Fed up of fucking smelling

[nottomention]

Not a troll or first time poster, just NC as this is obviously an embarrassing topic. I’m almost crying writing this because I’m at my wits end with it all

i smell. I shower at least once a day but usually twice as I really need to. I’ve tried washing with every type of soap imaginable (liquid and bar form), I’ve even tried using no products in case that was better but it absolutely wasn’t, I’ve tried shower gels, jelly’s, creams, washes, washing up liquid, even tried cif once as a particularly desperate 18 year old, all types or deodorants and antiperspirant, roll on, cream, spray, perfume, body spray, no products etc. I still fucking stink. I’m fine coming out of the shower, and for around 2-3 hours after I’m ok. But then the smell starts. It’s unmistakably BO. If I shower at 7.30 am before work, I’ll have BO by lunchtime- enough that I can smell it when I smell myself but not enough for others to notice. By the time I get home at 6 I’ll have a much worse musty BO smell. And by the time I go to bed I really do smell.

I’ve tried avoiding different food groups in case it was a reaction. I’ve tried replacing all my clothes and pjs and bedding in case it was stuck to them. I’ve tried different materials.

I also get a horrible musty smell down there, despite having no BV or thrush. It just always smells bad, again I’ve tried washing with products and using just water only- no difference.

I could burst into tears. I mentioned it to my GP who looked at me blankly and didn’t see the problem. But this is ruining my life because I’m either smelling bad or I’m stressing that I smell bad.

for example, i can’t stay over at other people’s houses because I would smell so badly on waking up and the room would stink because of it. We went on a family weekend away and in the morning my room was noticeably more musty than everyone else’s despite the fact i showered before going to bed, it’s not the first time that’s happened

is this just an unfortunate part of the way I am? And I need to accept it and just keep showering as much as I can? Or am I missing something? It’s been going on for so long I could burst into tears but I don’t know what else to do and there’s no one that can really help. I’m just so utterly miserable with this

It will probably be your clothes. Wash on a high temperature and make sure they dry in a ventilated area so they don't go musty.

Has anyone - family, friends, colleagues, strangers - ever remarked on your smell?

My friend had her armpits botoxed and that stopped her very heavy sweating. I don’t know if that would help?

I’ve done that, I’ve tried all that and even tried replacing all my clothes, bedding, jacket, blankets at once- exact same thing happened

You need to go back to the GP and push for a referral to an expert. There are various things that can cause body odour to this extent.. kidney and liver disease for example. Assuming nothing like that the GP (or hospital) can give you injections into your armpits to reduce sweat, or even refer you for surgery to remove those sweat glands all together. There will be options but you must, must, must keep insisting the GP does something. If you have to see multiple doctors and phone every week until someone helps then do so.

Yes this. Are you sure it's not a kind of OCD on your part?

I'd book a doctors appointment, there can be medical reasons for having bad BO and/or other smells.
Do you sweat a lot or is it just the actual smell? Botox could be an option to help with excessive sweating

Are you sure that you smell? Usually the person who smells is oblivious because it's always there.

Do you sweat excessively?

Yeah they have, it’s happened generally a few times (eg when we went away and commenting that the room I slept in smelled musty) but I’ve also been pulled aside a few times and given a heads up which was really kind and they did it in a really considerate way but still stings as it’s obviously something I’m already aware of x

Do you think it is the fish smell disease? www.nhs.uk/conditions/trimethylaminuria/#:~:text=Trimethylaminuria%20(TMAU)%20is%20an%20uncommon,are%20things%20that%20can%20help.

Yeah I do sweat a lot but I’m not sure if it’s an excessive amount IYSWIM - I don’t actually think it is much more than normal but I get sweat patches etc, maybe it is more than normal and I’ve lost perspective but I’ve never noticed a problem with me always being drenched in sweat during the day- I sometimes get it at night when I wake up and I’m absolutely drowning in sweat but I’m not menopausal (I’m 25) so just assumed it’s just one of those harmless but annoying things IYSWIM x

So things suggested for my daughter, apologies if you have tried these.. use pure soap, no moisturiser etc, shower at night and apply deodorant before bed. Apply deodorant at least 20 mins after the shower

Go back to GP and insist you have tried all the usual things and what you are experiencing is persistent and isn’t within normal limits and is having a huge impact on your life.
ask for routine blood tests and then a referral to endocrinology.

Im sorry OP it sounds really demoralising and you deserve some help.

That's definitely excessive! Please see your GP, there's things that can help with this and you don't have to suffer

I’m not going to suggest you don’t smell, or it’s in your head as I imagine that is also frustrating.
But would you consider armpit botox as a way of cutting down sweat?
Failing that, I imagine there has to be a BO specialist doctor somewhere in the UK.
How is your breath?

My friend had the same issue. She was meticulous about washing herself and using deodorant but would still start to smell after a couple of hours. Her feet were the worst to be honest.

She went to the GP and she had a fungal overgrowth in her body. I know she changed her diet but can't remember if she had to take any medication..

I sometimes get it at night when I wake up and I’m absolutely drowning in sweat but I’m not menopausal (I’m 25) so just assumed it’s just one of those harmless but annoying things

Did you tell about this to your GP?

I would see a different GP. It could be an underlying condition, or something off with your skin microbiota.

Oh please try to see a sympathetic gp that is no way to live your life at 25 💐

I'm sorry but waking up drenched in sweat is medical concern - without meaning to alarm you can be a sign of cancer so please go back to a different GP and push for more tests.

I think natural breathable fibres help and make sure stuff dries thoroughly and quickly enough. I've found that the spraying white vinegar on the armpits of shirts reduces any whiffiness that might linger. I've occasionally noticed I was a bit sweaty and slip into one of our work bathrooms to wash my armpits. We are setup though with some separate bathrooms where you are the only person there and you can take your top off and give your armpits a quick wipe down at the sink. That might not be possible at your work. I have found Voss very good - for very tough days I put it on my feet.

If you have hyperhidrosis, which it sounds like you might, then that would cause this. If you sweat excessively it’s fine for a few hours, but as bacteria grows to feed on the sweat (which is what causes BO) you start to smell. Continuing to sweat feeds the bacteria growth even more and makes the smell worse.

Thankfully there are treatments. I would start by making an appointment and specifically telling them that you believe you are suffering from hyperhidrosis, which gives them a concrete starting point for investigations.

It could be an overactive thyroid or even diabetes. I think you do need a thorough checkup.

You need to pursue this with the GP - preferably a different one to the first utterly useless one! There can be lots of reasons and there are some solutions including Botox to stop sweating.

I hope you get the help you need. Be the squeaky wheel and don't stop until they help you.