A strange smell. Is it death?
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A strange smell. Is it death?
Anyone familiar with an odor, in late-stage alcoholism, emanating from a person in DT's?
It's not an alcohol smell.
It's not the smell of hangover.
It's something deeper, more primally-disturbing.
Like the smell of organs shutting down.... or something.
Is this a common thing? Is this characteristic of a stage?
I recently encountered this for the first time in a person struggling in denial and misery. I wondered if it is a 'signature'. I wondered if it is a telltale. Or is it some part of the DT's and not necessarily a menacing omen.
It's not an alcohol smell.
It's not the smell of hangover.
It's something deeper, more primally-disturbing.
Like the smell of organs shutting down.... or something.
Is this a common thing? Is this characteristic of a stage?
I recently encountered this for the first time in a person struggling in denial and misery. I wondered if it is a 'signature'. I wondered if it is a telltale. Or is it some part of the DT's and not necessarily a menacing omen.
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liver shutting down maybe--there was a poster on F and F
who described her alcoholic spouse's smell "like rotting meat" and it made
his clothes smell too, as well as any room he was in.
Others said that was something that could happen in late-stage
when body cannot process alcohol correctly anymore
So in that sense you are right--it is a sign of coming death
if things remain the same. . .
who described her alcoholic spouse's smell "like rotting meat" and it made
his clothes smell too, as well as any room he was in.
Others said that was something that could happen in late-stage
when body cannot process alcohol correctly anymore
So in that sense you are right--it is a sign of coming death
if things remain the same. . .
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I always wondered how I could never get away with having even one beer and my husband knowing it even if I was one room away.
I don't have time right now to look it up but I remember something about the liver and when it can't process the alcohol due to overuse the body will eject the toxins through the pores. It's the livers way of saying"too much!". For people who drink frequently they'll smell even after having one drink. Taking a shower and chewing him or earring mints won't help because you can't cleanse the toxicity on the inside. I didn't even drink daily, but I was a binger.
I had a discussion with my husband after I got sober because I truly thought that he used to gaslight me just so I would admit that I had been drinking. He said no and I knew he was telling the truth. He told me "I don't know what it is about you but every time you drank you smelled like a bottle redemption center after the beer bottles had been sitting in the heat and it didn't matter how much you drank either."
Please excuse typos, on my IPhone.
Anyway, glad I don't smell that way anymore!
I believe it's the ever present toxicity in the body and a good sign of organ failure.
I don't have time right now to look it up but I remember something about the liver and when it can't process the alcohol due to overuse the body will eject the toxins through the pores. It's the livers way of saying"too much!". For people who drink frequently they'll smell even after having one drink. Taking a shower and chewing him or earring mints won't help because you can't cleanse the toxicity on the inside. I didn't even drink daily, but I was a binger.
I had a discussion with my husband after I got sober because I truly thought that he used to gaslight me just so I would admit that I had been drinking. He said no and I knew he was telling the truth. He told me "I don't know what it is about you but every time you drank you smelled like a bottle redemption center after the beer bottles had been sitting in the heat and it didn't matter how much you drank either."
Please excuse typos, on my IPhone.
Anyway, glad I don't smell that way anymore!
I believe it's the ever present toxicity in the body and a good sign of organ failure.
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The cleaning people at one of the offices that I worked for smelled like that. His, eyes started turning yellow and within a short time he passed from liver failure. It was a horrible smell can't describe it. I bet that is a wake up call to you?
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Originally Posted by Michelle644 
The cleaning people at one of the offices that I worked for smelled like that. His, eyes started turning yellow and within a short time he passed from liver failure. It was a horrible smell can't describe it. I bet that is a wake up call to you?
his eyes were yellow, too... and his skin grey.....
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Originally Posted by FreeOwl
and his skin grey.....
I'm almost 4 months in and although I see a big difference (actually look like I'm amongst the living now when I wake up) I know there's still a ways to go.
Get this, I only drank ONCE a week on the weekends and sometimes not every weekend. But, I binged. I hear that's just as bad as daily drinking and sometimes worse. Still, good testimony about how quitting is not only about the way it affects our lives emotionally.
Sometimes we don't even stop to consider the horrific things that are going on inside.
Ugh, gross.
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thanks, JD.
He's not.
He is currently going all-out to perpetuate a big ruse that everything is "OK".
Trying to fool the few folks who are actively trying to help him into believing he doesn't need any help.
All we can do, really, is sit back and watch... waiting for the next crashing fall and hope that he lives long enough to surrender and finally WANT to get better.
He's not.
He is currently going all-out to perpetuate a big ruse that everything is "OK".
Trying to fool the few folks who are actively trying to help him into believing he doesn't need any help.
All we can do, really, is sit back and watch... waiting for the next crashing fall and hope that he lives long enough to surrender and finally WANT to get better.
You're not shackled to not drinking, you're free from drinking
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Originally Posted by FreeOwl
thanks, JD.
He's not.
He is currently going all-out to perpetuate a big ruse that everything is "OK".
Trying to fool the few folks who are actively trying to help him into believing he doesn't need any help.
All we can do, really, is sit back and watch... waiting for the next crashing fall and hope that he lives long enough to surrender and finally WANT to get better.
He's not.
He is currently going all-out to perpetuate a big ruse that everything is "OK".
Trying to fool the few folks who are actively trying to help him into believing he doesn't need any help.
All we can do, really, is sit back and watch... waiting for the next crashing fall and hope that he lives long enough to surrender and finally WANT to get better.
Giving up is NOT an option.
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Sorry to hear about your friend, FreeOwl. I read your earlier thread about him and was wondering how things turned out. It's sad to hear that he is still in denial, and that he is in such bad shape. It's a reminder of how horrible and deadly this disease really is.
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I'm sorry about your friend, too FO. I'll add him to my prayers tonight.
Thank you for helping one of us....how frustrating it must be to witness his denial. I hope he finds his way.
Thank you for helping one of us....how frustrating it must be to witness his denial. I hope he finds his way.
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I'm so sorry to hear that about your friend Free Owl. It must be scary seeing in the flesh of your friend what you once were or could have been... terrifying. I am keeping hope for him and sending you both strength and love...
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