Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

allnurses

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.
Discussion

skunk smell??

OK I had a patient today claim that she has horrible under arm odor that smells like a skunk... I told her I had no idea and that she needed to consult her Dr. But now I am curious... I figure there is something underlying causing this, anyone have any ideas? Its simply for my own knowledge. But the poor lady has even stopped going places for fear that she will stink everything up...

Featured Replies

Some meds will cause this...

  • Author

i asked her about that but she wasnt on anything really unusual...

Could you smell it? Was it really that bad---as if it is in her mind so bad she is avoiding public places out of fear, she may need a psych consult.

Maybe she had a yeast infection?

  • Author

Psych consult... that was what I was thinking. The only thing I found when I looked it up was people with certain psych disorders can imagine smells. She said it has been going on for a long time now and that she has tried everything. I charted it all so the dr will see it when she goes for her appt in a week. and no i couldnt smell anything, but she was sniffing her under arms and stated that she didnt smell right now...

Psych consult... but she was sniffing her under arms and stated that she didnt smell right now...

I have never sniffed under my own arms in front of another person!! she needs a psych consult. Dr may need it spelled out for him as he may be too busy to read between the lines of she claims she has a funny smell.

Just out of curiosity what sort of nursing do you do that you see patients one week and Drs see them the next?

  • Author
I have never sniffed under my own arms in front of another person!! she needs a psych consult. Dr may need it spelled out for him as he may be too busy to read between the lines of she claims she has a funny smell.

Just out of curiosity what sort of nursing do you do that you see patients one week and Drs see them the next?

i work public health. we are giving flu shots right now. sometimes it happens that way because we give all the immunizations and any routine shots (testosterone, depo and such) that the docs have ordered for the patients.

Maybe I need a psych consult, but I have smelled that particular smell on people before, and also a cat urine odor. I wish I could remember the name of a certain IV antibiotic that smells like cat urine too.

Rocephin smell like cat urine. I also smell human urine odor when reconstituting maxipime. Ick.

I really think if you couldn't smell it then maybe the pt does need a psych consult.

there was a thread about a disorder which caused a 'dead fish smell' but it was sometime back and i don't remember what it was called

if patient couldn't smell it at that time maybe it might appear later..people with lung or kidney problems sometimes have strong smelling sweat

if yo gave the md the info the ball is in their court now

what i want to know is why is she sniffing her armpits....if she knows she smells bad, she needs to bathe and use deoderant and it might get rid of the smell....

anyway, maybe she has some kind of underlying sz disorder and that is an aura? i have epilepsy and when i used to seize alot before i got the right meds i would smell something like rotten eggs or burning wood.

i agree with the psych consult too!

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.

Currently Reading 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.