Coworker's coffee drink gives me daily headaches!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get an air purifier for your desk? It won't help in meetings but should get you some relief. My coworker just got one (think the company bought it for him because he complained that someone who sits near us microwaves stinky fish and eats it at her desk).

+1. These work really well. I have allergies and use them, but they work even better for stinky smells like paint or fish, so I think they would work well here. And don't sit near her in meetings. Would it help if you bought her a reusable cup with a lid? You can get some mileage out of the pregnancy thing, and just say nicely that the pregnancy hormones are driving you nuts and for some reason have zero-ed in on her coffee brand.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I really am not sensitive to smells. This coffee smells worse than some Hazelnut scented Yankee candle. It's bad and it lingers. I am going to say something at the next meeting we're both at.

This is literally the only thing giving me headaches, but they're blinding headaches.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get an air purifier for your desk? It won't help in meetings but should get you some relief. My coworker just got one (think the company bought it for him because he complained that someone who sits near us microwaves stinky fish and eats it at her desk).

+1. These work really well. I have allergies and use them, but they work even better for stinky smells like paint or fish, so I think they would work well here. And don't sit near her in meetings. Would it help if you bought her a reusable cup with a lid? You can get some mileage out of the pregnancy thing, and just say nicely that the pregnancy hormones are driving you nuts and for some reason have zero-ed in on her coffee brand.

The air purifier idea is interesting! I'm not sure this drink qualifies as coffee. There's not really any coffee in it.

[Anonymous]

Bring her a real vanilla latte and get her hooked on higher quality coffee drinks?

Do people know you're pregnant yet? Does your coworker have kids? If she's been pregnant she may remember the hypersensitivity to smells and be willing to forego the drink during meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I really am not sensitive to smells. This coffee smells worse than some Hazelnut scented Yankee candle. It's bad and it lingers. I am going to say something at the next meeting we're both at.

This is literally the only thing giving me headaches, but they're blinding headaches.

Wait- I thought you said you DID have a good sense of smell.
REgardless, you can use the fact that you are pregnant as a socially acceptable excuse to say, "look , i know this is strange, but i am a raging mess of hormones and the smell is making me incapable of donig my work. " if she's a normal person she will try to help (although it sounds like she's addicted to coffee so it might be hard)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I really am not sensitive to smells. This coffee smells worse than some Hazelnut scented Yankee candle. It's bad and it lingers. I am going to say something at the next meeting we're both at.

This is literally the only thing giving me headaches, but they're blinding headaches.

What? Do not call her out like that in a meeting. That is absolutely ridiculous. Buy her an insulated mug, go to her desk and say "Hi Sally. I know this sounds nuts but my nose is super sensitive to smells right now and for some reason your coffee is giving me huge headaches everyday. I bought this for you and was wondering if maybe you could put your coffee in it?"

At first I was sympathetic to you, I have a super sniffer even when not pregnant. Now you are starting to sound like the pregnant women everyone hates.

[Anonymous]

Bring this up before the meeting. Don't be a bitch and call her out in front of other coworkers.

[Anonymous]

God, this is why I avoid pregnant women (and yes, I have been pregnant). There isnsuch a simple way to handle this (talk to her privately) and yet you seem to be incapable of being a reasonable person.

[Anonymous]

OP here- I DO have a strong sense of smell, but smells don't bother me and never give me headaches. Only chemicals really do that (like paint fumes or mineral spirits).

I'm not mean and wouldn't call her out in front of other people. But I really don't think I can go to more meetings with her.

[Anonymous]

Well you could wear a respirator. Maybe a dust mask, some of the heavy duty may work for you. You want a something that is rated for organic vapors. Are you sure it's not the coffee in general. Instant coffee is not that different vs real coffee. Maybe it something else in your office and you are associating the smell of coffee b/c you can smell it.

[Anonymous]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008FK9F9Y?keywords=Respirators%20organic%20vapors&qid=1456847062&ref_=sr_1_12&sr=8-12

$31 on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

Do you like this coworker apart from her choice of coffee drink? If she is someone that you have less patience with anyway, it might be that her choice of hot drink sends you over the edge as you're already a bit annoyed with her to begin with.

If you are good friends, just let her know of the problem. A friend would want her friend to be comfortable, especially when she's pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I DO have a strong sense of smell, but smells don't bother me and never give me headaches. Only chemicals really do that (like paint fumes or mineral spirits).

I'm not mean and wouldn't call her out in front of other people. But I really don't think I can go to more meetings with her.

God stop being so difficult. "Hi Larla. My sniffer is being super sensitive right now and for whatever reason your coffee is giving me a massive headache during our meetings. Do you think maybe you could drink it before or after or try a different drink?" Pulling a "i cant go to meetings with her anymore" drama queen pregnant act just makes you look bad.

[Anonymous]

I would ask hr to move you to accommodate your medical condition. Get doctor note beforehand. All that officialityou might sway hr to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here- I DO have a strong sense of smell, but smells don't bother me and never give me headaches. Only chemicals really do that (like paint fumes or mineral spirits).

I'm not mean and wouldn't call her out in front of other people. But I really don't think I can go to more meetings with her.

God stop being so difficult. "Hi Larla. My sniffer is being super sensitive right now and for whatever reason your coffee is giving me a massive headache during our meetings. Do you think maybe you could drink it before or after or try a different drink?" Pulling a "i cant go to meetings with her anymore" drama queen pregnant act just makes you look bad.

+1. Stop behaving as if something is being done to you. Your co-worker is just enjoying the same drink she's probably been drinking all along but now you're sensitive to it. No one is trying to harm you, interfere with your ability to attend meetings, or prevent you from getting work done. If you can't talk to her one on one and offer a solution (and PPs recommendation of a sealed insulated mug is a great one), you're going to come off like a petty child.