Scent Sensitivity and Medical Office

[smokeyblue]

I never had a problem before, but since I was in a car accident and now have headaches pretty much all the time, I am very sensitive to smell. I can't tolerate certain scents to the point of becoming terribly ill. A few months ago, I went to the doctor and I could smell something even outside the office. It got stronger when I went inside and I started to get a headache. When I went to check in it was so bad I couldn't stand it. There it was on the clerk's desk, a bottle of scented lotion. My headache was so bad I thought I was either going to pass out or puke. I had to check-in with the check-out person. I waited for awhile, and I finally couldn't take it anymore. I ended up leaving and rescheduled my appointment. I honestly felt so bad that I debated if I was well enough to drive home or not; since I only live a little over a mile away, I decided I would be okay.

I called the clinic manager and told her how ill the lotion had made me. I don't think she was listening at all. She only offered an apology because the doctor was late (which is something I CAN understand). I decided it wasn't worth it to pursue it further and to blow it off. Well, I had to return tonight. The same smell! I tried not to breathe and luckily I was called back instantly. I kind of politely unloaded on the nurse and she was very nice. I'm just so irritated, I can't afford to bring on a big headache like that if I can avoid it. It's so debilitating and it can affect me for days.

So yeah, I'm a snowflake. But I think there are lots of people out there that can't tolerate smells like this, especially if they are nauseated or have a headache or just generally ill. I don't think people should be using scented body products at a doctors office out of respect for their patients. What do you think?

 

[momz]

Working in the medical field, I can attest that scented lotions are not the biggest concern when it comes to smells. People STINK! Think about how you smell after touring the parks on July 4th. Hot, crowded. I'm sure the first thing most of us would do is bathe. Well, let me tell you....not everybody bathes. Also, some people are in such poor health that their disease process itself creates odors (think diabetic for ulcers for example, or an abscess in the armpit or other smelly place). They worst is women who have acquired an infection transmitted intimately. Oh my goodness! Did I mention that people STINK?!

So, yeah, I don't think a complaint about hand lotion is going to be taken seriously. Plus these people are washing their hands twenty times a day or more. Giving up hand lotion is not gonna happen.

 

[aaarcher86]

I think you're asking for a bit much here.

Nurses and perfume, I get. A front desk lady and her hand lotion, not really.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I'm sorry you are having such an issue. It sounds like a newer problem for you. Unfortunately you can't control the way other people smell so you will have to learn to deal with it.

 

[minnie mum]

I'm kind of surprised that you ran into the problem in the first place and that the office manager was so cavalier in the second place. Most hospitals and doctors offices where I live have had a scent free policy for years. And these are even listed at the entrances for visitor awareness. Asking nursing and other personnel who may be washing their hands dozens of times a day to refrain from using hand lotion is ridiculous. However there are many brands of scent free products on the market that they could be using.

You might want to contact the office manager again and politely ask if they have a scent free policy, and if not, why not. Suggesting that the offending receptionist be asked to use an unscented lotion should not be out of line.

 

[Miskey]

Are you positive the offending smell was the hand lotion? I'm just so surprised you could smell it before even entering the building. Could you read what scent it was on the bottle?

 

[Allison]

I'm shocked you could smell a bottle of scented lotion before you even entered the office. Have you always had such a strong sense of smell?

 

[smokeyblue]

Working in the medical field, I can attest that scented lotions are not the biggest concern when it comes to smells. People STINK! Think about how you smell after touring the parks on July 4th. Hot, crowded. I'm sure the first thing most of us would do is bathe. Well, let me tell you....not everybody bathes. Also, some people are in such poor health that their disease process itself creates odors (think diabetic for ulcers for example, or an abscess in the armpit or other smelly place). They worst is women who have acquired an infection transmitted intimately. Oh my goodness! Did I mention that people STINK?!

So, yeah, I don't think a complaint about hand lotion is going to be taken seriously. Plus these people are washing their hands twenty times a day or more. Giving up hand lotion is not gonna happen.

I worked in nursing for 10 years on a med-surg floor; your examples are pretty tame. I'm well aware of smells and cracked hands. I am still an employee of this health system; and they do provide lotion.

Are you positive the offending smell was the hand lotion? I'm just so surprised you could smell it before even entering the building. Could you read what scent it was on the bottle?

It's a medical office building; I smelled it in the hall. I didn't see the label. It was the same clerk again today and the scent grew stronger as I approached her. I just quickly signed the papers and sat as far from her as I could. Luckily I was called back quickly this time.

I never had a sense of smell like this before the concussion.

 

[Dancind]

I've had a problem with scents since chemical exposure at work caused an autoimmune illness over 10 years ago. My niece is now suffering terribly from this, I don't know what triggered her. Probably art supplies, she went to art school. And yes, it's the CHEMICALS in the fragrance that make me ill. I have no problem with fragrances that are from flower extracts - I can use products like Aveda. But just smelling perfume makes me run the other way, since I'm not discerning enough to tell the difference in the moment.

Point is, there are so many ill people with this sensitivity it's difficult to understand how a doctor's office hasn't caught on yet. I know an ophthalmologist who insists his patients be fragrance free because he has some type of blood cancer. It can be anything. I'd say keep looking for another doctor.

 

[Allons-y!]

I never had a problem before, but since I was in a car accident and now have headaches pretty much all the time, I am very sensitive to smell. I can't tolerate certain scents to the point of becoming terribly ill. A few months ago, I went to the doctor and I could smell something even outside the office. It got stronger when I went inside and I started to get a headache. When I went to check in it was so bad I couldn't stand it. There it was on the clerk's desk, a bottle of scented lotion. My headache was so bad I thought I was either going to pass out or puke. I had to check-in with the check-out person. I waited for awhile, and I finally couldn't take it anymore. I ended up leaving and rescheduled my appointment. I honestly felt so bad that I debated if I was well enough to drive home or not; since I only live a little over a mile away, I decided I would be okay.

I called the clinic manager and told her how ill the lotion had made me. I don't think she was listening at all. She only offered an apology because the doctor was late (which is something I CAN understand). I decided it wasn't worth it to pursue it further and to blow it off. Well, I had to return tonight. The same smell! I tried not to breathe and luckily I was called back instantly. I kind of politely unloaded on the nurse and she was very nice. I'm just so irritated, I can't afford to bring on a big headache like that if I can avoid it. It's so debilitating and it can affect me for days.

So yeah, I'm a snowflake. But I think there are lots of people out there that can't tolerate smells like this, especially if they are nauseated or have a headache or just generally ill. I don't think people should be using scented body products at a doctors office out of respect for their patients. What do you think?

Did you consider just politely explaining to the staff member that the scent was really bothering you, and asking nicely if she could put it in a drawer until you were seen?

The larger reality is that you aren't going to be able to avoid scents when you are out and about, so you should consider figuring out how to deal with them when they are present and you cannot avoid being near them. Perhaps having a medical mask of some sort would provide a barrier? I would think that there are products that you could look into. For example, there are masks that I have worn when using a paint sprayer. Something like that may help.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I'm not sure what the protocol is for Dr.'s offices, but if you're that sensitive to smell then I imagine you're having problems elsewhere as well.

Maybe carry around a small hankerchief or a scarf that has a non-smell? I do this and it helps me get through situations that I can't avoid. I definitely get some weird looks, but that's the lesser of two evils. Maybe even get some face masks to help temper the smell.

I guess it couldn't hurt to call and ask again if they would remove the lotion, but in case this sense of smell is your new normal maybe find some ways to deal with it.

 

[katie01]

The last medical office I worked in had a scent free policy. Many do. I would call around and see if you can find one that is, or if you aren't able to do so, wear a surgical mask.

I can also identify with the PP who mentioned her niece possibly having issues with scents after art school. I was never sensitive to marker scents before, but I had to do a week-long project at work years ago using Sharpie markers for labeling. By the end of the week, I was wheezing, and now even years later I can't be next to a Sharpie marker without wheezing. I do think that frequent exposure can trigger reactions, or in the case of the OP, other illnesses or injuries. I know there are people who can have anaphylactic reactions to some scents, so it's a real thing. Of course it's impossible to remove scents from our lives and as in the case of the OP to get people to comply with any requests regarding them, which again is why I'd try to shop around and see if there are any scent-free clinics available to you, or see if the mask helps

 

[kimblebee]

I'm so not surprised as some of these answers. I'm sorry you're going through this OP and I think you should be able to ask the office to switch to a non scented hand cream. I have a severe nut allergy and within the last year it has worsened to the point that if I'm even in the same room as someone eating nuts, it will affect me.

Why have we become so uncaring towards other people? If I was doing something that was causing someone else discomfort and they asked me to stop, I'd stop. It's common decency in my eyes. I really don't get the 'it's all about me' attitude.

I'm going to get flamed to high hell but I don't really care..

 

[sasywtch]

I'm very surprised at some of the responses on here especially from medical personnel. That doctor's office should have removed that scented lotion immediately. I noticed my doctor's office has all scent free items on his counter and I just received an appointment for another area that asked not to wear any scents.(reg appt not imagining or scans). I'm assuming someone in that area is allergic. One day my guy friend became allergic??? We don't know if something triggered it. When his boss asked people to not wear scents, a few of the ladies decided they didn't like it and poured perfume down the side of his cubicle walls. 911 was called, an ambulance ride later and those ladies still didn't see a problem. Using a dryer that had had a fabric softener a week earlier would set him off. So yes, I can see where a scented lotion could do something to someone. He was diagnosed with multiple chemical sensitivity. When you have another appointment, talk to the doctor about it. If he's not familiar, print out some information. My friend was rebuffed by a few doctor's before they sent him to a specialist. No one's scented lotion is that important to cause someone distress.

There are many excellent lotions with no scents, laundry detergent, deodorant etc that work great without scent. He is overcoming but it took a few years. It's still odd how quickly it came on but it is real.

 

[disfan07]

Masks. I always have them with. I have systemic Mastocytosis and fragrance is one thing that makes my face swell and some mild reactions. I don't always wear them because it depends on where I am and how long I will be there, but I always have them in my purse. I only get frustrated about perfume/fragrance when it is so strong that the mask doesn't help. I don't have anything against people wearing perfume, cologne, hair products, lotions, etc that have fragrance. I'm just against those who smell like they marinated in it before going in public.

It is frustrating in hospitals and doctors offices because there are a lot of people who have migraines, asthma, etc that can be triggered by fragrance but I can't change everyone else so I had to adjust and figure out what works for myself to keep myself safe.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I'm so not surprised as some of these answers. I'm sorry you're going through this OP and I think you should be able to ask the office to switch to a non scented hand cream. I have a severe nut allergy and within the last year it has worsened to the point that if I'm even in the same room as someone eating nuts, it will affect me.

Why have we become so uncaring towards other people? If I was doing something that was causing someone else discomfort and they asked me to stop, I'd stop. It's common decency in my eyes. I really don't get the 'it's all about me' attitude.

I'm going to get flamed to high hell but I don't really care..

If you want to call it uncaring that what you can call it. There are so many people with different problems, basically it feels like doing anything could be bothering someone.
Personally I'd have no problem using a different lotion depending on how I was asked. If there was lots of drama about it, nope I wouldn't. Yes, I understand people are sensitive to different smells but if someone came and started telling me my lotion's smell was so strong they could smell it outside the room I'd roll my eyes and ignore them.

 

[ozliz]

As PP mentioned. It sounds like multiple chemical sensitivity to me. If your doctor doesn't 'believe' in it then find a new doctor. There is plenty of info online about MCS but unfortunately they don't really know the cause yet.

As for what to do. I understand the grumpy/terse response you may have had. My recommendation is to make a complaint on another day after your symptoms have eased a bit. It is best to do these things when you are clear headed and sound more rational - unlikely if you're experiencing a reaction. If you are struggling will feeling ill then you will probably come across as very irritable and be less likely to be taken seriously. Unfortunate, yes, but this is reality. I get very irritable with allergies and anything where I feel like I can't breathe properly (probably because of a mild bit of panic) so I have learnt just to take myself away and manage it myself as that is the most important thing in the moment.

 

[Kellykins1218]

There are many excellent lotions with no scents, laundry detergent, deodorant etc that work great without scent. He is overcoming but it took a few years. It's still odd how quickly it came on but it is real.

They don't have added scents but that doesn't mean they don't stink. I find unscented products to smell absolutely disgusting, and they make me sick to my stomach, because all I can smell are the chemicals.

 

[momz]

It's not uncaring. But the complaint seems more like an emotional response. The OP smelled something in the hallway and attributed it to the clerks hand lotion. It could easily have been someone else who had walked through ahead of her wearing an overpowering scent. It seems like the OP had a reaction to a smell and targeted on the bottle of lotion that she noticed. Now she has an negative emotional response to the entire clinic.

In instances where a person has makes a complaint that is emotional and/or unbelievable, the complaint won't be taken seriously. Whereas, if the OP made a more generic comment, "I have a reaction to scents, what is your office policy in regards to staff wearing scented products" a conversation regarding the problem could be started.

But to say you smell hand lotion down the hall is not believable, even reading it here.

To extrapolate this issue to society in general, I think it is over the top to expect society to refrain from using products that may cause others to have a reaction. Peanuts, shellfish, latex balloons, and now fragrances too. While these issues are real to some people, it is a bit narcissistic to expect the whole world to conform to your individual needs. Not uncaring, but tired of people imposing their wishes onto the rest of society.

Donning my flame suit.

 

[Minnesota!]

Masks and your reaction, while I can understand it, probably dictated the response you got. I would have politely explained and then asked if the offending scent could be eliminated.