Bad odors

[girlscout]

Hi,
This is kind of a difficult question. When my son (teenager) has a flare (CD) we notice that he frequently smells like he hasn't wiped or wiped enough. But there's no residue on his boxers, so I think he actually is wiping. We tell him to shower and change, but sometimes it's still there. It's a difficult thing to approach him about without him getting defensive. Plus, I don't want to embarass him by bringing it up with his GI in front of him. Doesn't have fistula, BTW.

 

[Clash]

I know when my son was first dx'ed he had a lot of trouble with excessive gas and it came off the same way. There were frequent showers and long defensive discussions. Once his CD was under control the problem didn't persist.

C hit puberty, on time as far as hair growth went. We started purchasing the wet wipes for him since goodness knows that boy has hairy legs and beyond! Ha!

Also at one point he had an inflamed skin tag and this made wiping more difficult so he opted for sitz bathes which really helped with ensuring the area was clean.

But once he was feeling well and able to go hunting, camping etc. Well there are smells involved with all that that I fear may become permanent. The stuff they use to draw deer is beyond revolting! LOL. And then his work uniform that always smells of chicken grease....we finally just got him his own washer because I was afraid the hunting smells and work smells would linger on to our clothing(separating the clothes just didn't seem to be quite enough!)

 

[Mehita]

Is he wearing deodorant yet? Sometimes deodorant has enough of a fragrance to cover up the smell.

 

[maggiesfour]

I hope you don't mind if I jump in here - I have raised four girls on my own and well, they have their own set of smells to contend with, lol...

But - with what we are dealing with, not only are the smells you think of, we have smells from the drugs and sometimes, you never know how those smells are going to show themselves. AT ALL. I have been on all kinds of drugs, and at times, none, and well - sometimes it take months for past drugs to leave my system - and then sometimes - there is just plain old gas - which is quite frankly horrid and scary at the same time. Remicade was one of the worst for me, along with a few others.

I think sometimes, we can't control at all, the smells that come out of us. And sometimes its horridly embarrassing. I will say, fortunately at 56, this year, I am starting to blow it off. There is not one single thing that I can do about it, except possibly knock myself out with other fragrances to put on top of myself and hope they work that day.

Just a bit to keep in mind, with these young growing bodies. Just when you think you have it figured out - something else happens. Oh well, eh?

 

[Kev]

The odor that comes along with this disease isn't pleasant. First off, the disease itself. The chemistry behind it results in a 'different' odor. If there is inflammation, scarring, bleeding, etc., then it makes for a potent combo. In some cases, when there's been surgery, the GI tract has been shortened... things 'percolate' differently than in a healthy person. Mind you, healthy people don't smell like roses. Whether healthy or ill, diet plays a role, but often the diet that people with this disease have to follow only makes things worse. Then there is the curious cocktail of drugs that are pumped into us. One of the drugs I was on... well, it produced a rank odor... but not from where you might ASSume. This odor 'sweated' out of my pores. I scrubbed myself top to bottom, washed my bed linens daily... and I couldn't make this odor go away. My 'night sweats' meant my mattress and pillows were just reeking of stuff. If I go out in public, I shower, douse myself in cologne and aftershave, and I do my absolute best not to break wind indoors near anyone, EVER! After I lost my job in 06 (because of IBD).. I went in search of a new job. Finally found one that I figured was perfect for me, my particular circumstances, and the various odors that emanate from me from time to time. I became a garbage truck driver. Even so, on a few occasions, my co-workers, accustomed as they were to the ambience of their careers, would look at me... wince... and call me "Stinky Old Bastard". Odor is part of the disease.

 

[maggiesfour]

Hi Kev,

Thank you for the LOL - I mean out loud, how brilliant - however, these poor darlings just starting out in the world - my heart goes to them, and well - to myself too! Heck, I wanted to get married. Normal human smells are - well - expected - but man, there are those days that I shudder because I feel, and tasted toxic! - and well - well!! Hence you lovely nickname! Thanks for the chuckle - belly laugh!

 

[girlscout]

Hi all,
Thanks for your helpful input. It's helpful to know so his family can be more understanding when these things happen and ASSume he's been careless! Love that one, KEV!

 

[Jenn]

I do my son's laundry and it had a rank smell til his meds were working well. I notice it sometimes, either from stress or a flare.

 

[maggiesfour]

I do my son's laundry and it had a rank smell til his meds were working well. I notice it sometimes, either from stress or a flare.

Jenn,

Unfortunately, it is worse when there are meds, particularly new meds, and stress. Oh dear, words cannot describe it at times.

You know, thank you all, for letting me share this -- no one told me, and well, after having four kids, and raising them, you learn a thing or two, but -- sometimes that doesn't matter. Someday's, its all so tiresome, someday's - it would be sheer absolute joy to be able to crawl out of your own skin for a awhile. My heart simply doesn't understand youngsters having to deal with this.

HUGS

 

[kristihelene]

My husband jokingly will say to me "I think you're leaking baby". It's his nice way of telling me I stink! And it is NOT an issue of not being clean down there! I use wet wipes every time and even do mirror checks when necessary! And it's not from *passing* any gas. We call it "leaking" because it just seems like the smell leaks out from my pores or something!! No amount of showering can help when it happens! For a teenager, especially a boy, I'd imagine this would be terribly embarrassing to talk about. I would just buy him some products, stick them in his room with a note that says "we don't have to talk about it, but try some of these out and let me know what you like". Deodorant, body spray (Axe makes tons of "cool" sprays), etc.

 

[Kev]

Yeah, can't emphasize this enough. It isn't caused by poor hygiene, lack of cleanliness. No matter how 'clean' everywhere is... this stuff ... odor... comes out of the pores in the skin. I showered in almost scalding hot water, scrubbed every square inch, (even some round ones)... and even resorted to flushing my sinuses with nasal rinse.. and I couldn't get this smell to go away. Like, deodorant, anti-perspirant, cologne, they really aren't a very good alternative... you literally have to drench yourself in them.. and many places are scent free these days. But it definitely isn't from poor hygiene. Nothing to do with it.