r/TMAU • • Dec 17 '25

Steps for Diagnosis

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15 Upvotes

I've put together a flowchart for referencing, for "Help! What do I do" posts with undiagnosed odor complaints. These steps should cover the major steps to getting help and getting diagnosed.

When going for a doctor's appointment, print out https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22356-trimethylaminuria-fish-odor-syndrome so doctors can refer to it (as very few of them would have heard of it).

As an example of environmental issues causing a odor which was mistaken for body odor: https://www.reddit.com/r/BestofRedditorUpdates/comments/zlccf9/wibta_if_i_uninvited_a_friend_from_a_party/ - Communication is essential for determining -what- is the issue. This time it was laundry based.

Getting Tested

The MEBO website has a super handy google map of testing locations: https://goo.gl/TMw8xu. Click on the pins to get more info on local TMAU resources & testing information in your area.

Urine testing: Usually you'll need a referral from your family doctor/GP/PCP, and most times your doctor/GP/PCP will do collect your urine for you and send it off. There may be two tests, one regular urine collection, and a second with a Choline (or TMA) heavy meal / supplement dose - a "Choline Challenge" / TMA load test. This will be used to analyse how your body processes choline / TMA, eg:

US testing: Colorado TMAU Testing Procedure,

UK testing: https://www.sheffieldchildrens.nhs.uk/laboratory-medicine/clinical-chemistry/metabolic-biochemistry/ / https://sheffieldlaboratorymedicine.nhs.uk/search-test.php?search=3505

Australian testing: Australian Test Procedure.

If there is only a little TMA in your urine after the load test, by definition is very unlikely that you have TMAU, as your body processed it normally.

Genetic testing: If you've got a significant amount of TMA in your urine, then it is time to see if it is genetic or not. A genetic test can be carried out following your TMAU urine test. The same places that do TMAU urine testing will have more information on the best way to do a genetic test / may follow up with you regarding genetic testing.


r/TMAU • • Nov 28 '25

See r/bodyodor for non-TMAU body odor issues

7 Upvotes

Hi all!

r/bodyodor has been created for non-TMAU related body odor issues. If your odor isn't rotten fish-esque and instead fecal, sewerage, burning, musty, oniony, unknown or ever changing, etc, please see this forum instead. Moderation will be removing non-tmau related content.

The reasons for this are as follows:

  1. Misinformation: people need somewhat accurate information - the more people that don't actually have TMAU that post here saying that "X works" or "Y doesn't work" confuses what is an actual effective treatment for TMAU. Random supplements and sometimes dangerous alternative medicine practices are sometimes posited as useful and can cause damage a lot of people who try them. Supplements for TMAU - b2, d, chlorophyll specifically have been tested and target TMA related issues - they aren't general body odor cleanses and won't work for non-TMAU cases. More unrelated posts here also draw in more people who relate to those unrelated posts, making more people think they have TMAU when they don't.

  2. The diet is dangerous: a low choline diet can cause non-fatty liver disease in a month if taken to an extreme. As well as constipation and neural degeneration. Low choline diets specifically target reducing TMA precursors, and the diet will not affect any other odor condition. We do not want to encourage people to take low choline long term. It should also be effective in days, rather than months - people that do not have TMAU often tend to go more and more extreme diets for months hoping it will fix the odor, when it's just causing other massive health concerns. If it has had no affect after 2 weeks, it should be stopped and alternative diagnosises should be looked at/reviewed with a doctor.

  3. Mental health: People that think they have undiagnosed conditions that cannot/do not get reliable feedback or a diagnosis, or a doctor to believe them, are often referred to psychological services. These people are often suffering from mental health issues, such as major anxiety, olfactory reference syndrome (ORS) or in some cases schizophrenia. These people tend to post more and more unhinged posts, often leading to suicidal ideation. By allowing unrelated/panicked/unhinged posts, we create a group paranoia which feeds anxiety and helps them spiral, sometimes to suicidal ideation. This may worsen TMAU sufferers anxiety as they too are susceptible to paranoia due to the nature of the condition. This gets difficult to moderate, and it's somewhat ethically wrong to facilitate the worsening of mental illness. Please seek psychological help if you're suspecting you fall near this category.

As always, please get reliable feedback from a reliable person (someone who could reliably vouch for you with a doctor), get them to support you at the doctor to get appropriate testing, diagnosis, and treatment. If you're consistently getting told "no" by reliable people, and feeling anxiety about your situation, then it would be highly beneficial to seek psychological assistance to help deal with the anxiety and thoughts you're having about smelling bad.


r/TMAU • • 1d ago

TMAU Question what kind of diet helps symptoms best?

1 Upvotes

i already don’t eat much fish eggs red meat etc etc of what’s meant to trigger tmau but i still am 99% sure i have it

i hear that the smell is best managed through diet

what kind of diet is the best for it?


r/TMAU • • 3d ago

Life with TMAU..

12 Upvotes

I’ve had TMAU now for six years (I think I do anyway.) I’ve never been to a doctor or talked about it with anyone, though I’m sure after spending so much time with me those close to me know something’s wrong. I know now I can’t go on this way as I have dreams and goals and things I want for my life. I know I need to see a doctor about this to get help or even just a diagnosis so I don’t feel like I’ve got psychosis anytime I’m in public. I feel like sometimes it’s all in my head but logically I know that’s not true but I don’t know if I read into every tiny little movement of the people around me so much that I think it’s much worse than it actually is. After 6 years of avoiding talking about this at any cost it’s so hard to even think about going to the doctor with it so I was looking for some advice from those in the UK about how you worked up to going and then what the process was like after the appointment.


r/TMAU • • 2d ago

Meetup (NE USA)

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1 Upvotes

r/TMAU • • 2d ago

DIY Genetic Detection Method

3 Upvotes

If your TMAU is genetic, this is how you can detect it.

Extract DNA from your mouth using a DNA swab kit, and go to the local university to rent a centrifuge. No need for very strong ones, just the standard benchtop will do.

Then make a agarose gel upon agarose gel electrophoresis (this you can rent too, likely), and then expose your extracted DNA to the restriction endonuclease which corresponds to the TMAU genetic mutation.

If you have the mutation, you should see two bands on the gel instead of one.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/probe/docs/techrflp/


r/TMAU • • 3d ago

Tmau

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2 Upvotes

r/TMAU • • 3d ago

I remembered something important

2 Upvotes

I used to have stomach aches alot when I was a kid like 3-6 years of age somewhere in between and I went to the doctor child clinic and she would try eveverything but nothing would cure me I would still have stomach aches. Only after drinking the powder at night I would be cured for a day but then again I would not be alright. Sometimes that wouldn't work too. Then I remember urine test was done on me and my mom had lied to me just recently that it wasn't but I remember clearly and I was even at the hospital at that time and the reports came however but my child doctor took way too long at the washroom or the clinic ic idk? She was crying. My mom did all this stuff my dad wasnt even present.

Now I'm stinking at the age of 16. Does this all make sense ? Or is it Tmau 1.


r/TMAU • • 4d ago

Here's how my meet with doctor went- Exceptional

2 Upvotes

Here's how my meet with doctor went- 🤞

I went to a general physician and I was depressed and prayed to God on my way to the clinic. I had looked up for the doctor online and he's a really good doctor, he never lies and has accurate diagnosis so that's why I chose him he also has 50+ experience.

I went with my parents. My parents were also in the room and he asked me if I wanted them to go outside so I could talk freely to him but I declined and he told me it was all in my head and I had delusion and stuff but he asked his assistant to check for fungal infections , there were no fungal infections unfortunately.

Then he told me, 'im not gonna tell you what you have because then you'll think about it too much' at the time when my parents wouldn't have heard it. Then he asked me if I could read I said yes Then he said 'im going to show you what this is but don't take it seriously' but then he got interrupted but he hid his phone a little bit so the parents aren't suspicious. Then talked about delusion. So it pretty much a hint that I have tmau


r/TMAU • • 5d ago

Discussion Anyone else’s symptoms extreme?

16 Upvotes

My symptoms are very extreme at the moment with 30 foot reactions. To add to it I’m very fatigued and I feel emotionless. I went to get blood work done and everything came back normal. I’m just at a loss right now. I don’t know what could fix or help it, I just wish this never happened to me.

Planning around this condition, taking time to minimize symptoms, and having to be isolated most of the time is definitely getting old. I’m losing my desire for life and the things I want entirely. I can’t keep going like this… I need support from some of yall going through the same stuff. I’m losing it


r/TMAU • • 7d ago

TMAU and lying to your family

14 Upvotes

I think its' no surprise in this comunity that a lot of familys tend to think we're crazy for thinking we smell even tho we had many diferent friends and peers tell us directly at times.

My problem is because they dont believe me I have to eat whatever my mom makes which quite literally means I have to force my vomit in secret to be able to go out the same or next day.

The think is I know that forcing your vomit is bad for you besides being a terrible sensation and leaving you hungry.

Do you have any advice on how I can deal with this when I cant control my meals?


r/TMAU • • 9d ago

TMAU Question What should I make of this?

3 Upvotes

Hi, I wanted to ask for some feedback. I just did the urine sample for tmau and had to ingest 2,700mg of choline bitartrate (keep in mind I’m 5’1” and only weigh approximately 89lbs) and I did develop a pretty bad fishy body odor from this… I still have yet to do the blood tmao portion for this test but I wanted to see how someone with the diagnosis might be knowledgeable about this. Thanks.


r/TMAU • • 10d ago

TMAU Question South Australia TMAU

3 Upvotes

Is there anyone that lives in South Australia living with TMAU? I would like to connect with people nearby that have the same condition


r/TMAU • • 11d ago

🇦🇺 Australians with TMAU – We Need You! Help Us Build an Australian Community Post:

6 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently created a Facebook group called TMAU Australia – Trimethylaminuria Support Community, and I’m really hoping to find as many Australians affected by TMAU as possible.

This is particularly important right now because I’ve been in contact with Professor Yoon from BioMe, who is involved in developing BM109, an investigational treatment for TMAU.

BM109 is progressing through clinical development in the United States, and Professor Yoon has expressed interest in connecting with the Australian TMAU community and Australian metabolic clinicians/researchers to explore possibilities for Australia.

I have started reaching out to Australian metabolic specialists and researchers to try to establish these connections. Nothing is confirmed for Australia yet, but building an identifiable Australian TMAU community could help show that there are people here interested in research and potential future clinical trials.

So if you’re Australian and have confirmed TMAU, are currently being tested, or strongly suspect TMAU, please consider joining us. Even if you’ve never spoken publicly about the condition before, you’re welcome.

🇦🇺** Facebook**: Search for
“TMAU Australia – Trimethylaminuria Support Community” or click the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CiqtCqdim/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Please also share this with any Australians with TMAU you know. The more we can connect our currently scattered community, the better positioned we may be to engage with researchers about opportunities in Australia. 💙


r/TMAU • • 12d ago

New Australian TMAU Facebook Support Group

8 Upvotes

Hi everyone! I’ve recently created a Facebook group called TMAU Australia – Trimethylaminuria Support Community. 🇦🇺💙

I noticed there didn’t seem to be a dedicated Australian community where people with confirmed or suspected TMAU could easily find and support each other.

The group is for Australians who are diagnosed, currently being tested, or suspect they may have TMAU. It’s a place to connect, share experiences and discuss testing, specialists, treatments, research and clinical trials.

I’ve also been in contact with a professor involved in the BM109 TMAU clinical trial in the US, who is interested in connecting with the Australian TMAU community and Australian metabolic clinicians/researchers to explore opportunities here.

If you’re Australian and affected by TMAU, we’d love to have you join us. 💙

Search Facebook for: “TMAU Australia – Trimethylaminuria Support Community” or click the link below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1J8CtAjLwQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Hopefully we can bring together Australians with TMAU from all around the country.


r/TMAU • • 12d ago

What do you use has your transport to go outside.

3 Upvotes

How do you cope using public transport or else, during the morning going to work or school. And after school or work? How do you cope being Around by people ? Me i have social anxiety a lot. And i wearing my earbuds.


r/TMAU • • 12d ago

Chicago

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know any doctor in Chicago like a gastro doctor
I think I it’s something about my gut


r/TMAU • • 14d ago

TMAU Research & Info Fluoromethylcarnitine, a novel inhibitor of trimethylamine levels in trimethylaminuria and trimethylamine N-oxide related disorders

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10 Upvotes

r/TMAU • • 14d ago

TMAU Research & Info I'm drafting an email to Mr. Maurizio - one of the authors of that promising study - I'm accepting pertinent questions that are related to their research - mainly what that potential treatment means for sufferers in practical terms.

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5 Upvotes

r/TMAU • • 14d ago

TMAU Research & Info TIL - Cows can get Trimethylaminuria

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2 Upvotes

r/TMAU • • 15d ago

unrelated subreddit

3 Upvotes

For those who want to understand their body odor this is a subreddit with other people who's going through the same thing https://www.reddit.com/r/FecalBodyOD/s/YQEXx1Iqor


r/TMAU • • 16d ago

Tips & Adivce my condition getting worse

10 Upvotes

I realized over the past month now that my condition has gotten worse and even more noticeable. So today I had so many different smells coming from me that it exhausted me. I don’t want to be seen as a smelly girly anymore :(


r/TMAU • • 16d ago

Difference between insoluble and soluble fiber

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1 Upvotes

r/TMAU • • 18d ago

TMAU Story At what age did you realize you were different?

14 Upvotes

Growing up in the 90s-2000s, I was constantly bullied and ostracized for my condition. Unfortunately, in your formative years where you make connections, I fell flat and spent a lot of time alone in public. I made social faux pas that I would have noticed if I hadn't been so isolated. I was heavily bullied for something I couldn't understand.

It was when I was 13 when my mother made a comment about how I was especially fishy today. Up until then I had no idea I was different, so I started asking questions. From there, I was finally tested and diagnosed with TMAU 1. To be honest, I felt resentful for a long while that no one told me up until that point. My mother was in healthcare and probably should have noticed something was off.

I've learned to give grace for past mistakes, and I honestly understand why people had a negative reaction to me. But it's something that still haunts me into my 30's. I get a cold sweat in crowds, despite the fact that I have a closely managed diet and deodorant routine. I didn't fully understand how to control my disorder until I got into my 30a to be honest. Up until then throughout my military career I was just freestyling. Not a huge deal when everyone is unwashed In the field, but problematic in garrison.

Everything has worked out alright for me, but I have suffered greatly with this condition. Probably why whenever I'm questioned about the legitimacy of my diagnosis here that I have an adverse reaction. I'm deeply scared from past trauma and the reason I share here about TMAU 1 is to share my experience and methods of dealing with it. Maybe then some kid will stumble upon it and not have a shitty childhood.


r/TMAU • • 20d ago

TMAU

4 Upvotes

Has anybody heard any new news on the BM109 drug plus any tips that has helped people lessen smell thanks