Unknown Body Odor

Posted by Deprest @deprest, Jan 4, 2012

I need help! I've got a bad odor coming from my body, that I can't smell. Yes it's hard to explain. Doctors think I'm making it up. In public people avoid closeness, coughing, holding their noses, avoiding me at all cost. I'm a prisoner in my home. Don't venture out unless low on food and pick times to do it. I'm constantly shamed.im healthy, clean. Homes clean, I can't explain. Have spent last two yrs going to every type doctor to no avail. My family can't smell it either. Has anyone heard of this?

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Profile picture for iamjade @iamjade

That’s because they lying to them because they not real enough to be honest unlike strangers they don’t care they gone let you know that’s why it’s causing so much confusion and doctors just don’t want go further in helping so they lie

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I agree. I've asked 2 doctors and they say they can't smell anything yet when I'm around people.. oh boy they're not shy in telling you that you smell, whether it be saying it or giving all those signals that we know. I shower twice daily, am fastidiously clean in my home, change and wash my clothes every day. I Wear deodorant and put it in almost every 3 hours as I'm so conscious of the smell. Please help!

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Profile picture for jenatsky @jenatsky

“Olfactory reference syndrome (ORS), preoccupation with a false belief that one emits a foul or offensive body odor, has been described around the world for more than a century. However, only a few small studies have systematically assessed ORS's clinical features.”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3139109/#:~:text=Olfactory%20reference%20syndrome%20(ORS)%2C,systematically%20assessed%20ORS's%20clinical%20features.
I didn’t see anyone mention that they saw a therapist or a counselor concerning this interesting illness. I’m not saying anyone crazy especially with all the responses but cover all the bases especially when regular medical channels have been exhausted. Also, consider a naturopathic doctor too.

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I appreciate your advice but when you SEE people giving you the look and kids ask if you've bathed.... how can it be psychological? A question... because our stress levels are high as we're aware of our offensive odor, does that raise our cortisol levels and set off our apocrines? I'm not a medical expert at all so would love your feedback

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Have you been to an ENT and an allergist? Firstly you’re showering too much and getting rid of body oils we produce to keep us safe. We do have the ability to heal ourselves in certain circumstances. Once you’ve exhausted all normal medical routes without an answer that satisfies you see a psychiatrist. Yes increased cortisol levels could cause excess perspiration but you’ve had that ruled out by two doctors. Considering that you’ve done a stellar job or cleaning, washing and bathing but still have an offensive odor in your head you can decide for yourself your next step. It’s just like any other illness that requires treatment. Here is an authoritative reference for you. The good thing it’s easily treatable. Please don’t just go to your PCP for medication? See a psychiatrist for the best solution.
https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric-disorders/obsessive-compulsive-and-related-disorders/olfactory-reference-disorder

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I have this same problem. It can't be psychological as you can see by stranger's faces that there is a problem and you can't ignore the fact that they are saying things about BO and looking at you. If children ask you why you stink, you can't say it's psychological. I shower twice a day, am fastidiously clean in my home and have started applying antiperspirant every 3 hours. The problem is, knowing you stink makes you more stressed your apocrines work so much more and that doesn't help at all. I don't sweat lots so it's not sweat that's causing it. I'm thinking it may be TMAU? There are days when it would be easier to be out of this world rather than put up with comments and looks.

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Profile picture for unique30 @unique30

Hello everyone!I really need help figuring out what’s going on with me. I have impeccable hygiene! But, I smell horrible at all times! Most common odor is of sweaty socks. What’s weird is that my feet don’t smell at all. I can smell the odor around my nose. The crease of my nose to be exact.The odor would get worse depending on my diet. But, it doesn’t matter what I eat, I smell. The odor is very strong. I don’t consume dairy because the odor would get worse, and I get a fecal/poop/sewage odor.I’m not sure if these odors are coming from my stomach. I had endoscopy done, perfect oral health, tonsils removed, tmau test was negative. I was positive for Sibo only. No matter what I do, I smell bad, musty. I take 2 showers a day, scrub, use antibacterial soaps etc, nothing helps.I know is coming from inside of me. I constantly smell like cheese. I don’t have any parasites, fungus or anything else that could be possibly be causing this. I can’t take the embarrassment anymore. People don’t understand that is a health condition, not that I’m a dirty person. My hormones are fine, within range. I have notice that close to my ovulation the odor would decrease somewhat, and very rarely I get one good day where people don’t complaint about the smell. I have narrow it down to be close to my ovulation day. I really don’t know what else to do. I have visited, endocrinologist, ENTs, Gastros, functional doctors, dentists, Obgyns.

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Hi, recently the same thing has happened to me!! Did you find a solution?

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Profile picture for unique30 @unique30

Hello everyone!I really need help figuring out what’s going on with me. I have impeccable hygiene! But, I smell horrible at all times! Most common odor is of sweaty socks. What’s weird is that my feet don’t smell at all. I can smell the odor around my nose. The crease of my nose to be exact.The odor would get worse depending on my diet. But, it doesn’t matter what I eat, I smell. The odor is very strong. I don’t consume dairy because the odor would get worse, and I get a fecal/poop/sewage odor.I’m not sure if these odors are coming from my stomach. I had endoscopy done, perfect oral health, tonsils removed, tmau test was negative. I was positive for Sibo only. No matter what I do, I smell bad, musty. I take 2 showers a day, scrub, use antibacterial soaps etc, nothing helps.I know is coming from inside of me. I constantly smell like cheese. I don’t have any parasites, fungus or anything else that could be possibly be causing this. I can’t take the embarrassment anymore. People don’t understand that is a health condition, not that I’m a dirty person. My hormones are fine, within range. I have notice that close to my ovulation the odor would decrease somewhat, and very rarely I get one good day where people don’t complaint about the smell. I have narrow it down to be close to my ovulation day. I really don’t know what else to do. I have visited, endocrinologist, ENTs, Gastros, functional doctors, dentists, Obgyns.

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Same thing is happening to my daughter who is in the midst of diagnostic tests for IBD. Any treatment or suggestions for this issue?

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Profile picture for unique30 @unique30

Hello everyone!I really need help figuring out what’s going on with me. I have impeccable hygiene! But, I smell horrible at all times! Most common odor is of sweaty socks. What’s weird is that my feet don’t smell at all. I can smell the odor around my nose. The crease of my nose to be exact.The odor would get worse depending on my diet. But, it doesn’t matter what I eat, I smell. The odor is very strong. I don’t consume dairy because the odor would get worse, and I get a fecal/poop/sewage odor.I’m not sure if these odors are coming from my stomach. I had endoscopy done, perfect oral health, tonsils removed, tmau test was negative. I was positive for Sibo only. No matter what I do, I smell bad, musty. I take 2 showers a day, scrub, use antibacterial soaps etc, nothing helps.I know is coming from inside of me. I constantly smell like cheese. I don’t have any parasites, fungus or anything else that could be possibly be causing this. I can’t take the embarrassment anymore. People don’t understand that is a health condition, not that I’m a dirty person. My hormones are fine, within range. I have notice that close to my ovulation the odor would decrease somewhat, and very rarely I get one good day where people don’t complaint about the smell. I have narrow it down to be close to my ovulation day. I really don’t know what else to do. I have visited, endocrinologist, ENTs, Gastros, functional doctors, dentists, Obgyns.

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Do you mind sharing what med, supplements or herbs you take?

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Profile picture for gardeningjunkie @gardeningjunkie

Body odor wasn't my issue, but it may surprise you that we are all harboring yeast which give off their waste. A cause for many health issues is the yeast living in our intestines. I developed multiple forms of eczema in middle age, yeast was never diagonosed by my oncologist or other doctors. Still I was suffering so I kept reading about ways to improve my health. I wanted a cure and not a treatment.
I came upon the book, The Yeast Connection Handbook by William Crook, Md. He wrote this book decades ago. It's a simple, fast read for the layperson in which he explains what this yeast waste is doing to our bodies and is causing various health issues and diseases.
Your body is clearly out of balance, the book can be bought second hand and is inexpensive on the internet.
Following his detox is challenging, but I did it and today 5 years later still avoid his #1 culprit, processed sugar. It's all explained in his book.

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I end up with eczema after an organ transplant in 2000. A second transplant in 2017. The eczema cones and goes over the years. I was told to use a prescription cream when it pops up.

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Profile picture for unique30 @unique30

Hello everyone!I really need help figuring out what’s going on with me. I have impeccable hygiene! But, I smell horrible at all times! Most common odor is of sweaty socks. What’s weird is that my feet don’t smell at all. I can smell the odor around my nose. The crease of my nose to be exact.The odor would get worse depending on my diet. But, it doesn’t matter what I eat, I smell. The odor is very strong. I don’t consume dairy because the odor would get worse, and I get a fecal/poop/sewage odor.I’m not sure if these odors are coming from my stomach. I had endoscopy done, perfect oral health, tonsils removed, tmau test was negative. I was positive for Sibo only. No matter what I do, I smell bad, musty. I take 2 showers a day, scrub, use antibacterial soaps etc, nothing helps.I know is coming from inside of me. I constantly smell like cheese. I don’t have any parasites, fungus or anything else that could be possibly be causing this. I can’t take the embarrassment anymore. People don’t understand that is a health condition, not that I’m a dirty person. My hormones are fine, within range. I have notice that close to my ovulation the odor would decrease somewhat, and very rarely I get one good day where people don’t complaint about the smell. I have narrow it down to be close to my ovulation day. I really don’t know what else to do. I have visited, endocrinologist, ENTs, Gastros, functional doctors, dentists, Obgyns.

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Could be a deficiency of Zinc.

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Profile picture for rdschicago @rdschicago

Same thing is happening to my daughter who is in the midst of diagnostic tests for IBD. Any treatment or suggestions for this issue?

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If this is IBS, Irritable bowel syndrome, I once had this. I ate yogurt daily for about 6months and can eat with oat granola and any berries. I no longer have issues. I also took a shot of 1tble spoon of apple cider vinegar in Welch's berry juice or can use grape juice for 6 months. This cured my IBS.

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