We are all surrounded by chemicals everyday. Some are desensitized to them, but when you have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), you really notice every one of them. Eventhough I’m better today than I was a couple of years ago, I still get symptoms from chemicals. I recover more quickly than I used to and they’re more manageable, but I still definitely experience consequences from exposure.
Bombarded with Chemicals
This past weekend I experienced many reactions to different chemicals. What a “normal” person might be able to tolerate, a person with MCS cannot. Here are 3 examples:
- I went with my husband to Lowe’s. We were in the lawn section because he was looking for grass seed. This time of year is horrendous for chemicals in the lawn and garden section – everything from weed killers such as awful Roundup, to lawn fertilizers. I couldn’t stay in the section for long as my tongue and lips started tingling and my ears started swelling up.
- We were also out of town over the weekend. We don’t have a Chick-fil-A near where we live, so if we’re near one, my husband likes to stop. I do not recommend eating at Chick-fil-A just like I don’t recommend eating at any fast food restaurant (other than ones like Chipotle which have organic, fresh foods without the preservatives). However, eating at a Chick-fil-A every once in a great, great while shouldn’t kill you. I ordered their grilled chicken salad. All I ate was the lettuce and the fruit that came with it along with a tiny bit of dressing. I didn’t even eat the chicken. I also didn’t eat the toppings that come with it. Check out the chemicals that are included with their added toppings! I had to take a picture of it! After eating the salad, I came away with a headache. I’m not saying Chick-fil-A sprays their salads with chemicals because I don’t know that for sure, but I do know that some restaurants spray their salads to keep them looking fresh. All I know is I came away with a headache.
- Finally, this weekend we visited a house that had plugin air fresheners. Air fresheners, especially the plugin kind are highly toxic! We were only in the house for less than 1 hour and I came away feeling nauseous, with my heart racing and a strong, sick feeling headache.
Have You Become Desensitized to Chemicals Such as Fragrance?
If I am experiencing these symptoms and reactions, just think of what these chemicals are doing to those of you who have become desensitized to chemicals and are exposed to them on a regular basis (and we wonder why people are so sick)! Exposures to the things I listed above can be minimized. You don’t have to eat garbage fast food. You don’t have to use synthetic air fresheners and you don’t have to use harmful chemicals on your lawn.
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Canaries
People with MCS are often called canaries. We experience symptoms around toxic substances similar to when they would put a canary in a mine shaft. If the canary became ill or died, people in the mines (even if they couldn’t smell the chemical) knew it was time to get out.
Don’t be like the miners who didn’t heed the canary’s warning. Begin taking steps to reduce the amount of chemicals you are being consistently exposed to in your everyday household products. It is possible to live more naturally!
Read Next: Do You Suffer From Multiple Chemical Sensitivity?
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mary says
I was a people greeter at walmart.I was sick daily. After a few injuries I was sent to garden door, amazing difference in fresher air. The cashier thought it was cool that I could tell her what a person was buying before they got to to her without looking. Some products made for instant headaches. If I smell it the damage is done
Teresa says
I definitely feel for you. It’s good they were able to move you to an outside door, eventhough the lawn chemicals are toxic too! At least you have fresh air you can step into. Thanks for stopping by!
MCS Gal says
You are telling my story. Those are the types of things those of us with sensitivities have learned to avoid. I’m surprised you could tolerate the “air freshened” house at all. I have got to the point that I have to tell people I can’t go in.
Teresa says
I hate that you, me and others are dealing with this horrible disease. There was definitely a time when I couldn’t even enter an “air freshened” house. Now I can “tolerate” it (I use that term loosely) for about an hour. Once I leave the environment, I start feeling sick then I regret having stayed in that environment for too long. Once I get home, wash my hair and change my clothes, I typically start feeling better. Fortunately, as I continue to get better, I recover quicker than I used to. Being exposed to certain chemicals used to set me back for a couple of days – washing my hair and changing my clothes wouldn’t help.
Thanks for stopping by! It’s always nice to meet others who understand what we’re going through.