Strange Cravings

Hello all, I had my surgery a little over two years ago and feel pretty good but lately I've been noticing something very odd. Hope you all won't think I'm certifiable, but maybe someone else has experienced this. I crave really strong flavored foods. I mean, REALLY strong flavors. For instance, I can't get enough of Altoids gum ... I crave the strong peppermint taste you get when you first bite into it and I will chew on 3-4 pieces at a time. When the flavor wears off, I get 3-4 more and do the same thing. I am chewing truckloads of the stuff. These cravings are not the same as getting carb cravings or sweet cravings ... they really seem to be a deep need as opposed to just a "taste" for something. I've also noticed that I want to smell STRONG smells, and not necessarily food. Gasoline and other fumes smell wonderful to me. I have a container of some strongly scented spearmint body scrub and I just want to inhale the stuff. It is satisfying some sort of need but I don't know what. This just strikes me as totally bizarre and the only thing I can think of is possible vitamin deficiency? I'm embarrassed to even ask you all, but I'd really appreciate ANY suggestions. I am setting myself up for a complete physical in a couple of weeks (including blood work) and maybe that will yield some answers but in the meantime I'd sure love to hear from you if you have any ideas. It is just too weird. Thanks in advance for any help.

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