Odor

I blame my pacemaker !

by IAN MC - 2017-03-28 15:43:17

I think  implants have a lot to answer for . Since getting a pacemaker :-

- my dog died, I blame the pacemaker

- I had to replace the clutch in my car, I blame the pacemaker 

- I had a dental filling fall out  : I blame the pacemaker

- we have had more rain : I blame the pacemaker

- I had a sore throat in January : I blame the pacemaker

Before blaming your ICD, have you looked at other possible causes of body odour ?

Ian

pacemaker or something else?

by Gotrhythm - 2017-03-28 17:45:14

I believe people know what they knew, even though they might be drawing incorrect conclusions.

I believe you're noticing a smell and it started about the time of your ICD implantation. But it's hard to see how the ICD could be the cause. ICD's, PMs, etc are made of inert metals. They don't interact chemically with the body at all.

I'm also struck by the fact that the smell isn't transferred to fabric that touches your arm pits. The thing about an onion-y smell is that it gets on everything it touches.

My first thought would be a drug that was started at the same time as the ICD. I would also get some litmus paper (at drugstore) and see it the sweat is acid or base. If acid, I would try applying a paste of baking soda under your arms.

Since as Robin points out, some diseases have distinctive smells,as do some skin conditions, I do think it would be worthwhile to mention it to your GP.

Good luck.

Odour - try surgical scrub?

by LondonAndy - 2017-03-28 18:27:27

I'm inclined to agree with both Ian Mc and Gotrhythm, particularly the point about other diseases having distinctive smells, but thought I would add perhaps a similar experience that I had post heart surgery.  (I had my pacemaker inserted because of surgical complications from open heart surgery for a replacement valve, about 2.5 years ago)

For some months after I got home I kept getting red spots on my chest in the vicinity of, but not on, the main scar.  I ended up getting a bottle of the red coloured "surgical scrub" cleansing soap from my pharmacy, and a supply of the disposable "Tena" wettable paper towels they used at the hospital so that I could do a sterile wash each day on that part of my body.  After a few months more, when the surgical scrub ran out, I stopped using this and the spots have not returned since.  

A pacemaker scar is much smaller of course, but as this is a comparatively cheap thing we can do ourselves I thought worth mentioning.  Good luck!

odor

by BOBJ - 2017-03-29 17:31:17

I have a skin condition that causes me to have excess body odor. It is not bad until late in the day though. Have you ever asked your doctor?