Hi all,


I thought I would share with you all a response received from an NHS immunologist following my GPs request for possible referral/treatment for MCS.

\"The syndrome (multiple chemical sensitivity) is a common complaint, which is most certainly a learned behavioural/conditioned response to percieved noxious stimuli.\"

I am personally furious at the dismissive nature of this condition not actually being linked to toxicity in any way shape or form.
When especially in my case and many others repetative chemical exposure is trigger for this condition.

I can count numerous incidents where I have become ill even before I have known any chemicals where present.

As for the commonality of the condition, well I would like to see the figures for this, as I have only met one person in my extensive trips to various specialists who have seen anyone with a similar condition and this was outside of the NHS.

I would like to hear from anyone else who has an opinion on this. And thanks to this forum for allowing me to let off steam!

Many thanks

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

I had a terrifying reaction to a new ( washed )duvet set at 3 am, after going to bed oblivious to any chemical presence.
I couldn't breathe properly, had a headache, neuralgia,post nasal drip, stiffness in my whole body so bad I needed help getting out of bed and a rash.
How on earth could this be a learned/conditioned response when I'd been asleep for 4 hours?

Being new to the condition at the time it never crossed my mind that bed sheets could make me ill.

I keep myself well now by avoiding chemicals as much as I possibly can in everything I do, but get a physical response within minutes getting progressively worse over time. I cannot always 'smell' the chemicals.

My sensitivity also developed within 3 weeks of a chemical exposure. Prior to this I was perfectly fit and healthy. The NHS has been useless, I haven't been able to get a referral to a toxicologist or neurologist, and have had no investigations done at all.<br /><br />Post edited by: Helen64, at: 2009/06/04 14:20

Hi both,

Unfortunately this position still seems to be the norm within the NHS. Although I have chronic fatigue syndrome/ME and IBS as confirmed diagnoses on my medical notes I also have \&quot;beliefs about chemical sensitivities\&quot;. How insulting is that?

The trouble is that nobody in the NHS who we are likely to encounter has even looked at the research on multiple chemical sensitivity. If they had they would discover more studies concluding there is an organic basis for our illness rather than a psychological one.

Have a look at a blog I wrote a couple of years ago: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Portrait of the Skeptic.

As for a learned/conditioned response. I'm sure every MCS sufferer will agree that our symptoms can be triggered when we can't even smell the offending chemical.

It really is time the medical profession woke up to what is a very real and debilitating illness. Not to mention the impact it is having and will increasingly have on society as more people are affected.