Do carbon/charcoal filter masks help your MCS?

Surviving Multiple Chemical Sensitivity!
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Do carbon/charcoal filter masks help your MCS?

Discussion started by Maff , on Monday, 13 June 2011 18:47

For the unfortunate people out there who have recently developed MCS and are struggling to cope with the onslaught of chemicals and feel overwhelemed, I just wanted to report that when my MCS was at its worst I found carbon filter masks to be a real lifeline.

Despite being acutely sensitive to everything from household cleaning products, personal care products, gas stoves, vehicle exhaust, newspapers/magazines and practically anything recently manufactured...when wearing a carbon filter mask I could be around people wearing their deodourants and perfumes, I could walk outside among the vehicle exhaust and fumes from neighbours' dryers and central heating boilers, and I could even visit public places. You get a lot of stares sat in a cinema wearing a face mask...but at least you can enjoy a movie!

The mask I used was from www.icanbreathe.com (no financial interest) and I found the fit to be perfect. The only downside was it got very sweaty in there.

How have other MCS survivors out there found carbon face masks? Have they been as much help for you as I found them to be? Which brand did you use?

It would be good to get some more experiences out there for the newbies or those who are still struggling for any kind of relief...

Replies

CazNZ,

For me nose filters are definitely not suitable. They may stop the seering pain through the nose but for me the mouth has to be covered as well.

271 days ago

CazNZ,

:> well the nose filters do help. But when I am face-on-face with the local librarian who wears lots of perfume, I have a difficulty, in that you have to open your mouth to talk and then "suck" in a breath. No pain in the nose but . . . Hmm. Think the nose filters are only suitable for going for walks where there is a lot of traffic and passing "fuming" people in the street, i.e. when there is no need to interact. People don't even notice them in your nose also and you get use to them being there. If I could eat out, which I can't because of food intolerances, they would be better than a mask also.

I'm going to order the icanbreathe mask, thanks mcscanary. I'm so so looking forward to getting back to play bridge especially.

273 days ago

CazNZ,

Thanks mcscanary, they do look a lot better than some of the other products. Ive only been fume sensitive since November and it only became a very painful experience over the last month or so. Prior to that I was just having to avoid the sprays and the chemicals in my food. Thankyou for giving me another "choice".

275 days ago

mcscanary,

I see that this thread is a year old, but just wanted to add my input on these products.

The icanbreathemask have been a God send for me, without them I would not be able to endure grocery stores, target stores (super yuck as target is so toxic) and the most important is that I am allowed to wear these at my work place and am on the phone all day with my mask on and it does not impair the quality of my voice at all. Love the product. I have the one that is beige lace with the beautiful rose on the side of it, I get compliments on it every time I go out and people want to know about why I wear it and where they can get one too. I carry brochures and business cards with me that I hand out. I am in no way affiliated with that business just love the product so much that I want to share with others the benefits that I have gained from using it daily : )

277 days ago

CazNZ,

I have nose filters coming from Aussie ( http://www.nasalfilters.net). Not overly expensive. Will let you know if they make life "outside" more tolerable. If they don't work will look into icanbreathe - thanks.

280 days ago

Maff,

Caz, I was always helped greatly by carbon filter masks from www.icanbreathe.com but as chiliv369 has shown, they don't work for everyone. Nose filters are not something I have come across so hopefully chiliv369 can let us know where you can get them...

287 days ago

CazNZ,

Hi. I'm new to the group. Isolated in New Zealand too. No doctor, no support groups, no MCS recognisation. I'm looking for help. Nose filters? Sounds less "bug"-like than a full mask. Although my lungs do get affected by smell marginally . . . just going into a shop and passing people wearing perfume has a devastating affect on nose, sinuses, and head. Where do you get them from?

288 days ago

Maff,

Hi chiliv369, have you tried the 6000 series half and full face respirators from 3M. I never used them myself but a lot of MCSers who don't do well with the more lightweight masks have a lot of good things to say about them.

736 days ago

chiliv369,

I have had absolutely no luck with masks. I have tried the I can breathe masks, EI Foust carbon masks, 3M masks, hospital type of masks and the only thing that I can tolerate for a short time are the nose filters which are inserted directly in the nose. I get tox'd from them too after a while because they're made out of plastic.

736 days ago

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