I searched and didn’t find this topic and since I don’t know the medical name for it I thought I would bring this up.
One of my parents’ friends, in her late 50s was recently diagnosed with this problem.
She now lives in a cabin outside of the city (away from her husband) most of the time with only natural items. They ripped out the carpeting, she’s ultra sensitive to virtually any product you pick up at a drugstore, wears only cotton clothing, etc.
Is there actual medical proof of this disorder? If so, what are the causes of this? She can’t hardly be at a gathering where people wear cologne, and I can’t imagine that she actually sits on a toilet seat since it was cleaned with chemicals.
There’s nobody who’s intolerant of all chemicals… They’d have an awful hard time getting along without H[sub]2[/sub]O, or O[sub]2[/sub], or NaCl, or any of a host of other chemicals. There are, however, some folks who are allergic to a wide variety of common chemicals, and who have to avoid some kinds of plastics, most aromatic subtances, etc. I’m not sure exactly what the taboo substances have in common, though. By the way, I think the term is chemical hypersensitivity, but I can’t be sure. IANAD.
TechChick:
I’ve heard of this - people who become allergic or hypersensitive to multiple things in their environment. I saw a show about it some time back - people who had to move to the NM/AZ desert, live pretty much alone, special furniture/bedding etc. There is some controversy in the medical community regarding this - etiology, veracity…the usual
I found an extensive website on it. Although I can’t vouch for it, ypu may want to give it a look Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
OTOH, I can think of at least three other “syndromes” that were originally classed about 10 years ago as “all in your head”, which now receive research funding and are accepted by the medical community in general: Seasonal Affective Disorder, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Fibromyalgia. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity may just have to wait for its turn, but never fear, it’ll get there sooner or later.
I know I have certain reactions to things like wool because of the lanolin oils left in it. But rarely do I have reactions to typical chemicals – weird eh?
I was thinking about this woman this morning and I can’t imagine what it would be like to deal with such an issue.
BTW DDG, I am ADD which they used to call Minimal Brain Disorder about 35 years ago – attractive sounding aint it.
Actually it used to be called Minimal Brain Dysfunction
I’m not sure MCS is for real. Maybe she has extreme allergies. I always thought it was exclusively proteins that triggered allergic reactions, I’m not sure about chemicals.
Allergies are prodominantly triggered by proteins, but not exclusively. Off hand, I recall learning that nickel ions can elicit inflammation by reacting with receptors on specific types of immune cell receptors. This is why some people get localized allergic reactions to cheap jewlery.
Just speaking as multiple allergy sufferer…typically when it is a reaction to a protein such as in food or pollen it is called an allergy. When it is a reaction to something like cleansers, perfume, and soda pop it is usually referred to as a chemical sensitivity. I don’t think there is a big difference. My allergist treats and/or diagnosed both allergies and chemical sensitivities in me and my oldest daughter. From my experience, the difference is that there are no easy tests for chemical sensitivities, but many proteins can be given a skin scratch test if the allergy is severe enough.
I have had three breathing attacks brought on by people wearing a perfume that was being test marketed at the time. I have had various rashes from various fragrances in soaps and cleansers, etc. I have a severe reaction to drinking soda pop, which I found out in between acts at a concert will also begin to appear if someone spills soda pop on me. I get a burning rash on my face from consuming aspartame. I have more than once began itching and having a blinding headache when entering a newly remodeled store or office. When I’m around fresh (just sprayed or still at the store) chemical fertilizer, I itch and my eyes burn and I get an awful metal taste in my mouth. It’s just one of those things with which I live. I am always thankful that it’s not worse.
techchick68, while I don’t have a name for the condition, I do know of a similar case here in South Australia. There is a woman and her family who live on a remote part of Kangaroo Island (a large island south west of Adelaide).
The local press have coined the phrase “20th century syndrome”, which sums up her allergies to almost everything synthetic. Not does she have the problem, but her kids do too.
which they used to call Minimal Brain Disorder about 35 years ago – attractive sounding aint it.