Recently I noticed that a strange smell was coming from my ass, and I realized that it wasn’t a shitty smell. It’s almost impossible to describe, it but it sorta smells like chemicals. Another thing about it is that whatever I sit on -- boxers, jeans, chairs -- all start to smell the same way. Is there any way I can solve this?

Dear Graham,

I would try changing the toilet bowl cleaner. It sounds as if the one you are currently using may be too strong. Also, it is usually a good idea when sitting on the toilet to put the seat down so that your ass is not soaking in the water.

On a more serious note, you should probably go get a check-up by a REAL DOCTOR and be tested for diabetes. You could be smelling acetone, which is a chemical formed in the blood when the body uses fat instead of glucose (sugar) for energy. If acetone forms, it usually means that the cells do not have enough insulin -- or cannot use the insulin that is in the blood -- to use glucose for energy. Acetone passes through the body into the urine. Another possibility could be ammonia.

As for the smell getting on the other things around you, maybe you should just go commando and not sit down until you get rid of the smell... or maybe put a stick-up air freshener in your boxers.

Thanks for asking Motherload!

Motherload is Certified Nurse Assistant as well as an IBS sufferer, which means she knows a lot about poop. She isn't a doctor, however, and you shouldn't trust anything you read on the Internet anyway. Still, she'll try her best to help you out. Got a question for her? Ask it here. [1]