Aa
Strange body odor follwing me
This gonna be a bit long, but I'm really serious and everyday is like hell so I'd appreciate if you read this and help me.
I thought it was GI problem or skin problem first time, but all the test results were healthy so every dr. sent me to psychiatrists.
I still think it's physical or neurological problem but people treat me like I'm mental so I write here. (No offense)
I've always had IBS all my life, and sometimes had body odor, but both were normal range and had nothing to do with each other. I mean when my IBS had really flared up there was no BO. and I'm hygienic person, I shower everyday for 1 hrs.
It started when I stayed in humid hot country. I'm weak to spicy foods or hot weather or stress, so I guess the place was the trigger--I developed severe underarm odor and become really gassy.
I'm usually a bit gassy and it's been odorless. But after staying that country(hot weather, severe stress, terrible diet) my body odor and gas(sorry, yuck) became really offensive.
So when I came back home I tried to eat healthy, lots of vegetables, limited proteins, no processed foods, etc...
Strange thing happens from here.
My skin odor disappeared and gas became nearly odorless, but strange smells started to follow me.
First I thought it was environment problem because it was not human BO. It was raw sewage smell or strange ammonia odor(not women's odor, pure ammonia smell), sometimes dirty clothe smell sometimes just undescribable something.
but time passes by I realized it was me. Because it followed me and when I bent down I could smell it coming from my body.
Then I thought I had rectal problem so intestinal gas leaking, but it was not.
One day I felt something more subtle than air coming out from my groin area and this air-like something was carrying the smell of my urine INSIDE my bladder. I didn't leak any urine, and my underwear, clothe were clean and my groin area skin didn't smell,
Something very subtle, air-kind something was seeping out from my body emitting odor of my inside.
Now you think I'm mental. don't you?
Sometimes I think I'm crazy too. and I WISH I were crazy.
And this smells change up to places, foods, condition, hormonal change, mood, or even weather.
I really can't pinpoint which thing trigger which smell. I just always have BO that follows me like radiation. Strange thing is my skin rarely have any BO now. (or my gas)
It's.... more like aura around me.
So people doesn't notice it was me first time, but slowly they start to notice it's me.
More bizzar thing is, this smell can travel to hundred meters in sec.
I MEAN IT.
I saw all the people walking hundred meters ahead me suddenly stare back at me, then start to look around as if they thought 'normal looking person like me' cannot emit this kind of odor spreading so vast area.
Plus, my family or friends or docs can't detect this smell. (though nurses can smell it I don't know why)
Many strangers can smell it (one day whole compartment of subway glared at me because of my smell. I remember the angry disgusted glares of people. I don't take subway after that.)
Some people mention it 'what the hell is that smell'... 'who **ted'... 'that's her'...
But my friends can't smell it. They are not lying. They usually point out my every defects, so when they say they don't smell, it's true.
Further strange thing is, the smell changes up to places.
Sometimes it start to emit in basement or bathroom, sometime in alleys, sometimes at my home, it just changes and I don't know why.
Just one more plus, some odors not emitted from me(like garbage smell or other persons smell) FOLLOWS ME.
One day there was an alcoholic in waiting room and I stayed there about one hour. After that day, for 2 days I emitted alcoholic stench from my body. I wasn't even sitting next to him but it was like my body aura absorbed the stench!
Think it was demanding reading, sorry.
But I had to vent all the strange symptoms that's killing me everyday.
How can this kind of symptom exist?
Severe BO? I can live with that. But smell of my inside gut or bladder escapes me?!! and it spreads to vast area in seconds?! and whatever I eat however I shower the smell doesn't go away?! and the BO is not normal human stench?
Sometimes the smell is so not human, more like sulphur substance in Lab, I can blame it to sewage problem.
Now I'm taking xanax to calm me down, and it helps me about sulfhuric odor, but when I take xanax too much it becomes rotten garbage odor.
Already too long to read, I'll add some more in replies.
Is anyone here have this problem?
What the hell is this? How can physically this kind of thing exist?
PLZ, somebody, help me.
My psychiatrist gave up on me and just throw me some xanax sometimes risperdal but they don't work much.
Oh, and every physical dr (GI, Hormonal, Traditional docs) gave up on me too.
I thought it was GI problem or skin problem first time, but all the test results were healthy so every dr. sent me to psychiatrists.
I still think it's physical or neurological problem but people treat me like I'm mental so I write here. (No offense)
I've always had IBS all my life, and sometimes had body odor, but both were normal range and had nothing to do with each other. I mean when my IBS had really flared up there was no BO. and I'm hygienic person, I shower everyday for 1 hrs.
It started when I stayed in humid hot country. I'm weak to spicy foods or hot weather or stress, so I guess the place was the trigger--I developed severe underarm odor and become really gassy.
I'm usually a bit gassy and it's been odorless. But after staying that country(hot weather, severe stress, terrible diet) my body odor and gas(sorry, yuck) became really offensive.
So when I came back home I tried to eat healthy, lots of vegetables, limited proteins, no processed foods, etc...
Strange thing happens from here.
My skin odor disappeared and gas became nearly odorless, but strange smells started to follow me.
First I thought it was environment problem because it was not human BO. It was raw sewage smell or strange ammonia odor(not women's odor, pure ammonia smell), sometimes dirty clothe smell sometimes just undescribable something.
but time passes by I realized it was me. Because it followed me and when I bent down I could smell it coming from my body.
Then I thought I had rectal problem so intestinal gas leaking, but it was not.
One day I felt something more subtle than air coming out from my groin area and this air-like something was carrying the smell of my urine INSIDE my bladder. I didn't leak any urine, and my underwear, clothe were clean and my groin area skin didn't smell,
Something very subtle, air-kind something was seeping out from my body emitting odor of my inside.
Now you think I'm mental. don't you?
Sometimes I think I'm crazy too. and I WISH I were crazy.
And this smells change up to places, foods, condition, hormonal change, mood, or even weather.
I really can't pinpoint which thing trigger which smell. I just always have BO that follows me like radiation. Strange thing is my skin rarely have any BO now. (or my gas)
It's.... more like aura around me.
So people doesn't notice it was me first time, but slowly they start to notice it's me.
More bizzar thing is, this smell can travel to hundred meters in sec.
I MEAN IT.
I saw all the people walking hundred meters ahead me suddenly stare back at me, then start to look around as if they thought 'normal looking person like me' cannot emit this kind of odor spreading so vast area.
Plus, my family or friends or docs can't detect this smell. (though nurses can smell it I don't know why)
Many strangers can smell it (one day whole compartment of subway glared at me because of my smell. I remember the angry disgusted glares of people. I don't take subway after that.)
Some people mention it 'what the hell is that smell'... 'who **ted'... 'that's her'...
But my friends can't smell it. They are not lying. They usually point out my every defects, so when they say they don't smell, it's true.
Further strange thing is, the smell changes up to places.
Sometimes it start to emit in basement or bathroom, sometime in alleys, sometimes at my home, it just changes and I don't know why.
Just one more plus, some odors not emitted from me(like garbage smell or other persons smell) FOLLOWS ME.
One day there was an alcoholic in waiting room and I stayed there about one hour. After that day, for 2 days I emitted alcoholic stench from my body. I wasn't even sitting next to him but it was like my body aura absorbed the stench!
Think it was demanding reading, sorry.
But I had to vent all the strange symptoms that's killing me everyday.
How can this kind of symptom exist?
Severe BO? I can live with that. But smell of my inside gut or bladder escapes me?!! and it spreads to vast area in seconds?! and whatever I eat however I shower the smell doesn't go away?! and the BO is not normal human stench?
Sometimes the smell is so not human, more like sulphur substance in Lab, I can blame it to sewage problem.
Now I'm taking xanax to calm me down, and it helps me about sulfhuric odor, but when I take xanax too much it becomes rotten garbage odor.
Already too long to read, I'll add some more in replies.
Is anyone here have this problem?
What the hell is this? How can physically this kind of thing exist?
PLZ, somebody, help me.
My psychiatrist gave up on me and just throw me some xanax sometimes risperdal but they don't work much.
Oh, and every physical dr (GI, Hormonal, Traditional docs) gave up on me too.
Best Answer
You mention that English isn't your first language. This makes me wonder whether you might regularly eat foods that contain "exotic spices" (such as Indian food) or maybe even certain Asian foods contain things like pickles garlic which can cause body odor. I love those spices and foods but I understand that they can often change the scent of your body and can cause "body odor" related to the spices/pickled garlic, pickled cabbage, etc. And perhaps others in your life who also eat those foods do not pick up on any offensive body odor either because they don't find those smells to be offensive, or else because they can't smell it on you if THEY smell that way too or if they're just brought up in a culture where certain scents aren't "offensive" or "bad."
With garlic in particular, the smell would come from your lungs upon exhaling, and could change the odors of other body systems too.
Just an idea that I thought was worth bringing up in case it might apply to you.
I experienced body odor in the past from a prescription medication. I smelled like "grease" and I could even smell my own scalp! I think the medicine dialated my capillaries, made my body temp rise, made me sweat mildly, and caused my skin to produce more oils. Anyway, at that time I felt that everyone around could smell me. It felt gross! But only ONE person said, Yes, you DO smell--And she said I smelled like McDonald frenchfries. Gross! Everyone else was too polite. So before you chalk it up to "mental"
causes, (you sound rational and have good insight--it sounds to me like you probably do have some unusual scent caused from something (don't know what) but that others' denial of it causes you to question your sanity. Don't underestimate how many folks would lie and say they smell nothing rather than risk embarrassing you and themselves by saying, "Yeah, now that you mention it you kind of do carry a scent...."
I'm sure you've done so already but think long and hard about spices and sauces you might eat; anything pickled; any "exotic" spices, etc. And consider whether ANY of your meds COULD either cause body odor OR an increased sensitivity to odors in general (or perhaps the both combined!).
Best wishes to you...From Central New York :-)
With garlic in particular, the smell would come from your lungs upon exhaling, and could change the odors of other body systems too.
Just an idea that I thought was worth bringing up in case it might apply to you.
I experienced body odor in the past from a prescription medication. I smelled like "grease" and I could even smell my own scalp! I think the medicine dialated my capillaries, made my body temp rise, made me sweat mildly, and caused my skin to produce more oils. Anyway, at that time I felt that everyone around could smell me. It felt gross! But only ONE person said, Yes, you DO smell--And she said I smelled like McDonald frenchfries. Gross! Everyone else was too polite. So before you chalk it up to "mental"
causes, (you sound rational and have good insight--it sounds to me like you probably do have some unusual scent caused from something (don't know what) but that others' denial of it causes you to question your sanity. Don't underestimate how many folks would lie and say they smell nothing rather than risk embarrassing you and themselves by saying, "Yeah, now that you mention it you kind of do carry a scent...."
I'm sure you've done so already but think long and hard about spices and sauces you might eat; anything pickled; any "exotic" spices, etc. And consider whether ANY of your meds COULD either cause body odor OR an increased sensitivity to odors in general (or perhaps the both combined!).
Best wishes to you...From Central New York :-)
Hey, I'm OP.
guys i appreciate your sharing, trying to help, saying good words, I'd be completely lost without you people.
I just want to share something more, if we can discuss again.
i've said close people can't smell me. My family and friends are all brutally honest, they are sometimes cruel, so if they say they can't smell I believe them.
Doctors are too.... My town doctor are ordinary nice people, but since I started complaining about smell problem they treated me like i'm mental and getting angry at me.
i don't understand... Already two doctors are upset by my ongoing insist about smell problem, they just ignore me now when they see me, suggesting mental counselling bluntly.
(i don't understand why my phantom(?) smell problem make them upset...one doctor said 'Why can't you believe me? Are you playing with me? i really can't smell anything!' and he nearly drove me out of his office.)
this is really bugging. if this is yeast or candida or gland problem why my close people and doctors can't smell me?
Someone in here talked about evil spirits, saying that's why our beloved people can't smell us.
i don't know, but now only explanations can be three .
1. I'm haunted so smell changes up to people i meet.
2. i'm mental and hallucinating.
3. i physically really stink but some people just can't smell it. like my hormone and gland choose who can smell me or not.
I've been already to psychiatrist and psychologist, tried ssri's and xanax and even anti-psychotics... xanax helps me a bit and risperidone(risperdal) made me sick and anti-depressants made it worse.
if doctors could smell me i'd be a lot much happier. My psychiatrist counselled one sweaty girl before my session. i always could smell her sweat and my doctor could too. then doctor said to me 'i can smell her bad odor, my nose has no problem, now, why don't you start believe me you don't stink?'
Yeah, i want to believe her, but my customers (I work as a clerk) continuously complain about some smell or glare at me with disgust or talk under breath 'she smells...don't wanna come here...'
God,
what is this? is this extraterrestrial disease?
guys i appreciate your sharing, trying to help, saying good words, I'd be completely lost without you people.
I just want to share something more, if we can discuss again.
i've said close people can't smell me. My family and friends are all brutally honest, they are sometimes cruel, so if they say they can't smell I believe them.
Doctors are too.... My town doctor are ordinary nice people, but since I started complaining about smell problem they treated me like i'm mental and getting angry at me.
i don't understand... Already two doctors are upset by my ongoing insist about smell problem, they just ignore me now when they see me, suggesting mental counselling bluntly.
(i don't understand why my phantom(?) smell problem make them upset...one doctor said 'Why can't you believe me? Are you playing with me? i really can't smell anything!' and he nearly drove me out of his office.)
this is really bugging. if this is yeast or candida or gland problem why my close people and doctors can't smell me?
Someone in here talked about evil spirits, saying that's why our beloved people can't smell us.
i don't know, but now only explanations can be three .
1. I'm haunted so smell changes up to people i meet.
2. i'm mental and hallucinating.
3. i physically really stink but some people just can't smell it. like my hormone and gland choose who can smell me or not.
I've been already to psychiatrist and psychologist, tried ssri's and xanax and even anti-psychotics... xanax helps me a bit and risperidone(risperdal) made me sick and anti-depressants made it worse.
if doctors could smell me i'd be a lot much happier. My psychiatrist counselled one sweaty girl before my session. i always could smell her sweat and my doctor could too. then doctor said to me 'i can smell her bad odor, my nose has no problem, now, why don't you start believe me you don't stink?'
Yeah, i want to believe her, but my customers (I work as a clerk) continuously complain about some smell or glare at me with disgust or talk under breath 'she smells...don't wanna come here...'
God,
what is this? is this extraterrestrial disease?
Im experiencing the same issues. It mainly happens when I go out with my friends. I have Pseudo DSD, which essentially is a neuralgic disorder which makes me lose control of my pelvic floor. Essentially I constantly clinch my sphincter, which also gives me the urge to urinate when I dont have too. This in return makes me nervous and stressed and thats when the smell comes out of my body. It smells like a sewer. Ive smelled it a couple times but most times I cant smell it. Ive had close friends smell it but it usually happens when were hanging out with non friends. It happened last night and I think it comes out from sweat glands under or around my testicles. Ive noticed that every time this has happened my crouch area, specifically under my testicles, is extremely sweaty, so Ive come to the conclusion this is where the smell is coming from. Honestly, I feel this only happens when Im nervous in social situations. Im gonna work on treatment for my Pseudo DSD and work on relaxing in social situations. Also, if I experience sweaty crouch again im going to goto the bathroom and cleanse the area with a wet washcloth to see if this limits the smell. Hope this helps you guys.
I know! I have the exact same problem. My family, friend, doctors or anyone I tell my problem to cannot smell me. But, everyone else can. I KNOW this is not a mental problem. I am in college and I'm known as "The girl that smells like s**t." People always glare at me at school and everywhere else in public. Recently, a guy in my class said aloud "We should all sign a petition and make her shower before she comes to class" and he just laughed. It happens in all my classes. Everyone hates me and they say its torchor to be in a class with me. I was at a fabrics store the other day and once I stepped foot in the store the employees started to ask "what's that smell". One of them said "its that girl" and she started to spray air freshener and then got to where I was and sprayed some in the area that I was in and laughed. This other lady at ross said "OMG are you kidding me, it f-ing smells" when I got next to her and she gave me the dirtiest look and left. So yea this is not paranoia. We are not crazy even though the people close to us and DR's say we are. I'm not a bad person. I have never done drugs, only had 2 drinks my entire 20 yrs of living. I have never robbed or killed anyone. All I want is to be able to be in class and not have anyone say I smell awful. I want to graduate University. That's all i'm asking for. I just want a simple, normal life.
I'VE BEEN DEALING WITH A SIMMILAR SITUATION FOR 1.5 YEARS, I HAVE DONE RESEARCH IM GONNA SHARE WITH YOU, I CAN FEEL WHAT YOU RE FEELING SOMEHOW, DONT LOSE HOPE.
I'LL WRITE TO YOU SOON, IM LEAVING WORK NOW.
I'LL WRITE TO YOU SOON, IM LEAVING WORK NOW.
Hey guys I'm OP
Im starting to think I'm definitely cursed from my born. I was born weak, always been ill or sick without reason, doctors never knew why Im always sick everywhere. Besides smell problem nothing ever worked in my life either, job, love, family problem, friends, profession, anything ever worked.
Im over average I Q, (english is not my language), I hear that I'm good looking, I try to be nice to people, but it's like some evil entity is controlling my life not to be happy ever just once.
Feeling like I have to be like this the rest of my life. Feel like demon is really controlling my life. Feel like I was born with an evil entity stalking me my entire life.
I start to think there is no hope.
Im starting to think I'm definitely cursed from my born. I was born weak, always been ill or sick without reason, doctors never knew why Im always sick everywhere. Besides smell problem nothing ever worked in my life either, job, love, family problem, friends, profession, anything ever worked.
Im over average I Q, (english is not my language), I hear that I'm good looking, I try to be nice to people, but it's like some evil entity is controlling my life not to be happy ever just once.
Feeling like I have to be like this the rest of my life. Feel like demon is really controlling my life. Feel like I was born with an evil entity stalking me my entire life.
I start to think there is no hope.
You are reading content posted in the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Community
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Condoms are the most effective way to prevent HIV and STDs.
PrEP is used by people with high risk to prevent HIV infection.
I think it is very telling that the people who are around you (and people who care about you and would be honest with you) do NOT smell anything. You THINK strangers around you are smelling you, but that just may be a psychological reaction, because YOU think you smell, so you think they smell it too, and you feel self conscious.
What do you mean nurses can smell it? How many other people, besides you, and not including strangers, have verified that they smell something? How do they describe it?
While there is no doubt that certain medical conditions and diseases cause different odors, you've seemingly had a lot of very thorough work ups from many different specialists, and again, it is just too significant to ignore that really, YOU are the only one who smells this.
I'm sure you are frustrated and I'm sure you genuinely believe this is going on (and it might be, obviously I can't say either way), but my own personal assessment is that perhaps this IS indeed psychological in nature. It could be olfactory hallucinations, it could be an exaggerated perception of a very subtle normal body odor. It sounds like perhaps when you stayed in the "hot" country, something happened there that changed you. Maybe due to the circumstances, when you WERE having BO and other issues, you became so overly sensitive to it and upset by it, that you were sort of left traumatized?
I'm not saying that you're crazy, and I feel for you, but with all the medical assessments you've had, and the fact that no one close to you smells it, really points more toward something pyschological in nature. Have you tried therapy? How about any other meds besides Xanax?
I wish I had something better to tell you, but that's my hunch. I think it wouldn't hurt for you to dive into mental health treatment, give it a try. In the very least, if the smell is real and undiagnosed, you need support to get you through this. I'm sure it is affecting every aspect of your life.
Very best of luck to you!