Chemical sensitivity affecting throat/chest

Posted , 34 users are following.

Hi, I am a regular on here as some of  you will know.  I am still battling, esophagitis/gerd/hh/reflux which was diagnosed by scope earlier this year.  I refused PPI and doc gave me 150mg Zantac to take am and pm.  I also take mastic gum and seemed to be getting better.  I also cut out spices, way down on alcohol, onions, garlic, fizzy drinks, citrus, most meat and anything that hurt my tum.  I feel better for weeks then something sets me off again and I start again.

However, I have developed a sensitivity to smells like: perfume, after shave, deodorant, toilet cleansers, diesel and even the normally lovely smell of passing a log fire if it is smoking.  This is making my life a nightmare (we have a log fire at home).  Within seconds my throat and chest start burning and can last for hours.  I have had this for the last couple of months and my hubs scratches his head and can't understand why I won't let him use body cologne any more.

No one has heard of it just says - you are weird!!!!!!!

Before I go back to my doc with this and no doubt she will say she has never heard of it, can I have any thoughts from you guys.  I actually think you will know more than my doc anyway.  Other than that, I will google all day tomorrow to find something or someone who has this flippin  horrible complaint. 

Thanks to you all.

G.

3 likes, 69 replies

69 Replies

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  • Posted

    Yes, I have the same reaction to chemicals - so much so I pinched my nose with my fingers when I walked through the perfume dept in Myers the other day - There was a salesperson standing idle _ i didn't make eye contact but I knew she saw me and would have a reaction. My hubby said she turned her head and looked the other way. lol! I also have LPR so probably connected.

    • Posted

      Oh yes, that is a killer. When they hold up the spray as you are walking towards them and they say would madam like to try. I used to say do not dare spray that - Im out of here lol.

  • Posted

    Thanks for bringing this up. I thought I was going crazy, but this morning, I applied my deodorant (which is a different scent and brand than I typically buy), and instantly got heartburn/indigestion from my throat to my stomach. I'm glad to know it's not completely uncommon.

    • Posted

      Glad I did. Its no fun having it. I am still ok (touch wood). But as a precaution I put cotton wool up my nose when spraying hair laquer lol.

      G.

  • Edited

    Hello Gwen

    It was this site that set me on the road to my own recovery so I want to be able to "give back" and share my experience. I was diagnosed with gerd 9 years ago was using a PPI (Nexium) and late in 2017 I was diagnosed with asthma and became as sensitive to chemical odours as all the other posters on here. I don't have to describe the upheaval it caused in my life because it been shared on here repeatedly. For a year I went the whole route of pulmonologist, gastrologist , batteries of tests and of course having to deal the veiled suggestion that is all in my head. Further lung function tests would suggest that my problem was not asthma related because that was under control. Then that I googled "silent reflux /gerd with sensitivity to chemical odours" and found this forum.

    I found a GP who would listen, who set up appointments with specialists who are receptive to listening to their patients. The new gastrologist confirmed that at this point my reflux had been under-treated, and I had sustained considerable oesophageal burns. He started me on something called Peploc. The new pulmanologist confirmed that my lungs are fine switched me to a lower dose corticosteroid inhaler.

    It as been 5 weeks since and I the improvement has been remarkable in terms of my reaction to chemical odours. At this point my nose just twitches in recognition and that is the level of irritation. I still have to clear my throat at times and will continue my research to eliminate that.

    I hope that you have made headway since your initial posting.

    • Posted

      First of all many thanks for putting effort to share your story. Did you also suffer from shortness of breath? I feel short breath and need to compensate it with yawning and feeling dizzy because of that

    • Posted

      Yes, I was not only breathless but I would feel my lungs tightening but that happened before a proper diagnosis was made (10 years ago) and I was given the appropriate medication.

      It is best to consult with a specialist in order to either confirm or eliminate reflux/GERD/LPR as a cause of your symptoms.

  • Edited

    OMG i am so happy i found you. I suffer from the same things. I have all of a sudden started having fragrance sensitivity. I have had severe damage to my throat because the acid in my stomach i was a grade D throat damage but now a grade C. It has been a nightmare. Help please.

  • Posted

    OMG I feel that this is for the first time after three years that finally somebody is understanding me. I have been banging my head into a wall and no one could of understand me. I am a Psychologist myself and people keep telling me that this is anxiety and I could not explain that I know the difference some stopped explaining to people when i had to hide myself from perfume deodorant cleaning products and keep yawning while sitting at my counselling sessions because I was running out of breath specially while eating and after shower. I am crying out of happiness that there are someone in this world that they are not even Drs they can relate to what am I saying. I am so grateful for finding you here and sad for all your sufferrings.

  • Posted

    OMG I feel that this is for the first time after three years that finally somebody is understanding me. I have been banging my head into a wall and no one could of understand me. I am a Psychologist myself and people keep telling me that this is anxiety and I could not explain that I know the difference some stopped explaining to people when i had to hide myself from perfume deodorant cleaning products and keep yawning while sitting at my counselling sessions because I was running out of breath specially while eating and after shower. I am crying out of happiness that there are someone in this world that they are not even Drs they can relate to what am I saying. I am so grateful for finding you here and sad for all your sufferrings.

  • Posted

    hello,

    This is me 100%!! started with a sensation of something stuck in my front in December last year and I have just got worse.

    24.7 my chest and throat burns and is even worse when I have inhaled smells like you state, I have explained this to my dr but I am sure he thinks I am off my rocker! so nice to hear I am not alone with this, freshly washed clothes are even making me bad, I use to love my house smelly all fresh and clean with plugs in all over! have you got any better ?? I just want it to end I am such a happy go lucky person but this is really affecting me.

  • Posted

    I am here to help my son. he is 24.

    He suffers bad heartburn from different smells and scents such as: laundry soap & Deodorants....etc

    I am relentlessly seeking advice and hopefully natural remedies.

    Please if anyone has more information to assist with very irritating nuisance.

    I sincerely hope that everyone is able to combat this unfortunate issue. Best of luck to all, God speed.

  • Posted

    My husband and I went to the Saturday Morning Market this morning. We were standing inline next to a booth smoking meat. Now my guts are on fire and I feel as if I'm going to barf a big ball of acid. If i eat anything smoked, I will instantly begin to burp a smoked flavour. My husband says it's psychosomatic...

  • Posted

    I have Gerd and barrets oesophagus, smells absolutely give me acid reflux. Montale perfumes are one I've recently discovered. within mins of spraying I have burning acid coming up my throat and the chocolate greedy one gives me a headache. 😭

    I take a daily ppi which helps but some smells still over ride it. its awful.

  • Posted

    Dear Gwen, I live near Manchester and have these problems. Please could you put the details of the kinesiologist here? I am desperate for help. At the moment my whole home is affected by chemicals from a so called chemical free mattress. They have settled into the carpets and I can't get rid of them. I am in a terrible way. I am sure if you just put her publicly available info that would be totally fine. many thanks.

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