Intermittent fecal/sulfur breath odor

Yes, multiple GI and ENT doctors--both giving me scopes of my digestive track and my nasal system. Each time, the results are that I have some acid reflux and yes, post nasal drip that they can't figure out the cause so they just term it sinusitis. But nothing in the tests explains the sulfur odor. Worst of all is the doctors don't even want to address the problem. One doctor literally told me it wasn't important to her.

Since I'm social distancing and live alone, I decided to do something I've avoided for the last 15 years--eat lots of garlic. A little experimentation to see how much it affects me. Started this morning and I can now smell the fart-like odor coming up my mouth and nose.

The doctors can't or won't diagnose it but the only thing I can think of at this point is that there are valves in my body that open up or are open that should not and odors that belong in my intestines are released. I don't think it's dental related because the odors waft up even when I'm not using my mouth--talking, eating, etc. I can be perfectly still and a sulfur odor will escape. Frankly the most direct way to describe it is like I'm silently farting from my mouth.

PS adding that while certain foods will trigger my acid reflux--the sulfur bomb breaths happen regardless of what I eat or don't eat. It doesn't matter if I'm full or starving. It's frustrating that years and years of taking medication and eating to take care of the acid reflux seems to have little effect on the bad odor.

I would find another GI.

Likely for me the sulfur not dealt with like in most folks system gets in my blood stream, into my lungs and is exhaled. Garlic, cabbage,dark green leafy vegies, eggs etc have high sulfur amounts (but they are essential foods). Sulfite preservatives/ sulfites in their many forms are in tons of foods and drinks and cause a worse problem -- beer, wine, cider, bottled lemon juice, dried fruit, etc etc even some spirits as the kegs they age in are sometimes treated with sulfur. Aged whiskies not so bad as I'm told the sulfur content tends to dissipate. It may seem odd to have such a reaction with such a small amount of sulfite ingestion -- possible one cause may be a genetic one - in my case. Lessening the consumption of the above helps -- though you'd need to be advised from a medical/diet practitioner...

I have seen 4 GI doctors about this issue, plus ENTs and of course, my general doctors.

@jojododo I have seen over 50 doctors in my lifetime to help me deal with this problem as it gets worse every month. And another couple hundred techs and Old Wives and more. I only recently learned at least one possible cause of the olfactory bulb failure. That is, that Amyloid Fibrils do tend to clump in the bulb, and make everything taste and smell like sulfur, whether it is or not. And I stay away from BBQ, pulled port, chili, and other highly spiced foods which tend to taste like Sulphur anyway. As I grow older, it gets worse rapidly after the age of 80. I doubt there is any way to cure it.

Hello @johnboade - Your posts seem to indicate that your symptoms are the closest to mine here on this blog. I have recently been researching sulfur and sulfites and I am thinking this observation may be the closest thing to a "cure" that I have come across in years. I am curious to know how this is going for you? Have you successfully found a medical practitioner that was able to help you? Are you still experiencing success?

New here. These posts from all of you give me hope. I've felt so alone for the past 25 years. The smell is terrible. It's humiliating. You walk by someone and you here them sniffing and looking at you. The smell fills a room as soon as you walk in, people start sniffing, or chew gum because they think it's them for a moment. Its hard to want to talk in the room because it smells so bad, and you see people covering their nose when you talk, even when they're 10 ft away. I get so angry sometimes and ask 'why me??!?!' Im so sorry for all of you, but i feel a little better knowing i am not alone. I am looking for a cure and have done everything you all have x 2. I wish doctors could understand how debilitating this is, and empathize enough to search for a cure. To them, it's 'just bad breath.' No. Its not. It cripples your entire life. Your job, your social life, your love life, your family life...everything that surrounds you. There has to be a cure. We will find it together...

my particular issue with some of the same effects comes from eating too much sulfur rich foods (important to have) cabbage, eggs, dark leafy greens, etc and sulfites in wine, processed foods etc (sulfites preservatives -- lots of different types), beer with sulfite preservatives, apple cider etc etc.my system does not process properly and the sulfur in my blood builds up and is expelled out my breath (I believe). Could be a genetic matter like SelenBP1 possibly resolved with future gene editing when perfected. Meanwhile I limit my intake of the above -- need medical advice here because the sulfur rich foods are important -- and that helps greatly

yes -- not confirmed with medical folk just yet but see my post above

@johnboade - I will try to limit my intake of sulfur-rich foods as well. I have never heard of SelenBP1. I seem to be getting closer to some relief. Thank you for the information 🙂