Well, ammonia does smell funny, like window cleaner, but I don't think it's fruity.

My husband emits a strange smell when his ecephalopathy is bad. Hard to describe what it smells like. He also slurs words as if he were drunk and loses co-ordination. Get your boyfriend to hold his arms staight out with his hands at a 90 degree angle, if he can't keep his hands still or if they flap he has hepatic encephalopathy and needs to see a doctor. They will probably increase his lactulose if he's on it. It can lead to coma so don't ignore it.

I am sorry that you are having to go through this disease with someone you love. As InChina suggested, extending the arms forward while holding the hands palm forward is a good indicator of HE. My husband had a transplant last August, and his translplant doctors always asked him to do this. If your BF is still drinking, then he is in for a very bad time.

My husband too emits a strange smell. Sometimes it comes out of his breath and it also is in his scalp. (It leaves this odor on our pillows). I don't know what this smell is, I also cannot describe it, but it is definately not fruity. (It's not nice).

This smell may just be part of this illness.

Speaking as an alcoholic and now thankfully clean and sober 18 months, I want to just ask you what your motive for questioning him is? I totally understand your concern and the stress wondering if. But, here is the truth of the matter. If he is drinking, he already knows he shouldn't and feels guilty and obviously does not want you to find out. You are right he will deny it to his grave and the only one who can truly stop an alcoholic from drinking is the alcoholic themself. IF he is not drinking he might feel like you don't trust him ( although he should understand your concern) and maybe think it does not matter if he does or not because everyone thinks he is. Anyway, its like a catch 22 situation and you won't win. All you can do if you care about him is show your support and be there. You cannot control what people do and you waste energy and stress yourself out when you do. If he is drinking he is hurting himself and he will suffer the consequences. If you cannot handle being around him if he is drinking knowing it will kill him. I would let him know how you feel. Thats about all you can do. You have to decide if you can handle being there and worrying or letting him go. He is going to figure it out one way or another. You will be much happier not worrying about it all the time. Also, just so you know his doctor will know if he is drinking. My doctor told me he could tell if I was drinking by the blood tests. Certain levels are higher in people who are drinking. He said the levels will stay elevated for up to 3 months after a drinking event. Good luck. We alcoholics have hurt our family and friends and ourselves so much with our drinking and if I could go back I would change mine but I can't. All I can do is live today and go forward. I am sorry you have to go through this. I hope for his sake and yours he has stopped drinking. You might suggest a program to help him for support such as AA or others. AA also offers an Alanon support to help families and friends of alcoholics deal with their feelings and to help with advice. They are free so check them out. Even if he will not go, you can still go to Alanon. Good Luck.

Rummi, I have heard about smell also, and experienced something with my husband. I would say its more like blue cheese. (lol, except its just not funny!) The heart of your question is the alcoholism and drinking, however. There is no easy answer. I have chosen to accept the fact that if he is drinking, it will be obvious in him physically. The blood test will show it, he will turn yellow again, etc... The only problem with this is that you have to allow for the H.E., and cant count slurring and confusion as physical signs.
Hang in there, you are not alone!

Thank you everyone for such good advice. I know I cannot stop him from drinking and I realize that If Im going to stick around I have to accept this battle with alcoholism and cirrhosis as part of the package that comes with the man that I love. I know that he is trying really hard to stay sober. And your right DuckyJan, no matter what he says everyone is still doubting his sobriety. IT really does suck for him. I try to remain optimistic and trust that he is telling the truth but I cant help but look for signs of him drinking. I guess Im paranoid. To be honest with you if he didnt have cirrhosis I wouldnt care if he drank. He knows how to drink without getting crazy and upsetting. He's a passive drinker. The problem I have is knowing that it will kill him. And of course I dont want to lose him. Right now he is doing so well, Thank God. He has not symptoms of the disease.He says he is made of nails!lol I hope so!!

I totally understand where you're at Rummi! My husband's been sober for almost 10 months and I still look for signs. It's not that I don't trust him, it's that I don't trust the disease and what might trip a binge.... Hang in there! :)