hi,

just found this site and it looks to have loads of great info

i am 33 and have suffered from what i now know is multiple chemical sensitivity since i was at university. i am an artists and have always worked with paints and other art materials which obviously give off various chemicals. i can only assume these are the cause of my problems.

anyway i am managing to cope quite well at the moment by avoiding things which trigger my symptoms but am by no means 100%. i'd really like to hear from people who have found treatments that have helped them overcome chemical sensitivities for good. i don't want to strictly avoid all exposures forever if i can avoid it!

look forward to your replies.

riley<br /><br />Post edited by: Riley, at: 2008/05/21 15:31

Hi Riley,

I also developed MCS around that age having been diagnosed with M.E./Chronic Fatigue Syndrome aged 11.

Avoiding triggers is definitely an important part of dealing with this illness, especially to begin with just so you can get some relief! I have found a number of treatments that have improved my chemical sensitivities greatly however.

My own experience and a good body of research suggests MCS is the result of certain regions of the brain (such as the Limbic system) becoming hypersensitive to stimulation by the presence of certain chemical compounds. This would suggest symptoms of MCS are the result of a neurological problem. I have had great success with various treatments and lifestyle changes which alter brain chemistry/function for the better.

I also suffer from S.A.D. and found that my MCS symptoms were much less severe in summer when my S.A.D. was also at its least severe. Maximising my sunlight exposure and using other treatments proven to combat S.A.D. such as vitamin D and melatonin supplementation also inmproved my MCS. This may be a result of producing more healthy levels of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and melatonin but this is speculative.

The most effective single treatment I have found is DHEA, an adrenal hormone thought to promote well-being, reduce stress and counteract the effects of cortisol (another adrenal hormone) and aging. DHEA is a neurosteroid which undoubtedly has a profound effect on brain chemistry although exactly what is does is not well understood at present. I found even at low doses DHEA (which is available OTC in the US) solved my chemical sensitivities almost completely. Others have found the same. A survey of hundreds of MCS patients by Professor Pamela Gibson found that of all treatments tried DHEA rated highest for effectiveness. Please remember though that DHEA is a steroid hormone with potentially serious side-effects so work with a medical professional on this. Making sure your thyroid function is optimal is also important.

Essentially I have found that anything that reduces stress and promotes healthy mental function and moods will have a positive effect on MCS. I am not saying it is in our heads, rather that MCS is caused by problems in the same brain regions which control mood and certain mental functions such as memory. A such things like meditation and relaxation techniques can be useful as can exercise if you are able. It is also important to tackle nutritional deficiencies particular of those nutrients involved in neurotransmitter production e.g. the amino acids l-tryptophan and l-tyrosine along with vitamin and mineral cofactors including zinc vitamin C and the B vitamins.

Hope this gives you some ideas. Please read through the MCS articles on the site and those on adrenal, thyroid and mental health issues as well.

Hello Riley and all,

I am happy to inform you that there is an international network of artists with Chemical Sensitivities and such with the name Creative Canaries (www.creativecanaries.org).

We also have a Yahoogroup which is called the CreativceCanariesCommunity.

We will be most happy to accept you as a member.

Moon McNeill, founder

i am 51 and have been suffering from what i now know is multiple chemical sensitivities for over 1 year now. I just cannot believe that i have been seing doctors for over 1 year in France as well as in Morocco (where i am setled for over 16 months now) and no one of docs found what i am having? In total 7 doctors! Here in Morocco they had found all types of inimaginable ALLERGIES so they gave me many strong medications that made more sicker to hell so i went to France and done few testes and they said they cannot find anything. One of docs said that perhaps is \&quot;psychological\&quot; and another said \&quot;too much stress\&quot;. As result i stopped working for 8 months now trying to relax and taking things easy as i was told. However as time passes my situation is not improving at all only RIVOTRIL helping me to cope with constent and daily pain in my brain. My problem is that my throat hurts, tongue sting badly, gum hurts horrbly, all inside my mouth get imflamed as soon as I smell: soaps, shampus, powders, washing up luiquides, deodorants, tooth past,parfums, not to mention onece outside cars fums, products in shelves either in suprmarket or in in an ordinary shops (Agadir is a hot city whole year no rain so to much odors)and even spices? I have no quality of life so many things i stopped eating them because 1 lost taste of savors, salt, sugar and 2 because i am in pain whole time lost appetite. Only time i rest really from pain is when i sleep but as soon as i stand up my pain starts again. I reduced naturally using products house cleaning without knowing these were the causes however here in Morocco there isn't any product free from chimical! Somehow i feel relieved today 15/08/08 bit that i descovered my disease thanks to MADAME GOOGLE!!! I would really appreciate very much all help i can get e.g. what type of specialist i should see, type of medication that could improve my life because i cannot carry on like this I cannot constrate or do anything a part having a walk and stying reading at home. After all am still young and have lot things i still want to do and involved with.

Looking fowards hearing from you all. Many thanks
Mariam

Hi Mariam,

Sorry to hear about your health problems and struggles to find help. You'll find it is the same for all of us affected by environmental illness!

I would recommend you learn as much as you can from this site and others and then find a doctor who practices 'environmental medicine'. These doctors understand the problems we face and know how best to treat them.

You can find an account of what has helped me overcome chemical sensitivities in my previous post above.

You may also want to try a therapy called NAET which many people seem to have success with when they have multiple allergies. It is a combination of techniques from Western medicine, acupuncture, chiropractic, kinesiology, nutrition and is used to eliminate allergies rather than just treating symptoms as medication does.

To find a NAET practitioner in France visit: http://www.naet.co.uk/composite-139.htm?Name=&amp;CountryId=7&amp;CityId=&amp;Profession=]

Hope this helps and that you're having a relatively good day so far!<br /><br />Post edited by: Maff, at: 2008/08/18 13:33

Hi Mariam,

I too Have MCS which started in March after a chemical exposure at work. As A laboratory scientist I was working with Formaldehyde, Xylene, Phenol, Acetone, and Alcohols.
After a specific occasion, I got a burning sensation in the mucosa of my nose and nose bleeds. I developed sinus problems, respiratory difficulties,massive headaches and hypersensitivity to odours over the next 3 weeks resulting in me leaving work in a distressed state. The headaches were unbearable, I've never taken so much paracetamol in my life. I cleaned out all the deodorants, shower gels, shampoos,conditioners, hairspray etc.making a note of the ones that afffected me and those that didn't.
I identified Methylisothionone, as being the major culprit. Which was also present in all the cleaning products I had to replace with Eco stuff. I then discovered that alcohol and formaldehyde was also giving me a tight chest and headaches in the Eco friendly products such as floor cleaner and washing up liquid.
By eliminating these things,it became apparent that the formaldehyde released from my GAS cooker was causing me problems. The inflammation in my head, with the post nasal drip, cough, croaky voice, neuralgia, dizziness, chronic wind, loss of co-ordination like I'm drunk, muscle weakness, inability to lift legs or stand up, within minutes of the cooker being on. Even with the door open and the extractor full blast. So I spend a lot of time in the garden when I'm cooking until I can afford an electric one.
I have to say that I have had amazing relief using Flixonase nasal spray, a steroid spray that I initially took two sprays in each nostril twice a day, and I'm now down to 1 spray in each, once a day.
This has totally removed my head symptoms, the pain, the immediate dizziness and the need for paracetamol.
I'm now more active, can garden (because I can put my head down because weeding was impossible). Can actually read a book because I can concentrate, I'm using my cross trainer again. I can make longer car journeys because the symptoms take longer to develop, and all in all I'm looking better than I have for years.
I use all man made chemical free organic health and beauty products, including chemical free toothpaste,because my gums were in a terrible state. I can still use fragranced shower gels and shampoos, made with roses, geraniums and chocolate so I have treats. I've never eaten junk food so my diet hasn't changed much, perhaps more organic products and no chemicals in my food.
I've changed everything I can control myself, but obviously have to avoid, petrol, car exhausts and diesel, have limited expeditions to shopping malls supermarkets, restaurants and cinema etc. Although a personal air purifier I've bought does also increase my tolerance levels.
Prolonged exposure still causes flu like symptoms, with muscle weakness, itching, and constant trips to the loo. I'm still going through the diagnosis procedure but I know exactly what I've got.

Everyday brings new challenges and the latest one is the central heating radiators .. any ideas?