Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Just Because You Don't Understand MCS Doesn't Mean It's Not Real!

Just when I thought my mom understood even a little about MCS, I get the wind knocked out of me. She said that I "won't" go to church! That sent rage through me that I haven't felt in a long time, if ever! There's a HUGE difference between being unable to attend church and just plain not wanting to go. I am fit to be tied! She has no idea what I go through on a daily basis, even though I've been living with her for the past few months and she has known for the last 15+ years, that I've had MCS.  She doesn't understand it, so it's not real in her eyes.  


I am not as bad off as a lot of people with MCS, because I am not completely housebound. I still have to be careful of being outside when neighbors are doing their scented laundry in their dryers, when they are spraying their lawns with fertilizer or Roundup etc. I go to stores and supermarkets and restaurants, but have to be careful about where we go and who we sit by, what aisles I can and can't go down, what registers to go to (because either people in line or cashier wreaks of perfume or scented detergent)......I am ever cautious everywhere I go. I almost never pay with cash because of the scents from laundry or perfumes/colognes linger on the bills. When buying new sheets or clothes, I have to wash them at least 7x if not more in borax, soap nuts, and gse, plus let them air outside in the sun before and sometimes after washing. Depending on the item, I may soak it in vinegar and baking soda for days before washing.  When buying new furniture, I have to use carbon sheeting over them for months before I can sit on them without it because of all the formaldehyde released from them.  I am usually unable to rent a car because they are usually NEW and full of all the toxic voc's that come with new vehicles. Travelling by plane is "iffy" because of all the potentially scented people, not to mention the pesticides that are sprayed on our planes! Attending any type of public event is very trying, ESPECIALLY CHURCH.  Too many people feel that church and perfume go hand in hand. They are to "look" or "dress" their best and they feel that dousing themselves full of toxic chemicals is part of that ritual.  Church is something I greatly miss and to have my own mother use the word "won't" go has hit me in the gut......it was then that I realized, she STILL really doesn't "get it".  


It's amazing to me how complete strangers or former co-workers looked out for me and protected me from situations that would've been extremely dangerous for me to be in, yet my own mother thinks it isn't real because she doesn't understand it!  Boggles my mind! 


Our livers filter toxins every second of every day. There's a saturation point though.....when more toxins are coming in than our livers can handle, it spills over into our systems and creates havoc with our nervous systems and bodies, hence comes diseases and yes, multiple chemical sensitivity. You never know when your liver has reached it's filtering capacity and will runneth over.  Think about it, the next time you use that scented detergent, or spray Roundup, or get in that new vehicle, buy that new mattress, plug in that air freshener.........it's all a toxic soup full of chemicals invading your system and you don't even know it. Just because it's sold in stores and sitting on that shelf does NOT make it safe! Fragrances are NOT tested for human safety!


If you have a loved one or friend/co-worker in your life that has multiple chemical sensitivity, be ever careful of what you say to them. Depression is quite severe in some of us as our lives and lifestyles have forever been changed/altered. Suicide is extremely high among those of us with MCS. Unless you have it yourself, you really have no idea what that person goes through second by second of every single day.  Breathing fresh air is something of the past and being able to freely go anywhere is something those that do not have mcs, take for granted. Be very careful how you treat them and what you say, for tomorrow this could be your life.......it really happens that quickly! 


~Just trying to live as normal a life as I can, one day at a time