Fragrances are one of my biggest baddest triggers that can end me up in a disabling hell. The crap is everywhere, not just in perfumes and colognes but in so many personal care products that people use every day on themselves. And then there's the fragrances in room and car deodorizers, cleaning products, etc., etc. There's so much caustic stuff in this world and sold to the public duped into believing it's safe. It's no wonder so many people are chronically and perpetually ill and are feeling unwell or worse and are getting diseases and cancers that use to be rare, and younger people at that. A number of us dealing with mm and mav are badly affected by this as well. Might it be part of your symptoms too? It's worth experimenting with. Understanding that for myself, making changes, and avoiding exposures was one of my more successful tools in managing this disorder. http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/not-so-sexy-hidden-chemicals-in-perfume-and-cologne
Hi Burd Lovely to see that you are still around on the forum helping people as usual. You were my inspiration seven years ago when I was going through the menieres/mav hell. Thanks to your intelligence and your suggestions ( mainly dietary) I was able to control my symptoms which I still do successfully seven years on. When I think of it one of my many vertigo attacks was shortly after I entered the perfume department of a large store. I hope you are well Frank
Chemicals are a big huge trigger for me. Perfumes are in my thinking from the cauldrons of hell. Some one on sunday can hug me and I will be sick for the entire day unable to walk right. I have amber tints because UV light hates me too. finally eating out to much in a row does it to me too
Upon entering Walmart's and some other stores I know immediately that I'm going to have problems due to the odors and, I believe, the lighting. Another one for me is the auto shop I use. I have to breathe through my mouth because of the emanation from the new tires in the small area.
Hi Frank. So good hearing you are managing your symptoms well. To know I had a part in helping you reach that is gratifying more than words can express. I have good spells and not so good spells, the things that trigger my troubles are varied and often not entirely avoidable, but overall and compared to many I am doing mostly well. Thank you for the note.
Hi Karen, I understand totally about your triggers. I am so sensitive to chemicals and fumes and offgassing of new materials and fragrances, also particles like dust, dustmites, smoke from any source, mold, animal dander, and on and on. I too am sensitive to visual triggers as well like fluoresent lighting, repetitive patterns and motions, etc. And as Jaypr mentioned, there's the dietary triggers as well. It's a tough world for the sensitive like ourselves. The best I could do was to make my home space my safe place, and do my best to navigate thru the rest of the world outside my door. Been a long road, lots of experimenting, and jumping thru hoops every day just to keep some measure of control on it. Not always successful but certainly better than I was in the beginning of it all.
I too have troubles with industrial smells, like new tires, have experienced that too. Lighting yes, as I was mentioning to Karen above, I have so many sensitivities. I have had to give up some of my freedoms, like no longer being able to go to concerts, cultural events, social gatherings, pretty much any place with a bunch of bodies in an enclosed space, and can't risk motels and rented rooms so no more travel unless we use a camp site and set up a tent. I miss things. But feeling better overall is the payoff. I lost independence for a few years in the beginning so will do what I have to to keep the measure of it that I had gotten back. Hang in there, keep up your awareness. Most of those that have done well have done so by paying attention as you are doing.
yes I haven't been able to shop in Walmart for years because of the cleaner they use or something they do. I have even tried my mother walmart 11 hours from me Nope can not shop there.
Welcome newbie Burd. A very wise person on the old board once told me about a book called "Heal Your Headache". You might want to look and see if you can find a copy
I also have a horrible time with perfumes, hair spray, and new tires. New carpeting and paint fumes are awful, too. Also, cigarette smoke and car exhaust, and I'm sure more that I'm not thinking of. For me the reactions tend to be asthma, stinging face, light-headedness. If it's bad enough I can't think straight. The honeycomb masks with a carbon filter at this website have been hugely helpful to me. The carbon actually filters out the fumes. I carry one with me almost always when I go out of the house, and I use them: http://www.icanbreathe.com/
Nope, not due to symptoms. I occasionally get PM's from folks and occasionally check in to see what's up. I noticed that Burd is a newbie so I thought I'd welcome her to the boards I'm in my detox stage now. Feel pretty well except when I'm aggressively detoxing. I've lost 30 lbs this year! Hope you're doing well as well.
Me too ByTheBay. Thank you for the link. I like that those masks hook behind the ear. I've been using the ones noted in the link below for projects around the home or on the job which I get at a local industrial safety supply store for about $2.50 each and they last thru many many uses. But they aren't as low profile as the ones you posted about which I will check into. http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/GovernmentSolutions/Home/ProductInformation/ProductCatalog/~/3M-Particulate-Respirator-8247-R95-with-Nuisance-Level-Organic-Vapor-Relief-120-cs?N=8702286+4294936887&rt=d
They really work for me. The carbon filters do get used up, so you have to keep a supply. But each one lasts for quite a while.
I am doing fine acyclovir has kept me vertigo free for almost 2 years so far. Glad you are doing well!