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Russ
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Posted: Thu Feb 19th, 2009 21:18 |
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I am looking for help in determining whether my current apartment might be aggravating my MCS enough that it would be worth the hassle of moving to another place. Here’s the details…
A few months ago I realized that I was experiencing MCS symptoms. I think this is something that has always bothered me and that I just never made the connection between exposures and symptoms. It’s also possible that the purchase of a new mattress (with chemical foams and fire retardants) a few months ago triggered a worsening of these symptoms. Also IP could be making things worse, though like I said I think that this is something that has bothered me for a long time and I just never made the connection.
In terms of the severity, the smell of perfumes and colognes make me sick, the smell of household cleaners makes me sick, newspaper ink bothers me, new books bother me, sleeping on that new mattress was causing eye irritation and making me wake up feeling “wired”, sleeping on my polyurethane couch which is not new but 7 years old also causes me to wake up feeling “wired”, and in general chemical odors are much stronger to me than to others (sometimes others can not even smell them at all).
Since noticing this I have done the basic things: bought a chemical-free cotton mattress, stopped using household cleaners, and switched to all unscented products (soap, dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, deodarant).
However, the hallways in my apartment building are scented with an air freshener smell that is very strong (very strong when I am in the hallway, not sure how much of the smell is getting into the apartment, might be so used to it that I don’t notice). Further, there are lists on MCS resource pages on what to look for in an apartment if you have MCS (for example, This Site) and my current place violates most of them: it is only 2-3 years old so building materials and carpets are still out-gassing, it uses the air fresheners in the hallways, my apartment is right above the high traffic parking garage, and there is a gas station about 100-200 yards from my window. On the plus side though it does have central air and I am now running the HVAC fan at all times.
My progress on the MP has been slow and full of struggles so I have been looking for outside factors that might be contributing to my struggles. I can’t really tell how much the factors mentioned with my apartment might be contributing to my symptoms because I’m in my apartment all the time and am dealing with pretty constant “brain fog” type symptoms so since it is constant it is tough to link any cause and effect, but I kind of have a sense that there is an aggravation of MCS-type symptoms going on..
So, I am wondering if my apartment could be causing significant enough MCS symptoms that it would be worth the hassle and stress of moving to a new place. There are plenty of decades old houses in my area available for rent that have hardwood floors and are away from parking garages and gas stations and don’t have common-use hallways with air fresheners and meet the majority of all the other criteria of what is apparently best for folks with MCS. On the one hand I would hate to stay in this apartment if it is making things significantly more difficult for me and holding back my recover, but on the other hand I am still at a point in the MP where the added stress and sun exposure of moving will probably hit me pretty hard (though I’m single and don’t have a ton of stuff so not a super difficult move). Also, heat bothers me a lot too, and my current place has central air (real rare for the Pacific Northwest) and any new place I would move into would most likely not. (I’ve been asking some questions in another thread about how to keep a place cool when you are light sensitive enough that you have to keep the windows completely blacked out and something like a window AC might work but still not as good as central air and more of a hassle.)
Anyways, hoping folks who have more experience with MCS and understand it better could give me more perspective on the extent to which something like air fresheners in the hallways or living in a new building or being near a gas station might contribute to MCS symptoms and whether it would be significant enough to warrant moving.
Thanks for your help.
Last edited on Thu Feb 19th, 2009 21:23 by Russ
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Lyme, MCS, ADD, optic nerve inflammation | Phase 1: Jul '06 | Phase 3: Jul '07 | 25D: 5 ng/ml (Oct '09)
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Dody
Support Team
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Posted: Sat Feb 21st, 2009 21:53 |
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Hi Russ,
I doubt I can be much help, but I suspect that you already "know" that your living environment is causing you problems and are just hoping someone can tell you it's not, because moving is such a huge thing to contemplate let alone implement. 
I have been fortunate that after only two years on the MP, my long-time though moderate MCS symptoms have diminished significantly. Haven't had an asthma attack in ages, and I have even caught myself noticing--without distress!!!--a few fragrances that I would previously experienced as horrifying. Not that there aren't still plenty of bad chemicals around that I judiciously avoid.
One thing I can say is that even with my moderate MCS, air fresheners have got to be among my very worst culprits. I broke up with someone once because they would not give up using air fresheners! And I remember a road trip years ago where, each place we stayed, I could smell the air freshener no matter where it was hidden, and had to ask my partner and son to locate and remove it before I could even think of trying to settle in. For me, a nearby air freshener would be a much bigger problem than gasoline fumes. (But I know everyone's different.)
For me, I might first try investigating how much resistance there would be to removing the air fresheners from the hall. But I assume you've already tried that and those "nice" odors are there to stay. (It's really frustrating how completely some people do not get it that these things seriously compromise other people's well-being.)
Which leads to my other thought, which is that a stand-alone house with wood floors would probably be much more adaptable to removing all sources of problem. No other people's cleaners, custodian's cleaners, other people's smoke-soaked coats, other people's perfumes, shampoos, etc, etc. Even with walls between you and them, that stuff may be affecting you more than you know.
(On the air-circulation issue, I found that during the year or so that I was completely closed in, regular fans did the trick. (I kind of dreaded the extremes of AC and we never did put the window AC units up.) I'm a mile from the water on Cape Cod, and we rarely have a major hot spell that lasts more than a week or so. I do remember some stinky hot times, but I also remember getting enough relief then from some strategically-placed fans. (Of course, my sleeping space is in a semi-basement room that stays as cool as a room can be in summer.) In a house, if you can spend most of your time on the first floor, you're not getting the heat-rising effect of being higher up.)
Well, that's my 2 cents worth. I wish you the very best in wrestling with these decisions. I know there's no easy answer or easy solution. But I applaud your being ready to ponder whether your living environment is working against your recovery.
All best, Dody
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Lyme Arrhythmia Vertigo Meningitis Bipolar lithium tylenol cover up outside mod low lux inside ModPh2Jul07 Ph2Apr08 Ph3Feb09 D25 Oct09 7 Mar10 4
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Russ
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Posted: Sat Feb 21st, 2009 22:51 |
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| Thanks for your input Dody.
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Lyme, MCS, ADD, optic nerve inflammation | Phase 1: Jul '06 | Phase 3: Jul '07 | 25D: 5 ng/ml (Oct '09)
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Joyful
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Posted: Sat Feb 21st, 2009 23:28 |
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Russ,
Just adding my agreement to all that Dody wrote. :--)
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LH1953
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Posted: Sun Feb 22nd, 2009 08:02 |
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Russ, I forgot to mention when we talked: If you do decide to move, take note of where the location of the laundry room is. Too close to this can be tough.
Also see if there has been any inside exterminating done as this stays in carpets and can cause issues.
Carpet fresh used by previous owners, never goes away.
Scented candles get into walls, carpet etc. And of course if they used those nasty plug in air fresheners.
Tile flooring is the best solution for people with MCS. I know I expressed this to you when we spoke, but I wanted other people to be able to read it.
Don't be shy to bring a list of questions with you.
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Lyme, MCS, IC, asthma, reflux, UC, osteopenia, hypothy, EBV, 1,25D48, MP 8/05, alupent inhaler, PBX, diazepam, fioricet, Ph3 7/06, NoIRs, limited outings covered up, low lux home, 25D4, 1,25D24
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Russ
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Posted: Sun Feb 22nd, 2009 10:47 |
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| Thanks Joyful and Lori.
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Lyme, MCS, ADD, optic nerve inflammation | Phase 1: Jul '06 | Phase 3: Jul '07 | 25D: 5 ng/ml (Oct '09)
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Barney
Support Team
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Posted: Mon Feb 23rd, 2009 05:07 |
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I suffered preMP from MCS so bad that I could not go visit my kids without an asthma attack. They tried to clean up odors for me but it was never enough. They got really upset with because I started refusing to come to their house and when they came to mine........I gripped about their clothes smelling like their laundry powder.
I became a hermit in my own home preMP. I cried by the hours because I wanted to be able to be around other people.
During Phase 1, my MCS just became almost nonexistent....what a true blessing. I cleaned the seats in the truck the other day, noticed the smell was strong, but had no ill effects. However, I sprayed some Glade last night in the bathroom and it gave me a slight headache.
I think the fact that no one lives really close (nearest neighbor is next street over) has helped a lot. New neighbor is burning wood for heat and that odor is strong but so far so good.
HANG IN THERE, WE WILL MAKE IT!!!BARNEY
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eClaire
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Posted: Mon Feb 23rd, 2009 23:21 |
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Throughout most of my adult life, after some really bad experiences, I chose where to live with the idea of avoiding harmful chemical exposures.
I once moved to a very bad area of town because it was the only place I could find that I could afford that had hardwood floors and old (no particle board) kitchen cabinets and counters.
Due to finances, I've done the apartment thing and the house thing and have found most houses to be better, but you have to do due diligence.
With apartments, aside from the questions above, I always made sure that I did not share a hallway with other apartment dwellers, and I would ask tenants if the landlord painted the apartment above, below, or next to them if they could smell the paint. If it had carpet, it had to have older carpet, and I made sure that the kitchen had not been renovated in the last seven years. Of course, with apartments it is difficult to get around the issue of pesticides and fresh paint (as some apartments have a policy, which may or may not be backed up by laws, to paint between tenants).
I have had success in getting the folk who rent apartments/homes to hold the apartment for me for a month to six weeks while the paint off gases without any charge (meaning, they absorb the lost rent). I don't know if folk are really that nice or if I'm very persuasive.
I hope your MCS gets better with the MP soon...mine seems to be improving over time.
Claire
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42mo on MP; CFS FMS MCS COPD hypermob IBS/GERD osteopor; 125D48 25D<4;
NoIRs during most daylight outings; Ph1.Dec06 * ModPh2.Jun07 * AbxBrk.Mar-May08
* Ph2.Oct-Nov08 * Ph1.Jan09 * Olm.alone.Jun10
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Dr Trevor Marshall
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Posted: Wed Feb 25th, 2009 06:19 |
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We have a knowledge base entry for MCS
http://mpkb.mp-dev.com/doku.php/home:diseases:mcs
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Russ
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Posted: Wed Jun 10th, 2009 01:36 |
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UPDATE:
I made the move into a new place and it has made a huge difference. Old place was pretty much a nightmare in terms of MCS (strong air freshners in hallways, new building with new carpets and cabinets, parking garage full of car fumes, etc.) and my new place is pretty ideal (house rather than apartment, all hardwood floors, real old house so no outgassing of materials).
The move itself was not as bad as anticipated. I did hire movers to cut down on the amount of physical exertion involved and except for the moving day itself I was able to do everything else related to the move at night to minimize sun exposure. Still, a year ago I would not have been able to handle this so well so progress is being made. Lowering the dose on one of my antibiotics also helped.
So my experience is that it is possible for chemical/MCS exposures to be aggravating symptoms without your realizing it if you are being constantly exposed...kind of like how with food allergies/sensitivities you might not know a food is triggering symptoms if you are eating it all the time. Also, I have found that with both MCS and food sensitivities, even though the MP should resolve them over time, there is still benefit in paying attention to those things which aggravate symptoms and trying to minimize exposures so that your MP progress is smoother and easier.
I found some good online MCS related resources so if anyone else is like me and is just figuring out that they are bothered by this then PM me and I can share those resources with you.
Thanks to everyone who helped answer all my questions. I am doing so much better in my new place it is great.
RussLast edited on Wed Jun 10th, 2009 01:54 by Russ
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Lyme, MCS, ADD, optic nerve inflammation | Phase 1: Jul '06 | Phase 3: Jul '07 | 25D: 5 ng/ml (Oct '09)
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eClaire
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Posted: Wed Jun 10th, 2009 01:54 |
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| Congrats on the move Russ. I am so glad everything worked out for you. Claire
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42mo on MP; CFS FMS MCS COPD hypermob IBS/GERD osteopor; 125D48 25D<4;
NoIRs during most daylight outings; Ph1.Dec06 * ModPh2.Jun07 * AbxBrk.Mar-May08
* Ph2.Oct-Nov08 * Ph1.Jan09 * Olm.alone.Jun10
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Russ
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Posted: Wed Jun 10th, 2009 01:59 |
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| Thanks Claire!
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Lyme, MCS, ADD, optic nerve inflammation | Phase 1: Jul '06 | Phase 3: Jul '07 | 25D: 5 ng/ml (Oct '09)
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Juanita
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Posted: Wed Jun 10th, 2009 17:22 |
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there is still benefit in paying attention to those things which aggravate symptoms and trying to minimize exposures so that your MP progress is smoother and easier. Amen, Russ! Amen. I think this is where MCS differs from other illnesses being treated by the MP. My reaction strengths ebb and flow according to what meds I'm on and if I'm already having an IP. And it can be extremely difficult to tell if your new dosing level or new abx is the reason you feel so rotten or if it was the ugly 1980's truck that passed you yesterday, belching out ugly exhaust.
Congratulations on finding a safe home! I am SOOOOO happy for you!! We did this two years ago and the house I'm in now is the first safe house I've ever lived in. First time ever! What an incredible gift that is to give ourselves, eh?
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MCS, CFS, FM, CS, DH, stroke neuro, seizures, skin ca, IBS, eczema, irregular heartbeat| NoIR avoid light and D/ On MP 27 months
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Russ
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Posted: Wed Jun 10th, 2009 17:34 |
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| Thanks Juanita!
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Lyme, MCS, ADD, optic nerve inflammation | Phase 1: Jul '06 | Phase 3: Jul '07 | 25D: 5 ng/ml (Oct '09)
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Dody
Support Team
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Posted: Wed Jun 10th, 2009 23:00 |
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Russ, I am thrilled that you have made the move and that it is working out so well. Well researched and well executed, and on to more MP progress.
All best, Dody
____________________
Lyme Arrhythmia Vertigo Meningitis Bipolar lithium tylenol cover up outside mod low lux inside ModPh2Jul07 Ph2Apr08 Ph3Feb09 D25 Oct09 7 Mar10 4
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Russ
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Posted: Thu Jun 11th, 2009 00:40 |
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| Thanks Dody!
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Lyme, MCS, ADD, optic nerve inflammation | Phase 1: Jul '06 | Phase 3: Jul '07 | 25D: 5 ng/ml (Oct '09)
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Juanita
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Posted: Thu Jul 16th, 2009 19:48 |
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How's it going in your new diggs, Russ? I was thinking of you the other day as my air cleaner on the furnace was running and I had a flash memory of my last house. When the wind came up, perfume would begin flowing out of the seams of the walls, cracks along the floorboards, and out the electrical plug outlets. The guy who built the house vented the dryer pipe up into the air space below the roof. Idiot.
We fixed that and hundreds of other dumb things he'd done, but, bottom line, we couldn't ever make that place safe for our needs.
Having an MCS safe house is such a huge gift, isn't it?
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MCS, CFS, FM, CS, DH, stroke neuro, seizures, skin ca, IBS, eczema, irregular heartbeat| NoIR avoid light and D/ On MP 27 months
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Russ
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Posted: Fri Jul 17th, 2009 04:18 |
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Hi Juanita. New place is still great and still doing much better than before, but you know, when it's not one thing it's another, and right now dealing with a lot of issues with my R eye. In the process of gradually lowering my abx and hoping to find some long-term stability there.
Russ
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Lyme, MCS, ADD, optic nerve inflammation | Phase 1: Jul '06 | Phase 3: Jul '07 | 25D: 5 ng/ml (Oct '09)
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Juanita
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Posted: Sun Aug 16th, 2009 02:01 |
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Me too. Stability is huge for an MCS-er, isn't it? We can't control who smokes in the air we walk through. Who will be wearing dry cleaned clothing or after shave. What ugly old truck will drive by when we thought we were safe.
So finding some stability with our IPs..... wow. Huge. I'm working on finding my balance also. I wish you the very best and most good fortune for finding what works for your body.
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MCS, CFS, FM, CS, DH, stroke neuro, seizures, skin ca, IBS, eczema, irregular heartbeat| NoIR avoid light and D/ On MP 27 months
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