My job ruined my health

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As a child I had some annoying allergies, but they were seasonal and I just adapted. With each pregnancy I noticed some changes in allergies, but again I adapted.
In 2006 I started teaching at a new school. From day 1 I had a sore throat, non stop laryngitis, streptococcal and sinus infections. I was not alone.nother staff and teachers were sick. 1 teacher had to retire early with vocal chord dysmorphia. The district did Iaq tests frequently and then said nothing was wrong. We all called BS. I dont know what they called safe, but it wasn't there.
Looking back this was really the start. During my 2and full year I had to take 2 months off sick. We didn't know what was wrong, but I was depressed, stressed and very irritated. I now know it was my body reacting to the mold.
After 4 years, I transferred to a new school. The 1st year I was in a class with loads of outdoor windows so I felt good. The next 2 years my class was on an inside quad region and no windows. This is when the migraines started, as well as the claims by admin "that we dont smell anything ". Whether it was perfumes, axe , body or hand lotion, markers, cleaning products...I was getting sick. The migraines started coming more frequently and lasted longer.
Then in 2016, I started with brain fog, loss of balance, stuttering words, stomach and bowel issues, and unexplained anger and pain. By 2017, I started having anaphylactic reactions. These lasted on and off for 2 years, only ever while at school. I apparently became quite mean to a couple students and landed in trouble. They were students who wore essential oils as a treatment for adhd/ autism and then anger, for which I have no recollection was simply my body trying to keep me at a distance/ keep me safe from them. It's also unfortunate that I and the students had to experience this, as I supposedly worked in a scent free building ( all Provincial buildings in NB have been scent free according to posters hung by doors for 20 years), but it took a full year after my worst anaphylactic reaction for the district to even send a memo to all staff. Unfortunately, based on reports from do many, there are still violations galore and zero repercussions all resulting in more educational staff being forced to leave their jobs. At this point, there are no significant reports of the effects on students, but we know that in 5 or 10 years, there will be mass casualties from the lack of understanding of fragrance/ scents/ chemicals on these young adults.

April 15 of 2019 was a day I will never forget. I walked into school and immediately reacted to the same chemical scent that forced me to leave the previous Monday. I reacted immediately and went into anaphylaxis. This day I had my toxic tilt- from that moment on every little chemical/ scent/ fragrance causes a severe reaction. People's cosmetics, laundry products, cleaners, ect...cause immediate brain fog, inability to stand, walk, talk. I've also developed, comorbid, IBS, Sjorgens, burning mouth syndrome, restless limbs, chronic fatigue and EMF sensitivity, not to mention severe depression, anxiety and although yet to be diagnosed, PTSD.
I was forced to leave teaching. This was so painful as I loved my job. I also had to give up my volunteer work which was also hard.
MCS has forever changed my life. Although I've gotten mental health help ( tried to commit suicide twice due to mcs), and have an amazing chronic care team, a great partner and supportive family, mcs has still robbed me of do much. Financially, I had to go onto social assistance for 19 months while waiting to see if workers comp was going to do anything but make fun of me, which they didn't and yes I am appealing that decision on behalf of anyone with a chronic illness. After they finally said no, I was approved for long term disability, but only for 2 years. Being sick is bad enough, but then having all these financial constraints made it worse.

I know there is no cure for mcs, but I've taken in an advocacy role for the annihilation of these caustic chemicals. This give me a purpose, which is nice. I hope more and more people come to understand the dangers of these chemicals and make the necessary changes before they end up locked in their canary cage like me