Once or twice a year, I get these phantom smells. They smell like oranges and usually last for one to two weeks before they vanish again. During those episodes, the smell isn't constant but often enough that it bothers me when I take a breath in through my nose. It also peaks after a few days and becomes so strong that it causes nausea and I can taste it on the tip of my tongue too, which makes it feel weird and a bit sore as if I'd kept rubbing it against the retainer on the back of my teeth for hours. It is also often accompanied by headaches. My brain fog (from me/CFS and POTS) can get worse during those episodes but I never feel like I am missing what's going on, it's just annoying to be honest.
What could this be? Migraine related, seizure activity? I'm honestly a bit scared. It's been happening for years now but I can't get an appointment with a neurologist no matter how hard I try. They keep telling me to call again in a few months or that they can't accept new patients. My family has history of migraines (grandfather, mother, younger sister) but no history of seizures.