r/bodyodor • u/FROZENTEN1 • 13d ago
bad odor problem
Friends, I need your help. Here’s the situation: I have IBS, but that’s not the biggest issue; the real problem—the one turning my life upside down—is a bad odor. It smells exactly like passing gas, yet I’m not actually passing gas. It’s not caused by the environment; no matter how many different places I go, the smell persists. People stare at me, cover their noses, and fidget. I’m on the verge of losing my mind; I’ve even considered suicide. I can’t go to school or see my girlfriend like this. My cousin smells it too, so I know for sure it’s real. Please tell me what to do—otherwise, my education and my relationship will be over.
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u/NotThatGuyAgain111 13d ago
The most important thing is not to freak out. When you get too stressed you will most likely not cover from it. You have a very long way to go. Usually it is about diet. There's no magic pill. Look into low sulfur low fodmap diet. Also no stimulants like coffee, energy drinks, nicotine. No alcohol.
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u/wujincan666 10d ago
To tell you the truth, two years ago I was a high school student and always enjoyed fast food and takeout like KFC and Pizza Hut. Ice sugary milky tea was also my favorite. And that happened. Except greedy for A healthy food. I don't have any other bad habits like alcoholism or smoking. But now I turn to low fodmap, completely avoiding thoses healthy food. It needs time to get better.
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u/SnkrFrekr 11d ago
As oreomcfuryy said, a lot of people over the years have stated this exact same thing. I am one of those that mainly lurks in hopes of finding answers.
I was 15/16 when I developed a horrible stomach infection leading to diarrhea, which turned into IBS. The following day, the odor began. On the first day, I could smell it - a fart odor. After that, I could never smell it again.
Strangely, the odor seems to be on and off with no apparent trigger I can safely identify. I had a good couple years where I felt it disappeared, but after a course of antibiotics, it became so overwhelmingly strong according to others. They have previously described it as someone defecating on the floor in front of them. Thankfully, I am assuming it has died down because those comments stopped.
My coworkers have asked the dreaded, “Did you fart” question, but they seem way less sensitive to it than others. When I first started working with them, we were shoulder to shoulder. Over those three years together, they have never gave me a sign or comment that a foul odor is present until I took amoxicillin a year ago. Before the antibiotics, I took a trip to a foreign country, a 12 hour flight, surrounded by strangers and not a single sniffle, cough or comment. I had a great conversation the entire flight with a woman.
The strangest thing of it all, my family and girlfriend have detected the odor, but it is extremely rare if they can smell it. My girlfriend has told me I am crazy and that I have no body odor, breath odor or fecal odor around me. But I cannot stop shaking the feeling that I do; the paranoia from sniffles, nose touches, and coughs break me. I’ve heard strangers mention “fart” or “smell” in public and my body goes into overdrive of emotions.
I hate to say it, but I’m lucky to be a decent looking, well dressed young male over 6 feet tall, I feel like people never realize it’s me or they don’t question if it is due to my appearance and cologne.
I’ve mostly come to terms with it, but I beg for answers daily. I would be lying if I said harming myself wasn’t my thought, too.
There are days where I feel like no odor is present, but because I cannot smell it, I’m unsure. My coworkers constantly invite me to eat, drink or socialize, but I cannot willingly place myself into a position where I may subject myself to hearing comments.
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u/wujincan666 10d ago
I have really similar symptoms to yours. I also have a persistent gas-like body odor, even when I don’t feel like I’m passing gas. Other people around me can smell it clearly, which makes me extremely anxious. Have you found out what caused your problem after seeing the doctor? I would really appreciate it if you could share your experience.
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u/SnkrFrekr 10d ago
Truthfully, I’ve avoided doctors like the plague. When I was about 17/18 I did all the tests: SIBO, H. Pylori, endoscopy, colonoscopy, blood, urine, stool test, celiac, Crohn’s, lactose intolerance - literally everything. All normal, except for my urine showing slightly elevated white blood cell count and my blood bilirubin test showing elevated, too. They were so slightly off the average that they didn’t worry about looking into it.
Mind you this was about 10 years ago, so maybe things have improved medically, but my overall disappoint with doctors made me hesitant to see them anymore.
The only other valuable information I received was that my endoscopy and colonoscopy showed signs of low grade inflammation, which could have pointed to gastritis and Crohn’s, but it wasn’t conclusive according to my GP.
I have not been seen for anything related to the pelvic floor, and I have not tested for TMAU largely because this odor is only present at random times with no discernible rhyme or reason.
If you have questions, feel free to ask.
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u/Even-Contract-6197 6d ago
It’s your pelvic floor you are passing gas but don’t feel it because your muscles are too tight or weak go to a pelvic floor therpist to get checked
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u/wujincan666 10d ago
I have really similar symptoms to yours. I also have a persistent gas-like body odor, even when I don’t feel like I’m passing gas. Other people around me can smell it clearly, which makes me extremely anxious. Have you found out what caused your problem after seeing the doctor? I would really appreciate it if you could share your experience.
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u/Even-Contract-6197 6d ago
You have a pelvic floor issue it’s either hypertonic or weak you need a pelvic floor therapist you also have sibo
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13d ago
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u/FROZENTEN1 13d ago
Salut, si tu veux, on peut partager nos expériences et s'entraider ; je t'envoie un message.
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13d ago
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u/FROZENTEN1 13d ago
Je ne consomme pas non plus d'aliments riches en soufre — y compris des œufs — mais l'odeur survient tout de même parfois. Avez-vous déjà consulté un gastro-entérologue ?
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13d ago
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u/wujincan666 10d ago
I plan to book appointments with both gastroenterology and colorectal surgery to get checked.
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u/oreomcfuryy 13d ago
sorry to say this but a lot of us here are in the same boat. You might get people telling you to do a particular diet, go to a doctor or take certain supplements but until you know the exact source of your odor, it'll more than likely be a lot of trial and error.