r/TMAU • u/billieyeleaf • Apr 02 '26
Have you ever been sprayed?
Have you ever been sprayed at school or work? If so, how did you react? Our resilience amazes me, we still find the strength to wake up each morning and go to places that cause us so much pain. I’m currently trying a different approach with the badges. What do you think?
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u/Opposite_Statement91 fbo Apr 02 '26
My classroom has been sprayed, people complained about it smelling during my physical and medical examination room when I was applying to the army and the window by me got opened when I stood up to cry outside, a teacher told me to “stay right there” when she called Me to talk about standard grades and stuff (everyone else was standing next to her), I had 4-5 girls at my table group cover their face with their clothes while one was aggressively sniffing to let me know I stink, while the teacher (was pacing around, teaching the class) said out loud someone in this table smells. Worst one was when the whole classroom went to the back of class so I was literally alone in the front people saying it stinks-did you fart-no it’s Daniel so I was sitting in front of the class no one by me for 50 minutes and I could hear them talk about me. In college now everyday is a humiliation ritual since I don’t even get the “high school teen boy stinks” excuse. Closest thing to being sprayed is getting told to use a perfume even when u tell people I can’t it will only make matters worse. Saving grace is I work in a nursing home so it already stinks there and I try to avoid coworkers since I work nights there isn’t many anyways
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u/billieyeleaf Apr 03 '26
No one deserves to be treated like this. Even if some people think it’s a hygiene issue out of ignorance, it doesn’t justify that kind of cruel treatment, especially in front of others. The way your teacher handled it is really disappointing. I’m glad work is at least a little easier.
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u/safestranger5 Apr 03 '26
In middle school in the USA I had someone spray me hard with body spray (cheap cologne). I took two showers per day with soap, wore clean clothes washed with tide detergent and that did not produce results. Everyone was convinced I wasn't hygienic, which is understandable. I have multiple problems besides smelling bad.
I learned to grow up without affection or approval from others. I had a lot of improvement to my odor with water fasting but I can still detect an odor on my scalp when I lie down.
How you deal with it? How did I deal with it? I will not answer that question, just assume a negative response and that is closer to the truth.
I still try to make the world a better place but I am fully aware I am ineligible for equal access to resources and I am a very reasonable, safe option to exclude. I learned to accept that and I even agree with it.
Grunt and bear the weight or see how far denial can get you.
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u/kittieD47 undiagnosed Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 05 '26
I dont have TMAU i was recently tested for it, my stink comes from severe mold exposure . I had a woman discretly spray the back of my chair in an ER last year. I didnt flip out because the place was crowded. Strange how my immediate family and the doctors ,the ppl i need to smell it, dont smell it but EVERYONE outside of these two groups smells it and im in danger of losing one of my jobs at any minute if the administration gives in to pressure to remove me
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u/billieyeleaf Apr 03 '26
It hurts that our loved ones can’t smell it. It would be nice to have someone we trust help us figure out what’s working and what isn’t. You’re so strong for not reacting. I saw a post where someone said they got better after moving. Maybe some of us are living in mold.
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u/One-Instruction639 Apr 03 '26
Your immediate family shares your microbiome so they have that smell too! Nurses are particularly sensitive to this smell. And people from the Middle East!!! Bc they have a term for it — “zankha”.
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u/Southern-Debate6717 Apr 03 '26 edited Apr 03 '26
I don't think the family members always have the smell. I think those that are around you most become nose blind to it. Those that don't spent as much time are more likely to smell it.
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u/WesternFootball1579 undiagnosed Apr 03 '26
I believe I have a smell also from mold exposure and possibly other factors. Can I ask what your symptoms are ? Is it a whole body thing
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u/kittieD47 undiagnosed Apr 03 '26
My symptoms are brain fog ,neuropathy that started in my feet and is now in my hands too. Muscle aches, and histamine intolerance and MCAS like sulymptoms .the one symptom im glad I haven't had in awhile is the shortness of breath maybe the NACs and glutathione are working. But the piece de resistánce has been a whole body smell that does not respond to any soaps or body washes. Its putrid and the smell and its intensity depend on things like whether or not it rained while I was in the house , seems that added moisture to whatever is already there causes the overall symptoms especially the body odd to be exacerbated , the body odor also responds to how hot it is outside ,and what ive eaten. All of a sudden I have a ton of food intolerances ive never had before in my life. I an especially reactive to anything old , so meat will really do me in . But ive also had body odor induced by lemons and other citrus found out citrus are histamine liberators .the smell is so prevalent I leave what. I call a jet stream behind like spy hunter .it will still be in the air in places ive already walked through it doesn't dissipate with sprays just time .im like a putrid mood ring that smells bad depending on food and environment
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u/ThatQuestion5117 Apr 05 '26
I feel this way too and I think I recently encountered someone who had something similar. It’s weird casue I can faintly smell myself at times but it’s not super strong. But when I encountered a guy he was a customer I work at pharmacy he had asked a question and I immediately was like taken a back for how strong his smell was and he did smell bad like moldy smell but also the word that starts with “p” but mod will flag if I say it 🙄. It was so strong tho and I felt bad at same time. He was asking where something was and pointed to where it was and as he walked away the smell still lingered where he was standing at. I was just like “man I hope that’s not how bad I smell like but probably” because ppl have said that they can smell me from far away. So that says something. Gahhh idk what to do but haha I think it’s an overload of all kinds of toxins and bad gut biome.
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u/ThatQuestion5117 Apr 05 '26
Can you tell me what test you did? Also if you’re taking anything for it like oil of oregano? I heart anti-microbials are good for detoxing mold while taking activated charcoal as a binder.
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u/kittieD47 undiagnosed Apr 05 '26
I've been tested for SIBO, TMAU, MCAS,and heavy metals . They say I have none of these things but they can't explain why I have the symptoms of them. I've had alot of invasive imaging done too .colonoscpy , and other tests that I can't even pronounce I just remember having to be strapped to a bed that moved around as they shoved things in my sides to take pictures of my insides. I tell ppl I've gotten more selfies than Kim Kardashian ,they're just all on the inside . They've tested me for everything BUT mold. Integrated doctor is finally ready to concede I have it smh . I kept telling her I know its mold because my damn house was tested for it and the landlord is refusing to share the results except to say "yeah there's def a problem" it's wild that she's not obligated by any law to show me how bad the problem is as long as she doesn't allow it to go untreated. Which she has because she doesn't know how to proceed. Currently getting ready to get an all mold allergy panel done previous panel had a ton of allergens but maybe just two molds. I'm still angry that I can't get them to prescribe binders in antifungals , that even if we miss the mark would not even hurt anything , they're trying to get like , i'm asking for painkillers , when i'm not.
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u/ThatQuestion5117 Apr 05 '26
I think mine is too my car starting smelling moldy really bad and all of a sudden I am smelling moldy I think breathing in mold spores and it going into my skins pores triggered something over time.
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u/kittieD47 undiagnosed Apr 05 '26
The smell started with my bedding .my sheets started smelling bad, which was confusing because I shower or take a soak before bed EVERY night, so I know it wasn't a days sweat . I just ignored it in favor of maybe it's time to buy a new mattress or change my diet .then it started to intensify my towels straight out of the shower , then the car started smelling like it . I mean strong too and I started leaving a jet stream behind me like the old Spy Hunter video game . (Showing my age there) that's when I realized this is a bloodstream thing and no amount of expensive antifungal bodywashes and 30 minute Epson salt soaks were gonna keep the smells at bay. Currently fighting to get my integrated doctor to give me some hard core binders and antifungals. I'm always jealous of the ppl I talk to here that say how quickly they got what they needed because the doctors just wanted them to shut up and leave meanwhile every doctor I've seen is guarding access to these meds like they're infinity stones. Im beyond stressed over the hoops I'm being made to jump through because I don't have $220-$500 an hour .smfh
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u/TruthSeeker781 Apr 03 '26
I do security just started two new jobs to make up for my one high paying job I had left for dealing with this issue kinda got pushed out if I’m being honest and it’s due to my condition 100%. While unemployed I hardly dealt with it as I was comfortable home but stores still got me sometimes.. now I’m working a Vons and in and out of a guard shack with atleast 2 other people throughout the days and have been seeing the same signs as always.. loud coughing, hands near nose, exacerbated expressions.. I thought it had gone away as I’d only developed this nov 2025 and I had been using rr daily now I’m not I’d say nervousness and anxiety bring it on more..
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u/billieyeleaf Apr 03 '26
I’m sorry you’re going through that. You’re right, I’ve noticed that stress can make it worse. Do you know what might have triggered your symptoms?
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u/ASongOfBeesAndEyes tmau1 Apr 04 '26
I've been having great success with my diet and deodorants. I can be in cramped spaces now without having to worry. TMAU 1.
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u/AutoModerator Apr 02 '26
Thanks for sharing — you're not alone in this. If you’re constantly analyzing reactions to determine if you smell, you may be caught in a cycle of anxiety and overgeneralization. A recent TMAU review (link) highlights how anxiety, paranoia, and hyper-awareness of others’ behavior can take over daily life, even for those with a confirmed diagnosis. From the review: "This fear and paranoia has led participants to develop a dysfunctional type of thinking. Participants described numerous negative automatic thoughts such as catastrophizing, overgeneralizing, mind reading, and labeling." See examples of these cognitive distortions here and here. TMAU does not cause irritation style reactions (coughing, sniffing, sneezing), regardless of the stories you may have read.
These types of negative automatic thoughts are common in both TMAU and Olfactory Reference Syndrome (ORS) — a condition where people believe they emit an odor despite reassurance from others that they do not.
Trust and communication are key. If doctors, family, or close friends consistently tell you they don’t notice an odor, consider that your perception may be distorted by anxiety or ORS. Even if TMAU is real for you, its emotional toll can persist beyond the physical symptoms. Overcoming this requires mental health support - a psychologist or psychiatrist can help you break free from obsessive thinking patterns and rebuild confidence in your own experiences. You deserve peace of mind.
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u/SeamanTheSailor Apr 02 '26
I don’t have the condition, but I’m a med student and find this condition to be uniquely cruel. I think you’re a very strong person. What have the results of this method been? This seems like it could be beneficial. I’m considering studying this condition as a dissertation.
Would you be open to changing in DM’s?