Phantom smells

Welcome jjackson. No, I've never had a problem with phantom smells. Once in a rare while, I will have a flashback to a smell from my childhood, usually a food. These are pleasant reminiscences.

Major depression can indeed be a dementia mimic. Aggressive anti-depression treatment for at least 4-6 weeks is indicated if there is a question of depression. I hope you are getting a thorough evaluation.

Iris

> @jjackson said:
> I’m 63 and have had phantom smells for almost 2 years. My primary care doc dismissed them 1+ years ago as Covid-related. Since then I’ve begun having memory problems, definitely a personality change (much crying/depression), and difficulty problem-solving. My mom had EO and my dad some form of dementia. I had a PET scan yesterday and will have a neuropsych evaluation next month. Pretty sure I have EO.
> But all that said, does anyone else get phantom smells? I get them every few days, sometimes just 1xday,other days they’re constant.

I have a phantom smell where I smell smoke where there is none. This happens randomly sometimes for a day or two, other times for a week. I have started tracking it on my calendar. I was diagnosed with MCI due to early onset AD. No one seems concerned about this symptom, though.

I've noticed that stress can sometimes trigger all sorts of weird symptoms, including phantom smells. It's great that you're seeking further evaluation. By the way, if you're into candles, I discovered a cool tip to stop candle wax tunneling which helped me enjoy a more even burn. It’s fascinating how little adjustments can make such a difference. Hope everything goes well with your assessments!