Intermittent fecal/sulfur breath odor
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.
Treatment of SIBO doesn't always take. You may need to take multiple rounds of antibiotics. In addition, you have to watch what you eat as the wrong types of food may bring the bacteria overgrowth.
A friend has SIBO, received antibiotic treatment and still has to stay on top of it and what she eats. However, she doesn't suffer from bad or fecal breath.
Same here. I have done a list of things to solve this. Have you had any luck?
3 upper endo's
gall bladder removed
tonsils removed
stopped eating red meat
I take probiotics
floss after each meal
monthly detox
gargle with salt and peroxide after each meal
Nothing works!
I feel the same way! I was actually thinking about getting funds together and paying a doctor to do research.
Dear msacctnt,
If so many people suffer from the exact same symptoms why is it so hard for the medical community to believe us and take us seriously. It's not hard to do research, the patients are right here!
I agree....I’ve told Multiple drs- internists, ENTs, dentists. Each one looks at me like I’m crazy. It’s embarrassing and frustrating!
Hello. I was wondering if you can explain a little more why these supplements would help? I read about all of them independently but why this specific combo? Also which probiotic do you think is best? I was recently diagnosed with SIBO with halitosis issues for 10+years... currently finishing antibiotic regimen round 2 which does not seem to be helping. In the past, I have tried the products you mentioned but never together and never for more than about two weeks at a time. Thanks for your help.
Same problem here. I fill up an entire room with a rotten smell. It's been a daily nightmare. I always wish that I can just be away from everything and live alone...
I've had this rotten smell for years and have tried many things. I tried a lot of diets, herbs, medicines for digestive issues to no avail. think my sinus is congested so I've been to ENT's, dentists, oral surgeon many times but they say there's nothing wrong.
Anyway, I had a Sinus CT scan a few months ago and impacted teeth were found. The'ye in the front of my mouth so they're not wisdom teeth. The ENT and oral surgeon that saw the CT scan both said they're fine and nothing needs to be done. I'm desperate so I went to another dentist/oral surgeon to ask to have the impacted teeth extracted. This will be in a few weeks. It's been a daily nightmare for years that I'm willing to try anything.
Hi @dailysufferer - interesting that you mentioned your sinuses as a possible source. It reminds me of my husband’s very bad breath years ago. Same thing- it would fill a room, nauseating. He had no idea of this problem. I had to bring it up because I’m sure it was not different at work. He first went to see an ENT and was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis- he did not have many symptoms except for post nasal drip. He was put on antibiotics for 6 weeks and that smell has not returned.
Hi @astaingegerdm. I've taken antibiotics too - several of them. For some of the antibiotics, they worked after a few days that I felt relieved but then the smell comes back and I'm back to my daily nightmare. Same with allergy meds.
Thanks for the info - hopefully it will help someone.
I'm just joining this group and noticed your posts. As many have said, you are not alone. And, while I hate that you have to deal with this, I'm a bit relieved to know someone else is trying to sort out symptoms that seem incredibly similar to mine. To the best of my ability, my GI and funky breath issues began shortly before or after my arrival in Honduras in 2005, while serving in the military. Like you, I have had multiple tests and procedures with similar remarks like it must be your IBS, etc. My dentist couldn't find a reason, although I've had gum recession. This is likely due to over brushing in an attempt to remove the foul taste in my mouth. Within a few minutes of brushing my teeth, my mouth tastes like it never happened, to the point that I have absent-mindedly brushed again, Like you, I have wondered about parasites, especially given the location I was in. My labs come back negative. With the exception of occasional low blood glucose, everything seems "normal", which is exceedingly frustrating. I will update this post if I come across anything that may help. I wish you and others all the best as we try to figure out the reasons for this life-altering condition.