I’m worried I smell

[embarrassed2024]

I’m not trolling. Been on here years.

I’m very overweight, have been since I was a child (about 25 years or so). My self esteem is pretty shit. I try but I really struggle to think kindly of myself.

I make sure I wash every single day, change my clothes, wash them, dry them outside, use deodorant, perfume and talc, make sure I dry everywhere and no one has ever told me I smell.

I had to go to the GP on Friday for an intimate issue that involved an examination - the nurse afterwards said as I was leaving, ‘I’m just going to open the window for some fresh air in here.’

I had been at work all day but I’d nipped to the loo to freshen up first with baby wipes.

I’m so worried I smell really bad, and no-one’s ever told me. I hate being the weight that I am in the first place (I’m a size 28, I’m now at the weight where people avoid sitting next to me on buses, my work desk chair has broken twice in 2 months) but this has really, really embarrassed me.

Someone shouted at me from their car while I was walking to the appointment too, I really hate myself for being my size and now I’m scared I smell bad and just don’t know. I’ve been worrying all weekend about it.

In all kindness, it might have just been hot in there anyway, and she wanted some fresh air. Or you may have a smell that you can't smell yourself. No one can say. Do you want to lose weight?

I’d wager it was very hot. I can guarantee you the sweat lashes off me after performing procedures. I remain massively embarrassed nearly a decade later that a bead of sweat dripped off me one Summers day when I was suturing someone.

I can also guarantee you if you smelled I’d be waiting until you left to begin the process of airing the place out. You don’t smell but I suspect the nurse was worried she did.

Is it possible you've gone OTT with the sprays?

I can't stand artificial scents and would be opening the window for strong perfume, never mind BO.

Desperately, but I can’t get myself to stop eating crap. My willpower is dreadful. I’m slowly increasing the amount of exercise I do, but that’s not making a huge difference so far.

It was quite stuffy on Friday yes.

If there was a smell it’s from my tummy/groin, I get intitrigo there at times although it’s not massively bad right now, sometimes it is.

I’m sorry you find yourself in such a position, it’s not an easy thing to lose weights. It’s a massive massive game of willpower

remember that reducing your calories is the single most effective way to lose weight; far more so than the little bit of excersise you’re managing to do (and well done for that!). But even if you’re slightly increasing your steps every day, that’s gonna have no impact on your weight if you’re still eating too many calories. You need to be in a calorie deficit ( and the extra exercise is going to be great for you in terms of your general health and mobility and mental health). Calorie deficit is the only true way (unless you have other conditions which are affecting your weight)

a friend of mine was a size 26. A recent stroke plus 2 serious life threatening hospital stays for Covid gave her the motivation to start losing weight. She’d been very very overweight all her life. She’s done really well slowly losing it the last few months. Hasn’t been easy at all for her but she’s doing it little by little and her mobility, energy etc has increased

Is it possible you've gone OTT with the sprays?

I thought this. Heavy perfumes, etc can be suffocating. I'm sorry you're feeling this way, though.

Kindly, no one on here can tell you if you smell or not.
You appear to be doing all of the right things with regards to hygiene (I would also add Dettol laundry disinfectant to make sure any bacteria is annihilated in the wash!) and an anti bacterial soap for creases on the body were you are likely sweating the most during the day.
You mentioned that you had to have an intimate examination, is there a possibility that the reason you made the appointment initially caused a smell? Eg Bacterial vaginosis or thrush can cause odour (and be nothing to do with your weight).
Unfortunately if you are at a weight that you have broken two chairs you will be getting to the point where you start getting weight related health issues, sweating/smelling are probably the least of your concerns but I understand they are embarrassing so they will be what you focus on. Could you ask for a referral to a dietitian?

If there is a problem with a smell it could well be the mixture of scents in the shower gel/deodorant/talc plus washing powder and conditioner all mingled on a hot day.
I think that if you have a wash (shower?) every day and are confident all of your problem areas are clean and dry there will be very little smell from your body . If you are having a flare of interigo you will no doubt be checking the area before leaving the house . I have heard that 2 thin panty liners back to back can help with absorbing sweat if thats a problem.
But I doubt the problem was with you at all. I agree with PP that the nurse was just feeling the heat herself.

I doubt you smell op. Especially if you freshened up before you went in. Opening a window wouldn't have helped if you did and so it's way more likely she was hot as pp have said.

That's the thing with being very self conscious about your size, it's easy to read into these things all the time.

I'm probably going to get flamed on here for suggesting it. But if losing weight is something you want. I do recommend injectables. Mounjaro specifically. It's been miraculous for me. Come and read up on the mounjaro threads if you are curious. We are a friendly bunch.

I was going to say, I’m sure you don’t smell as you are careful about your hygiene. On the other hand we all get a bit sweaty in the heat and can get a bit whiffy close up. That is normal. It sounds like you are doing everything you can to keep clean.

I notice you say you have intitrigo at the moment, that does cause a smell. I suffer with it as I'm very large chested and get it under my breasts, even though I shower daily. After a day in work if I've been hot and sweaty I can smell it on myself, so it could have been this causing the smell.

You might be misinterpreting the comment

I find using actual soap (not Dove but old fashioned bars) keeps me much fresher. And waiting a little while to get dressed if there is time (I wear a robe for a bit then get dressed if not rushing)

Sounds like you are doing the right things otherwise with your hygiene. It is harder if you are a bit bigger unfortunately