I'm not sure how to describe this, but there is an "odor" that lingers around DH and in the bedroom where he spends much of his time. He takes showers daily, he is clean after trips to the bathroom, the bathroom which ajoins the bedroom is cleaned frequently (he misses the toilet a lot!), and the odor isn't a "bathroom" odor exactly. Hard to describe odors...anyone ever had anything of this type? I need to buy stock in the deodorizer companies as well as the Yankee Candle company. Both are best sellers!!
John developed strange odors as well. He never had very good hygiene, but it wasn't body odor or bathroom odors. Hard to describe. Then, I began to think it was because he didn't do a very good job of brushing his teeth (when he would) and of course he never flossed. Could that be it? I thought, too, that maybe medications have something to do with altering body chemistry and causing "off" odors?
Claude also had an "off" odor. I also noticed it with my parents, b-i-l and other older people who were on medications. I think you are right Jen, that various combinations of meds can cause it.
I think it all goes back to musk glands..... My dh has it and always has and he was a shower taker..also he would sweat a lot. His girls also have this same thing one to a lesser degree than the others..but if you go into a room that has been closed up..ick.
Meds could be related to this problem too but dh and daughters have had this during healthy years and the kids are healthy..so I think they have some prehistoric glands that still work. If there is a solution other than keeping the windows open and air freshener about I am open to it. I don't use candles..they give me a headache..
PREHISTORIC GLANDS!! ROFLMAO!! Then, THAT'S what I have!! I've always smelt like a "laborer", if you know what I mean, since I was a little kid! My mom took me to the doctor when I was nine years old. She was worried that I sweated and smelled so bad. The doctor simply told her to buy me some deodorant and show me how to use it! (Sorry...not that this has anything really to do with this discussion)
The great thing is that we're never aware of our own scent when hygiene isn't involved. One of the things my wife always liked about me (and still does) is my scent. She's mentioned that over the years and just a few weeks ago did again. I then smell under my arms but I don't get it. I can't smell my own scent and I've never been that aware of hers.
I have no trouble believing the meds change this and it might be that with damage in the brain that might control the various glands, there may be changes in what those glands are doing.
I agree that meds can alter their body chemistry to cause odors different than normal. Maybe Marsh can enlighten us if he ran into this while he practiced.
My nephew has horrible body odor. The solution was to shave his armpits for that odor and the rest was brought under control with taking chlorophyll tablets. I doubt that would work when caused by medications.
Thanks for all the comments and thanks divvi for bringing up a thread..I'll have a look at that also. Maybe it is the meds DH takes. I know he is clean, top to bottom. His teeth are clean but he doesn't floss anymore. I'm sure the odor is not from teeth. I have a new candle called "Gardenia". Smelling pretty good in here right now!! LOL! Now on to the other thread for more clues! TKS!
My DH also developed an odor. I couldn't describe it but it was in the bedroom as well.
Our hair stylist comes to our home and cuts both his hair and mine about eery 4-5 weeks. One day she told me she couldn't cut his hair and showed me the back of his head was all sticky and he had a terrible case of cradle cap. Very greasy. That's when I started giving him his shower/shampoo frequently. I used one of those nylon sponges and got a bod wash/shampoo. (Neva & Irish Spring put them out). I just started with his head and scrubbed all the way down his back. Then I had him turn around and I scrubbed all the way down his front. After he did his private area (at my directions) I got him all rinsed off. After he is all dry I use a generous amount of antiperperant and he's good to go. The odor Doesn't seem to be so prevalent now. I do think it's his medication. Good luck!
Hmmm. You are all being so polite. When I open the bedroom door to check on my sleeping LO it almost blows me away. It's kind of an intestinal/musky smell. It's as if he collected all the bad smells he'd been exposed to all day long; saved them; and released them in sleep. Don't know if it's GI, skin or lung. I just call it "Old Man Smell", although I've not smelled many old men and that's probably an incorrect name. I use Glad Hawaiian Breeze Spray for the room; and put some Vicks under my nose. And sleep just fine no longer noticing the smell.
My hb's pillow has to replaced a couple times a year cause it gets that 'smell' -comes from his hair. My bil was really bad - I do think it is chemistry change as they age that causes the oils from their head to smell really bad, especially men. If you go to www.thecandlesource.com they have many options besides candles to add light fragrance to your rooms without burning candles. My sister uses oils in her bathroom - she pours it over some marbles and it will last a long time giving off a faint fragrance.
My young nephew (17) had a strong body odor but not the presperation type. Dr. told him to eat plain yogurt everyday. Problem solved. Seem the yogurt controls some kind of bacteria in the body. If that fails try SLEEP PILLOW SPRAY from Bed Bath and Beyond. xox cs
I agree with your remark about the musky smell..that is why I said I think there must be some prehistoric musk glands that still work or go to work..Stuntgirl* got a good laught out of my description ( and so did I when I went back and re read it tho I was not trying to be funny). I agree about the hair thing too..I think everyone gets a dirty hair smell if they don't wash it often enough but if one tends toward oily hair in the first place then it is amplified.
It is interesting how those who suffer oily skin problems as kids and adults seem in the long haul to have the nicer looking skin as they age where as those of us peaches and cream types show age more easily?
My DH doesn't have a problem with hair odor. His hair is cut very short, isn't oily and he washed it every day. I'm thinking the med/chemistry thing. Charlotte, thanks for the website. I'll check it out. I do candles because I love the smell but if oil is good and available it would be safer..
my dh had a body smell that would gag you, he was washed daily at home and in the nh, had that smell about 2 yrs before he was diganosed with AD , I had a hard time hugging him at times, the only meds he was on, early on, was for blood pressure ,even after he passed and I laid my head on his chest I could still smell that smell. So I don`t know maybe it has something to do with this illness AD
Our RN from Hospice told me that many anti-psychotic drugs emit an odor through the pores of the patient's skin. It's not just an underarm thing. Daily bathing kept our situation under control quite well. We used a liquid body wash/shampoo every morning... (maybe it was Dial or Zest, I don't remember), but he smelled fresh and clean until he woke up the next day and the odd odor would be there again. Also used "Shower To Shower" Bath Powder. Don't know if it helped with the odor or not, but it helped keep him dry.
Marygail; you really discribed it, "a smell that would gag you..." Mostly when he is first asleep and in a closed room. And totally totally different from other yucky body smells... Other than BP meds and OTC pills, nothing unique. Just this smell... Oh well, Glade Hawaiin Breeze and Vicks...
Just spoke with a RN friend and we talked a little about the "odor." Her question was "how long has it been going on?" I don't think with my DH it has been any longer than maybe 6 months. He was put on Aricept and Lexapro at the same time, about 3 years ago.
Has the odor become worse as time passes for the rest of you?
Fact: your bedroom has the most unhealthy air of any room in the house. The reason: at night while sleeping all the junk you breathed in during the day is cleansed from your lungs. Because the bedroom is a small room and you stay in one place, it becomes much more concentrated than if out and about. When my hb was working as a printer, at night his breath smelled of the chemicals he breathed in during the day. I had to turn away from him to breath which I still do now because of the CPAP mask - it blows air in my face if I am facing him: air that stinks especially in the morning.