Hi All,

I put this here because I couldn't think of where else to put it.

I just finished re-reading ''My
Voice Will Go With You'' (before my surgery) and I just finished ''Milton H. Erickson, M.D. An American Healer'' edited by Betty Alice Erickson, M.S., yesterday and I somehow think my question is bound up in Ericksonian hypnosis because that's what's been on my brain (!) lately.

At any rate, my surgery was to remove a non-malignant tumor (which, as it turns out, is a variety that can frequently become malignant in women who are over 50. Luckily for me, I won't be 50 for a couple of weeks yet! Lol!!)

The thing is this, for the last couple of years I have noticed a particularly bad smell coming from my sweat which no one else seemed to notice -- even my husband. I found it very embarrassing and was always trying to wash up to get rid of it.

Then, for the month or so before the tumor was detected I noticed a smell occasionally waft by when I was sitting by myself that seemed to be coming from my body. Again, I am embarrassed to admit it, but it smelled like feces to me. Again, no amount of washing up would get rid of it.

Lately, now, I've been dreaming about dead people. Not traumatic dreams that make me sad or anything like that, just matter of fact dreams about images of dead people, especially dead young women.

Last night I dreamt that I was staying in a hotel and knocked on the door of my mother's room, and a man answered the door -- an older, white-bearded gentleman who was just straightening his clothes and who made a smiling comment as he passed me on his way out the door. (I think he went to the buffet to get breakfast.)

My Mom, who was still sitting in bed (I think they had just had sex), also smiled at me and said, ''I think he smells good.''

Now, my Mom passed away over 20 years ago and I get the feeling that this man, whoever he was, may already be dead, too.

I don't think this is any sort of a freudian dream (although your mileage may differ, Lol!) but I am curious as to why I keep getting images of dead women in my mind.

Also, I am especially curious about my Mother's comment, ''I think he smells good,'' in the dream -- especially based on my recent experiences with ''bad'' scents and my tumor.

Oh, I forgot to mention, that immediately following the surgery the bad smells went away -- so I feel extra-confident that I have a good, clean bill of health.

I'm curious now, what say you all about this? Have you had any similar experiences? Or do you have any reaction to this story and its sensory images, or any inklings as to what it all may mean?