The "smell" of illness?

[Lifegavemelemons]

OK, so this is a sensitive one.

I have an elderly friend (80's) who comes to visit maybe 6 times a year (pre-covid) she's lovely and has been very good to me over the years. She has had a lot of illness over the last few years, including cancer, but has responded well to treatment. She has come to me for a week+ at a time when her family have been away as they don't like her to be alone with no support. Her mobility is not good, but we go out and about to Xmas markets and have a lot of afternoon teas and meals out when she comes. I live in a scenic part of the country so lots of drives out. I generally put on a few pounds each visit 🤣. Love seeing her.

She's with me for a couple of weeks ATM and I am struggling a lot with her smell. Something is VERY different. The smell is strong and not at all pleasant. I know her clothes are clean as we've done a couple of clothes washes while she's been here - and she showers daily, so it's not that. The room she is in smells very strong and I will have to do a thorough fumigate when she goes. I'm really not exaggerating - I have dogs and cats so my house is not all "linen and lavender" smelling by any means.

I haven't said anything, and won't, but have done some serious googling - and yes, humans can smell sickness. Not as well as dogs, naturally, but it is a thing, and unconnected with hygiene.

Anyone had experience of this? I assume it could mean a deterioration in her health? Ironically she has seemed a lot more mobile this time round and has not been falling asleep as randomly as on previous visits.

Could she have a temperature or an infection? DS has a certain smell when he has one.

I have no advice, sorry. I do find this really interesting though, so I'm blantantly place marking. Your friendship sounds wonderful.

Interesting. When DH and DC had Covid I thought I could smell it. I googled that a fair bit and came to the conclusion it was just me being odd! But when they were better the smell went.

my gran recently had terrible smells but turned out to be a mix of bacterial vaginosis, and incontinence

or from elsewhere in the body?

No temperature @mynameiscalypso - quite the opposite really - she seems really well. Yes @MassiveHoard - we worked out we've been friends for 50yrs (eek!) I was a teenager when I met her.

When dhs heart started to deteriorate I knew something was badly wrong by the smell in the bedroom in the morning.

It’s a difficult one as you say, because how do you bring it up? I certainly smell illness from my DC and, to a lesser degree, my DH so I do know what you mean.

Could it be a yeast infection or something OP?

I'm a nanny so deal with lots of children/families and would say that all the kids I've cared for smell different, except when they're ill....they all smell the same then. And I can smell it on them a day or so before they start showing symptoms of a cold. It's really odd!

I can absolutely smell when my children are poorly. DH thinks I'm insane but I think this is definitely a thing

Could she be incontinent or have an infection? Possibly a UTI?

Is it unpleasant or that sickly smell? Is there a chance you could be pregnant? My sense of smell went haywire when I was pregnant with the eldest! I could smell the bacon and egg sandwich my husband had had for breakfast on his work clothes when he came home!

I think you can sense it- when my dc were young they had a different smell generally and their breath would have a different smell just before and then during illness.
I work with children and it's often the case, hard to describe the smell, but when you smell it, you know.

Is it an infection smell?

@Arethechildreninbedyet

Could she be incontinent or have an infection? Possibly a UTI?

Is it unpleasant or that sickly smell? Is there a chance you could be pregnant? My sense of smell went haywire when I was pregnant with the eldest! I could smell the bacon and egg sandwich my husband had had for breakfast on his work clothes when he came home!

Op said they’ve been friends for 50 years so I’m guessing it unlikely she’s pregnant

interesting replies thank you - I won't tag everyone in - no incontinence that I'm aware of - and it's not that kind of "old person" smell - it's more musky than acrid. Hard to describe as it's not anything I've come across before.

We're off out for a drive as she goes home tomorrow - I will be interested to see any other replies once we get back. Just hoping it's not a sign of something serious changing.....

I met a palliative care nurse on holiday and she said cancer has a smell. I had no idea until this. I hope it's not this but maybe have a general chat with her about whether she checking herself. Has she noticed anything unusual etc. Its such a difficult thing to raise though. I hope she is OK op

You mentioned she had a cancer diagnosis, has she had chemo lately?
I always found that an odour occurred after chemo, almost a stale smell.

She does have cancer @Cheeseandlobster - had surgery about 7yrs ago, it came back a couple of years ago - she is on one of the new hormone treatments and appeared to have responded well. We know it can't be kept at bay forever but this is the first time I have noticed any smell.

Interesting what you say @Fluffycloudland77 about your DH's smell changing when he deteriorated.

We thought we were going to lose her 6yrs ago so since then it's all been a bonus really.

I have a strong sense of smell for things like that, I find the worst ones are when somebody has a dental infection, tonsil stones, sinus infections and GERD/reflux I can really smell it. I can also smell ketosis (which doesn't just result from an intentional ketogenic diet but also from underrating). I can smell when one of my kids has an ear infection too, from a couple of meters away.

I worked In a care home along time ago and when residents had a smell like this it usually turned out to be an ear infection infact I can't think off 1 time it wasn't an ear infection.

I can definitely smell if DD is ill. I can also pick up at UTI quickly (work in healthcare). How she been low carbing? That can give a pear drop type smell…although that can also be a sign of diabetes. Has she mentioned feeling tired and peeing more?

No helpful advice but my DH can always smell when the children are going to be poorly 🤷🏼‍♀️

My dh smells of nail varnish remover when he is becoming hypo (type 1) so I suppose other illnesses will have thier own smell too. I have noticed that the 'smell' my parents have has changed since becoming quite elderly, my mohter in particular, she is a very proud clean lady and would be mortified if I told her. I have to say OP, the fact that you are not going to mention it to her is lovely, presumably there is nothing she can do about the smell is she if washing and changing clothes daily, so why make her feel uncomfortable or sensitive over it, you are a nice friend. I think perhaps the smell older people have is just part of the body deteriorating after a long life, just things slowly beginning to close down, I guess it comes to us all.

I can smell Parkinson's. It's a musky horrible smell on people who are perfectly clean. Could it be that?

I can smell it on people before diagnosis

Is she taking any medication? When my DM was on blood pressure and diuretics we could definitely smell a weird smell on her skin despite daily showers. I've also started to smell this on DP who is on different brand of tablets but for the same problem! Hate it!