Aa
I know it sounds EXTREME...but...
Prob 90% of my migraines are caused by smells/scents/perfumes. Unfortunately, I seem to have also been cursed with a hypersensitive sense of smell. I can't get in someone's car if they have an air freshener in it, we have to take my car. My husband has to clean the bathrooms & I have to leave the house for most of the day while he leaves the windows open & the exhaust fans on. I have to use only unscented anything on myself or my clothing--or even on my husband's clothing if I ever wanna cuddle. At work, if someone comes in with perfume or cologne on, wham!...headache for the rest of the day! I could go on....Anyway...my question is this...Is it possible, as extreme as it sounds, to have the sense of smell (olfactory nerve??) disconnected/stopped/removed? This problem affects EVERY DAY of my life. I went to a concert w/my husband & got a migraine waiting in line to get in from the perfume & cigarettes around me...I can't enjoy most "outings" & ruin half of them for him, because of this.
I know what you're going through only too well. I'm not able to work, so I don't have to deal with the office situation that you're talking about. That's one less factor to deal with for me.
My suggestion won't work in every situation, such as while working around other people if you're having to deal with the public and such. I got a filtration mask that I wear when I leave my apartment. It cuts down on a lot of exposure to those very things you're talking about.
http://icanbreathe.com/ This is where I got my filtration mask. I bought the first one, which came with one filter. The paper that came with it said I could double the filter, which I eventually did. It greatly improved my situation, as it helps reduce the exposure to the things that make me feel so lousy and trigger migraines in me--among other things. I recommend getting one of the more decorative lacey masks, because the reactions and responses of strangers are less extreme when the mask is more decorative. They don't look as much like a medical mask worn at doctor's offices and hospitals, so people are less likely to react badly. I've only had two times when people reacted in extreme manners after wearing these masks for over two years. One was a drunk. You can't reason with a drunk anyway, so she really doesn't count. The other one was just determined to be hysterical and unreasonable, so wasn't ready to incline herself to even hear the word "allergies". Most people don't respond in such unreasonable and extreme manners, especially since I just come right out and tell them what it's for if I see that look or if they're respectful enough to just ask me.
I know there are situations that the mask can't be worn in. I know which situations those are, since I've experienced which situations I can and can't wear it in. The mask helps with the more normal amounts of chemical exposures. It reduces exposure when someone is wearing heavy perfume, but I still get sick in that kind of situation.
Another big help in regards to the housecleaning is homemade and natural cleaning solutions. They work wonderfully, too. I live alone and have no one else who can do the housework for me. I can assure you that the smell of vinegar is so much better than the smell coming from God only knows how many hundreds or thousands of manmade chemicals that clearly make you sick, too. Here is a good resource for good cleaning recipes that really do work: http://www.care2.com/find/site
The other strong motivation for people to use these recipes is that they're a whole lot easier on the pocket book than all those expensive and toxic chemical cleaners.
Anyway, these solutions have really helped me enormously. I'm still restricted on how much I can actually go out. I haven't been to a movie in years. The filtration mask helps a lot, but some people wear enough perfume for a hundred years. And, there is still the cigarette lovers while standing in line outside of the theater and the cigarette lovers who are also perfume lovers. These are obviously the last people to understand what we have to go through.
I get other symptoms besides migraines, but I do know what you're talking about only too well. Too many other people don't get it or there wouldn't be such a big problem to begin with.
My suggestion won't work in every situation, such as while working around other people if you're having to deal with the public and such. I got a filtration mask that I wear when I leave my apartment. It cuts down on a lot of exposure to those very things you're talking about.
http://icanbreathe.com/ This is where I got my filtration mask. I bought the first one, which came with one filter. The paper that came with it said I could double the filter, which I eventually did. It greatly improved my situation, as it helps reduce the exposure to the things that make me feel so lousy and trigger migraines in me--among other things. I recommend getting one of the more decorative lacey masks, because the reactions and responses of strangers are less extreme when the mask is more decorative. They don't look as much like a medical mask worn at doctor's offices and hospitals, so people are less likely to react badly. I've only had two times when people reacted in extreme manners after wearing these masks for over two years. One was a drunk. You can't reason with a drunk anyway, so she really doesn't count. The other one was just determined to be hysterical and unreasonable, so wasn't ready to incline herself to even hear the word "allergies". Most people don't respond in such unreasonable and extreme manners, especially since I just come right out and tell them what it's for if I see that look or if they're respectful enough to just ask me.
I know there are situations that the mask can't be worn in. I know which situations those are, since I've experienced which situations I can and can't wear it in. The mask helps with the more normal amounts of chemical exposures. It reduces exposure when someone is wearing heavy perfume, but I still get sick in that kind of situation.
Another big help in regards to the housecleaning is homemade and natural cleaning solutions. They work wonderfully, too. I live alone and have no one else who can do the housework for me. I can assure you that the smell of vinegar is so much better than the smell coming from God only knows how many hundreds or thousands of manmade chemicals that clearly make you sick, too. Here is a good resource for good cleaning recipes that really do work: http://www.care2.com/find/site
The other strong motivation for people to use these recipes is that they're a whole lot easier on the pocket book than all those expensive and toxic chemical cleaners.
Anyway, these solutions have really helped me enormously. I'm still restricted on how much I can actually go out. I haven't been to a movie in years. The filtration mask helps a lot, but some people wear enough perfume for a hundred years. And, there is still the cigarette lovers while standing in line outside of the theater and the cigarette lovers who are also perfume lovers. These are obviously the last people to understand what we have to go through.
I get other symptoms besides migraines, but I do know what you're talking about only too well. Too many other people don't get it or there wouldn't be such a big problem to begin with.
Hi Viki32371,
I don't know the answer to this question, I'm sorry. Just in case no one else knows the answer either, I think the best person to ask would be an ENT Doctor/Specialist (Ear/Nose/Throat). You could ask your regular family doctor for a referral in order to talk to them, or I know that sometimes some ENT Doctors will have a Cosmetic Practice on the side and if you can't get a referral, you can always book a consultation through their Cosmetic Practice, although you would have to pay for such a consultation completely out of pocket, as insurance doesn't cover cosmetic consultations.
Have you asked the places you work and spend most of your time to have "no scent" policies? These are very popular around where I live in schools, churches, work places and doctors offices. You could always ask the Human Resources department at the places you spend the most time at to consider creating "No Scent" policies and put up signs asking people not to wear strong perfumes or scents. Explain that you are asking for health reasons. I expect that the most responsive organizations to these requests will be your own doctor's offices, your work place, your community centre, your church and any schools you have to spend time in.
Also, you mention that you must leave the house when your husband does cleaning. Cleaning products trigger my migraines as well so I have switched entirely to non-scented cleaning products. I personally buy the Non-scented Method cleaning products. You can buy their products at lots of different places but of course I'd obviously suggest sending your husband to do the shopping as they keep the non-scented stuff with all the other horrible scented cleaning products in the stores. Their non-scented line is called "Free and Clear" and/or "Go Naked" depending on what product it is. They have pretty much every sort of cleaning product in a non-scented version that you could think of, although their basic spray wash would be enough for bathroom cleaning... they do have a whole special bathroom cleaning line, but it's all eucalyptus mint scented so you'd want to completely avoid that. There are also tons of other unscented cleaning products out on the market now too that work just as well as any harsh regular bathroom cleaners, usually part of natural or organic cleaning lines, and you can find them all at regular supermarkets. Or, if you want to completely avoid bathroom products all together, you can use baking soda as a bathroom cleaning scrub and baking soda usually has a very mild scent that dissipates quickly... so then at least you could avoid having to have the exhaust fans on all day.
A suggestion that worked for a friend of mine once... and you might have already tried this... you can let me know... but sometimes a very strong pleasant smell can overpower the trigger smells. Peppermint is one of those suggested "good smells" for migraineurs that can help to relieve the intensity of a migraine for most people, so if peppermint is a safe scent for you, then you could try carrying around a peppermint oil roll on stick or a little jar of peppermint rub and when you knew you were going to be around another scent trigger, rub a bit of the peppermint oil/rub under your nose. If the scent is strong enough, such as peppermint, then your brain can sometimes only interpret the strongest scent, which is usually the peppermint that is right up against your nose... so the other scents around won't be able to trigger your migraines since the scent information isn't getting to your brain to set off the trigger. Mind you, I can understand that this may not work for you if all scents set off your migraines, and peppermint is one of them. I know that for my brother, lavender, which is supposed to be one of those "good for a migraine" scents, is pretty much the absolute only thing on this entire planet that can trigger a migraine for him... so he avoids lavender like the plague. So, I totally understand how this idea might not be useful in your situation... although I just thought I'd suggest it just in case.
Well, keep in touch and let us know what you find out about your situation and if a surgery is possible. Good luck!
- marilee
I don't know the answer to this question, I'm sorry. Just in case no one else knows the answer either, I think the best person to ask would be an ENT Doctor/Specialist (Ear/Nose/Throat). You could ask your regular family doctor for a referral in order to talk to them, or I know that sometimes some ENT Doctors will have a Cosmetic Practice on the side and if you can't get a referral, you can always book a consultation through their Cosmetic Practice, although you would have to pay for such a consultation completely out of pocket, as insurance doesn't cover cosmetic consultations.
Have you asked the places you work and spend most of your time to have "no scent" policies? These are very popular around where I live in schools, churches, work places and doctors offices. You could always ask the Human Resources department at the places you spend the most time at to consider creating "No Scent" policies and put up signs asking people not to wear strong perfumes or scents. Explain that you are asking for health reasons. I expect that the most responsive organizations to these requests will be your own doctor's offices, your work place, your community centre, your church and any schools you have to spend time in.
Also, you mention that you must leave the house when your husband does cleaning. Cleaning products trigger my migraines as well so I have switched entirely to non-scented cleaning products. I personally buy the Non-scented Method cleaning products. You can buy their products at lots of different places but of course I'd obviously suggest sending your husband to do the shopping as they keep the non-scented stuff with all the other horrible scented cleaning products in the stores. Their non-scented line is called "Free and Clear" and/or "Go Naked" depending on what product it is. They have pretty much every sort of cleaning product in a non-scented version that you could think of, although their basic spray wash would be enough for bathroom cleaning... they do have a whole special bathroom cleaning line, but it's all eucalyptus mint scented so you'd want to completely avoid that. There are also tons of other unscented cleaning products out on the market now too that work just as well as any harsh regular bathroom cleaners, usually part of natural or organic cleaning lines, and you can find them all at regular supermarkets. Or, if you want to completely avoid bathroom products all together, you can use baking soda as a bathroom cleaning scrub and baking soda usually has a very mild scent that dissipates quickly... so then at least you could avoid having to have the exhaust fans on all day.
A suggestion that worked for a friend of mine once... and you might have already tried this... you can let me know... but sometimes a very strong pleasant smell can overpower the trigger smells. Peppermint is one of those suggested "good smells" for migraineurs that can help to relieve the intensity of a migraine for most people, so if peppermint is a safe scent for you, then you could try carrying around a peppermint oil roll on stick or a little jar of peppermint rub and when you knew you were going to be around another scent trigger, rub a bit of the peppermint oil/rub under your nose. If the scent is strong enough, such as peppermint, then your brain can sometimes only interpret the strongest scent, which is usually the peppermint that is right up against your nose... so the other scents around won't be able to trigger your migraines since the scent information isn't getting to your brain to set off the trigger. Mind you, I can understand that this may not work for you if all scents set off your migraines, and peppermint is one of them. I know that for my brother, lavender, which is supposed to be one of those "good for a migraine" scents, is pretty much the absolute only thing on this entire planet that can trigger a migraine for him... so he avoids lavender like the plague. So, I totally understand how this idea might not be useful in your situation... although I just thought I'd suggest it just in case.
Well, keep in touch and let us know what you find out about your situation and if a surgery is possible. Good luck!
- marilee
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