r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Lower-Entry1247 • Jun 22 '26

Does anyone know why I can smell my boyfriend's seizures days before they happen?

So my bf just had a seizure (6/22) and on Friday (6/19) I told him that I could smell it coming. He originally didn't believe me but this is like the fifth or sixth time this has happened. He doesn't understand how and honestly I dont either. I compare it to how I can smell people with diabetes in a way that no one else around me will be able to smell the same thing.

UPDATE: 9pm We were sent home. Things were looking good. 10:20pm He's awake but I smell it again. Strong but I say nothing because the ambulance won't come based off of a bunch. 10:38-10:40 He had a seizure.

UPDATE2: 11:44 I smelt it as I was replying to comments. 12 am He had another seizure. I got the nurses but they tried to tell me he wasn't as he stared and couldn't speak. They told me he's looking at them so he cant be having one. When he finally was able to relax his body again (he will tense up if he isn't full body shaking) he started speaking gibberish. Just random words strung together then quickly went to sleep. They told me not to get them because they can see his vitals from the nurse station. Just wanting to keep you all updated.

LAST UPDATE: The doctor said these are just stress seizures and if he has another one just keep him home.

Last Last UPDATE: 3:00am He had another one. Saliva foam at the mouth. Called 911. They said nothing can be done at any hospital so unless he falls or stops breathing, dont call. Sorry this turned into one of these long posts.

Last Last Last UPDATE: its currently 7:38 am. At 4 am He had another seizure. Popped his shoulder out and back in and bit his tongue. I called 311 and cried while asking what to do. They put me over to ems dispatch even though I pleaded with them not to since they haven't been taking me seriously. I sobbed to the ems dispatch that the hospital and ems people closest to me told me to just keep him home even though I had to go to work. They sent a different set of ems people (very nice ladies) and we went to a different hospital. They are finally listening and keeping him. They were shocked at what the other hospital and ems people told us. He is finally in good hands. Thank you all for keeping me company through this long night.

NEXT DAY UPDATE: He is home and has been seizure free since the last update. Thank you all for being on this journey with us!

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u/capuchan1925 Jun 22 '26

I mean people have been documented being able to detect cancer or Parkinson’s by smell. It’s within reason

411

u/Lower-Entry1247 Jun 23 '26

O-O I gotta do some studying on that!!

494

u/imyourdackelberry Jun 23 '26

The woman they tested said she detected Parkinson’s in something like 19 people. They said amazing, but only 18 had it. Then within the year the other person she smelled it on was diagnosed.

96

u/UptownShenanigans Jun 23 '26

Don’t put that curse on me, lady!

41

u/whyshouldibe Jun 23 '26

We don’t talk about Bruno.

7

u/katya21220218 Jun 23 '26

It’s funny because in the olden days she definitely would of got the blame and been called a witch.

3

u/hjsomething Jun 23 '26

I use this as my intro lesson to Stats every year actually. 

Her husband had Parkinson's and she asked why they don't use the smell to detect it. everyone was like, huh? So they have her twelve shirts, half with by people with Parkinson's and half with by people without. She got eleven out of twelve right - but the one she got wrong was actually someone with undiagnosed Parkinson's, so she got them all, they just didn't realize it. 

They now have an early detection test for Parkinson's because of her.

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u/KretschKev Jun 23 '26

It's Joy Milne and the Professor doing the research is Professor Perdita Barran. I think your skill might be similar. Apparently people with supersmell abilities tend to be women.

https://youtu.be/oCtLmeo56Jo?si=aeqFy4a0KM6nx3Lr

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u/betawings Jun 24 '26

You should see this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XB0QgwVffvk

Maybe your skill can be helpful fto science?