time,

> walborsky@a... writes:

>

>

> > And her

> > other senses also were addressed...tactile and smelling. (For

> > example, she would gag and vomit if she had to touch shaving

> > cream.) There's a lot to it.

>

> Irene,

> I tried to write to you directly awhile back but the email

just came

> back to me. Thanks so much for your comments re: testing. It was

a comfort

> to know that Dr. Crawford didn't test prior to Gh either.

> As for the above. I was wondering what you guys did/learned

about

> overcoming smell issues. This is something that I have always

believed

> effects . Thanks.

> Hope is doing well and enjoying the coming of summer.

Does she

> still have her curls?

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Irene,

Thanks for thinking back. It is always comforting for me to remember

today that things that are such a big deal will one day be nothing probably

more than a distant memory. Your email struck me of this. And for all you

new mothers and fathers out there facing new diagnosis.....it does get

easier. Just like the Magic description says...your children will grow.

They will walk and talk one day. The battle over every bite or morsel of

food will ease. The pain and confusion will lessen and the joy increase. It

happens!

As for the smell thing. Jessie is funny. She definetly has likes and

dislikes. She has a monumental memory when it comes to smells as well. This

smells like Nana's house. This smells like the soap at school, etc. She

also will comment I don't like how " it " smells. Fill in the blank!!! The

reverse is also true. Mommy I love how new shoes smell (new leather) or oooh

that smells good ....gasoline! eeks. It does apply to foods too. She will

not even taste many many things. I pick my battles and so don't force

trials, my hope being that one day....... But she doesn't retch and it is

easing up so I count my blessings. I just know that something is " different "

about her sense of smell. Thanks for your imput. I always enjoy your

emails.