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.

@Tee20x

Such an interesting thread. To those who can smell when their kids are sick what does it smell like ?!! Trying really hard to imagine it.

Kind of salty/snotty.

As people get older, they DO have a certain odour. It's to do with an increase in levels of a compound called 2-nonenal. If I knew how to do a link, I would, but it's a scientific face.

Yeah body changes definitely create smells. Like others I can smell when my children are sick. I also honked something rotten after having my first baby (not as bad with the second for some reason) no matter how much I washed.

Sounds like could be a uti?

A friend is a paramedic and can smell a urinary infection on someone just by walking past them, when other people can't.

no - she's really slim @Chikapu so no folds of fat for damp to hide in. Interesting about the 2-nonenal. Lots to think about ....

Yes I can defo smell illness on my dc.

I thought dh was mad when he said it first but then I remember being with one of the kids and they smelt strange, bad breath and their hair smelt like sweat even though they were clean, and now I smell it everytime (although I'd never use it as a symptom with the doctor!!) Mad people can distinguish illnesses though, that's amazing!!And op, I agree, lovely friendship x

I wonder whether any of you can help me, sorry I'm pigging backing on your thread OP. When my husband sneezes it smells unpleasantly sweet. I've never experienced anything like it before, and it's actually the only time I've ever been able to smell something. He can't smell it, it's like pollen but stronger and more intrusive. Does anyone know what it might be?

I find it hard to imagine how some people can not notice that illness makes people smell different. DS3 currently has an ear infection and he smells very different to normal. His father can’t smell the difference though.

@stayathomer For a moment there I thought you were calling all the people who can smell illness 'mad' 😄🤦🏻‍♀️

I haven't rtft so sorry if it's already been asked but could it be a fungating tumour as a result of her bc? It has a very distinctive smell that does tend to linger. Is she aware of it? A lot of people with fungating tumours are embarrassed by the smell and so may not 'admit' to it

My gran had a skin tumour that was causing an odour that you describe. She was ignoring the smell.

When the kids were sick it used to smell like raw chicken. Usually an ear infection

Ver interesting. I have smelt different to myself the last couple of months. No-one else has commented but I really notice it. Kind of meaty Had put it down to long covid smell and taste still not right. Wondering if I'm ill now

I noticed an odd smell coming from my husband's suits for some weeks. He was later diagnosed with oesaphageal cancer.

Could it be she's just not washing her hair properly?
If arm movements are restricted post-surgery or due to ageing there could be a build-up of stinkies.

I worked in hospitals for years now , and I can definitely tell when we have a cancer patient on the ward. It’s that weird smell! Bit like raw meat yes ! ! . I’m glad I’m not going mad .

Is it possible that her illness is more advanced than she’s saying? Occasionally cancers can cause the skin to ulcerate. The smell of rotting is almost overwhelming. I once met a very private older lady who’d been too embarrassed to see her doctor and had been covering her ulcerated breast with dressings from the chemist. It was so sad.

Even someone who has had good treatment can still suffer from this. The flesh is literally dying.

I hope your friend is ok.

I too can sometimes smell when someone is ill, sometimes before they even know / announce it.

Plus as a diabetic I sometimes smell wierd, just before I'm ill. Occasionally I can smell it myself, but often it's Dh who comments.

When I had diabetes with my second child, I had a very sweetly sick smell about me. My husband told me after I had my daughter as he didn’t want to upset me. He needn’t have worried as I could smell it myself and was wary of going too close to people at work!

I can also smell illness on all 3 of my kids. A sweet sickly smell.

@colouringindoors

Ver interesting. I have smelt different to myself the last couple of months. No-one else has commented but I really notice it. Kind of meaty Had put it down to long covid smell and taste still not right. Wondering if I'm ill now

I had long covid and could smell it on myself for ages. The only thing I could really smell. It was like I could taste it as well. Took about 9 months to clear.

@AppleKatie

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.

This is so interesting. I do have a hyper sense of smell generally although I think it’s not as good since I had covid. I noticed a really weird smell in the bedroom when dh had covid at the start of the year. Definitely an unpleasant illness smell. Dc were recently in contact with a covid pos person and I could smell it on them too! Exactly the same. No other symptoms that would have made me test. Either I can smell covid, or I can just smell it on my family! I’ve often wondered about the illness smell people talk of as a few times I’ve smelt the same really specific smell on people. Like others I can’t describe it other than it being unpleasant.

@AllTheSunshine

Is it an infection smell?

I was going to say about parkinsons. Apparently there can be a smell before symptoms start.