toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
I developed chemical sensitivity due to prolonged excessive exposure to fragranced products at work which was diagnosed by 3 different specialists, 2 of them being board certified Environmental Illness Specialists. What I have been trying to figure out is why do fragranced products initiate my toxic reactions and yet outside tobacco smoke does not? Fragranced products, with prolonged exposure, will cause my face, eyes and nose to burn, chest pain radiating down through my rib cage, shortness of breath, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, etc. and yet outdoor tobacco smoke does not. I am still trying to figure out the why's and wherefore's of chemical sensitivity. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
They both make me sick but my guess is the chemicals in each are different. I think the fragrances usually contain formaldehyde which is also in building materials. I know they're both bad.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Thank you for your reply Sammi2. That is what I have been trying to research is to figure out the difference in the separate chemicals used in the different categories. Unfortunately, unlike the tobacco industry, the fragrance industry is totalled unregulated and, therefore, they do not have to tell you what chemicals are used in the make-up of their products. There has to be a big difference because I have spoken with other people with chemical sensitivity who also state that they will have a reaction more when they are exposed to a heavily perfumed individual rather than just by walking by someone who has smoked. Thank you again.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
I agree, there's nothing worse to me than perfume especially if someone comes to my home wearing it. I've actually had to take the chair they were sitting in outside. It does no good to tell people it makes you sick & you would appreciate it if they would not wear it when they visit.
I think it must be the pesticides used on the tobacco that is so toxic. Good luck in your research.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Sammi2: Unfortunately, people do not understand that it is not just perfume but anything that contains any type of fragrance, be it air fresheners, candles, body soap, hair products, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, and more and more. That is why I have had to tell all friends not to come over because they have come over just not wearing perfume but if they have used any of the above-mentioned products in their home, it will initiate my toxic reactions because it is all in their clothes. Even when you start using only fragrance free detergents, it takes a very long time to get all of those chemicals out of the clothes and I have even had to throw away clothes that have been cross contaminated by exposure to these items on other's clothes and just could not get them out of my clothes. Unlike the chemicals used in tobacco, the fragrance industry uses specific chemicals to make their fragrances stay around after they have been sprayed. Tobacco smell will wash out of clothes with one wash but it takes many, many washes to get fragrances out of clothes with still not much success. Total isolation is pretty much the most effective form of treatment for chemical sensitivity.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
It's for sure no one listens to us. I guess it's one of those things that must be experienced to understand it. I've even bought my grown children unscented products so I can at least visit with them but if they ever used them I couldn't tell any difference. The only time I am truly comfortable is when I'm alone.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Sammi2, it is very depressing when your family does not understand or even try. I have not been able to see my granddaughter for at least 8 months because my son's girlfriend has convinced him that this is all in my head even though I have been diagnosed with chemical sensitivity by 3 different specialists. My granddaughter dearly loved me and loved coming out to our farm to run and play freely but it is useless for me to try and even see her if I have a reaction to all the fragranced products they use on her and can't even enjoy the time to spend with her. People don't understand how much, much more dangerous these products are that we use daily in our home is to the children. I am a member of a website specifically for chemically sensitive people and it breaks my heart when we have a new member that may be in their late teens or early 20's. They will have to live with this for the rest of their life! Even though a product states it is unscented, it still will contain a masking fragrance. No matter how a product is advertised, we always have to read the ingredient label and even though a product has been fragrance free, they change their ingredients regularly but we don't realize it until we have a reaction and re-read the list of ingredients. I wish we had a store locally that was specifically for chemically sensitive people. That would make living with this so much easier!
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
When my GD was young I bought unscented products & clothes for her to keep at my house. If I couldn't tolerate what she wore to my house I let her bathe & change clothes. Kids always love playing in the tub. That worked pretty well until she started to school. Then I was always worried about her exposure to pesticides & hand cleaner etc that was used at the school. She was very sensitive to these products & developed asthma. She is a teen now & I have no control anymore so when I do see her I'm always sick a long time after.
Obviously everyone in my family must think I'm nuts because no one shows any compassion toward me. If I have a migraine from exposure I'm ignored. I was diagnosed with MCS, seizure, migraines & Dysautonomia at the EHC in Dallas, Tx but that changed nothing with their attitude.
It is very sad you are missing this time with your GD. Maybe you could have a talk with your son alone & work out time you could see your GD alone. It's my experience once they're a teen they don't listen to what Grandma says anymore so I "try" to keep my comments to myself when I do see her which is not often. I'm sorry but it just makes me mad when our problems are ignored, if it was the kids with the problem it would be a different story. Your GD needs a relationship with you. Hope things work out to your advantage with your GD.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Sammi2, Unfortunately, it will not do any good to have a private chat with my son as he does not talk to me anymore via his girlfriend's orders. She has convinced him that my chemical sensitivity is all in my head OR an act to keep her away from our house even though 3 specialists have diagnosed me with chemical sensitivity and that I have to stay away from any fragranced products to keep it under control. It is per her orders that he does not bring our GD out to the farm any more and that we can only spend time with her over there. My son knows that if he does not do exactly what she says, she will take our GD away from him and out of state until she gets what she wants as she has done before. She knows that she has us all caught between a rock and a hard place and capitalizes on it as much as she can.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
hawk1, You do have a problem. The GF must be the child's biological mother & have full custody. I'm so sorry that you're going thru this. I wonder if going to court to get grandparents visitation rights would work? Probably just make things worse with the GF & make you even sicker. I hope the GF has a change of heart from a higher power. Stay strong.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Sammi2, Unfortunately, our GD has been nothing more than a pawn for the mother to get what she wants, when she wants. I refuse to let her use my GD as a pawn. She is the biological mother and my son's name is on the birth certificate as the father but he has never legitimized his daughter. The mother has already taken our GD away from him because he was not treating her as a girlfriend and taking her out more, placed her in one very unsafe home and then in another out of state and only came back after he agreed to her terms. We had a conference with him and an attorney to have her legitimized and seek joint custody but he would not follow through with it per her orders, otherwise she would not bring back our GD. In any state, grandparents do not have any rights. Hopefully, when our GD gets old enough to make her own decisions, she will want to come out to the farm and see me. Months ago when my son did bring her out she would squeel when she saw me and throw out her arms for me. I miss that very much.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
I would have no idea beause I am allergic to everything, inside and out. I get sick when I go to church because some people wear "frangrants," whydo people want to smell? I suffer 24/7 and NO one understands. What a filthy world we live in.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
good reference book to get others to learn, possibly from liabrary. Slow Death By Rubber Duck.. two guys purposely expose themselves to every day toxins to measure the side affects on themselves. funny and maybe open family to your delemas... includes perfumes, hand sanitizers ...
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Boo, They gave me all sorts of antihistamines, steroids, etc. that may work for allergies but do not work on chemical sensitivity and these medications reeked havoc on my system. I had to go to the ER once for the reactions and the internist who saw me explained that the more I am exposed to whatever is triggering these reactions, the less the standard medications are going to work and that the only way to try and get better was to avoid anything that acts as a trigger for these reactions. He also strongly advised me to see an environmental illness specialist. As such, I now have to live in isolation in my home to prevent these reactions and the intense pain that occurs after a reaction which can last anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Quote:
Originally Posted by hawk1
Boo, They gave me all sorts of antihistamines, steroids, etc. that may work for allergies but do not work on chemical sensitivity and these medications reeked havoc on my system. I had to go to the ER once for the reactions and the internist who saw me explained that the more I am exposed to whatever is triggering these reactions, the less the standard medications are going to work and that the only way to try and get better was to avoid anything that acts as a trigger for these reactions. He also strongly advised me to see an environmental illness specialist. As such, I now have to live in isolation in my home to prevent these reactions and the intense pain that occurs after a reaction which can last anywhere from a couple of days to a couple of weeks.
hawk1 Thank You for this information. I am sorry that your reactions are so severe. I am going to try a holistic approach because Ifeel better now that I am taking a natural liquid vitamin. Boo Carlson
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Boo, I am interested in the natural liquid vitamins you take. I have tried several liquid medications prescribed by an environmental illness specialist but they did not work. Please let me know what these vitamins are and where they can be purchased. I don't believe they will help with all of the effects I experience once I begin reacting but may help some.
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Quote:
Originally Posted by hawk1
Boo, I am interested in the natural liquid vitamins you take. I have tried several liquid medications prescribed by an environmental illness specialist but they did not work. Please let me know what these vitamins are and where they can be purchased. I don't believe they will help with all of the effects I experience once I begin reacting but may help some.
The vitamins I use came from our local health food store, but you could probably buy them on line. They are called Balanced Essentials (94 Balanced Nutrients) by Heaven Sent Naturals. I am also taking Pro-biotics and trying to stay away from foods that are GMO. I also started using natural cleaning products like vinegar, lemon and baking soda. Good Luck
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke?
Thank you, Boo. I will call our local health store and see if they carry those. I will also look up information on pro-biotics. Like you, I too have not used any harsh cleaning chemicals in my home. I have a Blue Crown Conure and for years have restricted use of cleaning chemicals in my home to also include using only stainless steel pots and pans (no teflon), never used any candles in my home, did not even use the self-cleaning mode in my oven but rather cleaned it with vinegar and baking soda, as well as many other precautions I have taken. Thank you again for the information you have provided.
The Following User Says Thank You to hawk1 For This Useful Post: Boo Carlson (09-27-2012)
Re: toxic reactions to chemicals in fragranced products not tobacco smoke? 
