- Joined
- Feb 20, 2021
This phenomenon is called "uremic fetor", and unfortunately, it's very common in patients with end-stage renal disease.stinking like urine (even on her breath)
Once the kidneys are too sick to continue processing urea and other waste products from the blood, the body tries to get rid of them by any available means, including through sweat and saliva. As kidney function declines, urea and uremic metabolites accumulate in tissue throughout the body and cause symptoms of toxicity, including mouth sores, dysgeusia, severe itching, muscle cramps, intractable nausea and vomiting, impaired cardiac function, fatigue, uncontrollable bleeding, and metabolic acidosis. The brain is particularly vulnerable to uremic toxicity, and patients often experience confusion or agitation.
Usually, once you have the uremic fetor, everything is about to go tits up in a truly spectacular fashion. ESRD is an unimaginably cruel way to go. If you have ever seen it happen to a person, it's not something you will ever forget. Uremic fetor is one of those things you instinctively know is Very Bad. When my dad was dying of renal cell carcinoma, you could smell the ammonia from the hallway outside his room. I don't expect to ever forget that. Brutal.
Usually, once you have the uremic fetor, everything is about to go tits up in a truly spectacular fashion. ESRD is an unimaginably cruel way to go. If you have ever seen it happen to a person, it's not something you will ever forget. Uremic fetor is one of those things you instinctively know is Very Bad. When my dad was dying of renal cell carcinoma, you could smell the ammonia from the hallway outside his room. I don't expect to ever forget that. Brutal.