Bringing up bad breath with the doctor

hopeful · Post by **hopeful** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:43 am

So I finally saw a doctor today and it was really difficult for me to mention my bb. It's just such an embarassing condition to discuss. I started off by mentioning my digestive problems and saying how I believe they are linked. Then I talked about my congestion in my sinuses along with some other issues I've been having. The worst part about the whole thing was that the doctor is my cousin's mother in law. I didn't want to see her at all but it's really hard to find a doctor where I live willing to take new patients. As well, knowing someone personally can get you into a specialist much sooner. As a result of my appt. I'm currently fasting for 12 hours so that I can get some blood tests done along with a sinus xray. I was so nervous in there that I totally forgot to mention post nasal drip and tonsils. I asked about seeing an ENT but she said she had to see the sinus xrays first. When I go back to get my results, I will try to be braver and make bb the primary concern instead of just mentioning it as a minor issue(because it's not). I'm also having blood tests done for hypothyroidism because I think my hormones are mesed up.

She is also setting up an appointment with a gastroenterologist for me. Ah, this is going to be a long process.

Belle · Post by **Belle** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 9:08 am

I kow how you feel, my doctor is someone who i know quite well (in social circles), so i was really awkward asking her. However, it has worked in my favour because she has been fantastic and very supportive. So hopefully it will work in your favour too. You have to investigate all the avenues so that you can rule certain things out. Good Luck.

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:46 am

i hear ya!

the thing is that if the doc os already covering his/her nose, then I guess they can already assume that the BB is a major symptom. But it is a good idea to just mention it in passing... like "yesterday morning I noticed my breath was worse"... it's easier to just mention it that way, then to say "I'm here because my breath smells like shyt"

hopeful · Post by **hopeful** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:47 pm

Well, she was kind enough to not cover her nose(unlike everyone else that does around me). I think she got a pretty good whiff when she asked to to open my mouth and say "ah." I felt so bad for her...but was glad she resisted the usual reaction.

TIREDOFIT · Post by **TIREDOFIT** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:56 pm

It sounds like you and I have a lot in common. I too have digestive issues and sinus issues. Ever since I drpped my old insurance and got on my husband's and started going to the Navy hospital it's been much easier to see specialists and get the tests I needed. I found out that I have a hiatal hernia and that may be the reason for the bad breath. I saw and ENT who thought it was my tonsils and I recently had those taken out. It's too soon to tell if that cured me or not. If not I will look into getting my stomach repaired. The only thing is when you get this surgery done you could have a lot of painful gas bubbles for years to follow. There is a lot of post on internet forums about the pain that people have afterward and that it is not worth it. If it's where my bb is coming from it just might be worth it.
Anyway good luck with everything and I know it seems long, but at least you are in the process of finding out what is wrong. After a while it will be second nature to tell a doctor your problem - believe me I've been doing it for 15 years now.

hopeful · Post by **hopeful** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:23 pm

That's what scares me. I don't want to be searching for a "cure" for the next ten years. I've more or less put my life on hold temporarily to figure this thing out. I just don't have any confidence to do anything else (look for a job, date, etc) while dealing with this.

emotional rescue · Post by **emotional rescue** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:36 pm

yeah, the same thing here,

it took me years to swallow my pride and be more clear with doctors, but i´m improving now....

also i told my mother all the truth about this years, but i still feel shamed with her, i don´t have the same relationship that i had before, and it´s my fault.
at least now she gave me her credit card and i´m trying to order some stuffs....

I´m looking for the courage to make my mom my bb tester....

all this is just crazy, but we should not be ashamed of talking more open about this, it´s not our fault!!

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 11:14 am

^^ ah it's only human. It is difficult to talk about, even if it would save your life.

RE: hiatus hernia. Glad I'm not the only one who has it along with sinus problems.
The question is whether they are related, or are they two separate sources of BB.
Haven't heard about the side effects of gas bubbles. What the surgery does is close the valve leading to the stomach by tying it around itself to tighten the opening. Like tying a knot, but not closing it completely.

Supposedly whenever you swallow, the valve (sphincter?) opens, and acid is let into your esophagus. Over time that does damage to the esophagus and probably leads to the tonsils. That was one theory for the lump in the throat sensation. It could explain why BB may come from the throat... I can't understand how sinuses might be involved. Maybe they aren't? Maybe we just have bad sinuses like any other average Joe, and are confusing it with the real problem.

I will have the tonsils checked, but I am also looking into HH surgery. People talking about whether it was worth it or not... probably don't have BB... they probably just have acid reflux, and caught it early b4 it became BB?

I'd love to know whom else has HH. it hasn't been discussed too much here. But you'll never know unless you see a gastroenterologist, or a good thorough ENT. You can't feel it. You really can't tell if you have digestive problems, if the acid has already desensitized the lining of the esophagus.

TIREDOFIT · Post by **TIREDOFIT** » Wed Aug 01, 2007 4:55 pm

elliott _ do you have the kind of bb that travels great distances???? I've noticed that ever since I had a HH my bb can be smelled from 5-6 ft away.

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:29 am

TIREDOFIT wrote:elliott _ do you have the kind of bb that travels great distances???? I've noticed that ever since I had a HH my bb can be smelled from 5-6 ft away.

I really can't be sure. I haven't gotten good enough to decipher reactions from a distance! I have noticed lately though, that people that I am normally in contact with (work) don't bother to get too close. They stand about 4-5 feet from me and they seem comfortable enough. Then again, I have adjusted and use few words, barely pronounciating words.

I've protected myself from detection, but my guess is no, my BB is a close up thing.

waitingforrelief · Post by **waitingforrelief** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:00 am

hi hopeful.

i'm glad that you've taken the first step in talking to a doctor. i encourage you to keep at it and don't minimize the problem. i've been doing it myself - have talked to 3 doctors already, although my multiple consultations with all the doctors are not DIRECTLY bb-related, as bb seems to be only a possible symptom of my condition.. However, I did mention it to all the doctors.

And it gets easier. By the last one, I even asked him to test my breath... And he was very helpful and seemed to want to help.

Anyway, I've written more about talking to a doctor in an old post. If you've missed it, hopefully there might be an idea or two in there that might be helpful to you.

viewtopic.php?p=6866&highlight=#6866

hopeful · Post by **hopeful** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 2:38 am

Just an update for anyone interested. All my blood tests came back fine so the source doesn't originate there(since I thought a hormonal issue was a possibility). My sinus xray was also fine so I'm not sure what that means. I still have problems with congestion from time to time but since moving home(clean unpolluted air), it's gotten a little bit better. My stool samples also came back negative for parasites and bacteria.

The next step is to do a barium xray(upper and lower). For one you swallow the barium and the other they shoot it up your butt like an enema. I think any major digestive issues or conditions will show up if they exist. I'm really interested in the upper barium xray(throat, esophagus, stomach) because I think I might have either a hiatal hernia, acid reflux or even zenker's diverticulum. I've been having this horribly sour taste in my mouth lately and all three of the previous problems can cause this. I will keep updating as I slowly work my way through all the possible causes.

emotional rescue · Post by **emotional rescue** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 5:00 am

thanks for the update

elliott · Post by **elliott** » Fri Aug 10, 2007 11:05 am

Barium tests. Be sure that your doctors are thorough. I've done 2 different barium swallow tests (upper digestive)

If they don't see anything obvious, they will send you away with a clean bill of health... and also, a bill.

Both times, the docs noticed that my barium movement was slower than normal, but they dismissed it since it didn't seem to be a true swallowing problem. Insist that you have a problem even if they say you don't. Those tests are old school, not very accurate...in my case the doctor was an old lady who seemed to have been missing some nuts and bolts up there as well.

Busted · Post by **Busted** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:04 am

waitingforrelief wrote:And it gets easier. By the last one, I even asked him to test my breath... And he was very helpful and seemed to want to help.

Yea it's true, the first time I got to a doctor I was so embarrassed that I ended up talkin just about my sinus and digestive problems. The second time I forced my self to talk about it. Now everytime I get to a doctor the first thing I mention is my bb.

I remember one time a doctor asked me how I knew I had bb. I said: "Well I noticed that, even with you, that a lot of people seem to turn their heads backwards or away when I say somethin." Right when I said "even with you" he moved his head and the chair he was sitting in backwards. It was pretty obvious that I had a serious problem. However he did say afterwards that he couldn't really smell it which proves that he wasn't a good liar.