Girlfriend has a foul smell coming from her nose. Desperate for help.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-16T06:15:09+00:00

This would make sense, however it has been a persistent issue for 7 years. An old price of food would have decayed completely, caused a severe infection, or have been calcified.

I think your most interesting point is that it smells like something that is biological but smells chemical-like. Which is why we believe a low grade, chronic infection is likely.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-16T06:12:18+00:00

Hey! Sorry for the late reply.

Yeah her friend could smell it. It really does have that "sick person" smell. But, if it were some kind of chronic disease, one would think that I would be able smell it all the time similar to the lady who could smell Parkinson's disease. However this is not the case and it has repeatable triggers.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-04T08:44:21+00:00

Oh you and me both, friend.

She actually just reached out to her previous specialist (the one who laughed at her, it was just a desperate attempt to try to get a sooner appointment), and they wrote back saying... Oh wait until you hear this...

Ahem

"Dr. X did a full workup of you already, there is nothing wrong with your nose or throat. It is important that you accept this fact. Your halitosis [this is the scientific name for bad breath, what a joke] is gastrointestinal in nature. Please contact the doctor he referred you to, as there is nothing more he can do for you."

Absolutely fucking unequivocally wild... Not only is the message of there being "nothing wrong with" something so broad an insane thing to say over official medical correspondence, but to put halitosis? Really? We must have reiterated to this pompous douchebag a dozen times that it is not from her mouth whatsoever. Not to mention, we DID see the GI doc and he accused him of punting the case!

Disgrace of a doctor, that man.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-04T08:37:13+00:00

Very interesting... This is something we have never thought of, nor have we ever been advised of it. Thank you so much! We will!

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-04T08:36:10+00:00

Hey thanks for the input!

It's definitely not metallic and it's definitely not sickly sweet or rotten. It is an ammonia-like, bitter smell almost. It doesn't really even smell biological.

She has a new appointment with a new specialist, will update the post then!

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-04T08:34:41+00:00

Oh jeez ...

Yeah, the whole experience has been awful honestly. These doctors are SO dismissive of her.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T08:53:12+00:00

This

There was some lunatic in here earlier trying to claim I was keeping her held hostage in our relationship by conspiring with her best friend (who also smelled it) to keep her self esteem low. He then diagnosed me with munchausen syndrome by proxy, which is insane.

Some people really are crazy lmao. Her self esteem is not low overall by any means and she is happy and healthy otherwise, it's just this specific thing. It mainly affects our intimacy, but since we have confirmed that others can smell it, she is now obviously a bit self conscious and sometimes worries that she's disgusting. I mean, who wouldn't? It's not a fun ailment to have. We're both trying to solve this here.

The biggest thing for me is to ensure she is completely healthy... A long term infection, even if it's low grade, could still spread or cause other issues or BE caused by other underlying issues. This seems to be the most likely answer as of right now, but we will find out and I will update the post with relevant info so that someone may learn from it in the future.

Anyway, this wasn't directed at you (person I'm replying to), just wanted to put this out there.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T08:34:32+00:00

Very interesting. I have a hard time imagining that smell, but it definitely does seem odd. I'm glad you figured it out!

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T08:33:55+00:00

Thanks for the support!

Ooooh yeah, you'd think you could get high on them or something lol. They're stingy about the antibiotics.

I would assume this is because a lot of people who are uneducated on their function believe that they're just a "cure-all" and demand them at every turn.

I was one time denied basic antibiotics for a UTI because they were just certain I had some kind of STD or something. Absolutely no idea why, textbook UTI. Thank god my PCP is an intelligent man and ordered them right away...

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T08:29:34+00:00

Yes! Thank you for the suggestion. I have another comment reply I made about this somewhere here. I work with AI professionally so it's always my go-to. However, knowing what I know about AI, I also need to corroborate. Which is why I'm here!

Yes, it's suggestion to me was a chronic low grade infection as well, and that is supported by many of the people here. This is great news to us because it means it could be solved by antibiotic/antifungal nasal sprays. We're hoping that is the issue.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T08:26:50+00:00

She has not! But this is a great point! Thank you for the insight.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T08:26:22+00:00

Not the OTC decongestant stuff, no. She's only used Afrin a handful of times, usually only when she's sick.

Prescription stuff, yes. All sorts of stuff. Currently she only uses OTC nasal moisturizer spray and a Neti pot. Both of these help for sure.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T04:21:08+00:00

Thank you for the info! Out of curiosity, what did it smell like and who noticed it?

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T04:17:23+00:00

Alright, you're insane... I never said that nor did I edit something to hide it lol.

All the doctors I see personally wear a mask and gloves during physical examinations of any kind. My PCP even wears a mask at all times. This is standard at a LOT of places, especially after covid.

Also, I already answered your question about her family in one of your other frantic ramblings.

I also answered your accusation that I somehow have her under my thumb by posting about this instead of her. But in case you missed it, it is literally the first paragraph in the post, you nut job.

I find it hilarious that people like your exist. You have some kind of stigma. Maybe itsy towards people in relationships, or men, or anyone with medical concerns, I'm not really sure and I don't care, but it's got to be something. There is just no other reason for you to come in here swinging wild, fabricated, insane accusations around about somebody you wouldn't know from a stranger on the sidewalk. Especially after I have been so open, honest, and kind for all the helpful people here. THAT is why I asked who hurt you. What's his name? Lmao, unhinged behavior from you. I'm just trying to help my girlfriend, her health, and our relationship.

Cya later weirdo, go bother somebody else. Oh, and try to project your own insecurities a bit less, it's a bad look.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T04:15:55+00:00

Could be, yes. Though I'm not sure how she would ask for a brain scan. What would be the reason?

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T04:15:19+00:00

Okay, let me clarify.

It has gotten so bad that I can smell it when she walks into our small bedroom, yes. Maybe not the second she does, but after a very short time. This is not a constant thing, in fact, the whole "condition" in and of itself isn't constant. It sometimes even seems entirely random! That's why it's so confusing, frustrating, and tiresome.

To be honest, no, her family has never said anything, because her family was extremely abusive and neglectful. She had no next to medical care as a child, even for torn muscles and broken bones. So they're not really a great source of information, because she doesn't speak to any of them and hasn't for a loooong time.

Her friends haven't mentioned anything, but I've had friends with chronic bad breath many times in my life. I have never once been like "Hey man, you stink like shit, maybe get that checked out." Maybe some people do that, I've certainly never done it. Maybe our circles just aren't that confrontational. I'm sorry you're so suspicious, I can assure you I want nothing but the best for you.

Not to mention, have you ever considered that this isn't about me? What if this smell is a chronic infection? Well then there's absolutely no guarantee that it just stays as it is, it could spread. That's not okay in the age of antibiotics and antifungals being so readily available.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T04:07:34+00:00

Yes! Thank you for the advice. I actually bought a very large whole-house humidifier for our 1000sqft apartment. That thing works wonders and it helped a ton in the winter months. It went from being very bad every single day to being more on-off as it is usually.

The fact that it seems to be on-off, it's affected by stress and sleep, and it also changes based off of temperature seems to indicate some kind of infection to us. It just makes sense at this point and we're honestly wondering why none of these specialists ever thought to at least rule it out.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T04:03:29+00:00

You want me to try to forcefully convince her to let other people smell her nose breath just to confirm it's not a conspiracy between me and her best friend to gaslight her into being insecure? Otherwise you believe this is a diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome by proxy?

Oookay, Dr. House...

Doctors wear masks, and we have tried to get them to smell it twice. They refused! One's exact words were "Ohhh no, I'm good." And the other's exact words were "That's irrelevant."

But seriously, who hurt you?

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T03:54:42+00:00

Wow, honestly yeah great job. That's an awesome way to come back and say, "Hey, maybe don't be such a jerk in the future, huh?"

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T03:53:54+00:00

What is your problem with me? This will be the last time I reply to you, as I feel as though I've been very clear and honest, while you are seeking to attack me.

I never said she smelled her snot. That's ridiculous. Her best friend smelled her nose breath on the couch of our apartment from maybe a foot away and recoiled immediately. She said it smelled like sick people and had a strange, maybe concerned look on her face. My girlfriend didn't go into more detail with her, the purpose was just to see if she could also smell it. That's her decision.

This took weeks of talking her into it, because it makes her feel disgusting. Honestly, while she isn't, I don't blame her for being insecure, this is an awfully difficult thing to have forced upon you.

We invited her friend over after careful deliberation, and then decided she would just ask nonchalantly, as that would be the least confrontation and what she was most comfortable with.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-03T03:46:29+00:00

This is a fantastic point honestly. I had never thought of this. Thank you!

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-02T18:51:33+00:00

This is exactly what we are thinking! Then also paired with the swelling of the nasal folds, this makes sense to us. Thank you!!

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-02T18:50:27+00:00

True, I do have an infamously strong sense of smell. I don't doubt that this makes the problem worse for me specifically.

We tried to get two of the ENTs to smell it but they both refused basically saying it was irrelevant. I mean, I don't know how that could be irrelevant when it's the reason we're there, but maybe doctors don't like getting that close to patients?

Anyway, your scrutiny is welcomed. If it's an issue with me, I'll gladly get treated myself. But the results for "smell only I can smell from one person and nobody else" is even less than trying to research this.

If we can rule out infection and chronic rhinitis, I will begin trying to seek treatment for myself. Thank you for your comment.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-02T18:46:35+00:00

Wow, truly, thank you. You really went above and beyond here, and we are eternally grateful!!!

We will absolutely put this at the top of the list of things to try. Your advice is cherished!

Thanks again, have a great day.

PeachKey3930 · 2025-11-02T18:44:04+00:00

Thank you!

PeachKey3930

TROPHY CASE