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What Causes Metallic Sweet Smell In Nose With Ovarian Cysts?

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Posted on Mon, 23 Jun 2014
Question: Hi, I am experiencing a metallic sweet smell in my nose ( I think). My room smells of it too. I'm also experiencing some serious night sweats. I was diagnosed was having two small cysts on my ovaries last month and I'm wondering if the two are related at all. If so, that's good. If not, I'd like to figure out where this smell is coming from,,it's starting to freak me out, Thanks.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Metallic smelling sweat is quite common

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and shall not rest till you receive all the information you are looking for.

To start off, lets address your concern about this being related to the cysts in your ovaries. I would not say this is in any way related to your ovarian cysts, unless you have been stressed about the recent diagnosis and are losing weight, or due to the recent diagnosis you have been advised to lose weight or are on medications that promote weight loss.

A metallic smell in your sweat could be due to various reasons, some medical and some that are just plain simple, from my experience. For your better understanding I shall list out some of the most common causes for such a presentation. They are:
-Weight loss
-Starvation: During this phase, your body goes into ketosis and produces an ammonia like odour from your mouth and at times even in your sweat when you perspire
-Some deodorants and antiperspirant sprays also have metallic substances in them that can at times combine with sweat and give out such odours
-Exercise: Especially when done on an empty stomach can result in ammonia odour
-Exhaustion
-Dietary supplements: Individuals on dietary supplements like iron can have a metallic smell in their mouth, urine or sweat
-Other accessories like moisturisers, shampoos, etc.
-And a few others

Please go through the above provided list and see if you can relate to any of the listed causes. If you can, then you can accordingly go about avoiding the same. Please write back to me if you need any assistance doing that, I am always available to help.

In my experience the most common causes are weight loss, starvation and exercise on an empty stomach. I hope you find my response helpful, please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Hi, thanks for this.
The smell is more in my nose though. I know I said my room smells metallic and I gather that must be from sweat but I can smell the smell anywhere and everywhere I go.
In relation to the cysts you mentioned stress and weight loss..could weight loss be down to stress and nothing more sinister?
I have lost a good bit off weight but not unexpectedly- I horse ride and am now on a mostly vegan diet, plus don't eat bread, so I expected some weight loss.
Will the metallic smell disappear as my weight stabilises?
Also, I forgot to mention that I had pink sweat on my pillow and on my socks a couple of mornings-what might that indicate?

Best,

XXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (12 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Need doctors exam; yes, it can; chromhidrosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again XXXXXXX

If the smell is mostly in your nose, then I would have to advise a doctors examination. This smell can at times be due to small cavities being formed in the oral cavity (nose, throat, etc.), that accumulates food, which in turn spoils and starts smelling. Conditions like halitosis, gastro-esophageal reflux disease, etc; need to be ruled out.

But, the previously suggested theories could also still be plausible. Which is why a doctor will have to rule out all the causes to find weight loss to be the cause in your specific case. So my advise would be to visit a doctor and get properly evaluated and diagnosed.

Coming to weight loss; weight loss is always considered a symptom that every doctor worries about. Now, taking your level of activity into consideration, weight loss should be considered normal. But how much weight loss, and if this is healthy, and if the activity is the only cause for the weight loss will in fact have to be looked into.

The cysts found in your ovaries were quite small I am assuming,and if these are in fact small, then there is absolutely nothing sinister about them. When you do visit your doctor, do not fail to mention the weight loss and your lifestyle as well. He/she shall look into it only if it is a cause for concern.

If the cause for your metallic smell in the nose is in fact weight loss, then the smell will surely disappear on regularization of your weight. But if there is any other contributing factor, then on discontinuation of exposure to factor the smell should/will subside.

Colored sweat is called chromhidrosis. It can either be true or psuedo (false). The false one is more often encountered due to the various dyes and coloring agents present in detergents, deodorants, etc. True or eccrine chromhidrosis can also take place due to the ingestion of various dyes or coloring agents. I would not worry about this much, and would only advise you to change any new accessories you have started using or avoid edible items that may contain dyes that can result in such a presentation.

I hope I have successfully addressed all your queries. Please do not hesitate to write back to me for any further clarifications. Remember, I am always available to help.

Best wishes.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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What Causes Metallic Sweet Smell In Nose With Ovarian Cysts?

Brief Answer: Metallic smelling sweat is quite common Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and shall not rest till you receive all the information you are looking for. To start off, lets address your concern about this being related to the cysts in your ovaries. I would not say this is in any way related to your ovarian cysts, unless you have been stressed about the recent diagnosis and are losing weight, or due to the recent diagnosis you have been advised to lose weight or are on medications that promote weight loss. A metallic smell in your sweat could be due to various reasons, some medical and some that are just plain simple, from my experience. For your better understanding I shall list out some of the most common causes for such a presentation. They are: -Weight loss -Starvation: During this phase, your body goes into ketosis and produces an ammonia like odour from your mouth and at times even in your sweat when you perspire -Some deodorants and antiperspirant sprays also have metallic substances in them that can at times combine with sweat and give out such odours -Exercise: Especially when done on an empty stomach can result in ammonia odour -Exhaustion -Dietary supplements: Individuals on dietary supplements like iron can have a metallic smell in their mouth, urine or sweat -Other accessories like moisturisers, shampoos, etc. -And a few others Please go through the above provided list and see if you can relate to any of the listed causes. If you can, then you can accordingly go about avoiding the same. Please write back to me if you need any assistance doing that, I am always available to help. In my experience the most common causes are weight loss, starvation and exercise on an empty stomach. I hope you find my response helpful, please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I would be more than happy to help you. Best wishes.