DH has sweet smelling breath, and bedroom smells

[QuickNC789]

I noticed last night when I got home from work that DH’s breath smells very sweet. I also noticed it again this morning when he kissed me before going to work.

This morning our bedroom smells exactly like when you’ve been drinking the night before and wake up and you can smell the alcohol in the room.

I’ve read before that a pear drops smell could be a sign of diabetes. BUT he doesn’t have any other symptoms. In fact, over the last six months he’s been putting weight on as he’s had a really stressful time at work, gave up exercising and has been eating a load of chocolate and biscuits etc.

So I would definitely say he hasn’t got low blood sugar!

Can anyone think of what it might be instead please?

[Shannith]

OP please listen to the overwhelming advice from posters. Sweet smelling breath is not a quirky, time wasting thing. It's a well known single indicator or a well known and dangerous disease.

It's not a mild, first symptom to be gently broached - it's indicative of someone whose blood sugars are off the scale. Off the scale blood sugars are very, very dangerous.

It needs a urgent GP appointment or walk in now.

If he had significant chest pain you'd get him medical attention immediately in case it was a heart attack. This is the diabetic equivalent.

[Devlesko]

Do you have a walk in centre, sometimes these are much quicker than A&E?
Also, pack a bag for him as you won't be allowed in, and they may keep him in.
Good luck and make sure he's seen soon, it can really be a matter of life and death.
My friends daughter was diagnosed with type 1 aged 21.
They had absolutely no idea until one day she fell unconcious.

[TellySavalashairbrush]

It’s also one of the symptoms of starving yourself (anorexia) though I assume you’d have picked up on a loss of weight?

[muchtoocold]

A family member of mine went to the GP due to lethargy and was tested for diabetes. He was sent straight to the hospital, not allowed to drive there and had to stay there for a week whilst they got his blood sugar under control and taught him how to manage it. Other than that he had very few symptoms.

Untreated high blood sugar can lead to a diabetic coma so it really is important he sees someone soon.

[Mydogmylife]

Please op, this is potentially really serious - get him checked tonight , a and e will deffo not think you are overreacting

[alexdgr8]

please ring 111
or go/ send him to A & E.
do not delay any longer.
does he have a clinical role in the NHS, has it not occurred to him that it might be diabetes.
anyway that;s irrelevant now.
this is an emergency situation.
A & E. the clue's in the name. medical emergencies can be just as dangerous as accidents, esp because people are often so slow to act.

[ElderMillennial]

Good luck OP

[QuickNC789]

So much for me taking MN advice 😢

So I said something and now I have ruined his weekend. Can’t he just have one day where nothing bad happens. I said earlier he was under a lot of stress from work, he’s said that today was the first day in ages where nothing went wrong and he was driving home thinking we would have a nice weekend and now that’s been ruined.

He said he doesn’t want to get it sorted and he won’t speak to anyone as he is already incredibly stressed and doesn’t have the headspace for this right now.

He’s not speaking to me and I feel shit.

He also takes reflux medication which from my Googling can be associated with diabetes. I also noticed thrush can be a symptom. About a week ago he showed me a rash in his groin, we thought he was just being sweaty…. I put some Canesten on it (as it’s all I had ) and it did clear up a bit.

Shit. His MH has not been the best for the last few months thanks to aforementioned work situation and now I feel terrible for ruining his weekend.

[QuickNC789]

As I say he does have health anxiety too so I knew I wasn’t going to get the best response. I did, stupidly, think he would agree to going to get it investigated though. I should have known better.

[frazzledquaver]

If he has undiagnosed diabetes and ketones, he could be on his way to being in a coma. High blood glucose can have a negative impact on mood so that would tie in. He really needs to get tested.

I would say though that ketone smell is very similar to a smell some people produce when they are hungover.

[Mydogmylife]

Well, rather a ruined weekend than the potential alternative! You can't let this go op!

[frazzledquaver]

Is he thirsty at all?

[grapewine]

@Shannith

OP please listen to the overwhelming advice from posters. Sweet smelling breath is not a quirky, time wasting thing. It's a well known single indicator or a well known and dangerous disease.

It's not a mild, first symptom to be gently broached - it's indicative of someone whose blood sugars are off the scale. Off the scale blood sugars are very, very dangerous.

It needs a urgent GP appointment or walk in now.

If he had significant chest pain you'd get him medical attention immediately in case it was a heart attack. This is the diabetic equivalent.

All of this. Please go. Diabetes is manageable with the right treatment and medication, but you shouldn't delay a possible diagnosis.

[Floralnomad]

You just can’t help some people , it’s not your fault @QuickNC789 .

[DogsSausages]

What a shame, you have not ruined his weekend at all, you are worried about him and if he cannot see that then let him sulk.

[ElderMillennial]

All of this. Please go. Diabetes is manageable with the right treatment and medication, but you shouldn't delay a possible diagnosis.

Have your read OP's updates? She isn't delaying. She has spoken to her DH who is now not speaking to her for ruining his weekend...

[QuickNC789]

@frazzledquaver

If he has undiagnosed diabetes and ketones, he could be on his way to being in a coma. High blood glucose can have a negative impact on mood so that would tie in. He really needs to get tested.

I would say though that ketone smell is very similar to a smell some people produce when they are hungover.

We haven’t had a drink for about two weeks, normally we will just share a bottle of wine.

[SunshineCake]

His weekend will be ruined more if he's ill. He has a responsibility as a husband to take care of himself. Go to a 24 hour supermarket and get the kit PP have recommended. Don't be like the bloke I read about who didn't want to get his mole checked as he was scared. His widow curses him for that.

[Bomchiccawick]

Why is he being ridiculously stubborn? If he has untreated diabetes his life could be on the line! I’d be sick of him being a selfish arse and tell him to get tested ASAP!

[grapewine]

Crossposted with the update. I don't know what to say. Rather a ruined weekend than ignoring a possible chronic disease, I guess?

All the symptoms are there. He's in denial, and that could be dangerous.

[QuickNC789]

@SunshineCake

His weekend will be ruined more if he's ill. He has a responsibility as a husband to take care of himself. Go to a 24 hour supermarket and get the kit PP have recommended. Don't be like the bloke I read about who didn't want to get his mole checked as he was scared. His widow curses him for that.

Can someone link me to a specific kit please, I don’t know what I’m looking for. One I can get from a supermarket pharmacy. Thank you.

[DogsSausages]

Has he been drinking alcohol,, does he have any explanation why this smell has appeared.,

[QuickNC789]

@SunshineCake

His weekend will be ruined more if he's ill. He has a responsibility as a husband to take care of himself. Go to a 24 hour supermarket and get the kit PP have recommended. Don't be like the bloke I read about who didn't want to get his mole checked as he was scared. His widow curses him for that.

I said, i know how stressed you are which is why I only decided to say something because I think it is serious. I said, if you are ill don’t you want to know and get it sorted? He didn’t reply.

I feel so shit. 🙁

[sotiredofthislonelylife]

@QuickNC789

As I say he does have health anxiety too so I knew I wasn’t going to get the best response. I did, stupidly, think he would agree to going to get it investigated though. I should have known better.

You shouldn’t feel guilty about caring for the health of your DH!! You haven’t ruined the weekend - if you had ignored these concerns, the situation could be much worse.
‘In sickness and in health’ is part of a marriage ceremony for a reason.

I am sorry, but he’s being very childish in blaming you for caring.

[Ninkanink]

You didn’t ruin his weekend. Don’t enable his silliness like that.

You spoke to him about very valid concerns, as you quite rightly should have done.

If he wants to ruin his weekend over it that’s up to him.



Type 2 really isn’t a big deal and it can be easily dealt with.