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

I’m sorry, but if it’s really ruining your life like you’re saying it is, you’d be knocking that GPs office door down.

This thread could be the answer!

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/4832832-let-me-proclaim-my-stinky-armpits-cure

I sweat a lot always have but something that I got told works for me with deodorant. After you put it on use a hairdryer on cool setting and blow underarms. It dries the deodorant faster and stops it from coming off your skin and transferring onto your clothes.

This is excellent- you put it on the night before, let it dry and use normal deodorant in the morning

https://www.boots.com/driclor-solution-roll-on-applicator-10050231?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs_HeroCompare---_-PMax:+UK_Smart_Shopping_Toiletries&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADrIajXWog1jigKph3hLgUuc9T5_V&gclid=Cj0KCQiAuqKqBhDxARIsAFZELmJr_4qmCGkjVqTvWu2YQvX9laPgDgwC6EQ57kQDO120dx18RTLCE8kaAjKOEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Sorry you are struggling with this @nottomention at the risk of being flamed here, how is your weight? I always notice more sweatiness when carrying a few extra pounds 💞

Yeah, you’re right blades2, it’s not actually ruining my life, you’ve busted me, well done

Not necessarily at all. Plenty of people will avoid their GP or discussing it with other people due to shame, embarrassment and so on. In fact the OP did raise it with her GP who did nothing and did not in any way help the OP feel able to talk about it.

You know that plenty of people with symptoms of things like cancer will avoid seeing a HCP until they reach some kind of unavoidable crisis.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. Definitely going to push for some more help with the GP. I think the problem is I was looking at it from a cosmetic pov rather than medical IYSWIM. Thanks again for all the advice and suggestions to try x

I know people saying 'Wear cotton underwear' and 'wash your clothes on a hot wash' etc are trying to help, but what the OP is describing is so obviously not just a case of sweat clinging to clothes.

It's also clearly not a 'lost' tampon, given that the OP has had this problem for many years now - a lost tampon absolutely stinks but also causes infection etc and the smell isn't actually like BO or the 'musty' smell the OP describes.

OP, I think if this is really as bad as you say, you do need to go back to your GP. The fact that it's significant enough for people to have mentioned it to you, and that it is causing you this level of distress, is enough to warrant another GP visit. See a different doctor if you prefer. Interesting that you also have night sweats, and that it's not just an armpit issue too - explain all these things to the doctor and explain that other people have noticed it and commented and that it's severely affecting your mental health. NHS advice is that if body odour is affecting your mental health and self-esteem and deodorants aren't working, you should see a doctor.

Write down all your symptoms so you can show the doctor x

Get some glycolic acid. Put it on under your armpits after a shower with a cotton pad. It will remove the smell. I've used it and it does work.

theordinary.com/en-gb/glycolic-acid-7-toning-solution-exfoliator-100418.html

https://www.dettol.co.uk/household-disinfection/laundry/dettol-laundry-cleanser-fresh-cotton-1000-ml/

Try using this in your wash.

My best friend at school had this and she went through hell because of it. It was undiagnosed of course, so people just thought she was dirty. Our PE teacher was brought in to our classroom to give us a 'talk' about personal hygiene because the smell was so strong. It was so traumatic for her, because even though the teacher didn't single her out, we all knew it was about her. They should have spoken to her privately.

Good luck @nottomention

I would re-iterate you have a good hygeine routine and therefore there may be an underlying medical cause and really detail how it is negatively impacting your work, social life, ability to form relationships etc (not saying this is the case, but it would reasonable if it was!)

Not sure if already has been linked, but there are metabolic disorders that can lead to people having a bad odour:
e.g.,
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/trimethylaminuria/

https://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/anhydrol-forte-roll-on-20-w-v-cutaneous-solution/prd-1f

this stuff is amazing. I suffered from hyper hydrosis and this basically cured it.

Actually, loads of women do get thrush and UTIs from using soap or shower gel on the external genital area. Not necessarily anything to do with pH, but it can certainly mess with the skin and natural bacterial/fungal balance. It's not a problem for everyone, but it definitely is for lots of women, and one of the first things doctors, including specialists, ask when you have repeated irritation, thrush, UTIs etc is what you're using to wash the vulva and also whether you use things like bubble bath or bath oil etc. When I was getting recurring issues like that when I was younger, the consultant told me very firmly that 'wash with water only on any part of your genital area that you can't see with your legs closed' and my best mate was told the same thing at a GUM clinic when she was convinced she had an STD (she didn't, but she did have a lot of irritation down there).

Perhaps you need a different exfoliating sponge? Something that scrubs a bit better?

I have a friend who has this issue, she smelt terrible, but she was surprisied at the exfoliating sponge I would use - said it was OTT. And then I thought, bingo.

Vote 2 for fish smell disease. My housemate at uni had it and the smell was acrid and unfortunate. He was diagnosed in early puberty because, like you, he didn’t “last long” after a shower and his parents (understanding that body odour is supposed to be caused by old sweat, not new sweat!) took him to the GP. He had tests.

Areas that sweat and remain damp are where bacteria that cause the BO smell grow - there are botox treatments for people with excessive sweating- perhaps you could have this to the areas where the sweat happens but remains damp and therefore allows the bacteria to form?

I am the same. Recently started to use antibacterial soap- I use Dettox - and it changed everything. It was a huge improvement particularly if you spend time working the soap into your various nooks and crannies. I also shave my armpits and keep my pubic hair trimmed.

But remember - active people like us do sweat and it’s our smell that’s the natural one. By all means work to fix it but don’t take criticism from lazy gits who never work up a sweat!

Waking up drenched in sweat is not normal OP and would be the main thing I'd be telling the GP about.

I'm 37 and the only time I have ever had this was for a week or so after giving birth.

So sorry you’re suffering OP.

Please do go back to the GP like the PP have said.

In the short term, I washed a smelly area with Hibiscrub and it worked amazingly.

I’d be careful using it more than once in a while though as it’s a surgical grade antiseptic wash which I imagine will disrupt the microbiome of your skin if overused.

It probably sounds silly but I’m also careful with how I wash my body now, to try and prevent bacteria from under my arms spreading to other areas of my body.

Also re sweating - I had night sweats badly but changed my bedding to wool filling and cotton covers and it stopped completely other than the very occasional bout linked to my monthly cycle. I also find I need to wear breathable non-synthetic fabrics otherwise I sweat more than I’d like, too. I also have to keep my weight relatively low (not underweight) as carrying a little more weight dramatically increase the amount I sweat! I guess it affects some people more than others?

Hi op, I used to be like this. Things that worked for me was honestly without a doubt driclor. I now only need to use it every 3 weeks or so and maybe once a fortnight in the summer. Then daily I shower every morning using a proper bar of soap first (none of these moisturising ones, I'm talking a proper soap) then shower gel.
In summer I use roll on then leave to dry then use spray one.

Wash clothes really hot. You may need to buy new t-shirt after you've given the driclor a try.

I do still sweat occasionally. You also need to sniff the armpits when the clothes are freshly washed (I'm talking still warm in the machine) as it's once they get wet that they smell. If it smells when wet, wash it again!

Use a biological powder for laundry and use Dettol Antibacterial Liquid in the conditioner drawer.

Use panty liners in your knickers.