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ammonia body odor

For at least 2 to 3 months I've been experiencing ammonia type body odor to a weird meaty body type odor.  It's like I can actually smell ammonia in my nose.  Sometimes it feels as if it's in my throat.  Other times I can taste a "meaty" type of odor smell?  I know this sounds weird but please bear with me on this.  It's not my imagination working over time either!  My car and apartment takes on my body odor.  I can shower for an hour and a 1/2 and immediately after coming out of the shower I still have this weird off body odor like ammonia or fried meat?  I eat pretty healthy.  Drink lot's of water.  I've noticed that over the past months that my bowel habits have changed.  More cramping, constipation and diarrhrea.  I've also noticed blood in my stools.  Bright red to be more specific.  I do have hemmoroids so I attribute the bleeding to my hemmoroids but I can't be sure because I also have stomach pains off and on when my stomach is empty.  Like a burning sensation.  I use to drink a lot of coffee and soda but I think that's what caused my stomach issues.  I plan on seeing my doctor soon!  I have some ideas like maybe H. Pylori or some type of bacteria overgrowth in my gut?  I dunno but it's not normal.  I wasn't born like this so I doubt if I have TMAU.  I suspect that it's internal because my stool smells of ammonia as well.  Any thoughts?
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Avatar universal
So weird. I have had a constant pain in my left side since 2010 and I think it was from being exposed to something called Corexit that was in the water in my area when I was trying to save sea life from the BP oil spill.I didnt know anything about it till a couple years ago when I was searching for things in my area that matched my symptoms but if I bring it up I get looked at like Im crazy. My life has been hell ever since and the only thing that helps is sweating in an extremely  hot tub of water for hours. And I notice that when the pain is more that my sweat smells like strong ammonia. My bowels bleed sometimes and my stools are always bloody with bright red blood or yellowish and smell strong like acid smell. I have had scans and tests and more tests but I just cant get any real help. After my initial exposure I had green ooze in my left foot between my toes and in my face under my hair follicles in my chin on the right side and in my right ear. Just when I got all the swelling and green stuff out of my body I fell 30ftplus from a tree and suffered a traumatic brain injury but to this day with my ongoing problems still in 2017 I think it is less brain injury and more chemical exposure. From there my story just gets sad but hopefully this helps somebody. Anyone with advice or help for my specific situation please let me know I am all ears.
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Avatar universal
I first developed this problem in my early 20s while at university. I found that it always happens after I drink beer and then exercise or am in a hot environment in the next day or two. Since then, I hardly drink beer and have no problem. If I do drink beer, then I'm careful who I exercise near/get hot near for the next couple of days. The fact that the problem developed while at uni was surely no coincidence - drinking a lot of beer at that time, which is what led me to thinking it might be the cause.
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Avatar universal
Your liver is the primary regulator of the ammonia metabolism. So if you have serious liver issues, the ammonia blood serum levels can become elevated. But advanced liver disease is easy to detect so this isn't likely your problem.

Your sweat also contains ammonia and can get high enough in concentration to be detect via smell. I'd guess that this is your culprit. And seeing an endocrinologist or dermatologist would be a good step towards diagnosing what is out of sync.

Hope you are able to track this down and please let us know what you find out, there are many others dealing with the same problem. Take care.
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Avatar universal
I notice my ammonia odor when I sit in the sun or eat foods like hot soup or cereal. I have read on some workout sites that people who notice this smell when they sweat, may have too much protein in their diets, and need to balance it out with more complex carbohydrates or, good carbs, such as, vegetables, whole grains, fruit.... I am guilty of eating a lot of meat, and not nearly as much fruit or veggies as I need.....
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Avatar universal
For many years I have this problem and doctors just pretend as if an over concern whenever I suggest something wrong with the odor coming my body. finding this page help me identify the odor and put to rest I'm not paranoid. The look on people faces when an around, people cough ir cover their nose whenever am in a air condition building or vehicle. For years it has cause me embarrassment but no one ever say something just their expression tell.thank God am not alone
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2 Comments
No your not
No your not
Avatar universal
Hi, I suffered with this for 9 years until I read an article about chemical reactions to body odor. The article suggested using an aluminum free deordant.  I changed deodorants.  I now use an aluminum free, arm and hammer essentials, and I no longer have the ammonia smell.  I am amazed at the difference and wish someone would have suggested this years ago.  My undershirts are no longer pitted and yellow.  Try it.  I hope it helps.
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1 Comments
Well I don't think this smell is coming from my underarm  I think it's coming from the I side my body
Avatar universal
Hi Laughing eagle

A female friend of mine approached me last Friday evening, said Warren, you will never get laid with that ammonia smell about you. I was at an AA meeting with the nicest, kindest caring folks and friends you can imagine. my friend is a movie actress, we are real friends, I said thankyou, for telling me, the funny faces on friends, not willing to say a thing is worrisome to say the least, I clarified with her it was not a "pee" smell, that would be prostate infection, like "nsu" or gonorhorhea  she said no! ammonia, candida die off,, another woman said it to me last yr. it comes and goes,,,
neurotic is what I become,, Its candida folks,,
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Avatar universal
I have heard that Candida can cause an ammonia smell when it is dying off. That is way less dangerous than liver disease and most doctors don't even acknowledge it as a problem. Check out a chitin synthesis inhibitor to break down the cell walls of the candida. I just purchased some and the product is called "Candida Cell Wall Suppressor". I have also had ammonia smell from my skin and realized I was eating too many sweats. Coffee (acidic) and carbohydrates (chips, etc.) can also make candida grow.
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Avatar universal
Glad to see that im not the only one going through this problem. However, it is still very disturbing to know something is there and to not have any answers. I've been dealing with the same ammonia body odor for over a year now. After Long showers, a change in diet, and hours at the gym, I am still lost. I've been to every doctor that you could think of and they all say the same thing" your blood test are normal, some superb" and the fact that they don't smell anything! I've taken every test there is sugar, liver, kidney, blood pressure, STDs, MRIS and the list goes on. I've been to liver and kidney specialist and they both seem to laugh at me after my results, after finding that all of my organs are in perfect shape. It is to the point where I'm afraid to go out in public sometimes. No one ever says anything but the look on there faces says enough! If any one has any answers to this disturbing issue please post your feedback. Or inbox any information you might have that may help me.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
I'm sorry your  going threw this but I'm going threw the same thing I don't know what's going on for a minute I  thought someone put a spell or something on me but I  drink vinegar and water apple side vinegar  and the   smell is there it  change to smelling like something else but it's still there if I find a solution I'll post it. Kb
Avatar universal
I have had the same thing for almost a couple months now. I can smell amonia in my actual nose and also simply all over my skin. I have recentl gained about five lbs and got a bit out of shape after changing work schedules. I eat mostly vegan. I am 35, female, pretty healthy and fit overall. I eat mostly vegetables, but potato chips and coffee would be my main culprits of poor health? Any progress yet in finding out what this is? Its very confusing and drives you crazy at first right? Its hard to even discover and pinpoint, like " what IS that smell and where is it from!?!?"
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Dude2008 I just want you to know that your not alone.  I have been suffering from the same problem and symptoms for a couple of years now.  I also had the H. Pylori test but they came up negative.  I found that a diet low in protein and high in low glycemic carbs help the smell lessing. My doctor suggest I have some hormone tests taken to ensure there is not a imbalance, I have not taken them yet, but I will let you know when I do.  I hope knowing that you are no longer alone in this battle well give you some comfort.
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Avatar universal
Hello,

I am not a doctor either but I have non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver. In advanced stages of this disease, the liver has problems breaking down and getting rid of the type of waste products that it is specifically designed to do. When these waste products are not expelled from the body, they create the product of ammonia. Too much ammonia can lead to disorientation and swelling of the brain.

If your problem is liver related, you will need to go to a gastroenterologist for exam and bloodwork to measure what is in your blood - including ammonia levels and your liver enzymes. I have had a liver biopsy 2 years ago and found out I had the cirrhosis. If you do have this illness, besides seeing a gastroenterologist you will need to change your diet substantially. This includes very limited protein consumption (a sick liver has problems breaking down and clearing the by-products of protein and this results in possible higher ammonia levels), higher fiber diet and lots of fruits and vegetables. Do not eat fried food as high fat content irritates the situation with a sick liver. Also, I was told by my GI doctor to take fiber in a glass of whatever is tasty. This also helps with constipation issues and keeps the colon cleaner.

I hope this helps. Please remember that I have written about liver issues and it may not be that. If your regular doctor does not pursue this issue as fast as you need to or dismisses the problem, move on to another doctor fast. I would recommend going to a GI doctor immediately to verify whether it is a gastrointestinal issue or not. In the 3 years I have been dealing with my liver issue, I have found that doctors I have gone to are not aggressive enough in trying to find out the cause of health problems. I do not know why, but my guess is that they are either overloaded with patients or the insurance companies rules regarding treatment for a health issue makes them more conservative in pursuing a health issue.

Good luck,
KT
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Avatar universal
I am no Expert and I know nothing about Medical issues.  But I do know that ammonia is a part of the Urea that comes out with the Urine.  (check out sharks at the fish market, they smell like ammonia as well).  If I had to guess...  Perhaps a kidney problem, your kidneys or liver are not getting rid of the ammonia/urea.
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