- Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
- Interviews
Apple's interview
How did all start?
I've had migraines since I was a teen - occasionally that got more frequent over time. Then in my 40s I started having unexplained anxiety around the same time every day - that was the first clue that something serious was going on. Then nervous system issues (shaky voice), then the big drop came when my sense of smell became hypersensitive.
Do you already have a diagnosis? How long did it take you to get it?
Yes. MCS. Just a few months after I became hypersensitive to smells. I found the Environmental Health Center in Dallas pretty quickly.
For what medical specialties have you been treated? What has been the most useful specialty for your?
Environmental Medicine has been very helpful with testing and antigens. The dietician at the Environmental Health Center was extremely helpful for regaining foods with the rotation diet.
What has been the most useful thing for you so far?
Avoidance. I no longer go to church. We moved to a house on 1+ acres to get away from neighbor's laundry smells.
What have been your biggest difficulties?
Avoidance. It's difficult socially to not see friends like I used to.
How has your social and family environment reacted? Have your social or family relationships changed?
Absolutely. My family has to take showers every time they go someplace with fragrance. We all use safe products. I drive over an hour to buy raw milk. I drive far to purchase grass-fed, safe meat. We rarely entertain because few friends know how to be fragrance and chemical free.
What things have you stopped doing?
Going to church. Going to friend's homes. Doing anything that requires going into a building. I am still able to go grocery shopping at Whole Foods with a mask.
What do you think about the future?
I wonder about what it will look like when I would be at the age to move into a retirement community. There is no place safe for me. I would need to figure something else out and that would most likely be expensive.
What would you like to do if you didn’t have your condition?
I would probably get a job when my kids grew up.
Finally, what advice would you give to a person in a similar situation?
You are going to feel like your friends don't love you. Don't apologize for your condition. Don't compromise your health. Explain to people how they can love you - by being fragrance free. If they can't or won't, you'll need to drop them. Sadly, it's just life now.
