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AIBU?

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Original poster

to not sleep with my DH due to this smell?

72 replies

zapanditsgone · 22/01/2017 08:34

I've had to leave the room at 5.30 this morning due to this smell and I'm so annoyed I don't think I'll be going back for a bit. It's coming from his nose. It isn't an obvious bodily odour smell (as in I can't describe it as fishy/ bad breath) but it is an offensive smell and very specific.

It's been happening for about 18 months now and I can't figure out why. I've googled everything possible it could be, got him nasal washes and sprays but these just help the symptoms and don't fix it. I've asked him to see his GP from the start and sometimes he says he should and other times he asks why. He can't smell it at all and has zero other symptoms so doesn't notice it. He's asked his mates and they say the can't smell it so I feel as if I'm going crazy. There is quite obviously a smell! When it's at it's worst, like this morning it stinks the whole room out. I can't be imagining it and it is not normal.

I'm just sick of it really. Why should I have to put up with the smell because he won't go to the GP. I'm just waiting for him to wake up so I can say that I won't be sleeping with him until he takes responsibility for his health Sad

Am I being over sensitive or unreasonable to refuse to put up with this any longer?

OP posts:
Poonmig · 22/01/2017 08:35

My mum had something like this, was to do with her salivatory glands - the GP shpuld be able to help

Secretsweets · 22/01/2017 08:35

How do you know it's coming from his nose ?

CPtart · 22/01/2017 08:38

Get him checked for diabetes.

Mouikey · 22/01/2017 08:39

My hubby has smelly sneezes which he doesn't notice. Makes me feel ill but I know he can't help it - if in the same position as you I'd make sure he goes to the Dr to get checked.

Iris65 · 22/01/2017 08:42

It could be an infection that is not bad enough to cause symptoms. He needs to see his GP with a specific description of the smell. It's worse in the morning because it builds up overnight with lack of movement.
And no YANBU. I choose to leave whatever room I am in when I know I making smells (see my earlier thread Wink

Original poster
zapanditsgone · 22/01/2017 08:44

Secretsweets the smell only comes out when he breathes through his nose. It doesn't come from his mouth from what I can tell!

OP posts:
Original poster
zapanditsgone · 22/01/2017 08:46

CPtart interesting you mention diabetes. We've noticed it flares up when he drinks fizzy or eats sugary foods. I don't know if this is a coincidence or not!

OP posts:
T1mum3 · 22/01/2017 08:58

The smell you are looking for as symptomatic of (type one) diabetes, is ketones - nail varnish remover, pear drops. If it is that smell you need to get him tested as a matter of urgency (diabetic ketoacidosis causes organ failure and death).

I don't know much about type two but I guess it could be a secondary infection exacerbated by high blood glucose.

Mindtrope · 22/01/2017 09:01

A sinus infection maybe?

He needs to visit his GP.

Verbena37 · 22/01/2017 09:02

Hmmm, I don't think the acetone smell would be offensive though would it?

I'd get him a general appointment with GP and once they've ruled out diabetes or gastronomy issues, say you'd like a referral to ENT.

Fairylea · 22/01/2017 09:03

Has he been to the dentist?

Tonsil stones?

Both could be reasons that can be easily treated.

Pieceofmeat · 22/01/2017 09:04

Could there be something stuck up there which has got infected. Even an old bit of tissue.

CesareBorgiasUnicornMask · 22/01/2017 09:04

DH had very smelly sneezes and it actually improved massively when he went to the hygienist and got his teeth professionally cleaned. I've no idea why - he also didn't have bad breath - but that seemed to deal with it.

T1mum3 · 22/01/2017 09:05

Verbena - agree, I wasn't sure why pp were suggesting diabetes, so wanted to clarify about the smell for people. That said, it's actually quite a nauseating smell.

Mermaidinthesea · 22/01/2017 09:07

I lived with a very smelly man, bad breath, body odour for years and it resulted in avoidance and eventual divorce.
I did talk to him long and often about maintaining personal hygeine and going to the dentist regularly but it fell on deaf ears most of the time.
It can definitely kill a marriage so please do talk to him about it preferably in a calm way and tell him how much it is affecting your life and peaceful nights.

user1477282676 · 22/01/2017 09:10

Mermaid OP hasn't said he has bad hygene but that it seems unrelated.

Rainbunny · 22/01/2017 09:13

I have no medical expertise on this sorry OP but I do wonder if he has some kind of periodontal disease? You'd be surprised what can travel through the sinus cavities.

I do have sympathy though! In my first year of university I lived in a hall of residence in London and trying to be as economical as possible I shared a room with another female student. After a while I realised there was a very funky smell in the room for which I could never detect an obvious source. It was awful and lingered and I made a bit of fuss about it thinking it must be dead mice in the walls etc... It wasn't until the second year (I'd moved out into a flat share by that point) that I ended attending same course as my old room-mate and once again I smelled the same fusty-off smell when we sat together in lectures. It took me a month or so to realise that the smell had always been emanating from my old room-mate :( I never mentioned anything because what could I say that wouldn't upset her? However, in a conversation about skin conditions with my cousin (a doctor) a few years later it randomly came up that one complication of severe obesity can actually be mold developing in the folds of the skin causing odors. Yes my room-mate was very, very large - definitely obese to be honest. I had fallen out of contact with her by the time of my conversation with my cousin but I always felt terrible and yet unable to reach out to let her know as gently as possible about the issue. Sorry my experience isn't helpful OP except that if I had known at the time I would have tried harder to be a better person and give the unwelcome information as best I could, with sensitivity and the awareness that I would be causing some humiliation :(

GelfBride · 22/01/2017 09:17

My DH had cancer and a year before his diagnosis he started with a strange smell to his breath but it was from his mouth AND nose. His skin smell changed slightly too and that was a different smell again. The smells continued until he had his cancer removed. Off to the Doc with him and get him checked out.

foxyloxy78 · 22/01/2017 09:17

Does it smell if garlic OP? I know someone whose nose smells of garlic when they have a cold...

NormaSmuff · 22/01/2017 09:17

www.nhs.uk/conditions/trimethylaminuria/Pages/Introduction.aspx

eek could it be this?

NormaSmuff · 22/01/2017 09:18

i would insist he goes to GP and/or dentist

NoelHeadbands · 22/01/2017 09:20

Nasal infections can have a sort of sweaty socks/ bacteria type smell.

NormaSmuff · 22/01/2017 09:27

could it be ketones?

PollyPerky · 22/01/2017 09:27

It could be his teeth or gums and nothing to do with his nose. when we are asleep our mouths dry out a bit so the smells are more noticeable and obviously air is expelled by the nose and mouth when we breathe out. It could even be acid reflux coming from his stomach.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 22/01/2017 09:28

Eighteen months he's had it?! Shock

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