here's a weird one - ammonia in my nose

[jobob]

Since we're all friends here...

I've noticed a strange thing lately when I get back from my rides. For up to a half hour after I get back there's a smell, almost more like a sensation, of ammonia in my sinuses. I don't think my body is giving off the ammonia odor (heh) - it seems to be in my sinuses. I told you this was weird.

I ran a google search to see if this was ever mentioned before - the alteratives being (a) I'm hallucinating or (b) I have some rare incurable disease - and I'm happy to report I'm neither crazy nor dying.

From what I've been able to piece together, it sometimes happens to sedentary people who start exercising (hello!). There are tons of suggestions floating around the internet as to what causes it - too much protein in the diet, too little protein, too many carbs, too few carbs - some say its a sign that you're metabolizing muscle instead of fat, others say it's the opposite. Some say it comes from not drinking enough water (which I don't think is the case for me). Eh, whatever. At least Jo Hypochondriac has nothing to fear.

or do I...?

[Dogmama]

Getting information from the internet is like trying to get a drink from a fire hydrant.

I've never heard of it before. If it continues, I think I'd consult a doctor. Just to ease your mind.

[jobob]

LOL, Dogmama, I like the analogy.

Some of the stuff I've read implies that it's a symptom of over-training, and as I gain fitness it might go away. I don't *think* I'm overdoing it right now, I go out for about 10 miles ~ 3 mornings per week and do longer rides (20 to 30 miles at the moment) on the weekends. I try to push myself a bit, but certainly not to exhaustion. Anyhow, I'll pay more attention to what I'm doing and make sure I'm eating right.

I have my annual physical early in January. If I find out anything useful I'll let you know.

All the best, - Jo.

[aka_kim]

In diabetics (diabetic cats specifically ), breath smelling of ammonia/acetone (like nail polish remover) is a sign of ketoacidosis, and is dangerous. But I've read that high protein diets, like Atkins, consider this a sign that you're burning fat, and is therefore a good thing. Yeah, if your doctor comes up with anything interesting, pass it along.

[tinkerbell]

I was just going to post a similar topic!! I have had that amonia smell as well-- after especially long rides and lately after some of my longer runs. I too have wondered what is was, but have no answers. I'm by no means sedentary, and get the odor only after I exert myself to a fairly high degree. I just took up running a couple of weeks ago because I can't stand riding inside and have recently worked myself up to my longest run of 6 miles this weekend (which was hard, but definitely within my means as I didn't even feel sore afterward). Anyway, I definitely noticed it after the 6 miler, and even sometimes on my shorter 4 mile runs if I've put in some hard sprints along the way, or when I have upped my pace for the day. I've always gotten it on my longer (50+ mile) rides as well, and sometimes even shorter ones..I just wanted you to know that you weren't alone out there. I hope some good info comes of this discussion because I'm completely curious...I personally don't think it's anything to be concerned about as I've been getting "the smell" off and on since I took up cycling a little over 2 years ago...

Kristin

[Dogmama]

Originally posted by jobob
[Some of the stuff I've read implies that it's a symptom of over-training, and as I gain fitness it might go away. I don't *think* I'm overdoing it right now, I go out for about 10 miles ~ 3 mornings per week and do longer rides (20 to 30 miles at the moment) on the weekends. I try to push myself a bit, but certainly not to exhaustion. Anyhow, I'll pay more attention to what I'm doing and make sure I'm eating right.

I [/B]

For what it's worth, I found this on the net.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ammonia.htm

Also, overtraining doesn't necessarily directly correlate to the amount of pure exercise that we do. If we aren't eating right, sleeping enough, or have too much stress in our life, just a 'moderate' amount of physical activity might kick us into overtraining because we aren't really resting and recuperating between sessions.

[tinkerbell]

I'm with jobob when she says she doesn't think it's her body giving off the amonia smell. It really does seem as if it's coming from within the nasal passages somewhere. None of my clothes smell like amonia -- and they're plenty covered in my sweat by the end of my workout and even after I've showered the smell of amonia can sometimes still remains... Now I'm a little paranoid that everyone around me at the gym is smelling me and thinking-- oh my goodness It's about enough for me to think twice about my run tomorrow morning!! I just skimmed the article dogmama gave, It seems strange to me though because I am a carbohydrateaholic, so there's no way that I need to ingest more and unless I read it incorrectly that's what I'd assume it' s telling me to do?! Oh my goodness, this has all of a sudden become very complicated!!

Kristin

[jobob]

Thanks for the article Dogmama.

And thank you Kristin - it's good to know I'm not alone in this weird affliction, LOL!

here's another article which may or may not be helpful:
http://www.transitiontimes.com/views...al=Mississippi

This one also suggests that not enough carbs contributes to the smell.

For what it's worth, yesterday I did a 50-mile ride (!) along the American River bike trail near Sacramento, and while I was hurtin' for certain over the last 10 miles or so (yes, I admit it, I overdid it! ), I didn't notice the ammonia smell. I had a big bowl of cereal about 2 hrs before the ride, and during the ride I had a banana, 3 Special-K cereal bars, and lots of water.

I tend to get a bit light-headed if I don't have enough to eat beforehand - which is what happened to me today when I went out for a "quick" 10-mile ride with only half a bagel in me, by about the 8th mile I was feeling kind of woozy. I should know better than that by now! But, oddly enough, even though I didn't have much to eat, I didn't experience the ammonia smell, maybe because I didn't push myself very hard today (my thighs beg to differ after yesterday's effort though, heh).

Anyhow, since I don't get it all the time, I'll try to see if i can spot any patterns if and when it happens again.

- Jo.

[Barb]

You're not alone! I have had that smell/sensation thingy too. It only happens when I really exhert myself.

[jobob]

Oddly enough, I haven't noticed it in a couple of months!
I think it might be because I'm in much better shape now than I was back when I started road riding in December (or, on the flip side, I'm not exerting myself as hard as I was back then )

[betagirl]

Well so glad to find this board and this thread I did a particularly strenuous club ride tonight and I was standing in my kitchen after like "what's that weird smell?" I couldn't nail the odor, was sort of thinking turpentine but ammonia is dead on. I was thinking I broke my brain or something. Glad to see I'm not the only one out there that has had this happen.

[jobob]

Glad to be of assistance!
And welcome to the board!