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.
Dear Pbleonar,
I suffer from the same condition and feel your pain. I've been to countless doctors and have even seen a psychiatrist who thought it was all in my head. I've been diagnosed with SIBO. What ever I have is causing the SIBO. I suffer from breath that smell like a fart, feces and butt odor. When under stress the smell come out in different parts of my body. I'm on a round of rifaxin which I've taken in the past and did not work. I believe that it is a parasitic. I visited South America got food poisoning and haven't been the same since. This condition is effecting my life traumatically. I don't like to go out, because of the constant comments. I am a teacher. The kids refer to me as dragon breath. They cover their noses when I speak or put their hoods over their face. No one wants to sit next to at meetings. The staff whispers and talks about me behind my back. The principal is trying to get rid of my despite being a great teacher. I've tried so many things. I have a 3 drawer cabinet full of supplements that don't work. I just tired! I really concerned about losing my job because they think it's a hygiene issue when I take two showers a day. I'm so tired of the medical community not taking this issue seriously. It seems like there should be an easy fix. So many people suffer from this condition, I don't understand why people are ignoring us.
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.