Why is my sense of smell so sensitive right now? Not pregnant

[Anonymous]

So, definitely not pregnant (had a hysterectomy 4 years ago), but my sense of smell is out of control right now. I have always had a pretty good sense of smell so much so that I can always tell who has boozed it up the night before, if you had a beer 6 hours prior, etc. But in the last couple of weeks it has been a lot worse. There are a couple of coworkers whose smell of soap is so strong that I am having a hard time being in the same room with them during meetings (not seated next to them). I can still smell soap in the photocopy room after one of them leaves. Don't get me started on my coworker that smokes. I can tell when she had just walked down the hallway. Yesterday, my kids were painting with regular kids paint and I slipped off to grocery shop while my MIL watched after them. They were done by the time I got home and she had mostly cleaned up but when I walked in the door I was immediately assaulted with the smell so strong that it gave me a headache. Turns out she hadn't washed out one of the containers (paint cup that was partially open). Once I washed it, I could stand being in my house a bit longer. This is getting to be seriously annoying. This is more of a vent than a "diagnose me" post, but was interested if others had experienced a similar situation where your sense of smell got super sensitive.

[Anonymous]

Since you had a hysterectomy our situations are probably not that similar, but I often have a super sense of smell a week or so out of the month.

For example, I walk into a pizza place I like and the smell of pepperoni/meat is overwhelming to me, almost sickening. No one else feels this way. Or, my mother in law wears a lotion that is usually pleasant and is suddenly a total assault on my senses.

Used to make me think I was pregnant every month, but then I got used to it. I did not have this in my teens and 20s (I am early 30s).

[Anonymous]

Pp here - sorry, I mean to add that for YOU (and for me I suppose) it may be dry sinuses. The exposure of membranes can sometimes cause me to smell MORE and not less as you may think. It's dry and winter, so could that be it?

[Anonymous]

Good points.... on the first, even though I had a hysterectomy, my ovaries are still intact and so apparently I still go through a hormonal cycle, although I am unaware of it. Perhaps that's what it is and I am overestimating how many weeks I have been like this. Also, the dry sinsuses is a good theory as well. Interesting (to me anyway!). Thanks for the theories.