Two weeks ago I had several doctor's appointments. I had a couple specialist appointments, an appointment with my GP and a couple appointments for my daughter. It was an exhausting week, and I praise the Lord that He somehow pulled me through.
Although I am seeing one doctor who is convinced I have Lyme Disease, I also wanted to see some other doctors to make sure nothing else is wrong with me. The appointments I had so far were pretty disappointing. I seem to have difficulty communicating the seriousness and reality of my symptoms to doctors. The doctors that I saw listened to me for a few minutes and without any further investigation dismissed me. The one doctor told me that he believes I do suffer what I say I suffer, but cannot diagnose me or treat me. The other doctor that I saw was more interested in telling me about his family than listening to my symptoms. I was hoping for more attention from specialists. It has been a stressful time for me. It is hurtful to be ignored when trying to cry out for help to those who are supposed to help you.
The experience with these doctors has made me all the more thankful for the two holistic MD's that I have. Both of them give me at least an hour of undivided attention when I go in for a consultation. They are extraordinarily thorough in investigating what the problems may be (i.e. physicals, extensive bloodwork, etc). They listen with a great deal of concern and compassion. They have both demonstrated a real desire to help me get better and are distressed when they see me get worse. God has been very good in leading me to these doctors.
My daughter also had a couple appointments. There is some concern that she may have a hearing loss. It is possible that some nerves are damaged, which would prevent her hearing certain frequencies of sound. This means, she may be unable to hear the beginning of words, or the ends of words. We are still investigating this, and have several future appointments to diagnose the problem more accurately. Please pray that God would intervene and give Karalise good hearing. Please pray that if there is a hearing problem, God would give Sony and I wisdom to know how to teach her.
I have been severely exhausted the last couple weeks. I have not been able to get as much help at home with Karalise, so that has made things a bit more difficult. Please be praying that God will give me just enough energy to appropriately care for my daughter, and train her in the way of the Lord.
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Update
October has been an incredibly tough month, in more ways than one. My health started a downward trend at the beginning of October, and has been steadily getting worse and worse. Much grief has also weighed down my heart, as my dear friend and sister in Christ, Karissa Grandine, was taken to her heavenly home on October 17. Much of the last couple weeks have been spent trying to grapple with this reality. Although I rejoice that my friend now sits at the feet of her Saviour, Jesus Christ, and is forever safe from all earthly harm in His most glorious love, I am filled with grief at losing my friend who was so young. Even more, I am greatly pained by the loss her husband and family members face now. However, despite these things, God has been tremendously gracious, and has given me much peace and hope. I mourn, but I do not despair, which is a miracle, as despair would be my typical response. I praise God for His lovingkindness!
As for my body, it continues to get weaker and weaker. I have been needing increasing help during the days just to get through normal daily activities. I am profoundly weak, so that it is difficult to explain it. I experience not just lack of energy, but a very burdensome and painful weight of fatigue. The fatigue and lack of energy is aggressively attacking my body. I have also been experiencing twitching of muscles, which at times overtakes my whole body. I never knew until now what a terrifying thing it is to lose control of one's own body. My heart cries for those who suffer from Epilepsy, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig Disease and other such diseases that attack the neurological system. I am only presently getting a taste of this, and it freaks me out every time. It starts with my head, then shoulders, then arms, then legs, etc. When I have an episode I find it hard to communicate, and am overwhelmed with a flood of tears streaming down my face. As you can see, I am not very brave or courageous. Thankfully, I do know that I belong to God, and no matter what happens, my soul will be with Him for eternity.
I am currently seeing many different kinds of doctors. Next week I have 6 doctor's appointments!!! I'm exhausted from appointments! Anyway, please pray that God will give the doctors much wisdom to get to the root of the problem. Please also pray that the treatments for Lyme Disease will be successful (I still receive them every three weeks). Please pray that God will provide enough people to give me rides to my doctor's appointments. Finally, pray for our family that God will sustain us physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
Thank you for your love and prayers.
As for my body, it continues to get weaker and weaker. I have been needing increasing help during the days just to get through normal daily activities. I am profoundly weak, so that it is difficult to explain it. I experience not just lack of energy, but a very burdensome and painful weight of fatigue. The fatigue and lack of energy is aggressively attacking my body. I have also been experiencing twitching of muscles, which at times overtakes my whole body. I never knew until now what a terrifying thing it is to lose control of one's own body. My heart cries for those who suffer from Epilepsy, Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig Disease and other such diseases that attack the neurological system. I am only presently getting a taste of this, and it freaks me out every time. It starts with my head, then shoulders, then arms, then legs, etc. When I have an episode I find it hard to communicate, and am overwhelmed with a flood of tears streaming down my face. As you can see, I am not very brave or courageous. Thankfully, I do know that I belong to God, and no matter what happens, my soul will be with Him for eternity.
I am currently seeing many different kinds of doctors. Next week I have 6 doctor's appointments!!! I'm exhausted from appointments! Anyway, please pray that God will give the doctors much wisdom to get to the root of the problem. Please also pray that the treatments for Lyme Disease will be successful (I still receive them every three weeks). Please pray that God will provide enough people to give me rides to my doctor's appointments. Finally, pray for our family that God will sustain us physically, emotionally, spiritually, and financially.
Thank you for your love and prayers.
Wednesday, 5 October 2011
Brain Fog
For a long time now my thinking processes have been getting murky. But just like pain and fatigue, this symptom is not easily evident to people outside of myself. Even my husband, who is intimately acquainted with me, does not quickly remember this hindrance in me.
In the medical realm, this slowness of mind is called brain fog. So if you consider the difference between driving on a sunny day but the sun is not glaring, when there are no clouds, the roads are dry, and it's smooth sailing versus driving on a cloudy day at dusk with a thick billowing fog and it's far from smooth sailing. You may still get to your destination on the foggy day (with perhaps a couple breaks along the way, in hopes the fog will lift) but it was far more complicated and even dangerous than when you could see clearly on the sunny day all that was going on around you (the cars in front, behind, beside, pedestrians, animals, road signs, etc.). That pretty well describes my experience in my mind. I have difficulty seeing clearly in my mind, and then have difficulty expressing myself clearly. I'll sometimes swerve to the left or the right in my thoughts, and not quite know how to get back on track and communicate what I wanted to. Often I struggle to answer questions clearly, or it takes a lot more time to figure out answers to questions that should be obvious.
My memory is greatly affected as well. My memory is shot - I can't remember the intersection I live at, or I can't remember the name of the church down the street. I can't remember big details and small details. I reach and reach and reach, and the process is exhausting, but still can't seem to find in my fog the information I was looking for. I will confess that on one occasion I even forgot my name, and referred to myself by my sister Leanne's name (Leanne can testify to the truth of this, and laughs at me to this day!!!). At least now when I forget somebody's name (which is frequently), I can say 'Don't worry, I have even forgotten my own name!'
In the last couple months, I have started jumbling my words. And I'm trying to remember specific incidences, and am having difficulty grabbing at them. Last night I was talking to Sony, explaining to him that I think I have been having especially bad days because the mety heavals don't want to come out of me. What I meant was heavy metals (I am taking some medication to help eliminate heavy metals toxins from my body, but since taking them my body has crashed rather severely). I had to call my husband to remind me what I had said - to further prove my difficulty of mind! I do this word scramble quite a bit, but trying to remember other specific occasions is seriously giving me a headache.
The days of being able to know exactly what I want to say and how to say are long gone. Some days are worse than others. Some days I'm completely paralyzed in my mind, being unable to communicate anything. Sony can ask me what's wrong, and my body is screaming with pain, but I am somehow incapable of expressing this to him. You'd think it wouldn't be so difficult to at least say 'I hurt' or 'I'm in pain'. Sometimes it's so bad that, Sony can even try asking me specifically, 'Are you in pain?' and I still don't know what to say. On less severe days, I am able to express myself, but it might take extra time to express myself. If I give a quick response, it is often not the most accurate response, because I have not taken the time to search in my fog for the most accurate response. When trying to encourage someone, I can make a real jumble of it, because I don't know how anymore to say the correct soothing and uplifting words. There are many times when a new person is trying to get to know me and asking me all kinds of questions when I fail to be able to respond in like fashion and return the questions to them. I'm too exhausted from the effort it has taken to remember and form my answers to the those questions.
My husband tells me I write these blog entries too well, that I sound too normal, and don't seem to have any difficulty to think clearly. But it does take me time to work out my sentences, and to pull out the words from my head. Plus, for some reason, it has always been easier to think through my fingers. Communication through speech seems far more abstract to me, and thus far more difficult. Well, that scratches at least the surface of my difficulties in my brain. Hopefully that will help you understand if I ever seem kind of stupid, slow, or rude in conversation.
In the medical realm, this slowness of mind is called brain fog. So if you consider the difference between driving on a sunny day but the sun is not glaring, when there are no clouds, the roads are dry, and it's smooth sailing versus driving on a cloudy day at dusk with a thick billowing fog and it's far from smooth sailing. You may still get to your destination on the foggy day (with perhaps a couple breaks along the way, in hopes the fog will lift) but it was far more complicated and even dangerous than when you could see clearly on the sunny day all that was going on around you (the cars in front, behind, beside, pedestrians, animals, road signs, etc.). That pretty well describes my experience in my mind. I have difficulty seeing clearly in my mind, and then have difficulty expressing myself clearly. I'll sometimes swerve to the left or the right in my thoughts, and not quite know how to get back on track and communicate what I wanted to. Often I struggle to answer questions clearly, or it takes a lot more time to figure out answers to questions that should be obvious.
My memory is greatly affected as well. My memory is shot - I can't remember the intersection I live at, or I can't remember the name of the church down the street. I can't remember big details and small details. I reach and reach and reach, and the process is exhausting, but still can't seem to find in my fog the information I was looking for. I will confess that on one occasion I even forgot my name, and referred to myself by my sister Leanne's name (Leanne can testify to the truth of this, and laughs at me to this day!!!). At least now when I forget somebody's name (which is frequently), I can say 'Don't worry, I have even forgotten my own name!'
In the last couple months, I have started jumbling my words. And I'm trying to remember specific incidences, and am having difficulty grabbing at them. Last night I was talking to Sony, explaining to him that I think I have been having especially bad days because the mety heavals don't want to come out of me. What I meant was heavy metals (I am taking some medication to help eliminate heavy metals toxins from my body, but since taking them my body has crashed rather severely). I had to call my husband to remind me what I had said - to further prove my difficulty of mind! I do this word scramble quite a bit, but trying to remember other specific occasions is seriously giving me a headache.
The days of being able to know exactly what I want to say and how to say are long gone. Some days are worse than others. Some days I'm completely paralyzed in my mind, being unable to communicate anything. Sony can ask me what's wrong, and my body is screaming with pain, but I am somehow incapable of expressing this to him. You'd think it wouldn't be so difficult to at least say 'I hurt' or 'I'm in pain'. Sometimes it's so bad that, Sony can even try asking me specifically, 'Are you in pain?' and I still don't know what to say. On less severe days, I am able to express myself, but it might take extra time to express myself. If I give a quick response, it is often not the most accurate response, because I have not taken the time to search in my fog for the most accurate response. When trying to encourage someone, I can make a real jumble of it, because I don't know how anymore to say the correct soothing and uplifting words. There are many times when a new person is trying to get to know me and asking me all kinds of questions when I fail to be able to respond in like fashion and return the questions to them. I'm too exhausted from the effort it has taken to remember and form my answers to the those questions.
My husband tells me I write these blog entries too well, that I sound too normal, and don't seem to have any difficulty to think clearly. But it does take me time to work out my sentences, and to pull out the words from my head. Plus, for some reason, it has always been easier to think through my fingers. Communication through speech seems far more abstract to me, and thus far more difficult. Well, that scratches at least the surface of my difficulties in my brain. Hopefully that will help you understand if I ever seem kind of stupid, slow, or rude in conversation.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
A Rescue Mission - Thankful for Friends
I've shared in a couple posts how the past week has been incredibly difficult and lonely. Well, the problems of the week were exacerbated by plumbing issues. Our toilet flooded the bathroom floor and when Sony tried to plunge it, the sewage water then flooded our shower. The bathroom was a disaster. The plumber came in and thankfully fixed the problem (at least for now) but our washroom was still disgusting.
I was having one of those days where I was too weak to make it out to the mail box, let alone try and mop up that ugly mess. My husband had been up half the night with me, and then with Karalise, so I knew he wouldn't be up for the job. Again, I was overwhelmed and helpless (that seems to be my theme for the week).
But praise God for my friends Phil and Karissa who came over and rescued us. Phil entertained Karalise while also managing to tidy our disaster living room. Meanwhile, Karissa bravely tackled the nasty washroom, thoroughly mopping, scrubbing and drying the floors and shower. Then we had a nice little time of fellowship with them over dinner.
It was just a small scale disaster, only requiring a good mop up, but it was far beyond my capacity to deal with. I was done in. I suspect that if these friends hadn't come in, I would have been a sobbing mess, and the washroom would have remained a disaster for several days.
Thank you very much, Phil and Karissa. And thank you Lord for providing merciful help in just the right time.
I was having one of those days where I was too weak to make it out to the mail box, let alone try and mop up that ugly mess. My husband had been up half the night with me, and then with Karalise, so I knew he wouldn't be up for the job. Again, I was overwhelmed and helpless (that seems to be my theme for the week).
But praise God for my friends Phil and Karissa who came over and rescued us. Phil entertained Karalise while also managing to tidy our disaster living room. Meanwhile, Karissa bravely tackled the nasty washroom, thoroughly mopping, scrubbing and drying the floors and shower. Then we had a nice little time of fellowship with them over dinner.
It was just a small scale disaster, only requiring a good mop up, but it was far beyond my capacity to deal with. I was done in. I suspect that if these friends hadn't come in, I would have been a sobbing mess, and the washroom would have remained a disaster for several days.
Thank you very much, Phil and Karissa. And thank you Lord for providing merciful help in just the right time.
Sacrifices of Peoples with Broken Bodies
Naively I hoped for some improvement for today. My plan was to go apple picking with a dear friend. But I woke early (more than once) and have not been able to return to sleep. My body is raging at me with pain, and I only manage to get around by tripping around the apartment. I was thankful I some how caught the jar of soup I almost dropped, as I was heating some for breakfast. The thought of trying to clean up shattered glass mingled with spilled stock and veggies bewilders me.
I have had 5 long days of getting up and forcing my body into at least minimal action so I can care for Karalise. Some days I am so weak and with so much pain, I go into her with tears in my eyes. I hate that, but they come unbidden. My spirit is overwhelmed within me. It breaks my heart to see the tears fall down Karalise's face as she can't understand why I am crying. I suspect today will be one of those days, since tears have already been in my eyes for the last hour.
Usually Saturday's are my day of rest. My break from the long, lonely weeks. My husband is usually home, and he lets me rest in bed as long as I need. But today, I felt it was more important that he serve others, so I am alone. I'm disappointed my strength has waned, keeping me from my apple picking plans. My heart faints at the thought of the long hours ahead. Guilt washes over me as I consider another dreary day for my daughter, another day where mommy is too sick to play and laugh and teach.
But one thought gives me joy. I may be too sick to be of any use to anyone, but at least I can give up my needs for help from my husband in preference for others. So today, I do not suffer in vain. I suffer so others may be blessed. I hope God is able use my frailty in this way.
I have a dear friend suffering with similar pains and fatigue as I am. Today she uses all the strength she can muster to go out and pray for people. In her difficulties, she is learning it's the time spent on eternal matters that is really important. She doesn't have much, but what she does have she gives with all her might. May God richly bless her today, and bless those she ministers to.
It may seem like some people are useless lumps in their weakness, but there are things they can do for God's glory, according to the strength given to them - whether it is to suffer loneliness and helplessness so others can be comforted and helped, or whether it is to expend all the little energy they have to minister in simple ways to other broken people.
P.S. My attempt to let my husband help failed. He felt I was in such terrible state that he is now coming home, and won't be helping.
I have had 5 long days of getting up and forcing my body into at least minimal action so I can care for Karalise. Some days I am so weak and with so much pain, I go into her with tears in my eyes. I hate that, but they come unbidden. My spirit is overwhelmed within me. It breaks my heart to see the tears fall down Karalise's face as she can't understand why I am crying. I suspect today will be one of those days, since tears have already been in my eyes for the last hour.
Usually Saturday's are my day of rest. My break from the long, lonely weeks. My husband is usually home, and he lets me rest in bed as long as I need. But today, I felt it was more important that he serve others, so I am alone. I'm disappointed my strength has waned, keeping me from my apple picking plans. My heart faints at the thought of the long hours ahead. Guilt washes over me as I consider another dreary day for my daughter, another day where mommy is too sick to play and laugh and teach.
But one thought gives me joy. I may be too sick to be of any use to anyone, but at least I can give up my needs for help from my husband in preference for others. So today, I do not suffer in vain. I suffer so others may be blessed. I hope God is able use my frailty in this way.
I have a dear friend suffering with similar pains and fatigue as I am. Today she uses all the strength she can muster to go out and pray for people. In her difficulties, she is learning it's the time spent on eternal matters that is really important. She doesn't have much, but what she does have she gives with all her might. May God richly bless her today, and bless those she ministers to.
It may seem like some people are useless lumps in their weakness, but there are things they can do for God's glory, according to the strength given to them - whether it is to suffer loneliness and helplessness so others can be comforted and helped, or whether it is to expend all the little energy they have to minister in simple ways to other broken people.
P.S. My attempt to let my husband help failed. He felt I was in such terrible state that he is now coming home, and won't be helping.
Friday, 30 September 2011
Some Days (and Weeks) are Tough
I am sitting on my couch, looking out over my messy living room (which is nothing compared to the state of the rest of my basement apartment) and I am feeling completely bewildered and helpless. Although it may not seem like it, I am struggling to bring words to mind and get them typed onto the screen. I had a rough night because it took a while to get to sleep and I'm now paying severe consequences. I feel the weight of gravity and the weight of my own fatigue pressing down on me, so that it is even hard to breathe.
I have been in a sorrowful mood since Sunday. We arrived back from a wonderful but far too short vacation late on Saturday night. Although I was exhausted and my body all stiff and sore from the long drive, I was eagerly anticipating the Sunday morning service. I love going to church, to be with God's people and hear from God's Word. God is radiant in glory, power and love and I delight to spend time with those who belong to Him and reflect His beauty. I also delight to hear from God's Word, so that I can learn in awe more of Him, as well as become more like Him.
I managed to get myself into the van that morning, even early enough to get to church on time. Mornings can be rather traumatizing for my weary body, and to say it can be difficult to get it moving is an understatement. About 3 minutes into the trip, the stabbing, gut-wrenching pain began. I figured it would linger only as long as I was riding in the van. I arrived at church, eager for the opportunity to talk with members of the congregation, and hopefully have opportunity to get to know them more. We are new at the church, and with my health being so bad, it has been difficult to get to know people. But as I walked through the doors of the gym, the pain became blinding. This pain was centred in my neck, but setting off the fiery inflammation throughout the rest of my body. I looked longingly over at the people across the room, wishing I could somehow manage the strength to get up and make my way over to engage in conversation. I had no success. A couple people stopped by my chair and spoke with me, but the pain, and now the fatigue was overwhelming my thought processes so that I found it difficult to communicate. I think I managed to say something, but definitely failed to say what I wanted. The service began, and this is when the pain became nauseating. I somehow managed to make it back and forth to the washroom a couple times. The sermon started. My chair was uncomfortable, and I thought maybe being on the floor would help. My stomach still seemed to be swelling upwards. At this point, in shame at my obvious weakness, I left and found a seat outside against a tree so that I would not disturb anyone with my cries of anquish. After half an hour or more the cold became unbearable and I needed to go back into the service and get the keys to my van. I was rescued by a dear woman who came and sat with me and rubbed my back to diminish some of the pain. After the service, my husband took me directly home, where I have been trying to recover the rest of the week.
I share this because I would like others to understand the world that sufferers live in. It's terrifying for me to expose these things. I am afraid of being judged, misunderstood, rejected, and a number of other things. The weakness of my body makes it more difficult to maintain rationality and composure. I am lonely, having to spend the week alone, somehow trying to meet the needs of my 14 month old daughter. I receive little communication from the outside world. My family live too far away to be able to help consistently. I desire to rejoice in my trials, but I struggle. I am often disgusted with myself and my limitations - being unable to clean, exercise, be reasonable, serve my community, be a good mother, etc. I seek to spend time every day with my Lord, but mentally and physically this can be very difficult, and thus frustrating. I seek to be thankful, but more burdens press down on me, and it can be far too easy to become discouraged.
The more I suffer, the more I understand what others experience when they suffer. My longing is that we would extract ourselves from the busyness of life, and love each other more by ministering to the needs of those who are struggling in our communities. If the Lord ever gives me my health back, I hope He will enable me to be a rich blessing to those in need. In the meantime, please let me know how I can be praying for you. I have some time on my hands and am happy to bring my friends before the Lord in prayer.
May God be merciful to us, and help us to press on and give Him glory.
I have been in a sorrowful mood since Sunday. We arrived back from a wonderful but far too short vacation late on Saturday night. Although I was exhausted and my body all stiff and sore from the long drive, I was eagerly anticipating the Sunday morning service. I love going to church, to be with God's people and hear from God's Word. God is radiant in glory, power and love and I delight to spend time with those who belong to Him and reflect His beauty. I also delight to hear from God's Word, so that I can learn in awe more of Him, as well as become more like Him.
I managed to get myself into the van that morning, even early enough to get to church on time. Mornings can be rather traumatizing for my weary body, and to say it can be difficult to get it moving is an understatement. About 3 minutes into the trip, the stabbing, gut-wrenching pain began. I figured it would linger only as long as I was riding in the van. I arrived at church, eager for the opportunity to talk with members of the congregation, and hopefully have opportunity to get to know them more. We are new at the church, and with my health being so bad, it has been difficult to get to know people. But as I walked through the doors of the gym, the pain became blinding. This pain was centred in my neck, but setting off the fiery inflammation throughout the rest of my body. I looked longingly over at the people across the room, wishing I could somehow manage the strength to get up and make my way over to engage in conversation. I had no success. A couple people stopped by my chair and spoke with me, but the pain, and now the fatigue was overwhelming my thought processes so that I found it difficult to communicate. I think I managed to say something, but definitely failed to say what I wanted. The service began, and this is when the pain became nauseating. I somehow managed to make it back and forth to the washroom a couple times. The sermon started. My chair was uncomfortable, and I thought maybe being on the floor would help. My stomach still seemed to be swelling upwards. At this point, in shame at my obvious weakness, I left and found a seat outside against a tree so that I would not disturb anyone with my cries of anquish. After half an hour or more the cold became unbearable and I needed to go back into the service and get the keys to my van. I was rescued by a dear woman who came and sat with me and rubbed my back to diminish some of the pain. After the service, my husband took me directly home, where I have been trying to recover the rest of the week.
I share this because I would like others to understand the world that sufferers live in. It's terrifying for me to expose these things. I am afraid of being judged, misunderstood, rejected, and a number of other things. The weakness of my body makes it more difficult to maintain rationality and composure. I am lonely, having to spend the week alone, somehow trying to meet the needs of my 14 month old daughter. I receive little communication from the outside world. My family live too far away to be able to help consistently. I desire to rejoice in my trials, but I struggle. I am often disgusted with myself and my limitations - being unable to clean, exercise, be reasonable, serve my community, be a good mother, etc. I seek to spend time every day with my Lord, but mentally and physically this can be very difficult, and thus frustrating. I seek to be thankful, but more burdens press down on me, and it can be far too easy to become discouraged.
The more I suffer, the more I understand what others experience when they suffer. My longing is that we would extract ourselves from the busyness of life, and love each other more by ministering to the needs of those who are struggling in our communities. If the Lord ever gives me my health back, I hope He will enable me to be a rich blessing to those in need. In the meantime, please let me know how I can be praying for you. I have some time on my hands and am happy to bring my friends before the Lord in prayer.
May God be merciful to us, and help us to press on and give Him glory.
Monday, 26 September 2011
Fragrances
As a child, I thought perfumes and other scented products were lovely. I loved going into candle stores and smelling all the different scents they could make. I loved going to the perfume aisle and breathing in all the lovely fragrances. I naively believed the romantic thought that they were made from flowers and essential oils. When I smelled the apple cinnamon candles, I thought it actually contained apples and cinnamon. I remember especially being delighted with the thought of all the flowers used to make my favourite perfumes...I even thought it would be a great career to be the one creating and designing fragrances from God's creation.
As I grew older, I started developing a headache whenever I passed by a perfume store. Shortly thereafter, I wasn't even able to go into those quaint little candle shops anymore.
This year, I get incredibly sick in homes with air fresheners and certain scented bath products (Old Spice body wash kills me). Intense pain overcomes me, I am nauseated, get headaches, and even my throat begins to swell, making it hard for me to breathe. My doctor has recently prescribed me a puffer so that I can breathe when I encounter situations where I cannot get away from particular scents that give me too much trouble.
My reactions are nothing compared to what some of my friends go through. They are not even able to participate in church because they are so 'allergic' to the fragrances people in the congregation wear. They have to sit in a separate room, or not go to church at all. They are not able to work in most workplaces. They are not able to easily go to the mall or any other public function. They develop very severe migraines and severe breathing problems.
My romantic notions of 'scents' have been shattered, and now I realise these fragrances are not made from flowers and essential oils, but are made from several harmful chemicals. These chemicals are no better and no safer than those chemicals in cigarettes. Therefore, I ask you to consider using scent-free products, so that you do not harm yourselves, and so that you do not harm people like me who get very sick because of them. There is growing demand for scent-free products, so you can find these items marked 'unscented' or 'fragrance free' in your local grocery store and pharmacies, as well as at health stores.
Products to avoid because they contain parfum (harmful chemicals) are:
I encourage you to love others by not using products that are harmful to their health. I encourage you to act wisely on your own behalf and not use products that are harmful to your health and the health of your family. These products are especially dangerous to young children. Please refrain from using scented products!!!
Please read the following article by David Suzuki for more information:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/green-your-workplace/go-fragrance-free/
Thank you for your kind consideration of this important matter.
As I grew older, I started developing a headache whenever I passed by a perfume store. Shortly thereafter, I wasn't even able to go into those quaint little candle shops anymore.
This year, I get incredibly sick in homes with air fresheners and certain scented bath products (Old Spice body wash kills me). Intense pain overcomes me, I am nauseated, get headaches, and even my throat begins to swell, making it hard for me to breathe. My doctor has recently prescribed me a puffer so that I can breathe when I encounter situations where I cannot get away from particular scents that give me too much trouble.
My reactions are nothing compared to what some of my friends go through. They are not even able to participate in church because they are so 'allergic' to the fragrances people in the congregation wear. They have to sit in a separate room, or not go to church at all. They are not able to work in most workplaces. They are not able to easily go to the mall or any other public function. They develop very severe migraines and severe breathing problems.
My romantic notions of 'scents' have been shattered, and now I realise these fragrances are not made from flowers and essential oils, but are made from several harmful chemicals. These chemicals are no better and no safer than those chemicals in cigarettes. Therefore, I ask you to consider using scent-free products, so that you do not harm yourselves, and so that you do not harm people like me who get very sick because of them. There is growing demand for scent-free products, so you can find these items marked 'unscented' or 'fragrance free' in your local grocery store and pharmacies, as well as at health stores.
Products to avoid because they contain parfum (harmful chemicals) are:
- perfume, cologne, aftershave
- shampoo, conditioner, soap, body wash, body lotion, deoderants and other body and hair products
- nail polish and remover
- laundry detergent and dryer sheets (these can cause the most severe reactions)
- febreze, air fresheners (one of my doctors refers to these as pure poison)
- candles, potpourri, incense, etc.
- household cleaning products - dish soap, window and surface cleaners, all purpose cleaners, etc.
I encourage you to love others by not using products that are harmful to their health. I encourage you to act wisely on your own behalf and not use products that are harmful to your health and the health of your family. These products are especially dangerous to young children. Please refrain from using scented products!!!
Please read the following article by David Suzuki for more information:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/what-you-can-do/green-your-workplace/go-fragrance-free/
Thank you for your kind consideration of this important matter.
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