Hoping one or more of the medically-inclined Dopers might be able to shed some light on this.
Sometimes when my spousal unit gets overtired/exhausted (like if he’s been working too hard, working out too hard at the gym, etc.) he gets a strong metallic smell. He can’t smell it, but I notice it immediately. It’s getting to where I can tell when he’s overworked himself–I’ll say so, and he’ll say, “How did you know that?” to which I’ll reply “You smell metallic” and he’ll just nod because he knows he pushed himself too hard.
The odd thing is, this smell only comes occasionally, and not always when he works out hard. Sometimes he gets it even when he’s not been doing anything physical–like today, when he got home from work. Last night he’d been complaining about feeling exhausted and didn’t want to get out of bed this morning.
Other possibly relevant facts to help the diagnosis: he was diagnosed with clinical depression about five years ago and sometimes I notice the same smell when he’s in one of his short-tempered periods.
The smell isn’t an unpleasant one; just a very sharp metal-tangy kind of odor.
Any idea what’s causing it? He’s going to the doctor in a couple of weeks for a checkup, and just informed me today that he’s never mentioned this to the doc, even though I told him about it ages ago. I made him promise to do so, but I was curious if this sounds familiar to anyone here (so is he–I asked him before I posted this and he said ‘go ahead.’) Thanks in advance.
Is he on any medications? Or does he have high iron in his blood? Does he work around chemicals or in a photo lab? It could be that when he’s dehydrated this smell becomes more pronounced. Or his liver functions differently under stress. I would definately ask the doctor.
Is he on any medications? Or does he have high iron in his blood? Does he work around chemicals or in a photo lab? It could be that when he’s dehydrated this smell becomes more pronounced. Or his liver functions differently under stress. I would definately ask the doctor.
He’s on antidepressants–I’m not sure which ones, but I think Effexor XR is one. He doesn’t work around chemicals–he’s a software QA engineer. The dehydration is a thought, though he usually drinks sports drinks before working out. I’ll mention this to him.
He could be in a state of ketosis.
From my brief web research, this doesn’t sound too likely, as he eats plenty of carbs. Forgive me if my quickie search gave me the wrong idea about what ketosis is, though.
I was thinking that if he sweats during exercise, perhaps the sweat falling on the keys (it could depend on where the pocket is)can cause the metallic smell to intensify… not too sure
any barbells I use at the gym make my hands smell very metallic. They’re just big pieces of metal. At our gym whatever paint or coating that used to be on the weights is now just metal flakes.
WAG but if he’s sweating alot the metallic odor might go through his palms and come out in his other sweat glands, ala the prank of putting garlic in ones’ shoes to make his/her breath smell garlic-y. Might also happen if he’s just using any metal weights and rubbing his sweaty shoulders or legs with them.
Once in a blue moon I get a metallic-smelling sweat, usually when I’m sick with a fever. The other day I noticed it on a 13 year old kid who’d been running around and was visibly sweaty. I wonder if it’s the same smell? I don’t know if it’s the same thing but this smell is coppery. I know it doesn’t come from touching metal in my case. I have always associated it with sickness and chicken pox in particular because when I had it as a kid the smell of myself drove me nuts.
I read an article about serial killers - specifically this guy who had a pig farm and hunted women in Scotland, and then Ted Bundy - and how their victims described the killers having a strong metallic odors.
Some interesting speculation n the comments threads brought up discussion regarding how an excess of adrenaline production results in increased copper in the bloodstream, or something to that effect. So I’m wondering if it has to do w/ adrenaline…
I have a similar issue. I have had depression issues for years am in my mid 30’s and about three days ago noticed that when I wake up my pits stink with a distinctive metal smell. The last time I remember it happening was about three years ago. My stress level hasn’t gone up this week and my lazy ass is still sleeping 12 hours a day. I did start an antidepresant about 2.5 months ago and until last week I was having night sweets. No more sweets this week but I am stinking. Any way I know its an old post, but thought there might be others out there with knowledge on this.