My story

[Freshhope]

I had bb for as long as i can remember. I’ll never forget when we had a group task in class when I was around 10 and my friend blurted out your breath stinks. Since that point and many other comments and reactions I have been aware of my bb. Some people think it’s some special thing about this age where the bb activates but I think it’s just a normal age where you start forming closer relationships that you issue becomes conscious to you even more so in adult hood. I watch childhood videos of myself and I am constantly chewing gum so must’ve been aware.

Family brush it off like it’s a transient thing. Don’t eat garlic etc. it is a strange phenomenon that close family mother father siblings cant smell me. Obviously you are so close with them and you the most confident with them but will never understand this aspect of bb. I sometimes think possible fight flight response in public triggers some sphincters in the stomach to open close but this is just a theory. I have read some people who take anti depressants have some reduction in bb. I have never mentioned this to a doctor cause of the fear and stigma associated with the issue , but also after reading this forum there’s not much Drs can do for you except investigate and antibiotics?

I cope with having odd hour jobs, go grocery shopping late, I talk from a distance, hold breath when passing people and hand gestures. Eg. If someone says hello to me I might just smile and raise my hand . I come across as shy and awkward but like one person said in the forum that I read The realisation is you have to survive and there is no shame in that and the will to survive in humans is very strong.

Fast forward many years of living this isolating lifestyle my main desire was companionship and some how I found a kind hearted lady to be with. A cuddle with someone can really help. It has been up/down and only after 5 years of being together I was only able to explain the extent of this torture. Obviously she said I don’t have an issue but I explain my reluctance to socialise with her friends and I tell her I am only able to give you myself in a limited way socially. And she was understanding and it did feel a big weight was lifted of my shoulders. That acceptance made it all better. I do feel guilty for not being able to treat her as good as I know I could. I believe in this world there are healthy people and they use there health for good or they use it for bad. For example people who constantly torment you at workplace about bb etc.

Recently I had a little crisis where my nose odour seems to be affecting people and am really struggling to deal with it. I can be walking down the street , people are sitting on there porches will cough as soon as I walk by . same at grocery store walk by ,cough. It really mentally draining . I guess I will just have to try to survive this also.

Some funny ways I deal with this is always picking the last seat on a table, not talking to people face, when I was younger I would try to sit in the back seat so the aircon would blow my bb to back of car so no one can smell it, I’m very focussed on wind direction I make sure I stand where my breath will blow away from the person. I do belive the colder months are harder on us maybe something to do with the condensation carrying the smell further or the heat being able to evaporate whatever chemical we exhale quicker. It’s sad my mind has to think this way...

I tried random products on and off the only thing that I would say made me feel clean and normal was metronidazole but obviously it’s not a long term solution . As I am getting more confident in myself I do plan on getting some tmau testing , helicobacter test or genetic testing /endoscopy as I have a good support from my wife .

I have social anxiety but I actually believe it to be my bb that is causing this . I have sweaty hands and arm pits when in public but it’s only cause I’m so tense trying to avoid embarrassing reactions. I did think at one stage I had halitophobia but I really don’t belive it. I do find when I have conflicts and develop a flight or fight response my bb and dry mouth get much worse.

To be continued

[KL123]

I think some people have success with Grape Fruit Seed extract drops application in the nostrils. You drop a couple of drops in your nostrils after unstuffing and clearing them up with
I would give GPSE a shot. They are a bit pricey but who knows if they provide some temporary relief?

[Freshhope]

Thanks will give it a try

[Gelonaxy]

Which anti depressants can reduce bb? nasal bb too ? I would take them !!

[Freshhope]

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=5743&p=51316&hilit=Effexor#p51316

Something to do with hormones and serotonin , someone also commented could just be chilling you out and not paying attention to reactions but it’s something to think about. Another thing with these is the possible sexual dysfunction with the ssri and that’s the last thing I want