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Hello, I have been attending Al-Anon for a year and am working the steps. My Alcoholic husband sometimes smells sweet not foul just super sweet. It radiates from his pores, breath, etc. I can smell it in the room after he has been in there. He swears he isn't drinking but has lied to me so much I don't know. He messes with my head so much and I have better boundaries but it still really bugs me. An Al-Anon friend I have said her husband had the same smell, when he drank several hours before and I am wondering if anyone else has had the same experience. Was your alcoholic drinking, lying and smelling sweet? Or what is the smell then? From my research it isn't the foul sweet smell of liver disease, but then what is it? Thanks for your insights.
Welcome janaynay to MIP. Glad you found us and glad that you shared. Any idea I would have would be a guess and not from my personal experience....but I did want to welcome you to the family. I can say that when mine were active in the disease, they never smelled sweet...
You might try google or send him to a Doctor. I believe we often are the last ones to notice a different odor for ourselves and it's possible it may be a medical condition that requires attention.
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
It could be diabetes related as often people who have problematic blood sugars have sweet smelling breath. It is certainly worth him getting checked out by a physician.
I agree with I am Here and Serenity47.....hes got some issue going on and it is't the alcohol doing that.....blood sugars up and down can cause a "sweet smell" I would advise him to go to a doctor and then let it be...I would say that I googled this issue and you were concerned with what you read and say that he could be needing medical checkup.....
That for me is still about the disease having control of my thinking, feelings and actions. Early Experience, strength and hope told me "If it looks like a drunk, acts like a drunk and talks like a drunk...it's a drunk". I stopped trying to solve her problem. Keep coming Back. ((((hugs))))
Interesting responses to your question - I don't have experience of that sweet smell but just wanted to say hello. My husband developed diabetes and I cut as much sugar as I could out of our diet, including carbohydrates, for four months. His blood sugar levels came back down to normal (plus I lost a bit of spare weight - win, win!). Obviously I couldn't control his alcohol intake and just left that part of it up to him.
My first thought was diabetes as well. Definitely worth being seen by a physician ASAP. A sweet smell with diabetic ketoacidosis can easily appear to be alcohol because it is. It's a byproduct of the body not processing sugar and insulin correctly. The body feels "starved" and starts breaking down fat in an attempt to obtain fuel but when fat is rapidly broken down this way it produces ketones. This causes a cloying fruity smell and the person may behave as though they are affected by alcohol because brain isn't getting the sugar it needs.
This wreaks havoc on your body in several ways and if not addressed can result in serious damage. I would suggest being supportive and non judgmental. Let him know what you noticed and that it is something to get checked right away. Its possible that he may also be drinking and that will exacerbate the problem but you can let the physician address that.
