1. < Digestive Health

Intermittent fecal/sulfur breath odor

Posted by pbleonar @pbleonar, Jun 8, 2017

After scouring the web, I'm certain I'm not the only person with this problem, and not the only person who's been told they were imagining it. Anyway, the issue is I have intermittent odors when I talk (yes, I've been to the dentist 10+ times-- all say my oral hygiene is on point and xrays and inspections showed nothing). The only time it's practically non-existent is when I eat an unhealthily low-carb diet. Like others online, I've had CT scans, Barium swallows, endosocopy/colonoscopy, screening for parasites (getting one more from an IDS before crossing that off my list). All showed up negative. I tested positive for SIBO, but after researching that for the past 3 years, I'm certain SIBO is more of a symptom than a primary causal problem. Furthermore, even when I treated SIBO with heavy antibiotics, it did absolutely nothing for my breath-- and yes I was cleared of SIBO after a couple rounds of work. yet, the moment I eat carbs, I still get a "did someone just s*it themselves?" comment.

I guess what I'm getting at is I'm tired of doctors just saying it's IBS and SIBO and then proceeding to do zero investigating afterwards. I want to get down to the root cause of this, but most doctors are either too apathetic or too incompetent to do anything. Are there any researchers who specialize in studying and diagnosing hard to find problems in the GI tract? Between the 3 GI docs, 2 ENTs, 2 NDs and 1 IDS, I just can't take normal doctors anymore. I want my life back and I want a specific root cause so I can work on progressing from there.

Further notes: Diarrhea actually cleared up when I ate junk food and I had zero bloating, albeit the odor remained.

Xifaxan and neomycin did nothing for the odor, nor did the elemental diet. I actually think the elemental diet made the smell as bad or
worse than before.

*******Nitazoxanide********** worked wonders for the month I was on it. Solid stools even with foods that normally cause my ibs to flare up.
It's exactly the reason I felt there was more going on to everything than just SIBO and IBS.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

choosejoy | @choosejoy | May 15 2:03am
In reply to @saucy "I have the horrible smell all the time. Just like glamma55 it's on my towel, panties,..." + (show)
@saucy

I have the horrible smell all the time. Just like glamma55 it's on my towel, panties, and sports bras after I work out. Thought it was coming from my stomach since I do have Gerd and reflux. Had ulcers and stage C esophagitis. Took PPI's for awhile while they healed but after being on them for many years I read about too many side effects. Also thought maybe smell was off from Covid but that was several years ago. The fact that I smell it from clothing makes me think it's not breath however finally pressing my husband he says he doesn't smell it on my body but occasionally on my breath. I have a very low carb diet and seems like only thing I can eat without stomach problems is meat and I eat probiotic whole milk plain yogurt. I can't digest fruits or vegetables. Had food allergy testing and avoid the foods I have allergies to. Very frustrating! Think our sex life is being impacted but husband doesn't want to hurt my feelings! I also read on the Mayo site that a person that a brain tumor had a bad smell all the time!

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Ask your GI doc for the SIBO hydrogen breath test that checks for three different types. You may get your answer there. Research this for more details.

REPLY
cj1234 | @cj1234 | Jul 27 8:34am

Has anyone had any updates on their problems since last commenting? I have very similar problems, and am looking for any potential help I can possibly get.

REPLY
1 reply
kim1003 | @kim1003 | Jul 28 5:04am
In reply to @cj1234 "Has anyone had any updates on their problems since last commenting? I have very similar problems,..." + (show)
@cj1234

Has anyone had any updates on their problems since last commenting? I have very similar problems, and am looking for any potential help I can possibly get.

Jump to this post

I deal with this too - I think it's from reflux for me. The dr has me on Nexium. hopefully it works.

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gwenrn74 | @gwenrn74 | Aug 22 7:49pm
In reply to @pbleonar "Yea, Most everything under the sun has been tried, including probiotics and enzymes (pancreatic too). And..." + (show)
@pbleonar

Yea, Most everything under the sun has been tried, including probiotics and enzymes (pancreatic too).

And that's what I thought, regarding the nitazoxanide, but the parasite tests-- so far-- have come up negative. That and I had to properly motivate the doctor to take that seriously and test for them. This is the same doctor who wouldn't take the parasite thing seriously after telling her I worked in a sewer as punishment for a couple weeks and that the water supply for the dorms frequently came out different colors at least once a month, and I, like an idiot drank from it on a semi regular basis. With a straight face, she asked me how I knew the water supply at my old base was contaminated if the base never sent us an informative letter. Apparently she has faith in the government being 100% honest with its armed forces and the public in general

Anyway, one more parasite test will be completed, fecal and blood work, some time next week, and then that'll be crossed off the list. If so, I need one great specialist to take this up and start investigating. There are many others out there having the same problem and if someone could help dx and treat the issue for good, I guarantee they'd have a large group of people travelling from around the country to seek the same help.

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I did acupuncture bc a funky smell/ taste was happening to me. I thought it tasted like stomach cancer, but it wasn't it. There are community based acupuncture clinics which are was less expensive than a private session.

Expect to go more than once. A one poke wonder will only get you pregnant, so it may take a couple of months to even out your chi.

REPLY
jojododo | @jojododo | Oct 24 5:46am

No cure, just living with it. I check in once a year or so... And I don't know why because I have given up on a cure. It's been 19 years of this condition.

I just started a new job, after being laid off for 5 months. I dreaded the job search process, afraid of in person interviews. But I got this job with only video interviews. Unfortunately the job isn't fully remote, I go into the office once a week. And all I think about is sooner or later, I'll have a fecal breath moment when I'm around someone on my team. And it happened yesterday after a month on the job.

My manager who works remotely in another state, came into town this week. Aside from one big team meeting, she also scheduled one on one meetings with everyone. I was so anxious about it. With the big team meeting, we were at least in a big room. With the one on one meeting, nightmare scenerio...we met in a tiny windowless room.

It was great for about 15 minutes and then I must have had an intermittent fecal moment because my manager remarked how hot it was and told me to crack open the door. Then, she changed her mind and said leave wide open...

And yeah, I got that dreaded feeling... It has happened again. And the awful thing is that there is the chance that she was hot but living with this shitty condition, you inevitably think no, the real reason is the shit breath.

You spend every minute over analyzing every detail. I should be sleeping and resting for another of work, but I can't sleep because my lizard brain can't let it go.

"reasons" why I don't think it was about the room being hot... 1) she had met with my other teammates all day and kept the door closed. I was the last meeting for her. 2) it's a one on one meeting to talk about my performance which is supposed to be a discreet discussion. Hence why she was holding meetings in a closed door conference room. But after telling me to open the door, she said, oh nothing we are talking about is all that private. Even though a few minutes prior, we talked about my salary. 3) she started off the meeting singing my praises, after the door request, she was much more quiet.

New job and now I have a new group of people to introduce my intermittent fecal breath to 😞

REPLY
2 replies
samclembeau | @samclembeau | Oct 24 4:32pm

There is a bacteria that lives in the gut that causes fecal breath. Now even being associated with colorectal cancer. You might see if you can be tested and seek a cure from there?

REPLY
h8bigbiz | @h8bigbiz | Oct 25 3:07pm
In reply to @jojododo "No cure, just living with it. I check in once a year or so... And I..." + (show)
@jojododo

No cure, just living with it. I check in once a year or so... And I don't know why because I have given up on a cure. It's been 19 years of this condition.

I just started a new job, after being laid off for 5 months. I dreaded the job search process, afraid of in person interviews. But I got this job with only video interviews. Unfortunately the job isn't fully remote, I go into the office once a week. And all I think about is sooner or later, I'll have a fecal breath moment when I'm around someone on my team. And it happened yesterday after a month on the job.

My manager who works remotely in another state, came into town this week. Aside from one big team meeting, she also scheduled one on one meetings with everyone. I was so anxious about it. With the big team meeting, we were at least in a big room. With the one on one meeting, nightmare scenerio...we met in a tiny windowless room.

It was great for about 15 minutes and then I must have had an intermittent fecal moment because my manager remarked how hot it was and told me to crack open the door. Then, she changed her mind and said leave wide open...

And yeah, I got that dreaded feeling... It has happened again. And the awful thing is that there is the chance that she was hot but living with this shitty condition, you inevitably think no, the real reason is the shit breath.

You spend every minute over analyzing every detail. I should be sleeping and resting for another of work, but I can't sleep because my lizard brain can't let it go.

"reasons" why I don't think it was about the room being hot... 1) she had met with my other teammates all day and kept the door closed. I was the last meeting for her. 2) it's a one on one meeting to talk about my performance which is supposed to be a discreet discussion. Hence why she was holding meetings in a closed door conference room. But after telling me to open the door, she said, oh nothing we are talking about is all that private. Even though a few minutes prior, we talked about my salary. 3) she started off the meeting singing my praises, after the door request, she was much more quiet.

New job and now I have a new group of people to introduce my intermittent fecal breath to 😞

Jump to this post

My heart goes out to you. I have had all my life horrible smelling gas and when I was younger could keep it under control only by not eating for 12 - 24 hours before work or a social engagement. So I ate very little except on the weekends. But now it takes at least 36 hours of not eating before the gas stops and I just can't go that long without eating, so no more social life for me. Fortunately for me, I'm retired; my heart goes out to you since you still have to work.

REPLY
healthseeker77 | @healthseeker77 | Oct 26 7:13pm
In reply to @jojododo "No cure, just living with it. I check in once a year or so... And I..." + (show)
@jojododo

No cure, just living with it. I check in once a year or so... And I don't know why because I have given up on a cure. It's been 19 years of this condition.

I just started a new job, after being laid off for 5 months. I dreaded the job search process, afraid of in person interviews. But I got this job with only video interviews. Unfortunately the job isn't fully remote, I go into the office once a week. And all I think about is sooner or later, I'll have a fecal breath moment when I'm around someone on my team. And it happened yesterday after a month on the job.

My manager who works remotely in another state, came into town this week. Aside from one big team meeting, she also scheduled one on one meetings with everyone. I was so anxious about it. With the big team meeting, we were at least in a big room. With the one on one meeting, nightmare scenerio...we met in a tiny windowless room.

It was great for about 15 minutes and then I must have had an intermittent fecal moment because my manager remarked how hot it was and told me to crack open the door. Then, she changed her mind and said leave wide open...

And yeah, I got that dreaded feeling... It has happened again. And the awful thing is that there is the chance that she was hot but living with this shitty condition, you inevitably think no, the real reason is the shit breath.

You spend every minute over analyzing every detail. I should be sleeping and resting for another of work, but I can't sleep because my lizard brain can't let it go.

"reasons" why I don't think it was about the room being hot... 1) she had met with my other teammates all day and kept the door closed. I was the last meeting for her. 2) it's a one on one meeting to talk about my performance which is supposed to be a discreet discussion. Hence why she was holding meetings in a closed door conference room. But after telling me to open the door, she said, oh nothing we are talking about is all that private. Even though a few minutes prior, we talked about my salary. 3) she started off the meeting singing my praises, after the door request, she was much more quiet.

New job and now I have a new group of people to introduce my intermittent fecal breath to 😞

Jump to this post

I too have had this problem for most of my life. After reading sanclembeau’s message I looked up the bacteria he mentioned that causes fecal breath. I am going to try this test and see if I can get a resolution to this miserable health issue.
https://www.perioimplantadvisory.com/clinical-tips/article/55131135/bad-breath-caused-by-leaky-gut-nutrition-may-help-both-problems

REPLY
samclembeau | @samclembeau | Oct 27 3:24am

The bacterium I was talking about is Fusobacterium nucleatum
Let us know how it turns out after the test.

REPLY
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