Perfumed Patients?

[HurricaneKatt]

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Has anyone else experienced this? I have allergies and am sensitive to many perfumes. I know when a patient walks in with perfume it can be very bothersome, and it's even worse when the smell fills the entire lobby and you can Taste it. My SO works in the ER right now and they had a pt who had on strong perfume. While in the appt the dr started having a bad allergic reaction and turned red and couldn't stop coughing until he left the room. How do you guys handle situations like that? It seems like something everyone will have to face sooner or later as a physician. If it smells that strong across a desk I can only imagine how much worse it is in a small exam room...

 

[passerine]

Honestly, I would say do your best to treat your allergies and suck it up. Medicine is a service industry. It's not the patient's fault that you have allergies, just as it's not your fault. It sucks, but there it is, you know?

 

[Buzz Me]

How are you with other strong smells?

 

[lobo.solo]

I would think it's better than to have to smell ****, a bad infection or something like that. If you have allergies, just pop a pill...it's an easy fix.

 

[gettheleadout]

I would think it's better than to have to smell ****, a bad infection or something like that. If you have allergies, just pop a pill...it's an easy fix.

lol sure...

 

[Oxygen206]

Has anyone else experienced this? I have allergies and am sensitive to many perfumes. I know when a patient walks in with perfume it can be very bothersome, and it's even worse when the smell fills the entire lobby and you can Taste it. My SO works in the ER right now and they had a pt who had on strong perfume. While in the appt the dr started having a bad allergic reaction and turned red and couldn't stop coughing until he left the room. How do you guys handle situations like that? It seems like something everyone will have to face sooner or later as a physician. If it smells that strong across a desk I can only imagine how much worse it is in a small exam room...

Most hospitals now a days are 'fragrance free.' However this is only required of staff, so you'll get some "fragrant" patients every now and then. Take an antihistamine if you know you're going to be working in a location that has the potential for perfumed patients to come in.

My pet peeve is the ones that smell like an ash tray...makes me gag sometimes.

 

[HurricaneKatt]

No it's not their fault that I have allergies. But it can also seriously aggravate other patients who have allergies and asthma. The head NP here said that she asks the pt to come scent-free for their next visit because it can aggravate other patients with those or other breathing more serious problems.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

No it's not their fault that I have allergies. But it can also seriously aggravate other patients who have allergies and asthma. The head NP here said that she asks the pt to come scent-free for their next visit because it can aggravate other patients with those or other breathing more serious problems.

Haha I'd rather have a patient wearing perfume than the list of other smells they could have on them....

 

[AestheticGod]

Wait till you smell the patients who has trouble going to the bathroom...

 

[NightGod]

I would think it's better than to have to smell ****, a bad infection or something like that. If you have allergies, just pop a pill...it's an easy fix.

Disgusting smells don't give me a headache, but over the top artificially floral ones do. Its bad enough that I have my daughter sniff candles before I do. But in the context of work, I just suck it up and drive the **** on. The pain fades fast enough once I leave the environment.

 

[HurricaneKatt]

lol sure...

👍 I know meds don't help me much! Claritin especially does nothing, Zyrtec is so-so...

Most hospitals now a days are 'fragrance free.' However this is only required of staff, so you'll get some "fragrant" patients every now and then. Take an antihistamine if you know you're going to be working in a location that has the potential for perfumed patients to come in.

My pet peeve is the ones that smell like an ash tray...makes me gag sometimes.

Ugh I'll second that! Smoke drives me nuts. It makes me really light-headed and my throat gets super sore for hours to days.

How are you with other strong smells?

Unfortunately I'm pretty sensitive to smells. 🙁 I'm very aware that this is something I'll have to work on. I'm hoping med school rotations and residency will help to desensitize me a bit. Some strong smells I can handle okay, and some make me gag. Smoke is the worst and super strong perfumes are probably second. I'd rather smell stink than those two. Smoke and uber-strong perfumes elicit and almost asthma-like reaction. I have a hard time breathing and my sinuses, throat and chest get very tight. Often the tightness and swelling/irritation lingers past when the pt leaves. I know I'm not the only one who has such reactions. Also with the huge risk it could pose to patients in the office with breathing problems... I just wondered how other people handle it both personally and as a business/office. (obviously not everyone will read and/or follow the "scent free office" signs, and new pts will not have seen it yet).

 

[chemsmith]

I hate overwhelming perfume/cologne smells. They give me a headache and make me wonky headed if they are really bad. I guess I would just breathe through my mouth and resign to sound adenoidal for the interaction if it came down to it

 

[bassvp]

Smoke and uber-strong perfumes elicit and almost asthma-like reaction. I have a hard time breathing and my sinuses, throat and chest get very tight. Often the tightness and swelling/irritation lingers past when the pt leaves.

This is a physical (not simply a preferential) issue. I'm sure the OP might not appreciate the "suck it up" response. It's like telling an epileptic not to seize.

 

[susan10]

Honestly, I would say do your best to treat your allergies and suck it up. Medicine is a service industry. It's not the patient's fault that you have allergies, just as it's not your fault. It sucks, but there it is, you know?

Completely agree! You just have to do your job to the best of your ability.

 

[calvnandhobbs68]

This is a physical (not simply a preferential) issue. I'm sure the OP might not appreciate the "suck it up" response. It's like telling an epileptic not to seize.

Yeah but I mean what else are you gonna do about it? I'm also wondering how the OP is gonna fare in anatomy lab...hopefully you aren't too sensitive to formalin.

 

[235788]

breathe temporarily through your mouth!

 

[Cambino]

Not to mention COPD and pneumonia pts.
I work in the ER and we, too, have a no scent policy regarding perfumes and cologne.
There are 'stronger' smells in the ED; however, none of which seem to exacerbate the chief complaints or symptoms of the pt.