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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.
Best Answer
480448 tn?1426948538
Hello there!

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!
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Avatar universal
Hi Sleepmonster.I hope you are doing better by now. Let me tell you my story. I have been suffering with the same affliction for about 17 years now; ever since I had half my thyroid removed. I had a goiter on my thyroid. I've experienced every single symptom you've described and yes even the symptoms that are crazy and unexplainable. The experiences never seem to have a rhyme or reason. This is what I've done. I stopped drinking a d eating dairy products ( mainly milk and cheese ) for about a week. During this time it just so happened to go stay at a hotel. The clothes and everything that I had packed wreaked of this smell and I could really notice it because I was in a different environment. The smell is like an old basement stuffy smell and that's the best way I could describe it. But The outfit I had in at the time was new and it did not have the same smell. Now I remind you it had been about a week since I had consumed any milk or cheese.When I returned home, the smell in the house was so apparent, I was enlightened and wildly anxious to tackle the next thing I did. This is the hard part. I cleaned everything. And when I say everything, I mean it. Even the drawers and threw out all old papers. I shampooed the carpet and the furniture, the bedding, threw away the bed pillows, wiped down my purses, shoes... The smell has saturated everything. That's not even the hardest part.I had to bag up all the clothes (clean and dirty) bed linen, and everything made out of cloth material. I am still in the process of washing everything twice. I'm air drying the clothes on a rack in the bathroom with a personal heater and this way it helps me to detect whether the smell is still present in the clothes in this confined space, it helps. After 2 washes the clothes smell fresh. The whole time I cleaned, I wore the same NEW outfit that I left the hotel without. This way U could detect and track my progress if eliminating the smell. This is why it was so hard to understand why even though I have good hygiene I still could not get rid of the smell. The smell resided throughout the whole house. First take notice of what you eat. I finally realized that immediately after eating milk or cheese I could smell the odor intensely. Now for the first time in so many years, my house is starting to smell fresh, the air is clear, I feel great and healthier and everything just feels happy and healthy in my home. I guess it's a weird form of lactose intolerance. Today I bought some LACTAID tablets. With much anxiety I took one tablet with the first bite of a sandwich that had cheese on it. So far so good and by the way I've also started probiotics. I found my thing I hope this helps you find yours. God bless you and you will fix this.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Hi Guys, my problem is slightly different but it is all the same i guess bad smells. I have suffered from foot odor for decades now but, not just any foot odor the one where people walk pass and say "Phew what's that stink" and hold their noses and what was worse this was with my shoes ON. Anyway to cut the story short i think I may have your solution and I really hope it helps, it should it's helped me.  The product is called Hibiscrub - 4% w/v Cutaneous Solution, Chlorhexidine Gluconate 40mg/ml.  It is actually the soap that surgeons use when they scrub in for surgery, it removes bacteria and bacteria is usually what causes smells. What you need to do is follow the instructions on the bottle but below is what helped me.
First what you do is wet your body/feet and rub the "soap" all over starting from your head to your toes. Wash around all of the folds on your skin but DO NOT USE IT INTERNALLY. Leave it on for at least 2 minutes and then wash off and dry yourself as usual and moisturize if you do so. Do this every day TWICE (morning and at night) for 7 days. Hopefully all of your odor and bacteria will have gone and then you get into maintenance mode. I wash my feet at least once a day maybe twice depending if I am going out and I use Charcoal insoles from GGfootcare as I find they are very well made but cost a bit. Since doing this I walk pass people still listening for a comment even a year on and no one says a thing. I really hope this helps everyone suffering from body odor or foot odor as I know how hard it is very everyone. If it works let as much people as you can, know  so we can stop the embarrassment and get on with our lives. God bless XX. PS It is available on Amazon. co.uk so I presume it will be available on the US website Amazon.com.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
guys..i have been following the trend and i want to know if there is any progress with someone.mine is getting worse , am now feeling  severe heat inside my body.
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Avatar universal
Wonder if any female experience this and have ppl look at there private part like it's coming from.there??  The same ol smells?? I've been to doc and tested for STD plus urin effect on and pep too all negative. I'mma see if I can retest for STD for trichomonias to see if that's the cause but no bv no nothing
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Avatar universal
What happened to sleep monster(OP) Hope she is alright, does moderator have any clue, just concerned cos I seriously knows how it feels cos am going thru the same thing
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Avatar universal
Exactly the same thing happening to me. Girls in my college class have shouted behind my back how much I stink. I will end my life e, it's no use living like this.
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1 Comments
Plerase don't end your life !! I'm going through same and someone told me I was hex.. though there is some out here called tmau look ot up. This is very depressing I know but stay strong .go to anxiety group therapy that what helping me plus i applied for disability or ssi bc it has cause my social anxiety to the point I cannot be around ppl
Avatar universal
Have you had any kind of paranormal encounters?
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1 Comments
Yes I have, why do u ask please?
Avatar universal
Have you had any kind of paranormal encounters?
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Avatar universal
OK thanks, I hope he does soon anywwys thanks for your support, I received your e.email, I have reported the matter to my gp and other psychiarist, hopefully let's see how the MRI Scan goes, thanks once again
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Avatar universal
Does anyone know a better way of dieing? I have tried holding my breath but its too painful and difficult, I just want to die, am too good looking for this to be happening, I mean its too shameful and embarrassing plus non- sufferers just don't understand its not cos of poor hygiene and its not coming from you, underarm and feet smell has included with the urine, gutter, sewage, garbage, dirty toilet smell, the funniest thing is they don't come from my body yet pollutes everywhere I go so bad, am waiting for sleep monster to reply cos there is famous musician who sang a song which I suspect could be going thru the same thing.
Don williams- it only rains on me
Listen to the song folks,bless
Helpful - 0
2 Comments
Someone told me it's a hex. Bit o also read up on tmau look it up.
I have the same issue but it was urinary incontinence and celiac disease. I smell the same and im to the point where i can care less what ppl say or smell. Now and days ppl make a big deal out of normal things like farting or armpit ordor. Sometimes you cant help these ordors seeping out of your body. I been told i smell funky or that I stink or smell like food. Someone wrote negative things online but never confronted me. Just Live with it we are not perfect and not every body is the same dont stop your social life be honest with ppl and tell them how you feel the people who love you will stick around no matter how foul y0u are. I smell like onion garbage and pee at times and sometimes when i get constipated like poop.  Theres nothing  i can do but change my diet and speak up when i have to. I wash myself so much my doctor said i was washing way to much. My issues started when I gave birth. People are gonna talk no matter how fresh you smell so dont worry about what ppl say. i carry soap wipes and sometimes these cleansing cloths that older ppl use and i wipe down. It can be a number of things like thyroid or  it can be inherted or what you eat. Ive tried Chlorophyll and zinc but I still smell. I cut down on soda and salt and it did help somewhat. Maybe your Galbladder or a Bladder infection theres many things that can be happening to your body. Take care and dont worry about what ppl say keep moving forward. Maybe your nose too you can have a nasal infection and smell that. Go to a doctor that can sit with you and talk to you. Maybe acid reflux ?  
Avatar universal
I have also experienced that burning sensation all over my body and it seems like I was breathing fire or some hard choking smoke which gave me a serious head burn headache
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Avatar universal
Sleep monster are you there?I want to ask u few questions, might try help in eliminating this embarrassing situation
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Avatar universal
Please sleepmonster I know its 5 years since you post but I was wondering if you have find a solution to the problem like mine I thought it was the environment and mine is not even normal body odour, its urine, poo, gutter, sewage, garbage and few others I can't describe, please let me know how far you have gone thanks
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Avatar universal
URINE,GARBAGE,POO,(ANOTHER FOUL SMELL WHICH I DONT KNOW THE NAME BUT ITS LIKE DIRTY TOILET) GUTTER SMELL KEEPS FOLLOWING ME EVERY WHERE, THE PROBLEM IS, IT COMES AND GO, SO THERE AINT NO OPPORTUNITY FOR THE DOC TO ACTUALLY PERCIEVE THE SMELL BUT PEOPLE HAVE ACTUALLY DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY TOLD ME I SMELL LIKE THE ABOVE BUT THE DOC AND ALL SEEMS TO THINK ITS A MENTAL ILLNESS (SCHIZOPHRENIA), ANY ADVISE
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Avatar universal
I have same damn smell around me as radiation (say).it follows me  with little break I guessed.everyone saw me as garbage.please help me if you have solutions.
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Avatar universal
I am a 31 year old male that has smoked since I was 19.  I have battled with ocd for almost my whole life I was raised Christian but went into the world (of course) the ocd slowly turned into racing thoughts and then I was home bound for probably 6 years I became a volunteer fire fighter in 11-12 and was planning on going back to school my chief at the time (would tell me my uniform stunk) although I never noticed my Dad was tired of seeing me suffer so we started getting into the holistic health new age crap the whole nine one day about a month ago I had finished reading my Bible and I was on FB there was a post about listening to music at 332hz I didn't know that night my life would change forever (For years now I have smelt weird smells and seen things out of the corner of my eyes and always felt like something was following me) anyway the panic attacks I had in the past usually went away I could just wait them out usually 20-30 minutes (before this I had been having weird dreams and would wake up sweating) little did I know I was being weakened by the vegan diet for a full blown awakening.  I was at my mom's and my dad called I could hear a whisper through the phone my name I thought I was losing it so I let my Father pray for me when he did I felt something leave me like my very life force perhaps the Holy Spirit I dunno after that I felt a bunch of things (please don't think I'm crazy) enter my body like air was being pushed in my lungs.  Since then I smell sulfur all the time,  others can smell it but say it's the cigarettes (IT'S MOST DEF NOT) I sweat it out at night I smell it around me (as well as other smells) I have cried out to God but doesn't seem to help I go from cold to hot at the drop of a dime I smell sulfur but my clothes smell the same.  I feel hopeless and lost I have trouble reading my Bible now What do I do?  I feel there are unclean spirits in me I dunno how I'm on medicine I also smell rotten eggs from my butt (never happened before) I dunno what to do I desperately need to hear from God I thought I was saved guess not to anyone going through this its terrible medicine just mask the problem

Funny thing is my Mother's whole family smell like rotten eggs sulfur (all are ex Mormons) ones a free Mason I feel cursed sometimes my father just says it's in my head if I died right now I'm not sure where I'd end up my life was bad enough it's worse  now sorry for ranting
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Avatar universal
Hi fellow sufferers,

I've been dealing with this exact problem for 5-6 years now. The first time I realized something was wrong was when my friends would ask me if I farted when I haven't. I've also had incidents at the gym where I heard other people comment on how bad I smelled. I've tried for so many years to get rid of my problem, but nothing really seems to work. What really kills me about this is that my friends and family don't believe me and think I'm crazy. I've gotten the courage to ask my family, friends, and my girlfriend and they've all said I don't smell. This drives me even more crazy because I know for a fact that others have made comments about my smell, so not I'm not sure if I stink or if I'm going crazy. Now I don't even know what's worse, smelling bad or constantly being paranoid that I smell bad.
In my years of trying to find a solution, I have learned that alcohol really seems to make the problem worse. I've tried using probiotics and antacids and it seems to work because I'll go weeks without anyone making a comment or showing any indicator that I stink. Sometimes I really question my sanity and it's starting to affect my work. I'm a therapist and work with individuals in a closed setting and every now and then I'll ask my children clients if my office smells because kids tend to be more honest about that stuff and for the most part they've all said no and they seem be to honest to me. Sorry for all these run on sentences and stream of conscious rantings but I just need to get this all out there. If there's anyone there who knows of a way to manage this please help. I would greatly appreciate it.
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Avatar universal
Thanks Bro il try this. Im also suffering this kind of problem for almost 2 years im also tired if they also judge me how i smell even if it doesnt comes from me. Im still a college student and it finds me hard going to scholl with this kind of problem I hope this will work. Thanks again
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Avatar universal
Check vitamin D and Vitamin B12. I am suffering with same problems and I treat with vitamin D and B12. i relieve 90 percent symptoms please check.
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Avatar universal
Hi Sleepmonster,

I came across to your post while searching for a cure of the same situation that you have. It is so hard to let others understand our situation. It's so frustrating and depressing that we have to deal with this kind of smell in everyday of our living. I am so tired to people who judge us like we never shower or we never clean ourselves but the mere fact that I even shower 5 times in everyday but the smell never leave. Right now I am living in Charleston and working and people from work always talking about how I smell. Sometimes I just pretend that I never heard of what they are talking about me.
I hope you can email me.
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Avatar universal
Hello I'm glad that I'm not the only person going thru this not that I'm happy that anybody going thru this . But I'm been dealing with this body odor problem for along time now it ******* ducks I thought about killing my self but I jus can't do it I'm very pretty nice talented but body odor don't give two ***** about that I want to be an artists .but how can you be a rock Starr and have this kinda problem
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Avatar universal
This is 2015 and you may not get this reply. But you are right and there is nothing wrong with you. I am suffering the same thing and Im over 50. I have
been trying all my life to fix it. It gets worse as you age because you havent
fix it. Im thinking detox, yeast infection, colon cleaning,  thyroid, candida, and
drinking plenty of water are the things to focus on for now. You are looking for answers and not the same pity story. Also look at the tongue, old fillings, mercury poisoning, and vitamin deficiency.  Starting in 2015 my body odors seem to pick up bad smell from outside and others and merge with mine. I smell clean when I leave and later have odors from others and outside on me.
I recently noticed this and I dont understand why it is happening. Slowly go through each treatment and nutrionally treatment to see which works.  Everybody is different and some have found their cure. Keep trying by trial and error. Doctors do not care and friends/family lie to your face and talk about you behind your backs. (at least mine do).  I hope you see this because sometimes people with same problems see posts years later.
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1 Comments
When you said your body odors merge with others can u pls name your odors like is it garbage, urine, poo e.t.c, and also the odors they merge with, thanks cos am I think am going thru same thing
Avatar universal
Mine is everywhere it really pissed me off sometimes i dont wanna go outside of our house but mine is not coming from me its always following me wherever i go.
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1 Comments
What are your odors? Name them Please
Avatar universal
I have same problem.I have hyperthyroidism and bad body odour .The smell increases when i am in bus.  
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