Scent

[Boston2019]

What is the acidey/sweet scent due to? What have people done to decrease it?

Does it occur at any stage or only Stage 4 or 5?

Thanks!

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

HI Boston,

Could you explain a bit more? is this something you smell or is it that you think you smell that way? Others have said they have noticed a body odor at late stage CKD due to the toxins built up and deposited on their skin. If you are referring to breath, that is often a sign of diabetes.

So to be able to answer this for you, we need more info.

healthunlocked.com/nkf-ckd/...

[Boston2019 in reply to Bassetmommer]

I notice it, and others do too. Do you know which toxins cause the odor. It is an odor many people recognize immediately and describe as "odor of kidney failure."

[Hidden in reply to Boston2019]

Hey, Boston219. Be thankful you don't also have an urostomy (as do I). My bladder was removed in 2015 due to cancer, and then a year later I had to have a ureter and kidney removed due to a related cancer. Anyway, the urine exits a stoma near my navel into a pouch. Whew! The urine stinks, and I have to be careful when I empty my pouch. Note that the odor has nothing to do with the loss of a kidney.

[RhenDutchess123]

i have never heard of that smell connected with kidney failure...but i have heard it spoken of a diabetic who is in kidney failure...it may be a hygiene problem or maybe from the dialysis solution itself

[steve680]

I've never heard of a "kidney failure smell". However, there is a bad breath odor ( ammonia or fishy-like odor) that some people have due to CKD. Are you sure it's not an "old man smell" or "nursing home smell"? I have heard of those.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_p...

Old person smell is the characteristic odor of elderly humans.[1] Much like many animal species, human odor undergoes distinct stages based on chemical changes initiated through the aging process. Research suggests that this enables humans to determine the suitability of potential partners based on age, in addition to other factors.[2]

One study suggested that old person smell may be the result of 2-nonenal, an unsaturated aldehyde which is associated with human body odor alterations during aging;[3] however, there are other hypotheses.[4] Another study failed to detect 2-nonenal at all, but found significantly increased concentrations of benzothiazole, dimethylsulphone, and nonanal on older subjects.[5]

In 2012 the Monell Chemical Senses Center published a press release claiming that the human ability to identify information such as age, illness, and genetic suitability from odor is responsible for the distinctive "old man smell". Sensory neuroscientist Johan Lundström stated, "Elderly people have a discernible underarm odor that younger people consider to be fairly neutral and not very unpleasant."[6]

Old person smell is known as kareishū (加齢臭) in Japan, where it is of particular concern due to the high value placed on personal hygiene.[7]

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

I am an older man living in a retirement community and have CKD. I do not notice any elderly person odor, or maybe I am just used to it? LOL

[gardengirl1004 in reply to orangecity41]

Love your sense of humor Orange!!! you make a me laugh!!!

[mybirdbuddie]

I too have a sweetish smell which certainly doesn't smell like urine and having read the previous comments wonder if it is due to medication?

[RhenDutchess123 in reply to mybirdbuddie]

i notice different smells in my urine at times....it usually resolves itself when i increase my water

[mybirdbuddie in reply to RhenDutchess123]

The sweetish smell I have is continuous with never a change...increasing wateror not. Will discuss this with nephrologist next time I see him.

[RhenDutchess123 in reply to mybirdbuddie]

very good....please post what he tells you in case us or someone watches for that scent

[mybirdbuddie in reply to RhenDutchess123]

Will do

[Boston2019]

Good to know.

[gardengirl1004]

I too notice a change in my bathroom smells too... but its not sweet...Im jealous...forgive me...I like to inject humor into a serious subject sometimes...seriously....I havent noticed a sweet skin smell on me...Im beginning of stage 5