When Bathing is Not Enough
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Coping With Body Odor
I awoke early to a beautiful summer day, and felt a great surge of love as I heard my children going about their morning routine. My oldest son, 18, getting ready for work, and my other son, 16, and daughter, 14, getting ready to go to Band practice at the Local High School. I should get up and fix them breakfast, I thought, but once again, a gloomy, heavy depression begins to engulf me, as many embarrassing incidents come to mind. Over and over, I ponder each one, analyzing and trying to find some other reason or explanation for each occurrence; hoping in vain that I misinterpreted the clerks in the stores, the waiters and waitresses in restaurants, the girls at work, some of my neighbors, relatives, some of my children's friends, and all the many other people I have encountered over the years, who have either by action, comment, or innuendo, led me to believe I smell bad. I remember the humiliation each time I pretend not to notice, the despair at not knowing what it is or what to do about it, and the indignation when they right away conclude that perhaps I don't bathe or use a deodorant; for you see, I am one of those few unfortunates who, despite fastidious grooming, and careful use of the best known brands of deodorants, still suffer for the very hush! hush! problem of body odor.
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About the Book
This short autobiography is about one woman’s struggle with malodor symptoms that cannot be controlled by normal hygiene methods. In 1999, she was diagnosed with "Trimethylaminuria", which is a liver enzyme disorder that renders the body unable to metabolize foods containing Choline and Lecithin, thus producing foul body odors, halitosis, and/or dysguesia, due to inability to completely metabolize TMA to TMA-oxide (TMAO) in the liver. Despite this woman’s problems, she went on to persevere at raising a family, and becoming an efficient secretary and Real Estate Broker in her Home Town. She writes about the many incidents that would have probably caused another to become a recluse, and lets any of you that may be suffering with similar problems, know of some remedies which, while not completely curing the problem, have proved helpful.
About the Author
Born into a Middle Class family in a small community, Alice was the oldest of five children. She was always made to feel that she was a disappointment to her parents because she had not been the first-born male. Her parents were very strict, and their method of reprimanding the three older children was by severe beatings.
In her teens, she became involved with a controlling young man that, by alternate demonstrations of undying love and threats of bodily harm, managed to keep her by his side and eventually marry. The union brought three children, two sons and a daughter, on whom Alice showered all the love and attention she herself had craved as a youngster.
Despite a cruel twist of fate that caused her to begin having problems with body odor, Alice pushed herself to continue her education in order to become a Real Estate Broker in the State of Texas. She also remained very active in community affairs and at her children's schools. Alice even joined a group of her neighbors in forming a Cub Scout Den when none was available in their neighborhood, so that her sons could participate in scouting.
All three children are now married, and at age 57, Alice now has a 16-year-old grandson and a two-year old granddaughter, on whom she dotes. She is presently working under contract for a business owned by one of her sons, and spends most of her free time reading on health issues and doing research at the library on chemical and metabolic imbalances; all the while hoping to find a cure for her problem.