I detect a smell even when it isn't present

Hi Judy. I am being treated in NO through Ochsner. Due to wanting an appt ASAP after CT results, I went to a Westbank pulmonologist that could see me sooner. Then I saw an older doctor on the Eastbank . I can give you the names on separate text. One was set on it being MAC by sight and showed me details of CT followed by a few tests; the WB doc was a little less sure and ordered a second sputum test in case first lab was contaminated. I think this is common. He seemed a little more easy to follow through better. A little confusing as both docs have different methods. I am researching for a MAC specialist now. There are a few to choose from just in case next test is also MAC positive. For 69, I am surprised about all of this as I am not very short of breath. How is your breathing going now?? It sounds like your sputum tests have been more comprehensive than mine. Like to find out who your doctor was too and wondering if you have seen a pulmonary doc. I had bloodwork done that showed my immune system was low and am receiving some therapy for that. I think the next step is an infectious disease doctor as the immune specialist said they were good if you undergo triple antibiotic therapy for MAC. Hope you are back on your feet after the pneumonia. Thanks for reaching out.

Hi Judy. What an aweful start time 2022. I sent a message with Dr info that looks like you did not get. I sent it to an e-mail address. I will see how to maybe get it through another way and get back to you soon. Thanks.

CMB, you can use the secure private message function to exchange personal contact information. To private message a member, click their @username and then select Send Private Message.

@cmb1 ... Sorry to hear that you have difficulty coughing up mucous without causing pain in your head and eyes. I have found that lying down for postural drainage with my head cushioned helps. There are also head bands for headache sufferes that might give you some relief, but changing position and supporting head all around if necessary would be my first suggestion. I found that zinc supplement helps with GERD treatment to decrease the airway sensitivity. Be good to yourself and find some comfort.

I don't know if I have anything, but I can be anywhere and there is a nice scent or an unpleasant smell. It is brief, a minute or less. Then it is gone. I attempt to sniff the air thinking that I can discover the source. There is never anything around that would even carry the smell. I do have a very, very good sniffer, but I can be in a forest and smell cookies baking. I wondered if it would be associated with my autoimmune or is it a development with say neuropathy. I have it in my feet and I now have the area just below my knees, a type of neuropathy involving my skin. I've been blessed with a lot of issues and I'm not being hurt by this, I just want to know it others have this.

If you are on Azithromycin, you may want to consider that part of the problem. For about 4 weeks (end of March into April), all I smelled was a sewage and I had a metallic taste when eating food. I called a plumber, thinking I had a sewage problem, and over the course of 3 weeks, I had everything that could cause an odor replaced in my house and, still, the smell existed. The last plumber, an older man, asked me if I was on any new medications. I had just started the Azrithromycin (taken the first week) and added Ethambutol the second week. Within 3 days of taking the Azithromycin, I began to have the problem. My ID doctor took me off of both and the smell/taste issues lessened considerably within 2 weeks. This smell issue is called phantosmia (taste issue is called dysguesia) and it is a rare side effect of Azithromycin.