Unexplained offensive body odor

[Rustyrose]

I have an offensive body odor that is simply unexplainable and its beginning to depress me and causing me to become anti-social.  I cannot smell it myself but I know that others around me do.  It appears to smell like rotton food or sewage from comments I've heard.

I am desperate to know what it is and how I can get rid of it. What sort of specialist would one see about a problem such as this?

The only medical problem I have is hypothyroidism am considered in the obese range.  My over all hygeine is excellent.

Desperate for help!

[SassyLassie]

I know this was posted in 2009, but if anyone else sees this, I would like to add that you may be low in Zinc, reports have stated that those that are deficient in zinc tend to have more body odor than those that don't. I would start taking a supplement of it and a good multi-mineral, this may help the situation.

[leighsz]

If anyone comes across this... if you're a socially anxious person this can be stress/anxiety induced flatulence. It can literally be every couple of minutes and leak out without you feeling it. Control the anxiety or see a doctor for anti anxiety medication, and hopefully it will go away.

I have this and it started after fecal impaction (so severe the smell was coming out of my pores). Had horrible reactions at work from it. After the impaction cleared, so did the odor... until I developed extreme social anxiety and became convinced I was giving off this odor 24/7 (I literally thought it was tmau). Coworkers would be giving me hints I was gassy but I just thought that meant I smelled like feces all the time when I didn't lol. I was always stumped why doctors and family told me they couldn't smell me at all - not realizing it was because I felt relaxed around them, and the reactions would happen as soon as I left that office because the social anxiety at that point was so bad.

If you're going through this see a doctor again. But this time ask if they can prescribe you beta blockers. Hopefully it goes away. Be warned beta blockers can be constipating though, so make sure you remain regular or else you might still have gas from the constipation.

[hayjenna]

I have a body odor too.  Besides going to the doctor and having your metabolites checked I would suggest anti-baterial soap.  Not the smelly kind the plain old blue kind in a bottle at walmart.  Thrown away your body poof's buy a bunch of wash clothes and use those.  The body poofs harbor bacteria.  And the final piece to my puzzle was the new degree clinical strength expnsive for deoderant but well worth it.  I can even skip a shower day now if I am really super tired.  I feel your pain I have had this problem since puberty and so have others in my family.  People can be mean and cruel when you aren't like them but just remember there is something "wrong" with everyone and ours is just more noticable.  I learned about the body poofs on Oprah.  Good Luck

[FurballsMom]

I am only guessing here, but it is a reasonable guess--have you had your thyroid checked?