Teddi's Story: In order to truly understand the damage that this disorder can cause in an individuals life I would like you to read the following story about a new friend of mine who suffers on daily basis from 'Multiple Chemical Sensitivity' due to an exposure to chemicals while working in the industry! Thank you Teddi for sharing your story and spreading awareness about this very serious issue!
"My Experience with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity):
Between 1980 & 1989 I worked in a cosmetic department in three different stores in Montreal, Quebec. After that period I began to work in office environments. When I think back I noticed a gradual lessening of physical tolerance to others wearing cologne. For example, if I was in a confined area with someone wearing scent, I would develop an “instant” headache. I also had a severe reaction when an exterminator sprayed in an office I was working in. He told me the insecticide was non-toxic. In 2002 I began working in a law office in Toronto, Ontario. After Christmas I noticed I felt very ill at work and would gradually start feeling better during my 1¾ hour commute home. I shared an office with 3 other accounting clerks. It took a while for me to see the pattern emerge. My husband at the time researched my symptoms and suggested I log my symptoms and how long it would take me to feel better. While I was at work my symptoms were progressive; headache, then nausea, then fatigue, then confusion, then trouble breathing, then a rash on my torso, then shaking, then diarrhea. After careful consideration I suspected a perfume that one of my colleagues received for Christmas so I obtained a sample and tested my reaction on days when I was not at work; the reactions were replicated every time. I brought my story and a demonstration of my symptoms to my general practitioner, who recommended that I speak to my colleague at work and ask that she refrain from wearing the scent. I did so respectfully but she told me she would not stop wearing it. My general practitioner said that MCS is an illness that was not widely accepted by the medical community at that time.
I had two meetings with Human Resources at my workplace. The first one resulted in an “accommodation” wherein I was relocated away from the colleague in accounting; I was moved to an adjacent office. At first I was relieved but soon learned from other colleagues that I had been placed within 20 or so feet from a man who wore very strong cologne; so strong in fact that there had been several complaints about him to Human Resources. My symptoms got progressively worse, as my doctor had predicted. For my second meeting with Human Resources, I brought research about MCS and a letter from my doctor. They said in order to do anything else I would need a definitive diagnosis.
From there I found a doctor in Toronto (St. Michael’s hospital) who told me when I called that he does testing for MCS. He asked me to bring any substance that triggers reactions to my appointment. When I attended the appointment, the doctor asked me for the scents I brought with me and proceeded to spray one on my hair when I handed it to him. I was asked to wait for a time and then was given pulmonary testing. Yes, I was having a reaction. While I was blowing into a tube as part of the pulmonary test, the doctor and a technician stood behind a door talking and laughing. He said the testing showed no “significant” findings.
When the testing was complete I was told a report would be sent to my general practitioner.
I was so ill at ease when I left I decided to research the doctor I just saw. Online I found an article he published that discussed his theory that MCS is psychosomatic. This is the diagnosis he sent to my general practitioner, who dismissed these findings.
My general practitioner recommended I leave that place of work as continued exposure would increase my symptoms. I was put on medication to attempt to control my symptoms and increase my breathing capacity. As my symptoms at work continued I started going home sick when I could no longer concentrate enough to complete tasks. The human resources manager sent me an email saying that if I had one more reaction, I would be terminated. I quit.
When I applied for EI (Employment Insurance) I presented what I had to the Human Resources manager and was granted eligible to receive EI.
Since that time, my symptoms continue and I have to alter my life to avoid many chemicals, including products with scent; hair products, cleaning products, air freshener, and dryer sheets. I purchase only scent free products (and vegan as I do not use products that cause harm to animals).
Years after my experience at that workplace I learned about the Environment Health Clinic at Women’s College Hospital (http://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/programs-and-services/environmental-health-clinic/). After a lengthy process of application/waiting/testing, I was given a diagnosis that will ensure that in a workplace I will be accommodated.
I have been with the same employer for 11 years. Even with a scent free policy, there are many chemicals that others use that affect my health at my workplace; hair spray & gel; remnants of air freshener; detergent & fabric softener.
The best scenario for me is that I have an office with a door and an air cleaner on at all times.
LESSON LEARNED: listen to what your body is telling you, even if it is different from the medical community. Remember that homosexuality was defined as a mental illness in the past and fibromyalgia was also considered psychosomatic, until “scientifically” proven."