How do I convince her that she does not smell bad???

[Bigmouthstrikesagain]

My poor mother has convinced herself that she has a condition commonly known as fish odour syndrome, which causes the sufferer to have offensive body odour. it cannot be cured but can be controlled through diet and medication. Apparently it was discussed on This Morning.

The problem is that my Mum does not have a sense of smell (she never has) and therefore has no idea what her body odour is like and is basing her diagnosis on some incidents when she was younger. She was neglected as a child and was bullied for being smelly.

I have always known she was paranoid about body odour and as she has no sense of smell I often helped her as a child to buy perfume etc. But I know she does not have offensive body odour naturally. She just does not believe me! It is very frustrating and I am not sure whether to indulge this theory of hers or to try again to convince her it is bollocks not true?

Does anyone know how to approach this???

Take her to the doctor and explain that she has no sense of smell and needs him to be honest because she won't believe you.

Poor woman. My mother has a 'fear' of having BO and all it takes is a funny look on a passerby's face and she's squirting herslef with something floral

She spends hours in the bath and she always takes great care with wearing fresh clothes etc she is the least smelly person I know!!!! And if she truly did suffer from this debilitating condition I would be supportive and get her whatever she needed to help, but she just does not ... It must be so hard not knowing what you smell like and I can understand her paranoia to an extent but you would hope close family would be believed when it came to something as personal as this, I lived with her for 20 years ffs.

Thank you for replying at such an ungodly hour Colditz.

I would try that approach but she would never let me take her to the docs in a million years and we live hundreds of miles apart. I am going to print out the stuff she wanted off t'inernet but I will highlight anything that indicates it is unlikely she has the condition.

Just wish there was a magic form of words I could use that would persuade her her parents let her down badly and it has left her so many problems with trust.

Is there anyone around who actually knows enough about this condition to give me some guidance on persuading her - I think she is likely to go to the GP but unless they are knowlegble on the subject then it might not help. Iykwim?

I think you should ring the GP and speak to the practice nurse about your worries they will then reassure your mum if she does go - then I think you should ring your mum and tell her that Mitchum deodrant has had really excellent reviews and will stop any fishy smells so she can this deodrant and know that theres no chance of a smell.

Thanks nickschick - I think the problem is all the arguements I make are based on rationality and on this she simply is not rational. Makes for a frustrating convo as I try to be reassuring and she gets all offended and prickly saying I don't what it's like (which I don't) and clearly feeling I am patronising her (which is probably a tiny bit true as I simply expect her to take the word of her daughter on trust!). gaaaah