Re: fecal odor

Thanks Carlie for those really interesting links and your message.

I feel in a good position to speak about this body odour problem, because I have somehow come through it and am now 'sort of' in control of it. It is with me still, but very infrequently, whereas in the past it was with me every day, every day at work (I worked in an office) was torture. It started when I was 25 years old. I'm now 54. This forum is a revelation to me, because I honestly had no idea that sooo many people suffer from this crippling problem.

Those links were interesting, but they just confirm my view that the medical profession have absolutely no idea about this and can only come up with 'theories' that fit in with their learning. So the 'theory' would be that this is all imagined and is a symptom of compulsive obsessive disorder, or depression, whatever. The reality is that when you smell bad, it CREATES the Depression and the obsessiveness.

I think that my smell is not so bad now because I have gone through the menopause. I believe it is hormonal. It was definitely anxiety based for me because the very few people I trusted enough to tell about it, in tears and contemplating suicide, told me that they did not notice any bad smell - and I knew this anyway. I never did smell with people I felt comfortable with. I could never bring myself to discuss this with the people around whom I did smell with, but I knew that I did because I could smell it myself and I knew they too could smell it. I was on a train once and a group of young girls were laughing and talking and then they said 'what's that smell?' and they even said, 'it's her over there', pointing and looking at me. I just wanted the ground to open up. The pain and agony of this is just unimaginable for those who have never had it.

I've learned a lot about this over the many years I've suffered from it. Certain foods would make the smell worse - fish, blue cheeses, any cheeses really, but blue cheese is worse, curry, chilli. Certain foods help, such as oranges - could be the vitamin C. Probiotics are really good. I'm thinking now about that blue cheese, with the mould in it, and many people have said that the smell started after a course of anti-biotics, again mould. Probiotics will counteract the mould. The best probiotic is kefir grains. A great website is:

http://users.chariot.net.au/~dna/kefirpage.html

Obviously, something happens in the body when it is under emotional stress. Physical stress and heavy sweating do not create the awful smell, but emotional stress, and feeling of being 'trapped' in a social or work situation, where there is no escape - that is what starts the smell off with me.

I changed my work, and people I socialised with. I became a bit reclusive really, and it did calm down and I could start to feel good about myself again. That's the key really I think. Feeling good about myself. Obviously, when I am stinking, it's impossible not to feel shame and humiliation, so I have learned to avoid any situation that might bring this on.

I know that sounds like a 'cop out', but it has worked for me. It's like my body telling me that it doesn't want to be there, so I listen and trust. Like my body is telling me what is good for me. This can be so difficult for young people who HAVE to go to college or school. Adults can have a bit more power over what work they will do.

In summary, it is my view that this is a real physical thing and the body's chemistry is doing stuff to create this smell, which then causes anxiety, Depression and OCD. Maybe when we understand what's going on, then we can work WITH IT instead of either denying its existence, or doing everything we can to STOP IT, even in the situations where we can't stop it. So we should change the situations, i.e. work, social contacts, whatever.

A bit like if someone is allergic to strawberries and they come out in a terrible rash every time they eat them. We don't say, carry on eating the strawberries and put up with the reaction, we say, avoid strawberries. Well I say avoid the situations that cause the smell.

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is so good too. Fingertip tapping on the accupuncture points has helped me loads. It's about accepting and loving ourselves. Here's a link:

http://www.emofree.com/newcomer.htm

Like I say, I've had 29 years of living with this and now I sort of have it under control and can do the things I like to do and actually enjoy my life again. The horror and agony of years gone by are, I hope, in the past. My heart goes out to the younger ones who are suffering with this right now and if anything I have said is of any help.... well,I hope it is.

I'm beginning to look at it in a more philosophical way now. I will soon start a degree course in mental health nursing. Maybe my experience can be put to good use there.