Fecal Body Odor

[wesley75]

Hello...I had a question about an odor problem I've been experiencing on and off for 15 years. First off, when I was younger I was pumped with antibiotics for constant ear infections. Coming into my teens I experienced really bad gastritis for a while and found out I was allergic to milk. After getting off the milk the gas wasn't as chronic but it was still there. Now around the age of 15 was the start of the intense body odor. I really don't know how I graduated from highschool after this awful odor. There were 2 odors. 1 odor more frequent was a persistent lingering sulfur musty odor that would follow me wherever I went. The odor would change every now and then. Sometimes it smelt like rotten carrots, garbage, cat poo, etc. After eating better and taking shower after shower things got worse. Around 16 years old I started drinking off and on thinking I would forget about it and it would go away. I was SO wrong. This is the 2nd odor I'm talking about. I remember one day I walked into the cafeteria and people were screaming and running out every door. The whole building was just filled with a rotten egg odor- times 1 million. I shortly figured out it was me after doing this more than once. After years of this it would go away for 6 months and then come back to haunt me. Now a days I have more of the lingering odor and haven't had the bad one for a while. It seems like I get the bad odor when I just get a new job and I begin to sweat from physical labor. After trying so many different things I still can't hack this problem. I have tried cleanses, probiotics, liver cleanses, L Glutamine for Leaky Gut, Green drinks, gosh you name it. Recently, I've been focusing on intestinal candida and I've been taking oregano oil and colloidal silver followed by Primal Defense probiotics for a week now and I just feel a bit tired and the odor is more persistent followed by crazy dreams. Not sure if this is die-off or not. About 6 months ago I got a colonoscopy and edoscopy done for pain in my lower left side of colon. He found lots of internal hemroids and cut out some benign polyps. He just said he didn't see anything big and Its probably genetic why I smell this way. He wouldn't give me any blood or stool tests not sure why. The one thing that I do that makes the smell worse or better sometimes, usally better, is an enema. So I think the problem is in my colon somewhere. One more thing. A year ago I had a perenial abcess that I had to get drained and has returned in the same spot after doing an enema a week ago. Maybe the abcess problem is causing the odor? Shoot!! Sorry about the long question I just wanted to try to get as much as I could in. Does anybody have a similar experience or any advice that might help? I'm not sure what to do anymore. I would see a Naturopathic Doctor again but I can't afford it anymore. Last time it seemed like I never left my appointment for under $600.00. Thanks for reading if you haven't already fell asleep... Wesley

[fbodude]

From various posts, it appears there may be multiple causes for fecal body odor.  I've also had some form of fecal body odor for over 25 years.  I remember it started when I was 12 and everyone said I farted even though I couldn't smell anything.  This smell usually seemed to happen sometimes after exercising.  Anyway, the smell almost completely vanished by changing to a vegetarian diet.  No meat at all.  For almost 20 years after becoming vegetarian, the smell happened probably a handful of times.  I'm theorizing animal protein is high in sulfur containing amino-acids which don't get broken down properly and form smelly sulfur molecules which circulate in our bloodstream released by sweat or breath.  BTW, unfortunately, the american medical community has no information on this disorder, and seeing a medical doctor will very likely be fruitless.  Although some people with fecal body odor may be suffering from TMAU which is classically defined as a fish odor, but apparently can also give off a fecal odor.  Anyone with fecal body odor, feel free to email me at ***@****.

[onwardwego]

I have had this problem for only two months or so, no matter how often I shower, using zinc oxide powder, etc. does not seem to help. I do not think it is a venereal disease as I have not had sex with anyone for over 3 years, or has it been four. However, I guess it could be a VD which could stay dormant for years?. I guess it is time to go to the doctor.

[funkifree2014]

we should all join somewere we would all feel comfortable since we all have the same condition .we can all see wat is similar and figure this out ..our join as one and go to the news with it start recording the reactions we get ive lived with it 9 years ..ITS NOT LIKE THEY DONT ALREADY SMELL US **** THEM LETS TAKE A STAND..UNITED WE STAND DIVIDED WE FALL

[copycat999]

YES IT IS; I would bet my bottom Dollar on it.

[copycat999]

Wesley, it sounds as if you & others may have what a doctor I was working with in France was afflicted by.
Being a young scientist I had never come across this condition before but I found myself holding my breath in the corridor whenever I had to pass his office. To make things worse, he kept his office door wide open. It was a strong putrid smell as if he had come from the Sahara and had not washed for months. When I asked his secretary why no one had ever "told him" she explained to me that it was a genetic condition and that it had nothing to do with personal hygiene. From what I recall, it is a metabolic disorder which creates a compound smelling like stale sweat, urine and feces combined. The actual smell does not come from your GI tract; it comes from your skin, from your pores. That is why the smell is stronger when people get stressed or angry: Sweat glands carry the component… but I forgot what it was called.
A dermatologist may know what I am referring to.
I never forgot the poor man because I had nicked-named him "the skunk" before being told about the condition, and I felt guilty about it ever since.
This medical condition is known in France, so prod your medical team to look in the FR medical reviews. I am talking some 40 years ago, so by now someone must have found a medication to minimize if not cure the symptoms. I am baffled why no one seems to know about it in the US - Perhaps most practitioners are too young to have come across it.
I follow regularly a TV series called Mystery Diagnosis.  In most instances, the one who eventually finds the elusive condition is a (very) mature practitioner.
All the best to you and others with a similar condition.
 

[Hugeone]

Hi. The problems that most describe here are very much the same as mine, which started when I was young due to a very slow gut - poor motility due to diet, lifestyle or genetic fault my Dr said. Anyway, I found that when I was very fit and active and ate moderately most of the symptoms disappeared, until I got very stressed at work,  I started drinking too much and then It all came back with a vengeance. So this is my thinking:
a. Once you have had a bad case of gastritis it can and will return if you do not take steps to look after yourself.
b. Stress and anxiety make the condition return or get worse    
c. Gut infections caught from poor or unsanitary  food, bad water or due to STD infections can cause gastritis leave you suffering for years.
d. Any exercise that helps keep your gut moving, will reduce symptoms and depression
e. Those drugs called PPI's  (proton pump inhibitors) help when things are really bad.  
f. Avoid all fatty and spicy foods and sauces and reduce your dairy and alcohol intake too. Eat small meals regularly - 3 times a day, plus avoid snacking in between.
g. Do not waste money on `health-food' treatments and potions because there is no cure ( i have tried many without success)
I still experience regular  flair-ups but they are at least more manageable now.I hope this may help someone