What can I do.Feeling paranoid with hot flashes and colleagues mentioning smells😢

[whatisforteamum]

I've always loved work.A bit of a workaholic most say.Recently I've felt depressed and irritable so the Gp looked into HRT as a possibility as DM had ovarian cancer so it has taken time to obtain.
Meanwhile I am having more hot flushes.I also work in a very hot environment.So for a few years I get up at 7 have a bath.Have one in my lunch break with new clothes and one at night when I get in at 10.
The other day a teenage colleague was hungover and almost gagging at work.I was working near.them and decided perhaps my uniform hadn't dried properly so changed it.
They commented again.This co league doesn't particularly like me and as far as I know wants my position at work.
The next day someone said they could smell cabbage!.
When I was doing some strenuous work at the end of the day I had a huge hot rush come over me.
I've always maintained great personal hygiene and clean clothes.I've invested in the best fruity shampoos and deodorants.
My self esteem is in my boots.WWYD.I do have extra uniform s btw.Help.
Also I know there is a kind of witch hunt on me of sorts which I have never experienced as the team changed a bit and I am 30 plus years older than most of them now.

Just wondering where you dry your laundry if you don't have a drier.... if it is in the kitchen then clothes would absorb cooking smells, which would then be released when you get hot. If you don't have a drier or room for one, I would suggest a dehumidifier instead, put it on with the airer in a bedroom etc.

They're trying to bully you out.

You need to knock them back down to size.

One good thing about coming out of the other side of Menopause is that you don't put up with shit like this.

OP, you don't smell. They've honed in your n your weakness. As said, it's very school bullying behaviour.

You've got to work out strategies for comebacks.

What was actually said?

Ask someone who you are close to and take their answer as fact
These people sound mean, I think if you smelled bad management would have spoken to you especially as hygiene is so important in your working environment

If you think your clothes might be smelling I recommend a dehumidifier. The great thing about them is you can use them for everything, even things you can't tumble dry.

You mention your airing cupboard Op. You're not drying your clothes in there are you Op?

What fabric is your clothing? Could it be that it's retaining a smell and in the hot environment, it's activating it.
I've had this with a few things, so now I actively avoid buying anything with polyester in it as this seems the worst. Always cotton or natural fibres next to the skin.

@CloeDee you are best off posting a new thread in the Pregnancy topic as your question has got lost in this one as it's not relevant.

I only know how to do it in the app but basically go to Topics and search 'pregnancy'. Then hit 'start a new thread' and you can write your question then. Hope that helps.

Lots of great advice.

Main ones I would check out -

give your washing machine a clean. Not wash with nothing in it and clean the filter. Take the drawer out and clean it and clean the drawer cavity. They can all harbour smells.

Washing clothes - what temperature and what do you use? Halo is good or Dettol. If you can wash your uniform in 60 it might help.

Drying clothes - how do you dry clothes? If on an airer there needs to be lots of space around the clothes for air to circulate. When I used to live in a flat with no where to dry clothes or have space for a big airer I used to hang clothes in hangers and hang in doorways. If you can leave a window open a bit that will help.

Washing you - baths are lovely but showers might be better. Three baths a day would give me thrush! As others have said proper soap is much better than shower gels. I think I remember one poster saying she uses Imperial Leather when she needs to stay fresh all day and might get hot. Dove isn’t a proper soap so avoid that. You also mention fruity products and body sprays - I would probably drop them to be honest. They might not be helping. A good deodorant should be enough.

Really sorry you’re going though this. Your colleagues sound not very nice.

I wonder if your clothes smell of damp? If you put them away not properly dry, or your cupboard/home is damp they will smell horrid and its hard to get rid of

I was having terrible hot flushes earlier this year, like every 20 minutes just burning up.

I found Menopace Original suppliments on amazon with ace reviews and thought I might as well try them, within 5 days I wasn't flushing. This was in June and I'm still only having a rare flush to this day. I found them in Asda for £3.50 and I'm spreading the word.

Sorry this is happening to you OP, I hated it, maybe these could help you?

Thank you! i figured out how to do it X

Hair loss isn’t a thyroid problem. It’s a typical meno symptom when testosterone levels drop. You need a blood test to check those and then if that’s low then you’ll need a testosterone gel. I’ve been through this. There’s lots you can do to help yourself through menopause. Join the menopause cafe support group. In fact, join up any local support groups you can find.

I've only read the first page, but wondering if it might be your clothing where it hasn't dried properly that is slightly whiffy?
I can't see that with the amount of washing you're doing your body can smell but sometimes if clothing sits damp for a long time it develops an unpleasant odour.
Then again, if you have a sensitive nose, you'd likely notice it.

You are very unlikely to smell if you are bathing frequently. If there actually is a smell it could be from leaving your clothes damp for too long or drying them too slowly. I don't think there is a smell though, I think you are being bullied at work.

Maybe nothing to do with you but Dp is diabetic (type1) and normally is perfectly fine but if his blood sugars are out of whack it starts off with a certain smell which over the years I now recognise.

If he doesn’t check them the smell gradually gets worse.

Could you check that you don’t have diabetes. Probably type 2 that can be over come with a change of diet. Type 1 you tend to only get up to the age of 40.

I once had something go horrible in the washing machine and it made the clothes smell. I cleaned it out with a v hot wash using napisan and that fixed it. I now put a bit of napisan in with white washes just to keep the machine nice.

If it's not that, I'd ask the GP if you're smelly - they will be honest and also if you are, they might be able to tell what it is. But it's also possibly just paranoia - because of your horrible workplace atmosphere, which sounds awful

Also avoid using lots of strong-smelling things - they won't help, cost money and don't smell nice anyway. Just keep clean and ask GP. So sorry you're going through this.

The menopause is rubbish. My suggestions would be: short hair washed regularly, use scrubby gloves all over at regular intervals eg weekly, use soap not shower gel, use Mitchum antiperspirant, use eau de parfum not EDT. For clothes do not use 30C wash, or quickwash, use 40, 50 or 60, use a nice fabric softener (eg I like Comfort with sandalwood) and dry as quickly as possible (so don't leave clothes packed onto drying rack so they're damp for two days). HRT works but if you decide not to use that then GP may suggest citalopram which works for me, does not eliminate heat/flashes/sweating but does reduce it considerably. And hold your head high and rise above your colleagues comments.

My colleague often smells of damp clothes - she is scrupulously clean, but doesn't have a tumble drier or access to a drying green. Could it be that your clothes are being put away when they're not 100% dry and get a bit musty rather than your actual body smelling? It sounds like you are a very clean person to me!

Given the amount of showering and bathing that you are doing, I very much doubt that you smell and that if there is a smell where you work it is coming from another source entirely.

It does seem to me that the amount of bathing and showering is excessive if you are taking a bath at lunchtime as well. I do wonder if you are suffering from anxiety or OCD? Please don't take this the wrong way as I am not being critical but it seems that the worry about being smelly is affecting your life, and no-one deserves to live like that.

My sense is bullying by colleagues. If you are washing 3 times a day, it is very unlikely that you smell.

To prevent your clothes smelling wash them in as hot water as you can in biological detergent; Powder for whites, liquid for coloureds.
Remove from machine asap and dry thoroughly.

If your washing machine is causing the smell - mildew / black mould is especially common in hard water areas - do a hot wash with soda Chrystals after about every 20 washes and leave the door and powder drawer open when not in use to allow air flow.

I suspect you personally do not smell. Polyester uniforms are hopeless. Wash at 60 degs and dry thoroughly.

Sounds like your colleagues are immature. Consider keeping a note of incidences.

Ah op, I also think you need to ask a trusted friend/family member first. With 3 baths a day I can’t see why you would smell but worth asking.

I've invested in the best fruity shampoos

This made me lol

I’m sorry you have to go through this it sounds awful! It does sound like you have a fantastic standard of hygiene though and are certainly doing all you can to maintain it. I too would be really surprised if the issue is actually you, though some of the suggestions here are great and will add an insurance policy as such to your routine. I know my job sometimes gets random smells in it not related to anyone, just they can come and go, likely related to drains and air conditioning ect. It’s a horrible worry for you to have and I would definitely second the visit to the doctor to get their perspective, for reassurance purposes if nothing else as generally it is older sweat that tends to smell and with all the washing you do, I’d imagine you are keeping on top of that end of things!

I'm post meno and on HRT.

Your body does change and the hot flushes may make your natural body aromas stronger.
I definitely have a stronger 'smell' which I associate with the last week of my 4 week HRT cycle - I think it's associated with higher progesterone..
Personally I would try a very low dose HRT to see if you can get the hot flushed under control. If nothing else, they make you feel very visible/ uncomfortable.
What's your uniform made from? If it's man-made fibres (polyester, nylon etc) then definitely wash in a biological powder/liquid as these fabrics trap the bacteria and odour from swear more than cottons etc.

I think your colleagues are being vile and you are feeling very vulnerable. Please don't let them bully you like this. I am sure it is not as bad as you think (IF it exists at all!)

Sounds to me like you're being bullied too. Is there an HR manager or senior manager that you'd feel comfortable talking to?

Regarding the clothes washing and drying, can you dry stuff outside when possible. Or hang stuff near an open window? It does make clothes smell really natural and clean. Perhaps the airing cupboard has given clothes a musty smell?