Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Need Help

Hello, I am a first time blogger. So here goes. I came upon this site after doing a somewhat desperate google search for MCS last nite. I don't know where to begin so I will just start with current crisis. History includes seasonal and mold allergies and chemical sensitivities. On Tuesday, I was at my dr's in severe respiratory distress, wheezing, tightness in chest, difficulty breathing, as a result of recent heavy chemical exposures, sinus infection and bronchitis. Bring on all the emergency drugs to keep me breathing, albuterol nubulizer, prednisone, antibiotics etc. No panic, I can stay in my safety zone, my "bubble", do the drugs and get past this crisis. Been there, done that. Now, the next day, Wednesday, the condo complex where I live had the rugs shampooed in hallways and common areas throughout the complex. Someone decided it was a good time to shut the AC off in those areas to save money, the rugs were very wet from shampooing with citrus scented chemicals, temperatures in NE got extremely hot and humid, creating a tropical climate in the corridors, actual temp 80 degrees with 70% humidity. None of the unit doors fit properly so their are gaps around and under them. Bottom line is this, what is in the corridors is in your condo. My unit AC was cranking because air quality was so poor outside, I had to keep windows closed. No surprise when I got sicker Wed. nite, dr. upped the prednisone on Thursday, started antibiotic for signs of infection, and ordered a home nebulizer. They finally put the corridor AC on yesterday, Friday, and the chemicals they used on the rugs, citrus fragrance and all, permeated my condo. It is so bad, that I had to get out yesterday, even though i didn't feel well enough to go. I have quite a walk through the tropical paradise to the elevator to get to the lobby to the outside. I am on 4th. floor and can't do the stairs until I can breathe better. I went out with a friend and vented over a cone of soft swirl. I felt better sitting outside with the oak tree pollen and the traffic exhaust than I did in my bubble. I am on my balcony right now with my laptop and my coffee pot. Been here typing this essay since 7AM. I can smell and taste the chemicals making it extremely uncomfortable. I can deal with pain and discomfort. What I am afraid of is whether staying here is exposing me to chemical fumes that are further damaging my mucous membranes, my lungs. If I had a safe place to run to, I would have gone there last night, no question about it. But I was too ill and tired to try figure it out. My doctors do their best, but you all know few really get it or can offer any help beyond treating the symptoms. since last nite, I am avoiding taking the inhalers and nebulizer until I absolutely have no choice because i feel like my body has reached a point of chemical saturation/overload. And I am really trying to keep the anxiety in check about what will happen if I cannot tolerate the rescue inhalers when I truly cannot breathe. That's when the dreaded, so far avoided, 911 call will have to be made. Getting online last nite was an act of quiet desperation, but a good thing. It took me to an article entitled MCS-End of Controversy and it was like reading my story. And it took me to this site and, frankly, putting this in writing for the first time has helped me to step back and gain a little perspective. I think I may have answered my immediate question. I think I need to get out of here for a while. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I look forward to any information you might have to share on how to deal with toxic condo situation.

Hi, working on door issue; hope something can be done to keep fumes out of my condo. have had many talks with manager with minimal success over past 2 years. they are very resistant to change, love their strong chemicals and fragrances. only option, aside from moving, is to try to protect my space. thanks for responding. today is a better day. any recommendations for a chemical mask--I might get one to get me safely through the corridors when they when they are doing their chemical thing and renovations.

you have to take yourself out of that situation if you can,if your not able,get the mask,do whatever you have to. Last year I had somewhat similar experience. I had a slight bronchitis and I was cleaning my tile floor and the fumes overwhelmed me well that triggered my asthma.I got some antibiotics ,was using my nebulizer and it was not getting better so I finally went to the er.They decided to admit me for a severe asthma attack.4 days after being admitted I went into status asthmaticus and respiratory failure and I was on a ventilator for 2 weeks.

Hi folks, thanks for your replies and, Joy, thanks for sharing your story. What an awful thing to go through. I did get out of here for a few days anyway. After I posted that long story, they used bleach to clean the stairwells, I couldn't breath--It was time to get out--ER or the ocean, I went to the ocean. I stayed there for three days, with nebulizer, and clean ocean air and I started to recover. When I returned, I called in some help and we completely detoxed the condo. I am OK for now and slowly recovering. I sent emails to landlord, building manager, and demanded they stop the use of bleach and fix my door. I got the expected nasty reply from the manager and no reply from the landlord. They have not used any caustic chemicals since the emails. I am having the door looked at myself. I have no safe place to move to now, safe housing is the toughest thing about MCS.

Post Edited (grammiecitu) : 6/25/2011 6:16:36 AM (GMT-6)

How right you are about that!I am looking into the feasibility of that which is going to take some time. In the meantime, I will keep applying the bandaids and do my best to stay well. Looking forward to beginning an outdoor Tai Chi class next week. Good for the spirit! Have a great weekend all.

I too have MCS and it is a huge challenge to deal with.

MCS can also be caused or made worse by methylation genomic variants. Check into Dr. Amy Yasko's methylation protocol. See http://www.holisticheal.com/health-tests/nutrigenomic-testing/comprehensive-methylation-panel-with-methylation-pathway-analysis.html to get the test (lowest cost I know of for this test; I have no financial connections with this website/company).

Methylation is a major component in the body's ability to detox a wide range of chemicals - including formaldehyde, alcohols, sulfur/sulfites, purines, histamines, etc. If the methylation cycle is overloaded or impaired by genetic variants, then the ability to detox these things becomes impaired. Infections (mold/fungus/yeast, bacteria, parasites, viruses) and toxic exposures (heavy metals, chemicals, pollution) can both overload an already impaired methylation cycle and render the person very ill while the body tries other methods of detoxing (much slower and less effective than via methylation).

See http://www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Nutrigenomics.htm for more info about methylation (I have no financial connections with this website/company).

I hope this helps...take care,

Razzle, Thanks for info! I will check out the website, interesting stuff. I believe I need to detox, I am way too reactive to everything now. Lyme14, I can relate to your struggle over safe housing. Since my last post, I had the doors fixed, sliders adjusted to close tighter and interior door much tighter seal now which I think really helps keep exhaust fumes, smoke, cleaning fumes and fragrance out. Also just got an "I can breathe" carbon mask that might help me avoid exposures, especially in the corridors on cleaning day. Although, I came home the other day and walked right into the landscapers applying crabgrass killer around the property--no notice, no signs. It is an endless battle!