Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) is an overlapping condition that frequently goes hand in hand with Fibromyalgia and many other conditions.
MCS is a syndrome where the sufferer experiences multiple symptoms when exposed to small amounts of everyday chemicals. Find out more including my personal story here.
And isn't is annoying! Out go all the perfumes - you can no longer wear - out go all the beautiful smelling candles and face products and hair shampoos. You can no longer use these without getting a headache, watery eyes and wheezing.
The weekly pumping of gasoline causes dizziness, inability to concentrate and nausea.
Heaven forbid walking into a nail salon or a freshly painted room.
Yes, that's right the treatment for MCS is to try and remove all the triggers from your life. That's why going into the world is like a lucky dip - will I encounter someone with strong perfume or after shave in the elevator? Will I have to walk through the perfume department of the store to get to the manchester that I need?
And can anyone please tell me why buying cleaning products, like shampoos and conditioners, with perfumes removed, cost MORE money.
No one seems to know whether Fibromyalgia leads to MCS or vice a versa or whether they have related causes.
MCS is a syndrome where the sufferer has multiple symptoms when exposed to small amounts of everyday chemicals. MCS is a term used to describe this condition which has heightened sensitivity to chemicals. It is also called Idiopathic environmental intolerance (IEI).
The bad thing is that, according to research at the University of Melbourne, occurences of MCS have risen 300 % in the last decade!
Professor Anne Steinemann from the University of Melbourne estimates that 55 million Americans have chemical sensitivity. Some people have only
mild chemical sensitivities, while others have a more severe form.
A full list of the symptoms of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity are:
Asthma
Breathlessness
Coughing
Difficulty sleeping
Digestion problems
Dizziness
Fatigue
Headache
Impaired concentration
Joint pains
Lethargy
Memory problems
Muscle pain
Nausea
Runny Nose
Sinus
Sore throat
Stinging eyes
Wheezing
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The 1999 Consensus Statement criteria for Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) are:
1. The symptoms are reproducible with (repeated chemical) exposure.
2. The condition is chronic.
3. Low levels of exposure (lower than previously or commonly tolerated) result in manifestations of the syndrome.
4. The symptoms improve or resolve when the incitants are removed.
5. Responses occur to multiple chemically unrelated substances.
6. Symptoms involve multiple organ systems.
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Other overlapping conditions include:
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Costochondritis
Irritable bowel syndrome
Myofascial pain syndrome
Restless leg syndrome
TMJ or temporomandibular syndrome
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If you would like more scientific information about MCS please go to this informative article by Mithila at MCS Resource
Understanding multiple chemical sensitivities
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SOURCES:
Annals of Internal Medicine
Annals of Internal Medicine
Research Gate: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Review
