Re: Heightened sense of smell is driving me crazy!

March 6, 2004

I am 4 days post op (upper/lower) and have TOTALLY noticed the smell

thing! My orthodontist sent me flowers and I had to have someone

move them to way across the room because the smell totally bugged

me! My aunt brought me tulips & a couple magazines (that

unfortunately had perfume cards in them) and I had to move the

tulips right away and then could not figure out what else was

smelling until I realized the perfume cards in the magazines! I

sure do hope it goes away too!

I went to Bartell Drugs today. What an exciting adventure!

-Britt

> Has anyone else experienced a heightened sense of smell after

upper

> jaw surgery? If you did, was it permanent or did it fade as you

> recovered?

>

> I know they did some stuff in there to open up my nasal passages

> because I can breathe more easily through my nose now, but odors

are

> also a lot stronger now, especially the bad ones. They make me

feel

> somewhat ill, and I already have a problem with strong smells

making

> me prone to feeling sick, especially when in motion.

>

> My first " big outing " post-op was today. I went to a department

> store in the mall, and when I opened the door the smell just hit

me

> like a wall. I had to walk back out into the fresh air until I

got

> myself prepared for it. I'd never even noticed before that the

mall

> smelled like anything! It wasn't an unusual smell, either. No

weird

> stink bombs had gone off.

>

> Please tell me this will go away! I can't even open up my freezer

> without holding my nose.

March 6, 2004

Britt, I'm sorry you're having to go through that too, but I must say

I'm really relieved it's not just me!! I think that can give us both

hope that it's normal and is something that will get back to normal as

we get back to normal in other ways as well.

This week it seems like my whole wonderful, sweet family has garlic

breath, LOL.

Beth

> > Has anyone else experienced a heightened sense of smell after

> upper

> > jaw surgery? If you did, was it permanent or did it fade as you

> > recovered?

> >

> > I know they did some stuff in there to open up my nasal passages

> > because I can breathe more easily through my nose now, but odors

> are

> > also a lot stronger now, especially the bad ones. They make me

> feel

> > somewhat ill, and I already have a problem with strong smells

> making

> > me prone to feeling sick, especially when in motion.

> >

> > My first " big outing " post-op was today. I went to a department

> > store in the mall, and when I opened the door the smell just hit

> me

> > like a wall. I had to walk back out into the fresh air until I

> got

> > myself prepared for it. I'd never even noticed before that the

> mall

> > smelled like anything! It wasn't an unusual smell, either. No

> weird

> > stink bombs had gone off.

> >

> > Please tell me this will go away! I can't even open up my freezer

> > without holding my nose.

March 7, 2004

Hi Beth & Britt

I have had upper & upper & Lower surgery (19 days post op) and i had

the heightened sense of smell for the first couple of weeks - but it

did gradually fade and i do not notice at all now.

Hope that helps

Joanne

> > > Has anyone else experienced a heightened sense of smell after

> > upper

> > > jaw surgery? If you did, was it permanent or did it fade as

you

> > > recovered?

> > >

> > > I know they did some stuff in there to open up my nasal

passages

> > > because I can breathe more easily through my nose now, but

odors

> > are

> > > also a lot stronger now, especially the bad ones. They make me

> > feel

> > > somewhat ill, and I already have a problem with strong smells

> > making

> > > me prone to feeling sick, especially when in motion.

> > >

> > > My first " big outing " post-op was today. I went to a

department

> > > store in the mall, and when I opened the door the smell just

hit

> > me

> > > like a wall. I had to walk back out into the fresh air until I

> > got

> > > myself prepared for it. I'd never even noticed before that the

> > mall

> > > smelled like anything! It wasn't an unusual smell, either. No

> > weird

> > > stink bombs had gone off.

> > >

> > > Please tell me this will go away! I can't even open up my

freezer

> > > without holding my nose.

March 7, 2004

Woo hoo, thanks Joanne! That's great news and a huge relief.

Beth

> > > > Has anyone else experienced a heightened sense of smell after

> > > upper

> > > > jaw surgery? If you did, was it permanent or did it fade as

> you

> > > > recovered?

> > > >

> > > > I know they did some stuff in there to open up my nasal

> passages

> > > > because I can breathe more easily through my nose now, but

> odors

> > > are

> > > > also a lot stronger now, especially the bad ones. They make me

> > > feel

> > > > somewhat ill, and I already have a problem with strong smells

> > > making

> > > > me prone to feeling sick, especially when in motion.

> > > >

> > > > My first " big outing " post-op was today. I went to a

> department

> > > > store in the mall, and when I opened the door the smell just

> hit

> > > me

> > > > like a wall. I had to walk back out into the fresh air until I

> > > got

> > > > myself prepared for it. I'd never even noticed before that the

> > > mall

> > > > smelled like anything! It wasn't an unusual smell, either. No

> > > weird

> > > > stink bombs had gone off.

> > > >

> > > > Please tell me this will go away! I can't even open up my

> freezer

> > > > without holding my nose.

March 7, 2004

> Has anyone else experienced a heightened sense of smell after upper

> jaw surgery? If you did, was it permanent or did it fade as you

> recovered?

Oh yes! I remember this vividly! My son was 18 months old and the

scent of a dirty diaper made my head spin! I also remember my mom

trying to help out and cleaned my oven while I was 4 days post op and

I was begging her to stop. I could smell it upstairs on a different

floor ... and this was a self-cleaning oven, not using those strong

chemicals. To my (and your relief) the sensitivity does indeed fade

back to normal. My breathing is the same as preop now. I don't

remember how long it too. I think just a few weeks to get back to

normal. Hang in there!

Continued good healing,

Irish!

March 7, 2004