Is heightened sense of smell a symptom?

[hwomma]

HI:
I've never been DX'd although I've had a number of symptoms throughout the years and always suspected, and here's a new one: heightened sense of smell but I was wondering if this is an actual symptom?
Basically we're talking like can't stand it when anyone cooks food in the house cause the smell is intolerable, even water from the sink (yes water smells) smells bad, going to stores sometimes is unpleasant (each store has a unique smell-they spray something in there!).  There's also some kind of heightened sense of hearing too I've  noticed, and heightened sense of lights, but not sure if there is a correlation to the smell thing that's going on. Anyway is this at all related to MS? Have any of you experienced this too? :)

[CMcGeexxxx]

I have the hyper sense of smell.  It comes and goes but when I have it the grocery store is to be avoided, especially the household cleaning supplies.  I only just researched this to see if anyone else was experiencing it. My neuro said it was possible but not one of the common symptoms.

[hwomma]

Hi Dennis a lot of what u said is right on! Thanks for your input! I too have smells come and go that aren't in my home (not nail polish remover but other stuff sometimes like cigarette smoke but nobody smokes in my house!).  Anyway very interesting post!

[hwomma]

HI supermum, you're right might be worth talking to dr about it maybe one day. Thanks!

[Sailorsong]

I have to disagree with the others as to hearing, smell, light, etc. And actually you as well to an extent. I don't think want you are describing is really a heightened sense of smell, but actually an intolerance to certain things which could be from a sensory overload due to MS or just improper interpretation of sensory things due to MS.

For example when ever I wear pants my upper thighs feel like I have a sunburn. In this case my brain is misinterpreting the sensation of fabric against my skin as a sunburn. It isn't that my sense of touch is hyper, just the wrong signal is being received so I notice it.

When it comes to hearing I wear hearing aids due to loss of hearing. But there are periods where I feel like things are too loud even though the volume has not changed. This is due to my mind rebelling against that fact that I am having trouble picking out voices in a movie over the background sound effects/music.  I experience the same effect when I go out to eat when I am trying to understand a server and there is background noises/talking that are making it hard for me to understand. As soon as the conversation with a server is over it doesn't seem to be as loud in the restaurant even though the level of noise has not changed.

Sense of smell also works in a similar manor. There are times when I could swear that I smell fingernail polish remover at home even though there are no women in my home and has not been for many years.  This is a case of misinterpretation again.  I have read many posts about this happening to others as well. I also can't stand being in certain areas of stores. It isn't that I can smell things better but that I react more to smells I don't like.

Light level intolerance as JJ said is a reported sx of MS quite often. But I think this is only because it is really the only sense that a doctor can objectively observe and document if you are experiencing it when you see a doctor. But I suspect it can also be from similar forms as the other senses in that at times as well. I base this on the fact that someone with a migraine headache can't stand bright lights but the headache has no effect on the pupils of a persons eyes that I know of. So in that case it is again just a sensory overload causing the intolerance.

Dennis

[supermum_ms]

I have to agree with Mike, I dont think an increased sense of smell or  hearing is connected to MS, if it is i've never read anything research based or ever heard of anyone with MS having these sx's as part of their MS sx list, I have with light sensitivity though. If you are experiencing these issues, then they are all easily tested so it might be worth talking to your dr about what you are experiencing.

Cheers........JJ  

[hwomma]

HI Mike
Ok thanks for your input!!!!

[Mike_Shuswap]

Hmmm, I've heard of MS causing a lesser sense of smell and the loss of hearing in rare cases, but not heightened senses.

My guess is no, it's not likely MS related, but hey, I'm just a fellow MSer, what do I know.)

Mike