Some symptom questions...and a follow up

[ConfusingSituati]

Hey everyone.
Since my last post ( viewtopic.php?t=4142 )
I have had a few interesting experiences. I had 3 new talks about the situation - with my grandmother, father, and best friend.

I told my grandmother that I may need to go to the doctor about my "breath phobia" because it was really messing up my life and causing me anxiety about getting out there and being someone. She said "I never smell your breath, and Im with you all the time." Interestingly enough, I found out that she has a chronic white coating on her tongue too, and she can scrape it off thick with her finger nail...and her breath doesnt smell.

I have been to the bar with my best friend 3 times since my last post, and we had the talk about my phobia a few times. I was putting in a piece of gum at the bar, and he said "Man youre so paranoid. You dont stink," and lightly slapped me (in a playing way). This is the one that really makes me think that I do not have a problem. Since I am at a bar, and drinking alcohol, I would assume the BB would pop up...but I sit right beside him the whole night and he has promised he will tell me if it smells.

The third talk was with my father, when I told him about how serious of a phobia it really was. He said "Son, you don't have bad breath."

Even after getting this feedback, I still am somehow not convinced. I still am completely paranoid where ever I go.

My symptoms that make me think I have BB have gotten worse this week since I quit taking the probiotic rebuilder in Candistory.

Here are some symptoms that I failed to mention before, and I would love to know if any of you can relate to any of these.

1) My right nostril is always stopped up, and eventually it will switch to the left for a short period of time.
2) It always feels like there is something stuck behind my right tonsil and almost back up behind my right ear. This drive me nuts.
3) Chronic bad taste, and white spots towards back of tongue. The taste gets especially sour when I drink milk or eat chocolate. Does this happen to anyone else....the sour taste after consuming dairy? Or the sensation of something stuck in your throat?

Also...I forgot to mention before that I have been diagnosed with GERD and a hiatal hernia. I take protonix twice a day. When I dont take it for a day or so my esophagus feels like it is on fireeeee. I have been on it for about 4 years now. Does anyone have any experience with protonix?


Any answers/advice/suggestions that you all have are appreciated....because I am in a bad spot. I am scared to go out and try to get another job, re enroll in school, etc.

Please respond.

[ruch]

sorry to hear about this. if trusted people tell you that you are fine, you should believe them. most of us here have gotten feedback from people or can smell it on ourselves. i also can taste it, but i have heard taste is not always an indicator. the one thing i would be cautious of though is that it's suck a stigma thing that people won't tell the truth to others about breath (i once told someone i was dating when he asked me that his breath was fine even when it wasn't)... so ask someone to tell you the honest truth because you need to know. because you brought it up as a phobia issue, they might be trying to appease you and tell you a lie to try not to make your phobia worse. just request the honest truth from them.

[mike987]

I don't know your other experiences, but it from these three conversations, it sounds like it may just be paranoia for you after all...

I think you should start speaking more freely.. let up on the barrier you keep when you're around others, and start speaking more openly... You may have reactions after all, or perhaps you'll find there won't be any reactions at all..


Also, let's not forget that even people without chronic bad breath will have bad breath sometimes, so don't let any single experience drive you nutty.


I don't think you're done experimenting yet... take it to level 2.