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Offensive fecal odor from the anus

Fecal odor from the anus is driving me crazy!

I have tried everything to resolve the situation to no avail and feel as though it's to the point of nearly destroying my life. I'm so very very embarrassed by it that I'm practically a social recluse and avoid everything. I am meticulous about personal hygiene and I dread being at work or college because its so very embarrassing.

My problem seems worse when I am tense or nervous which inevitably comes about because I am preemptively nervous about the odor, although I've never noticed any soiling in my underwear. I go regularly and clean intensely but the problem persists.

I've tried;
- regular colon cleansing by douching
- chlorophyll
- constant washing, wiping and showering
- diet change
- laxatives

Nothing satisfyingly works and I'm never rid of it! Any ideas?


This discussion is related to fecal odor.
72 Responses
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Avatar universal
http://www.stmarksfoundation.org/uploads/docs/patientinformationleaflets/SM07-05%20Anal%20%20leakage.pdf

The above link indicates this problem may be due to weak sphincter muscles which do not close tightly and therefore trap stool in the anus and allow gas leakage and stool leakage.

The above PDF gives specific exercises to help strengthen those muscles. Hope this helps...
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Suggestion:  Eat Two Bunches of Raw Parsley Everyday*

Hi!  I used to suffer from the same embarrassing problem!  I overcame it using very inexpensive means!  I feel it’s my OBLIGATION to share**.  
My (brief) story:  in 1999 I decided to return to college to finish up a degree I tried for years to complete.  I was trying to go to school and working full time.  My stress level was insanely high.  A year of this, my anus began to emit fecal like odor.  I tried everything:  washing, (at one point I was taking 8 showers a day), wiping, and wearing diaper.  Nothing worked.  After my graduation, I got a job.  My co-workers made fun of me or whispered behind me.  It was sheer hell.
The solution:  I noticed my problem would be worse when I drank coffee and when I was stressed out.  So I stopped drinking coffee.  Also I googled around and discovered that eating parsley could be a cure***.  I began to buy bunches of parsley and eat them raw.  It was not easy but I had no alternative.  I kept eating parsley – two or even three bunches everyday.  I did this for about six months.  The odor went away.  
I hope my sharing will help.  I was so depressed when I was suffering from this problem.  I know how you feel.
I will be praying for you!!  Good luck!!!!

*Sometimes I simply can’t chew and swallow the parsley anymore so I would chopped the parsley up and mix it with tomato and lemon juice and eat it like a salad.
**I had limited insurance when I was going through this crisis.  Western doctors couldn’t tell me what’s wrong with me.  Chinese herbalists MIGHT have been able to cure me, but I didn’t have enough resources (aka $$$ and time) to try their method (boiling those Chinese medications takes HOURS and they smell!!!)

***After researching, I found out my problem was probably related to kidney.  I got a scan of my kidney – nothing was wrong.  Nevertheless, I started buying vitamin pills that would cleanse kidney.  It was too expensive for me.  Then I learned eating raw parsley would also do the trick.  
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
It may be loose stools / permanent diarrhea.

I'm a 54 yr old [male] and need to take 1 small bottle of metamucil [or store equivalent]  pills daily. My discharge is so clean I do not need toilet paper.

No smel  !!!!!!!!!!!
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I have the same problem. Im almost pretty sure your problem is the same as mine. What I discovered is I have a weak sphincter. My anus dont close up like normal people because of some trauma (in my case I tried to hold in gas so hard once that it caused me this trauma). So what you have to do is look for a mirror and then look at your butthole and see if is even slightly opened. If so, go to a doctor as we need surgery for this. Good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi.  I been going through the same problem for 4 years.  After all my doctor visits nothing has been diagnosed.  I been drinking only water. And been taking 3x the dosage of probiotics n enzymes.   It has helped with the greasy stools and fecal odor. But still haven't found the cure.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
It is some type of parasite. My four year old has the same bad smelling discharge that comes out of his anus, and trust me it doesn’t smell like poo. It smells like rotten cheese or something. He also has pinworms coming out of him. Myself and his father also have bad symptoms. I think it could be two different parasites. I have done two stool samples and nothing. My son has done one sample, nothing yet. I think they are either not testing correctly, or the tests they use does not detect them. I read a scientific article proving this theory.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2754014/
my thoughts exactly
Avatar universal
Dear will you dont make people sneeze cough or get diarrea. So keep doin your things . my problem is one were people get sick its crazy doctors still say its notin so no one at home backs you up
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have the same problem except mine aggrevates after bowel movements and eliminates air bacteria that makes people ill. The best i can do is shower more often i tried all the prior advice. And drying just right is important and the cleanest and right clothes.
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Did you find any cure. Because im suffering from same problem.
Have you found any cure yet or the reason for the problem?
Avatar universal
I just having same issues.  Noticed certain preservatives such as methylchlorothianolone found in everyday used items such as lotions, soaps, shampoo, Toilet Paper and Wipes will cause skin irritations.  Once I stayed clear of these items and try to eliminate regularly and empty completely I do not have the odor.  But if you have issues of completely eliminating bowels the odor will be there.  Since 2007 I had this issue and just found what works last year.  Stay away from food that will cause you not to be able to empty out fully.  Everyone's digestive system is different.  I also stay away from teas, cranberries and prunes...be mindful of too many herbs...

Hope this helps
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi..i understand exactly what you mean. I'm also a victim of that,yet its been going for a long time too. And I've seen that no one understands what it is,so now I've been doing so.e experiment and I'm not that far from getting the thing that could eliminate the smells or suspend them completely for all your office hours/ social hours. I will keep you updated when I am through...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
99% success J
1.shave your anal area,and wash them every day with head&shoulders classic shampo.
2.run 30 min 2_3 times per week.
3.Drink 0.5 L water every morning and 2>3 L per day.
4.Drink natural lemon juice(squeeze lemon),orange daytime,and sometimes camomil tea in afternoon.
5.Eat veg,like cocumber,carotte etc,and boiled food
6.Protect your kidney,drink tea against kidney stone
                               ATENTION
7.Don/t eat chocolatte,biscuits and too much sweets.
8.Don/t eat Spiceys and too much salt food
  not often fried food
9.Pray and relax your mind.
Write me if you solve this problem (***@****) thank you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Read my comment at the bottom :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
*****I HAVE A SOLUTION for directly eliminating the smell. One word........VINEGAR! Just plain white vinegar. I haven't even tried the apple cider variety.

I have had this too. Soaping up 3 times. Get out of the shower, dry myself.......and the part of the towel that dryed me down there....smells! And no there is no leaking, it feels dry. So WTF??? It's like a strong musky oily smell (not crap). Anyways, just rub some vinegar there, and a little ways inside, right after you bathe. No it doesn't sting, unless you're sore from scratching a lot. And just do it throughout the day, if you need to. And if super bad, no problem.........get some of those round small thin cotton pads (makeup remover pads?), soak them in vinegar, then tuck one into your buttcrack, and leave it there. It should stay. Or just take 2 squares of TP, fold it twice, add some vinegar.....and use that instead of those round pads. AND......put some in a ziplock....brrrrring them with you to work. And simply just discard/replace throughout the day! I'll betcha you'll only need to do that ONCE in a day! There you go! AND, the most important thing.......SAY YOUR PRAYERS! Jesus can heal you of ANYTHING. And pay attention to the dreams he gives you. Cheers! :-)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
12 years? are you still there. It been going on with me for 10 plus years so I feel everybody pain here but it's crazy nobody can figure out a solution to this problem
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes probably true...one good cause of it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
See the above comments try checking for any prolapses in pelvic. Also check that you don't have any infection in lymphatic system...doctors are not good with this one - but you can check alternative therapies /massages to see if they can clear your lymph system.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Most probably true....I agree with this comment. It also could be some sort of nerve injuries to the pelvic and bowel ...causing them to malfunction.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Most probably true....I agree with that comment. It also could be some sort of nerve injuries to the pelvic and bowel ...causing them to malfunction.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am 23 years old. I am a Computer Science Graduate. I am a professional and expert Programmer. I got the 1st ranks for achieving highest scores among all university Computer Science graduates. I was gong to invent a programming language but it happened something different. At the very end of the final semester I felt like I was unable to control the gas. After a few months It started the problem of bowel incontinence too. I was thinking like if the sphincter were loose and insensitive. I saw a Gestroentrologist. He told me that the tone of the sphincter was normal. Colonoscopy test was normal. The abdominal ultrasound's results were also normal. He gave me some medicine that all improves digestion. 15 days before this writing it started an pungent smell from the anus even when the anus is empty. I don't know what to do. I cannot go out of my home. I cannot meet friends, relative and others. Now I arrived at a stage where I don't want to be alive anymore. I pray for you all. I think life with such problems is useless. May Allah give you all the best health than ever before.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I read somewhere that these odors from the anus could be coming from parasites. There's something to check. Good luck guys.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just thought of another cause: if you are mostly having hard stools, then it could be causing fissures, resulting in an infection...which could cause the smell to not go away. Make sure you are keeping your stools soft to avoid fissures.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
PS: It is probably an infection issue.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I feel so bad for you all! Reading your posts made me feel sad. I had a hemmrhoidectomy a few years back and started to have a weird smell as well. My doctor told me to fill a cotton ball full of hydrogen peroxide and squeeze it up the anus. It has worked for me. You could also try putting anti-biotic ointment, anti-itch ointment up there as well.
Your doctor may can also prescribe other medication creams as well. If your doctor can't help you, keep searching for one who can. I would try a Colorectal doctor over a GI.
Much love and luck to all of you suffering from this!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I too have recently noticed a similar issue, this being an acrid odour.
My hygiene is good, I'm regular, but of late this odour is worrying
I should also point out that I'm 53, very fit and active.
This is new and concerning. Any advice?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hi there, Here is what I did: 1 year ago, I went on the SCD diet, strict adherence was followed for 9 months, all symptoms except for one went away after 9 months, there was only one quite major issue that was left with (fecal odor), I tried everything that all people here had mentioned, nothing worked. I am a master at making Sauerkraut and other fermented food like Kvass since I started making these at the start of my SCD protocol (lot of information out there on how to make fermented food on the web, which is where I got all my knowledge). I knew that the fermented foods played a major part of my ultimate recovery, also had an idea of the fact that these probiotics were working from the top to the bottom (since we all eat these), I thought that if fermented foods can be ingested through the mouth, then why not through the rectum? This way the probiotics would be working from both ends and my remaining symptom was related to the rectal area. I started reading about administering probiotics through the anus and decided to give it a try, and it really worked, please consult your doctor or an expert in administering enemas and take the plunge, I am certain that a few treatments will do the trick, I am a naturalist therefore my enema consisted of Sauerkraut liquid at first and then Sauerkraut juice (where I pulsed actual Sauerkraut and its juices in a liquidiser making sure that I  only used short burts to keep the liquid from heating up (this protects the sensitive bacteria from being destroyed by the heat generated from continuous processing in the blender). I am 100% symptom free and am still following the SCD diet religiously.   The reason for my ailment (IBS), was definitely my eating habits and stress (I thinks that the food I ate was responsible 90% of the time), I only had 4 hours of sleep per day for over 5 years and a lot of stress, always ate processed food with minimal fibre for the whole time,  my digestive health was a mess at the end of this, after a years worth of SCD and details explained above I have my life back, I still do not get to sleep for 8 hours a day, but I make sure I get at least 6 hours of quality sleep each day. Thanks to the SCD diet (Elaine Gottschall’s book and the related website was indispensable for guidance and inspiration) I have got my life back. This is not and advertisement, you can gain all the knowledge in the book free of charge on the website and other related sites, I love books so I bought it.  I know how EMBARRASSING it is to smell like a dead fish all the time, I was a miserable wreck. I know the reasons for my suffering, never will I eat fast food, or any processed food for the rest of my life, after being on the SCD diet for a year; I am appalled at the sight of a fast-food restaurant or when seeing all the processed foods in supermarket shelves these days. I feel a million dollars, my weight is in check, have enormous amounts of energy and look 10 years younger to my former self, this was all due to the SCD diet and a lot of dedication.  All the best with your recovery!
Avatar universal
HI I too suffer from this condition ...I've had it for about 18 years now, one of the most distressing conditions anybody can ever suffer from & I feel for you all. people coughing around you from what seems like your miles away from them the nose scratchers . doctors just telling you its IBS time after time you visit them , then trying to convince you its all in your head when you brave up to tell them. when you shower/bath makes the condition worse. the sweating from your anal /the nightsweats not forgetting the uncontrollable flatulence. this is no way for anybody to live , it's so heartbreaking and a a waste of a life.

The past 18 years I've searched for herbal remedies to cure this problem . with no luck until about 2mths ago....so I like to share this with all you guys hoping i can really help someone out there

Please note this is not a cure but it'll take away all the nasty smell symptoms you fear .....

I discovered herbal tablet called Chlorophyll 100mg ...this will detox you whole body with 24/ hours the smells will be gone. no more nose scatchers the coughers reduced
.
PLEASE BEWARE !!!  do not overdose on these tablet because the opposite effect can happen leading to really bad flatulence. be careful with the fruit & veg when consuming these too. I'm still learning from this coz still in the early stage trying to find a balance. avoid taking these tablets around a fruit & veg meals look for the most furthest place possible to consume. if the effects of tablet start to cause unpleasant symptoms miss a dose and restart the following day or even two .....warning only attempt 1 tablet a day at the most.

If you get the correct balance believe me you'll walk around feeling like a new person. as the weeks go on i'm seeing big improvements

I really hope this helps most of you suffers here....please share your experience with what dosage and what best works for you.
          

    
Helpful - 0
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