An MCS sufferer develops negative reactions to everyday chemical exposures. It's a progressive neurological disease that can result in death.
Perfumes, hair spray, aftershave, deodorant, some shampoos & soaps; pesticides in gardens, on food & on pets; chemical cleaners; paints; new carpets; diesel exhaust; air fresheners are all toxic to me.
The symptoms are lethargy/fatigue, difficulty concentrating, muscle aches, memory problems, digestive problems, joint pain, extreme headache, tenseness, insomnia, depression, eye irritation, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, rashes & hives.
Fragrances aren't "nice smells" to me they have deprived me of my former role & contact with others.
My problem is that I am rarely taken seriously regarding my "invisible disability" even by some in the medical world. Many are offended/embarrassed that I am made ill by the very products they are wearing or have used in their home/office/ect.
How can I explain myself in a nutshell without causing offence?
2006-10-19 23:57:01 · 4 answers · asked by Honey W 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Kind comments thanks, but the sad fact is though that not everyone is as thoughtful & many people feel that when confronted with my disability that it is an affront against them personally.
Residual effects of fragrances can stay on clothes, furnishing, skin & hair for months. Even when a person is kind enough not to wear or use any when seeing me, that they have used it previously, makes it a problem still. Hence my friends have all disappeared and my family have dwindled to two loyal ones, because all the rest have not been able to grasp that it wasn’t them I was avoiding but their chemicals.
Occasionally I have to venture out. When I meet new people I would like to be able to make friends-ones who will believe me & assist me in this depressing disability.
I feel that maybe in the past I have made others feel uncomfortable, perhaps sounding too self seeking when explaining myself & I really would appreciate any advice on how to be more diplomatic.
2006-10-22 00:09:40 · update #1
I don't know of any way you could comfortably make this known to new people other than referencing the movie "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble" (John Travolta - i think?) and telling people that while you are not confined to a closed environment, you are allergically sensitive to the chemicals in the air around you like perfumes and such. Hopefully they will not be so dense as to be clueless or insensitive to your needs. I can only imagine the agony you endure when unexpectedly encountering someone from a culture that heavily uses musk as I have reeled back from that intense aroma myself and I dont suffer your malady.
2006-10-22 21:29:29 · answer #1 · answered by casurfwatcher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a horrible way for you to have to live! I would think no further explanation past a brief description of your debilitating illness would be necessary....especially to your friends and family.
I assume you must wear a mask when you're out and about. The very presence of such a thing should alert anyone with a brain that you have a problem!
I wouldn't worry about offending anyone, they should be worrying about YOU!
I once had a lady come into my gallery, where I used to have incense burning, and she quickly said she couldn't be in there because of health problems. Instead of being offended by this, I extinguished the incense and open the vents. I no longer burn the incense until after shop hours when I'm working alone. That's what considerate people do!
2006-10-20 12:38:01 · answer #2 · answered by Rembrandt11 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Say, "'Im sorry, I am allergic to a lot of chemicals, including perfume, new carpets, etc. I would love to see your new house, but I just can't, I get really sick when I am exposed." Or, " I'm sorry, I have to leave, I am violently allergic to..."
Friends and family really should be understanding about this. If they are not, they are lousy relations and friends.
I just discovered an allergy to cats. I love animals, and I was taking care of a sick friend, and her two cats were all over me. I had a pretty bad reaction. She understood, and the cats were banished from the room, but I took days to recover. She has allergies herself, and knows I have always tried to accomodate them.
If it is at work, just ask co-workers to help you by not wearing these things. Most people would be happy to cooperate.
2006-10-20 09:51:53 · answer #3 · answered by riversconfluence 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would simply say I know it's rare but I am extremely allergic to most chemicals in common use in daily life .
2006-10-20 09:46:35 · answer #4 · answered by Geedebb 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋