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?

[AnotherVice]

@Devlesko
Maybe call for an ambulance, he can't refuse once it's there.
Of course he can and it would be a massive waste of resources. (Not because it's not potentially serious but because he is well within his rights to decline. Please only call an ambulance if you're prepared to accept their assistance)

[Konga]

@LindaEllen

“ Wrong.

Diabetes is where your body cannot regulate your blood sugar on its own.

Let's not post things with words in bold unless we're completely sure .....”

I am sure 🙄

[Roboticcarrot]

He's possibly reacting as he is as he knows there might be a problem and was happier in denial, but obviously head in the sand doesn't work forever. Sorry you feel bad about it, you absolutely did the right thing though, hope he sees sense and agrees it's worth getting tested.

[alexdgr8]

i am not blaming OP for anything.
i was responding to posters who were attacking me.
this is getting off the main point.
my advice, and that of others, is ring 111.

[SaturdayRocks]

but she would be a relevant witness in such a circumstance.

For goodness sake. This isn’t going to ‘end up in court’. The OP isn’t going to be a witness.

You’ve been watching too much TV.

[alexdgr8]

obviously, if he loses consciousness or becomes less responsive, ring 999.

[Zezet]

I am sorry but you need to stop looking at this in terms of how to make him less upset.

It's both not your responsibility and, more important right now, not effective.

He needs to be checked out and you can sort out the emotional mess of it later, if needed.

You need to understand your goal here is NOT for him to not be upset with you. Your goal is to get him to a doctor.

Again, not because it's your fault, but because you most likely have the power to nag or harass him into it, and even though his health is primarily his responsibility, you should try to look after your spouse when he his failing himself (AND you, I might add).

So be very clear with yourself that your goal is to:

1. See the facts.
2. Act accordingly.

(3. Sort the rest later.)

1. The fact is your husband is showing very worrying symptoms, bad mood and add.
2. So act.

[zzizzer]

What about these or something like them OP?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0047573FO/?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[TheGoodEnoughWife]

For goodness sake. He is a grown adult and the OP cannot be calling 111 without his permission. Well she can but they will want to speak to him and he would probably refuse.

OP it is a shame he doesn't want to deal with this right now. There really isn't anything else you can do.

[SingingWaffleDoggy]

Another vote for calling 111 if you can get him to agree. Perhaps take the angle that he can get it sorted over the weekend so he doesn’t have to miss any time off work.
Failing that, Lloyds do this monitor lloydspharmacy.com/products/glucorx-nexus-glucose-meter
Which hasn’t got ketone strips but if you can get him to do the regular test a few times a day and then if it’s high he will definitely need intervention. Personally, I think he’s being selfish despite his low mood (which others have stated irritability can be a symptom) and he needs to get checked out. All being well no harm done and you’re reassured, and if there’s a problem he’s potentially avoided a fatal situation. Win win.

[alexdgr8]

@SaturdayRocks

but she would be a relevant witness in such a circumstance.

For goodness sake. This isn’t going to ‘end up in court’. The OP isn’t going to be a witness.

You’ve been watching too much TV.

how do you know.
others have pointed out the possible serious consequences of ignoring this situation.
my partner worked with a man who lived alone, was very dutiful.
one monday he didn't turn up to work. he had diabetes. was eventually found dead in his house. if it had been a weekday he might have survived because found sooner, by not turning up to work.
there was a coroner's inquest as there must be in all such cases.

[jaguarsearlobes]

You can get a diabetes test using a home test kit with a fingerprick/lancet via Thriva
I had some done through them the other week - posted the samples back to them on Thursday and had the results (which are GP assessed) by Friday afternoon.

[TatianaBis]

@TheGoodEnoughWife

For goodness sake. He is a grown adult and the OP cannot be calling 111 without his permission. Well she can but they will want to speak to him and he would probably refuse.

OP it is a shame he doesn't want to deal with this right now. There really isn't anything else you can do.

I’ve had to call 111 for my dad in the past against his will. When they advised an ambulance he did actually cooperate, and ultimately it saved his life.

So no she doesn’t need his permission.

[SaturdayRocks]

@alexdgr8 - the OP’s DH doesn’t live alone though, does he?

And the OP is doing everything she can. She’s not ignoring it, and getting on with her weekend. But she can’t actually frog-march him into the GP’s.

[SwanShaped]

You haven’t ruined the weekend. He’s allowed himself to feel like that.

[QuickNC789]

It turns out his paternal granddad had Type 2, I don’t know if it’s hereditary?

I have gone down and said something along the lines of @LookItsMeAgain’s suggestions and that if he had concerns about my health I’d expect him to raise them.

He has gone all quiet with me said that I should have just dropped it when he said ‘no,’ but I didn’t, I ‘kept going on about it.’ He is ‘hanging on by a thread at work’ and he ‘doesn’t have the space to deal with this now.’

So frankly I don’t really know what else I can do. I think my actions would stand up pretty well in a coroners court but thanks for the insensitivity @alexdgr8

I think the way forward now is to change what I can, i.e. stop buying the chocolate etc, on the basis that if it’s not in the house he can’t eat it, encourage him to get back into exercise (he stopped about six months ago once work started getting stressful for him), try to support him to resolve his work issues and then when he finally gets into a better headspace, revisit this. Hopefully soon.

You have all been brilliant today, thank you

[LockdownLard]

Do you know anyone with diabetes who would have a blood sugar monitor who would let your husband test his blood?

Or you can buy a kit from Amazon for £20
sinocare Diabetes Testing Kit/Blood Glucose Monitor Safe AQ Smart/Blood Glucose Sugar Test Kit with Codefree Strips x 50 & Case for UK Diabetics -in mmol/L www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08ZY7FFWG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_6B9AS3NMJYZKGAJMRG8K?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[alexdgr8]

Zezet above has put it very well.
OP, please read Zezet.

[SaturdayRocks]

He is a grown adult and the OP cannot be calling 111 without his permission. Well she can but they will want to speak to him and he would probably refuse

If you’re calling an ambulance for someone, chances are, they may well not able to speak.

I had to call an ambulance for DH when he was in a lot of pain. They didn’t need to speak with him. They just sent an ambulance. Luckily, as he was having a heart attack.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I had to ring 111 for dh once, they sent an ambulance but that wasn’t for diabetes.

Nothing you can do @QuickNC789. His body will force him to take action eventually.

[TheGoodEnoughWife]

@SaturdayRocks

He is a grown adult and the OP cannot be calling 111 without his permission. Well she can but they will want to speak to him and he would probably refuse

If you’re calling an ambulance for someone, chances are, they may well not able to speak.

I had to call an ambulance for DH when he was in a lot of pain. They didn’t need to speak with him. They just sent an ambulance. Luckily, as he was having a heart attack.

But he can speak?

I called 111 on Sunday for my husband as he had atrocious pain which we know to be gallstones. Once I had confirmed his dob/address they wanted to speak to him. Because he could speak and isn't a child.

Maybe they would send an ambulance if the computer told them to and he could easily send it away again which would be a waste of resources.

[Chatanooga1]

It’s just downright rude to be so unpleasant when his wife is only showing reasonable cause for concern.

If his work is so stressful then the next thing will be IBS or possible an ulcer so he either starts looking at ways to improve his health or you are going to up his health insurance as you want to make sure you don’t suffer financially if you are widowed young.

[SaturdayRocks]

OK great @TheGoodEnoughWife. They spoke with your DH.

But the point remains - they don’t have to speak with the person the ambulance is being called for.

[Zezet]

OP, to add to my last comment:
It looks like you are doing great, in that you are forcing him to face the issue.
But remember that right now, you have achieved nothing yet - in terms of actual medical care - so all the worrying you have done... was justified and that has not been solved.

So I think you should keep going. He is stressed and nervous and overwhelmed, by his job, by vaguely gestures at the world, scared something is wrong, perhaps acting up because his blood is all wrong.

But you are getting through to him, which is why he is irritated.

Keep going and remember you love him which is why you can do tough things.

If he turns out fine after a proper test, relax and know you did the right thing.
But right now, realise that is a fairly unlikely outcome, and, therefore, ACT knowing his health comes before his grumpiness right now.

I am not trying to scold you, I am trying to encourage you, because I think it is very clear you can actually do this, and also very clear you actually need to do this.

[TatianaBis]

OP with respect you’re really not getting this. This is not something that can be fixed with diet and exercise. If he is developing diabetes he will have to see a doctor sooner rather than later as otherwise he will keel over at some point.

You haven’t said whether he is feeling constantly thirsty and peeing a lot. But if he is both these and he has pear drop breath then you could be looking at ketoacidosis which is life threatening if untreated.

Order some urine test sticks from Amazon Prime tonight, they will test for ketones and glucose in the urine.

First thing tomorrow go out and buy a £10 glucose monitor from a local pharmacy and test his blood glucose.

Some men are very very stupid about their health. Unfortunately you need to be firm.