Groovy Gma with FND

I have a little female cat named Sammie. She’s a black and brown shorthaired tabby, tiny girl, very sweet. I got her when I was living at my old apartment; it had carpet which smelled like cat pee when I moved in March 2021, and Sammie moved in 2024. She immediately started peeing on the carpet spots that already smelled like pee. I covered those areas with enzymatic cleaner and big plastic totes so she would not have access to them, and she converted back to the box full-time months before I moved to the new apartment in Summer 2025.

I started smelling exhaust while living in the old apartment and didn’t think anything of it because of my bedroom location. The large window overlooked the parking lot and being on the second floor meant I only had to climb ten stairs to get there…. most first floor apartments are partially sunk in the ground…and at higher risk of flooding in torrential downpours. I was close to the parking lot, it wasn’t a good part of town, lots of people had ‘beater cars’ that gave off lots of stinky exhaust.

When I moved to the brand new never lived in 4th floor apartment in Summer 2025 was when the exhaust smell became more obvious. I was smelling it while in my bedroom with the windows closed, I was smelling it when I sat on my balcony to smoke a joint. I could smell it when I was at the store….it didn’t matter where I was, the exhaust was there.

I also smell cat pee. I mentioned it earlier in another post but wanted to elaborate about it here. Remember Sammie? Well, I started smelling cat pee around my brand-new apartment. I immediately blame Sammie and start hunting for the evidence. I searched for over an hour in my 667′ apartment and never found anything. That’s when I knew it was the FND.

When I have body odor, it always smells like cat pee to me, but it does not to other people.

Today is my birthday. I baked my cake this morning and when I opened the door to the oven to take it out, I was inundated with the smell of fish, not chocolate cake. What a damn disappointment. I take it out and set it on the stove so it can cool. I haven’t smelled it up close yet. I’m kind of afraid. I never did eat the gnocchi that had the cat pee smell.

Per Bing: “Phantosmia, or olfactory hallucinations, can occur in individuals with Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND). It is characterized by the detection of smells that are not present in the environment, which can be either pleasant or unpleasant. In FND, phantosmia may be a symptom that arises due to the brain’s abnormal functioning, which is not directly related to any structural damage.
The exact cause of phantosmia in FND is not fully understood, but it is believed to be linked to the brain’s response to stress or trauma. This condition can manifest in various ways, including the detection of phantom smells in one or both nostrils.
While phantosmia is not a common condition, it can be a significant symptom for those with FND. It may require medical attention to rule out other serious conditions. Treatment for FND typically involves a multidisciplinary approach, including physical therapy, psychological therapy, occupational therapy, and sometimes medication to manage symptoms.“

Fantastic….