Some Promising News

I first read about Dr Martin Pall from CatherineWO at Breathez. Dr Pall is Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry and Basic Medical Sciences at Washington State University. His research has shed new light on the causation of MCS, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His research also applies to Gulf War Syndrome which he says has been shown to be a combination of the four.

I was first intrigued by his study for a couple of reasons. First, I’ve always suspected that, somehow, all of these diseases were related, though I had no idea how they were related. And second, it explains some of my own observations regarding the additive effect of products that trigger problems for me. As my disease has progressed, I’ve developed sensitivity to many things, including many foods. A prime example of additive effect is pecan pie. Nuts, for whatever reason, are often a migraine trigger. (Migraines are the primary symptom that I have, and I’ve long suspected that many migraine sufferers have a form of MCS.) Two years ago on Thanksgiving, I had pecan pie with our meal – around noon. No migraine. But, later in the evening I had a second piece (hey, it only happens once a year) and a migraine resulted. Hence, the additive effect theory.

As you read through Dr Pall’s website, you’ll find that he has developed a regimen of vitamins and supplements to treat these diseases. He lists this information in detail and mentions that there have been many who have benefited from his regimen.

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Asbestos Toxicity

The health issues caused by asbestos are yet another demonstration of the problems of our modern world. Too often modern man jumps on something new and uses it everywhere, without ever knowing what the long-range effects might be. Long ago, long before I knew I had health issues related to the chemicals in fragrances (when I thought it was just an allergy), I learned about the Great Law of the Iroquis and thought if was something that should always be practiced:

“In every deliberation, we must consider the impact on the seventh generation… even if it requires having skin as thick as the bark of a pine.”

Indeed, we are not patient enough to wait and see what effect something will have 7 generations later, but think how much better a world we would be in if we were that patient.

Some more about abestos: Although all forms of asbestos are toxic, the degree of toxicity varies with both the asbestos type and its particular state. The most toxic form is fibers of less than 8 micrometers in length and 0.25 micrometers diameter. These stay in the lungs whilst shorter fibers are expelled and larger ones do not damage lung cells. Although asbestos has now been banned, there remains much of it in the environment, particularly in factories, mines and even domestic buildings. We must be very careful that this is disposed of properly.

Asbestos was widely used before 2000 in the construction of buildings because of its many properties. It is a good thermal insulator, hence it was used to lag pipes and protect structural steelwork. It is also an excellent electrical insulating material. Moreover, it is highly resilient and does not degrade. But, unfortunately, it can also be deadly. Many people are now dying from past exposure to asbestos and will continue to do so unless action is taken. It is now illegal to use asbestos but countless tons of it were used in the past and much of it is still in place. It does not pose any risk as long as it is in good condition; however, if it is disturbed or damaged then it can become very dangerous for health because the asbestos fibers released into the air are prone to causing breathing problems for people who inhale them. Once the asbestos fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they tend to lodge in the lining around the lungs, heart or abdominal cavity and go unnoticed for many years. Ultimately, they will cause scarring and cell changes that can become a malignant cancer known as Mesothelioma. Anyone who thinks they have inhaled harmful asbestos fibers while performing their job may be entitled to make a claim for asbestos compensation.

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Another Sad Story

I got this email last week as a comment on my web site Fragrance Free World. It just seems lik such a cruel world we live in, doesn’t it?

One thing intrigued me. I’ve never really read about a connection between HPV or other vaccines and MCS. Have you?

Over the last 2.5 years, I have become extremely sensitive to fragrances and have had MAJOR health problems because of them. Up until last October, I’d had migraines on an almost daily basis because of fragrances. For the longest time, my doctors thought it was allergies…. in fact, I’d been on allergy medicine since I was 10 years old… I finally went to an allergist to figure out what it was I was allergic to and it turned out that I wasn’t alleric to anything…. not ever dust! So, after listening to my symptoms (constant sever headache, nausea, dizziness, confusion, easily sicken by motion, poor balance, EXTREME sensitivity to smells) my allergist thought I had transformed migraines and sent me to see a migraine specialist. Last October, I saw the migraine specialist and he prescribed me Topamax (anti-seizure med.) which he said was supposed to raise my tolerance to stimuli! It has made a world of difference. I can’t and NEVER will be able to w ear perfume, or use scented anything and neither will my husband and those coming in close contact with me, but at least now I don’t get an instant headache from every little whiff of fragrance like I used to.

I really don’t understand where all this came from. I myself used to love wearing perfume and loved bath and body works products, but now I couldn’t hate them more! Sensitivities to fragrances run in my family, so I’m sure it has something to do with that, but I think two other things (one huge one in particular) may be to blame for my sudden problems. 1. I moved into central WI to go to school… there are TONS over paper mills in the part of the state. Some days I can hardly handle the smell…. I sometimes wonder if being exposed to those chemicals on a daily basis triggered my problems because I never experienced them until I moved and went to college…. 2. Recently, I was given the 3 HPV shots and shortly after those is when I started having problems…. My dad had a similar problem after getting a flu shot which has had lasting effect on him as well…. there is no way to ever prove the HPV shot had anything to do with my becoming the way I am now, but it seems awfully
coincidental to me.

I feel like my sensitivities I have to fragrances and the migraines I get from them have taken over my life! Every single place I go is scented. It has gotten so bad that I have to sniff the keyboard and mouse in the school computer lab to make sure nobody before me has used scented lotion…. I have to sniff chairs that have fabric on them… I carry peppermint oil around with me to put under my nose ever time I smell perfume, cologne, fabric softener to drown out the smell to avoid getting a migraine and I end up applying the peppermint oil until my nose AT LEAST 10 times a day, I have to bring my own sheets when I stay in a hotel, I can’t go shopping anymore (which was one of my fav. things to do) because the mall REEKS of perfume, I can’t sit near people in movie theaters or ball games, I am hesitant to ride in other people’s cars or go into other people’s houses in the fear that it will either reek of smoke, air freshener, or the new car smell….. the only place I feel
I can be at ease and not always up tight is at home…. and up until I got married, I lived with roommates that were VERY insensitive to my requests of them not using fragrances in the house… so at that point even my house was not a safe haven.

I’ve dealt with people telling me it’s all in my head. My stupid sister-in-law even went as far as to tell me that I’ve made up my issues with fragrances and the migraines I get from them to control her brother. (He’s switched deodorant, detergent, stopped using cologne, etc.) It makes me sick that I’m now related to this woman.

I’ve dealt with people telling me it’s their right to wear whatever they want to wear and how dare I ask them not to. I just really don’t understand how anybody can have this attitude towards somebody. I really think it’s sad that people are so mean, ignorant, and inconsiderate just because they can’t understand what somebody is going through and choose to do what they know damn well is making others sick.

The section about me and my world brought me to tears. I sometimes feel like I’m totally alone. It’s nice to know that somebody gets it.

My dad and my aunt, but they’re not as bad as I am.

I view the usage of fragrances like smoking…. if you want to smoke, fine, but make others breathe your smoke in as well. If you want to use fragrances fine, but not in public places where everybody else around you is forced to smell it.

I wish more people would view the situation this way…. or at least not use the whole damn bottle every morning!

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Looking for an Answer

A friend of mine, a quilter, was given a bunch of fabric recently. Unfortunately, the previous owner of the fabric was a heavy smoker. So, all the fabric reeks. She’s tried washing using baking soda and vinegar and still the smells persist. She doesn’t want to put it in the sun for fear it would fade unevenly.

If you know of a product or method that will remove smoke odors from fabric, please leave a comment below.

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News on Susan McBride Lawsuit

I’ve been busy with work lately so it may seem that I’ve nearly abandoned this blog. But I haven’t. My hubby spied this article for me: Judge says perfume lawsuit can proceed. Sounds like it will be a real long haul – it’s already been a year and 4+ months! One step at a time.

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Two Eggs

One of them had 2 yolks! Have you ever seen that?

My Time: 3:57
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Cat At Play

My Time: 3:08

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Flowers

My Time: 4:49
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Fun With Flares

My Time: 9:30
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Hibiscus

My Time: 2:50
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