Question: I have recently noticed a fowl odor coming from my body. It is periodic but many times daily. It seem to come from exhailing through my nose more so than mouth, so I have ruled out breath or mouth hygene, which I do have good mouth hygene (oral cleanings every 6 months), as well as body hygene. Pls note, it is not when I feel I need to move my bowels but the same odor is in my stool. A different odor than my normal stool. (Nothing else has changed with my stool as far as color or consistancy. Just odor/ smell.) What concerns me most is that it happens out of nowhere and is offensive to "me" so I can only imagine that others also smell it, although no one has EVER said anything to me. I am so ebarrased I have not even talked to my husband about this and we are ALWAYS very open about everything with each other. I am embarrased to the point of being hesitant to go to my doctor, but it is getting worse and more often. It happens when I am at rest, sleeping, or active. It wakes me up. It started about 3 wks ago out of nowhere, at first making me think someone let out gas. I didn't realize until a wk after it started that the odor was coming from me. It isn't from gas expelling from my body....It just happens, seeming to come from my air or lungs. My mouth breath doesn't seem to be different. But another thing is, if it happens when I am eating I get the taste in my mouth. (Only if I am eating.) What could this be and what can I try or do short of going to my doctor. If I have to I will but would lik to try to stop this on my own first. I have continued with my normal diet and made sure I take my regular serving of metaucil EVERY DAY to keep my bowels regular and they are "all except the odor." It is very distinctive, no matter what I eat or drink. Always the same odor, hard to explain. Please help me.

I don't want to waste time going to a doctor that would only direct me somewhere else. Would it be sugested to go directly to a Gastroenterologist to check out the possibility of infection (fungal)? But would an intestinal infection cause an odor I am experiencing through smell and taste, other than in my bowel? And this is when I don't have gas or moving my bowels. I have flare-ups where this odor permiates and I can smell it and even taste it. We all know taste & smell are connected, so what is happening here in addition to my bowel also having the same odor? Where is a good place to start other than my GP, or is it recommended that to be my starting point?

Thank you....I find your suggestions helpful in giving me a place to start. Personally I do rule out this being a sweating/cleansing problem. Although I am not one to overheat and sweat, my normal hygene is 2 showers a day because of the muscle soreness from the fibromyalgia. (I do understand why that could be the first thing to think of. I have been in contact with people who have a specific odor or fragrance to their skin because of sweating, spices eaten or lack of antiperspirants.) I use & am very happy with the antiperspirant deodorant I discovered years ago to ensure staying fresh & clean smelling. I very much dislke it when I come across people who don't believe in using underarm deorderant of some kind and this is why I am so bothered by this happening to me. I have thought of your sugestion to avoid eating foods or herbs that have a strong odor or smell (e.g.onions, garlic, etc.). I have always loved garnishes that flavor foods, especially onions & garlic and may be overusing them. While they have never bothered me in the past it is possible, the chemistry in my body has changed and they don't like me! I will work at avoiding those foods and also go to my GI specialist for consultation. Additionally, I do accupuncture once every other week. I am thinking of consulting with him to see if he is familiar with this sort of problem. Thank you vey much and if this site allows me to return to you with the results of my attempts I will certainly let you know. (I see that this duscussion automatically closes in less than 3 days and I don't think I will be able to complete my goal within that time frame.) Sincerely, ~Beverly~