Horrible smell. But from where?

[Mel19652]

Hi

I’m a lady of 53 maybe a bit old for here but I am a mum and I love mumsnet so I dared to reach out for advice.

Over the last year I have had infrequent episodes where I will suddenly smell the most foul stench of something rotten - like something has died and been left to rot or the smelliest feet that haven’t been washed for 6 months.

It’s not fishy or metallic or rotten eggs.

And it only lasts 10 seconds then it has gone.

At first it was infrequent but now it may be every couple of days. It’s like a bag of gas has been opened then when the smell has been dispersed you would not know anything had happened.

At first I thought it was someone taking their shoes off and letting out this ungodly smell. But it’s happened when I am in different places and even on my own so .... is it me? And how is it me? I have no sensation that anything has ‘escaped’

I have good personal hygiene and once this stink has passed I can’t locate it anywhere on me. And believe me I have poked and prodded and swabbed every orifice. But all seems normal for me and nothing like the short term stench.

I have read about Bv but it doesn’t seem to match. This is a one off smell and then nothing more.

I went to a gum clinic recently to have the threads of my Mirena coil cut shorter and I dared to ask if everything smelled ok down there and the lady said she hadn’t noticed anything. And I would imagine that the gum clinic nurses would have plenty of experience in that department.

I don’t feel I can go to the doctors because there are no actual symptoms to show them.

So I was wondering if any of you wonderful ladies might have any insights. I am starting to worry this might happen in work. I would be mortified.

Thanks in advance x

I’m wondering if it could be inside your nose or sinuses? So no one else would even be aware of it.
You could have a low level (not painful) infection.

Or have a look at this
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantosmia

Thank you for your reply. I was reading about phantosmia this morning and it mentioned nose issues so I did a bit of of steaming with vic. I was surprised that my nose was less efficient than I had expected it to be and one nostril could not even smell the vic properly so I’m going to steam a couple of times a day for the next week to see if my nose improves. And maybe it will help with the phantom smells. Thanks xxxx

(Let’s hope they are phantom, and for an easily solved reason).

I would look for the cause inside your head as well. Might be worth a dental appointment as well for a check up.

And there's no age limit on here. Everybody's welcome whether they're parent or not

This could well be tonsil stones

Could it be neurological? So your brain is perceiving a smell which isn't there?

I had an ear infection once that I didn't know about , I could sometimes smell it . I had antibiotics and the smell went away.

I was going to suggest tonsil stones too , if u open ur mouth and shine a torch at ur tonsils some times you can see little white specks on ur tonsils ,, I get them so I have started gargling salty water to help shift them , but if by chance they shift on their own I can smell them and sometimes taste them.

I get this whenever my nose is blocked, post nasal drip I think it's called.. it smells like pus/infection and is rank.

When I had sinusitis it smelled to me like something had died in my face. Antibiotics sorted it.

I'm a good bit older than you OP

I occasionally smell something that's like diesel oil and at first I was really convinced that it was a genuine smell - but it's just me and probably something to do with my sinuses. I know it's not the same as your smell but I suppose it could have a similar cause.

I was originally going to suggest a forgotten tampon but I see you've been checked down there - now that's a vile smell, I had that once years ago but I'll never forget it!

I was going to say tonsil stones, when they dislodge it can sort of make a pooey smell? Really they are in your mouth but It feels like it's in your nose

Yes I would also suggest a check up at the dentist. At least it will be another thing to rule out?

Dentist? I had a similar thing and it turned out to be trapped Food very occasionally caught between my back teeth. Easy to fix!

I’m 53 too OP not too old atall
As for the smells, I agree with others that it could be your sinuses.
I think you need to pop and see your GP

Please go and see your gp. I immediately thought of neurological causes. This should not be ignored.

Have you seen a dentist? Periodontal disease smells evil

menopause?

Off to the GP to get this sorted. The Doctor will not think you silly.

Could it be a ghost?

(Its probably just a tonsil stone though)

Have a chat with your GP as they'll want to get you checked out. Neurological sprand to mind here too.

Thanks dentist check up 2 weeks ago but I didn’t mention the smell at the time. Dentist checked my crown and said all was well with that. At our dentists you get seen for about 90 seconds and then you are turfed out

Sorry I’m not very good at this. It has taken me a week to find this thread gain so thank you for all the lovely responses and apologies for not replying to you all individually. It’s so nice to be part of a community.