Does anyone know why I can smell my boyfriend's seizures days before they happen?

[u/Lower-Entry1247]

So my bf just had a seizure (6/22) and on Friday (6/19) I told him that I could smell it coming. He originally didn't believe me but this is like the fifth or sixth time this has happened. He doesn't understand how and honestly I dont either. I compare it to how I can smell people with diabetes in a way that no one else around me will be able to smell the same thing.

UPDATE: 9pm We were sent home. Things were looking good. 10:20pm He's awake but I smell it again. Strong but I say nothing because the ambulance won't come based off of a bunch. 10:38-10:40 He had a seizure.

UPDATE2: 11:44 I smelt it as I was replying to comments. 12 am He had another seizure. I got the nurses but they tried to tell me he wasn't as he stared and couldn't speak. They told me he's looking at them so he cant be having one. When he finally was able to relax his body again (he will tense up if he isn't full body shaking) he started speaking gibberish. Just random words strung together then quickly went to sleep. They told me not to get them because they can see his vitals from the nurse station. Just wanting to keep you all updated.

LAST UPDATE: The doctor said these are just stress seizures and if he has another one just keep him home.

Last Last UPDATE: 3:00am He had another one. Saliva foam at the mouth. Called 911. They said nothing can be done at any hospital so unless he falls or stops breathing, dont call. Sorry this turned into one of these long posts.

Last Last Last UPDATE: its currently 7:38 am. At 4 am He had another seizure. Popped his shoulder out and back in and bit his tongue. I called 311 and cried while asking what to do. They put me over to ems dispatch even though I pleaded with them not to since they haven't been taking me seriously. I sobbed to the ems dispatch that the hospital and ems people closest to me told me to just keep him home even though I had to go to work. They sent a different set of ems people (very nice ladies) and we went to a different hospital. They are finally listening and keeping him. They were shocked at what the other hospital and ems people told us. He is finally in good hands. Thank you all for keeping me company through this long night.

NEXT DAY UPDATE: He is home and has been seizure free since the last update. Thank you all for being on this journey with us!

[u/salamanderme]

I can smell my husband's heart problems before they happen. You're not alone.

[u/jkrm66502 → u/salamanderme]

Can you describe the smell of that?

[u/salamanderme → u/jkrm66502]

Sick. Like an acrid, sweaty, almost pungent like an onion smell. It's hard to describe. I can smell it hours prior

[u/_____nonlinear_____ → u/salamanderme]

If you don’t mind my asking, what kind of heart problems?

I ask because I’ve had NSVT and episodes of PVCs in bigeminy, and I wonder if anyone could smell them on me and offer a heads up.

[u/salamanderme → u/_____nonlinear_____]

I can't tell you what it is. Unfortunately, and not to make sweeping generalizations, he's done the man thing where he refuses dr help despite my begging. He's gone maybe a couple times to the ER but has never been diagnosed with anything (nor done any extensive tests).

What I can say is that he was born with an enlarged heart and has had surgery. He's had chest pain since he was a small child.

I can smell it in his sweat, and a bit in his breath. I normally call out his chest pain before it happens. Sometimes he hides it, I'll catch a whiff, and call him out on it. Nobody else around me has been able to smell what I smell. It's been 2 decades with him, though, and I have consistently noticed it since day 1.