MCS - A Real Disease

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MCS - A Real Disease

_http://brockovichivillage.com/node/182_

(http://brockovichivillage.com/node/182)

 

 

 

 

MCS affects millions of Americans with debilitating health effects. Just

because you don't understand something doesn't mean it isn't real.

Remember, just because you don't understand something doesn't mean it

doesn't exist. If someone mentions to you they have an environmental illness,

sickbuilding syndrome, multiple chemical senstivity or mold poisoning, take

them

serious. Most who suffer from such illnesses already feel hesitant to talk

about it because people often look at us like we have a big spot on our

forehead. Surely, we are making a great big deal out of some little allergy!

Nothing

could be further from the truth.

The Social Security Administration, The American with Disabilties Act, EPA

and Dept. of Housing and Urban Development and other agencies recognize MCS.

Over 36.5 million Americans are chemically sensitive, and more than 5.2

million are at risk of losing their jobs as a result. Yet this most devastating

illness is poorly understood or accepted in the real world.

It's hard to explain this affliction in a way that others can really

understand how serious it is. It's chronic and can be life-threatening. We have

to

be very aware of our surroundings and need people to respect our disability

the same as if we had any other illness. We are very real people with a very

REAL illness. Most of us end up with MCS, multiple chemical sensitivity, as a

result of a single exposure to a highly toxic chemical or a long-term chronic

exposure. I have a good friend with mcs due to an exposure to toulene. Yet in

our case, we were chronically exposed to numerous molds and dangerous

mycotoxins, trichothecene and aflatoxins.

As we inhale, absorb and ingest these poisons our whole body is affected.

Our immune system breaks down, our cells are damaged and we have multiple organ

damage. At this time, we know of no cure. The effects of MCS are never

identical in any two people. Our genetics and bodies are all different. There

is

no exact pattern.

My physician said mcs is well recognized in the environmental community as

the spreading phenomenon. The initial chemical triggers a biological reaction

mechanism which causes the body to react to a wide range of substances that

never seemed to bother us before. These can be air fresheners, pesticides,

cleaning products, perfumes and so many other things. Sometimes we can't

predict

how we'll react to what. Often we don't even know what it was that caused

the reaction.

We often appear to look perfectly normal. We are often told, " but you don't

look sick! " People, often even family and friends, feel our symptoms are

highly exaggerated. Sometimes we get an immediate reaction. Other times we seem

to suffer a delayed reaction to an exposure.

What others might perceive as a minor exposure to inks, paints, smoke,

perfumes, carpet cleaners, exhaust fumes, electrical fields, electromagnetic

fields and other agents can steal all quality of life for days or weeks. We can

even lose our life! Obvious and immediate reactions can be headache, naseau,

pin-hole pupils, seizures, muscular pain, mental confusion, slurred speech,

loss of voice and lack of coordination. Delayed reactions can include

longer-term neurological impairment, respiratory malfunction, bloodshot eyes,

choking,

insomnia and severe chest pain among other things.

With very few physicians who understand this illness and many who even deny

its' existence they often try to treat symptoms with antidotes that can

further break down our immune system and do us no good at all. The cycle

continues. Our body gets weaker and weaker.

We get where it takes smaller and smaller exposures to cause an adverse

reaction. We become even more hypersensitive. It seems like everywhere we go

something makes us sick. We have no control over it.

We stay in a state of turmoil. One day we may appear halfway normal, then

out of nowhere we have a severe reaction. It was not our choice to have this

illness and we understand it's hard for others to comprehend. We couldn't even

understand it ourselves until we felt it taking place over and over again.

Many of us had no idea what was even happening to us. Our sense of smell is so

keen. All we ask is to show us the same respect you would show others who are

disabled or suffer a chronic illness.

If we tell you certain products and chemicals bother us, please know that we

have already seen what these things do to us. We never forget the pain

inflicted by certain chemicals.

We are being straight with you. We really can't tolerate certain things! If

you care about us, please take us seriously! You may somehow think if you

tell us you're not wearing scented perfume or hide the fact Pest Control just

sprayed your house with pesticides that we'll probably be okay. It doesn't work

that way. It's not the smell that makes us sick. It's the biological action

of the chemicals on a now sensitized brain and body.

You really are playing with our life when you don't try to avoid using these

products around us. We know the world is not going to change for us. Yet we

don't want to live in a bubble. We want to be around the people we love. If

you really care, please realize how serious this issue really is and do what

you can to help us deal with an already difficult condition. God bless..

My website shares what toxins did to us and so many others like us. You'll

see I look " normal " in some photos. That confuses people for it can change in

an instant. The Sept. 2007 photo of neurological problems is from unknowingly

getting around an invisible chemical in the indoor air environment which had

water damage I wasn't aware of until it was too late.

_www.myspace.com/faceoftoxicmold_ (http://www.myspace.com/faceoftoxicmold)

You can email me at _ontheair2_ (ontheair2)