How do you feel about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome?

[1Tulip]

I heard about MCS after the destruction of the Twin Towers in NYC on 9/11. Check it out at http://www.chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/... fascinating and scary.

Unfortunately, it's an illness that doesn't surprise me in the least considering everything we're exposed to on a daily basis.

Think about it. Technology allows for allergy testing to determine natural culprits of health ailments. If it were possible to do the same type of testing for all of the synthetic/chemical exposures, can you imagine what the results would yield?!

I agree that some people may latch on to a vague illness that supports their desire to feel ill, but come on people, think outside of the box. Researchers continue to have a job for a reason. There is just too much out there that we do not know (and probably won't in our lifetime).

kb

Vis. the WTC... There are a lot of chronic inflammatory lung diseases that are the result, often, of small particulates that can settle in alveolae and start a slow process that results in damage. We probably will continue forever in finding substances which can do this to people who are exposed. I don't think this is the same thing as MCSS. It isn't really an allergy or a "sensitivity". Toxic mold certainly causes lung (and skin) symptoms. Not MCSS. There are environmental diseases like Silo Fillers Disease, which is not MCSS.

I'm a sceptic. I'm inclined to agree with the malingerer hypothesis, but also add in the hysteria/OCD/aboraphobic causes AND add the plaintiff's bar which is ever eager to file suit for damages for these victims.

[daisey_may]

I agree that some people may latch on to a vague illness that supports their desire to feel ill, but come on people, think outside of the box. Researchers continue to have a job for a reason. There is just too much out there that we do not know (and probably won't in our lifetime).

kb

I agree that there may be some serious problems concerning allergies and people can get very sick. But is it truly pracitcal to be afraid of everything you come into contact with?

If people get so sick from man-made items, how is it we still survive?

Mostly, I question how we would solve this problem. Yeah, cancers are on the rise, but people are living longer lives. WE may slowly be destroying the environment and polluting our atmosphere, but we have come a long way in realizing that things like smoking is bad. Where does a person draw a line?

Not everyone can be allergic of everything all the time and still function...

[rck213]

I would expect more open minds from nurses. I see far more people out on disability for questionable "back pain" than I do for MCS, CFIDS, or fibro.

I am a nurse, have had strange reactions to many medications tried for HTN control, ASA, NSAIDS and all antibiotics except the Levaquin family.

I cannot stand to be around a heavily perfumed person, cannot use most scented products. This has all been since a flu like illness in 1988 that refused to go away.

There is such a thing as toxic overload, we all have different thresholds of what we can take. I have had extensive testing for other disease processes over the years. I have good days and bad days, I managed to continue to work as a nurse from 1989 till present on a per diem basis, I raised two kids. I travel but bring my own pillow, water, air cleaner get a smoke free room. No alcohol, EVER. I don't live in a bubble but I avoid unnecessary chemical exposures.

They think that I have a smoldering viral infection , EBV has been identified, last winter all my titers were positive meaning I had a reactivated infection. My immune system is out of whack. I get strange rashes for no reason. I fatigue much easier than most people and recover more slowly. Colds last at least two weeks usually going into the bronchi.

None of this is a physcological problem. I do as much as I am able when I am able but have learned my limits. Depression becomes part of it all when no one has answers and the medical profession turns on the patient because they don't have any answers. It seems this group just did that.

Are there malingerers out there? Sure. Do some money hungry practitioners try to make money off these people? You bet. But there are legitimate practitioners, many of whom suffered with the same ailments themselves who are looking for answers and methods of treatment.

You don't know till you've been there.