Coworker's coffee drink gives me daily headaches!

[Anonymous]

I have a great sense of smell. Coworker drinks these gross powdered maxwell house coffee drinks (not sure on the brand, but it's like this: http://www.amazon.com/Maxwell-House-International-Vanilla-8-4-Ounce/dp/B004T434L0 ). I can smell it in the entire office and down the hallways. It smells like chemicals to me and gives me really intense headaches. I love coffee, so it's not a coffee smell. Is there anyway that I can prevent this? It's an open office and she sits next to me. She brings the coffee into meetings and I get such bad headaches that by the time the meeting is over I can't think. I think she drinks 4-5 of these things a day.

I'm pregnant and it hasn't made my sense of smell better, but it means I can't take many things for headaches and Tylenol really isn't doing it. I'm not even prone to headaches and only get them a few times a year.

[Anonymous]

Gross. Take Tylenol?

[Anonymous]

hmm. I have a bit of an issue that you labeled her drink as "gross" b/c it makes me skeptical of your statements.
Setting that aside-- have you talked to her? What would help you? WOuld it help if she used a cup with a lid? Is there an equivalent product that would help?
If it would I would suggest approaching her and own the issue as your own - ie don't say I find your drink of choice gross. Rather try- 'hi- I have a wierd sense of smell, and for whatever reason it appears that your drink is giving me this massive headaches. I was wondering if you would mind using this insulated cup with a lid- I think that would reduce the smell.'

[Anonymous]

I think you're going to have to address this as your own medical issue versus it being her fault you have such a sensitive sense of smell.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:hmm. I have a bit of an issue that you labeled her drink as "gross" b/c it makes me skeptical of your statements.
Setting that aside-- have you talked to her? What would help you? WOuld it help if she used a cup with a lid? Is there an equivalent product that would help?
If it would I would suggest approaching her and own the issue as your own - ie don't say I find your drink of choice gross. Rather try- 'hi- I have a wierd sense of smell, and for whatever reason it appears that your drink is giving me this massive headaches. I was wondering if you would mind using this insulated cup with a lid- I think that would reduce the smell.'

I'm grossed out by the smell. She can drink whatever she wants. I'm not judging her drink or brand.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but you sound weird. If she was eating tuna fish and steaming broccoli in the office microwave several times a day or wearing intense cologne, I can see a complaint. A flavored coffee drink? It's gonna be hard to get anyone on your side about this one.

[Anonymous]

OP, this is a list of scents that give me headaches:

Perfume
Cologne
Sterno
Lemon scented anything
Flowers
Floral scented anything

I had headaches every day of pregnancy and I totally understand how hard it is not to be able to take anything, but there really isn't anything you can do. People have to be free to lead their lives despite your sensitive nose and inability to take medicine.

[Anonymous]

Slap a little Vaporub under your nostrils like the morgue workers do.

And count yourself lucky this is all you have to bitch about.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully when you're not pregnant, this problem will abate.

Is there something else you could smell to counter-act this. Ginger? Mint?

[Anonymous]

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).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Slap a little Vaporub under your nostrils like the morgue workers do.

And count yourself lucky this is all you have to bitch about.

+1

Or a dab of eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil, etc.

[Anonymous]

Hopefully when you're not pregnant, this problem will abate.

Is there something else you could smell to counter-act this. Ginger? Mint?

+1 I'm also pregnant and my husband has started calling me the bloodhound. It probably wouldn't bother you if you weren't pregnant, so you'll have to figure out a way to deal.

[Anonymous]

OP, you can't tell the world to stop stinking. I totally sympathize, though.

As others have said, get the strong-smelling things you like, and keep them nearby to sniff, to help block out the odors that you can't handle. I have a sensitive nose, and during my pregnancies it got unbearably sensitive, plus I had morning sickness throughout the pregnancies. I learned to carry tangerines and other items with strong smells I liked, and I would also put a scarf over my nose at times. I spent lots of time running off to throw up or at least stick my head outside to clear headaches.

[Anonymous]

If it is that serious get a letter from your doctor and use it to have HR move you to a cubicle away from her.

[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).

This is unspeakable.