tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post5081259876070376824..comments2023-04-28T07:38:34.667-07:00Comments on Teh Portly Dyke: You Smell So Good It's Killing MePortlyDykehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08598941981828041835noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-3743430577222454752010-05-10T21:06:22.505-07:002010-05-10T21:06:22.505-07:00I see it the same way, but my sweetheart is bullhe...I see it the same way, but my sweetheart is bullheaded. I'm the same way, but I'm willing to switch my stuff for her health, especially if I can still have my own (more natural) scent bubble. <br /><br />I haven't put in an "other people might be harmed by it" sense for her, maybe I should. I know if I had problems with her Axe, she'd quit using it the minute I told her, but she's being stubborn about this in part because she's tired of giving things up for her health (she's had lots of bone/joint issues since childhood and the pain keeps her from doing things she wants to do) and doesn't think that the Axe is actually a problem for her. I do think it's less of a problem than her thing for air freshener sprays though. I was raised in a relatively scent-free house (comparatively speaking) because my mother can't handle most fragrances: we didn't have scented candles, air fresheners, perfumes, personal care stuff was always lightly scented. My sweetie comes from a household that's the exact opposite. <br /><br />I'm sorry for coming here and asking your opinion/advice and then basically saying it won't be possible to take it. I didn't realize just how stubborn she was going to be on this count-I thought if I could say, "there's this person whose partner has MCS and she said thus and such", my love would be more likely to change things.Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188622912620985570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-5884606731714945532010-05-07T10:13:48.460-07:002010-05-07T10:13:48.460-07:00Hmmm. Well, the way I see it is this: If she IS ...Hmmm. Well, the way I see it is this: If she IS developing MCS, then she can either give up her Axe now, without getting sick, or a day will probably come when she HAS to give it up, because she's very sick.<br /><br />If MCS isn't the problem, maybe that won't happen. It's certainly her right to experiment with her own health -- the problem with fragrance is that it affects everyone around us.PortlyDykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598941981828041835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-8571433040591276892010-05-04T21:41:04.968-07:002010-05-04T21:41:04.968-07:00I talked to her about the Axe and she said exactly...I talked to her about the Axe and she said exactly what I thought she would, "but it smells pretty!". To which I said, "but baby, neuro-toxins!" which...yeah, didn't work. I'm hoping I can talk her into giving it up for a month or so, then when she uses it again it'll smell stronger/less pretty to her and she'll quit using it because of that, especially if I can find the money to buy her the oils you suggested.<br /><br />I know that the Axe is bad for her (and the environment and other people and that they have commercials that inspire rage in feminists the world over), but I love this woman in part because she's every bit as stubborn as I am and there's no way she's giving up her Axe easily.Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188622912620985570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-23420617360568333512010-05-01T21:08:30.619-07:002010-05-01T21:08:30.619-07:00Yes, you'll probably need to de-chemicalize, t...Yes, you'll probably need to de-chemicalize, too, especially if she notices it lingering afterward.<br /><br />And as to AXE? Seriously, this is a well-documented problematic spray vis-a-vis chemical sensitivities -- check out this article (http://www.elephantjournal.com/2010/03/your-little-man-on-axe-elizabeth-joseph/) to read about the neuro-toxins in it. It may even be the prime suspect in what's setting her sensitivities off.<br /><br />If she likes the musky smell, there are plenty of organic oils that give the same scent (even better, imo) that are not toxic to humans and other animals. Vetiver is a great oil, too.<br /><br />I don't judge people's likes and dislikes as trivial or non-trivial, but this is her health we're talking about. My experience has been that exposing yourself to known toxic chemicals does NOT get better over time, only worse.PortlyDykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598941981828041835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-42780189208646065452010-05-01T20:16:37.554-07:002010-05-01T20:16:37.554-07:00Thanks for your quick answer. I did tell her your ...Thanks for your quick answer. I did tell her your suggestion and we decided to phase out her current products for more natural ones as they ran out. Unfortunately, we can't afford to switch them all now, but she was happy to at least have some idea as to what her problem might be.<br /><br />Should I try to phase my stuff out also? I don't spend too much time with her, sadly, but she does say her car and bed smell like my shampoo/body wash/deodorant for awhile afterward. <br /><br />Would it be possible for her sensitivity not to get worse, assuming that there aren't any trigger events? I honestly can't see my sweetheart giving up her Axe, would it be possible to change everything else so she could keep that? I know it's trivial, but she really does love it.Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188622912620985570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-64868008701733045202010-04-30T09:04:53.509-07:002010-04-30T09:04:53.509-07:00Hi Raven -- No nuisance at all!
Yes, these could ...Hi Raven -- No nuisance at all!<br /><br />Yes, these could be signs of MCS, and yes, it does usually get worse as time goes on. My partner did not start out at high sensitivity -- it grew over time. However, there would sometimes be what she suspects were "trigger" experiences that took her to a new level of sensitivity -- the time we stayed in a brand new hotel, where the off-gassing from the carpet and paint was so bad we had to sleep with the windows all open in the dead of Winter. After this, her sensitivities got much worse.<br /><br />I'd suggest to your girlfriend to try a couple of months with no chemical fragrances, just to see. It's also fine if you want to email me directly (you can find my email at the Shakesville contributor page).PortlyDykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598941981828041835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-7065040688351290302010-04-30T08:20:19.549-07:002010-04-30T08:20:19.549-07:00I really hope that this isn't intrusive, but I...I really hope that this isn't intrusive, but I'm concerned my girlfriend is developing MCS. I was wondering if your beloved had minor reactions to things like body wash before her reactions to other things became obvious/worse. My girlfriend is usually able to use the same body wash or shampoo for a few months, then will get a rash from it and have to switch to something else-then a month or two later, she'll have to switch again. It's baffled her, but I read this post before I met her and this was the first thing that came to mind when she mentioned it. I really hope I haven't bothered you in asking, I just thought that you'd know or could ask her so I'd know if I'm barking up the wrong tree. Thanks in advance and I do apologize again if I've been a nuisance.Ravenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09188622912620985570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-64541834272359601892009-04-05T11:10:00.000-07:002009-04-05T11:10:00.000-07:00I just recently stumbled upon your blog and wanted...I just recently stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say thank you for this post. It's worded in such a way that makes it easy for people new to this subject to understand and appreciate. In fact, I have forwarded the link to others to help educate them.<BR/><BR/>I have just developed MCS myself in the last 4 months, and I understand this struggle. I hope the therapies your beloved is trying are continuing to help her.One Canaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11800370131421841351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-53947353178173925642008-11-26T17:37:00.000-08:002008-11-26T17:37:00.000-08:00Anonymous -- I'm all for people eating healthier a...Anonymous -- I'm all for people eating healthier and smarter -- that's not really the point, though, for me. <BR/><BR/>If all we do is change our diet to help mitigate the influences of known toxins, and we never remove the known toxins, we're still slowly poisoning ourselves (yes, that includes with dietary stuff, too). <BR/><BR/>For me, this is particularly true in the case of fragrances -- because they are absolutely non-essential to the efficacy of the products, in nearly all cases. It's not like lack of fragrance makes a fabric-softening agent less effective or safe. So why not get rid of it, since it's toxic to boot? Or replace it with something that ISN'T toxic?PortlyDykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598941981828041835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-67377071317383950682008-11-26T14:58:00.000-08:002008-11-26T14:58:00.000-08:00I wouldn't discount the diet change idea. Cutting ...I wouldn't discount the diet change idea. Cutting down drastically on the amount of salicylates and amines I used to eat has cleared up issues I would never have guessed were related to food. Sleepiness, nervousness, stuffy and bleeding nose, skin rashes, all food chemical related. Plants have developed chemical defenses to help them out, they're certainly not harmless!<BR/><BR/>http://www.salicylatesensitivity.com/<BR/><BR/>I wonder what sort of diet the nutritionist had in mind.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-85488081403162880862008-11-25T08:35:00.000-08:002008-11-25T08:35:00.000-08:00As far as shampoo goes, I've been using bar shampo...As far as shampoo goes, I've been using bar shampoo (JR Ligget's or a comparable i bought in Asheville) for a while, and I love how it works. All the ingredients are listed right on the wrapper. They consist of various oils, so might be ok for folks with MCS that is mostly triggered by synthetics. This post has made me realize that I'll be in for it when I vist my mom (who loves perfume) this weekend!liberalandproudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13274467356046257967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-14017811517343756512008-11-24T21:05:00.000-08:002008-11-24T21:05:00.000-08:00Wow. Having read this post and then gone to my dad...Wow. Having read this post and then gone to my dad's house for Thanksgiving was an interesting sequence of events. I'd always sort of tangentially noticed that there was lots of "good-smelling things" around the house but I never really thought about it critically until after your post.<BR/><BR/>There is scent EVERYWHERE here. Even after a few days in the house, it crops up everywhere. All the hand soap is from Bath and Body Works. There are scent things plugged into the wall. There are candles everywhere. Three of the four full-time residents wear some kind of perfume or scented body lotion at all times. I'm sure the fourth resident wears cologne.<BR/><BR/>So, just, ya know...don't ever bring your Beloved here. Or something. >.><BR/><BR/>But this post definitely reaffirmed my previously unrelated decision to stop wearing scented lotions. And now I'm going to extend it to shampoos. I don't know how I'm going to manage that but I'll figure something out. I'd been using "men's" shampoo, just to annoy the people in my life who think there is some inherent difference between men and women that prevents them from using the same sudsy stuff, but it has a scent even stronger and more headache-inducing than a lot of the "regular" shampoos I've used in the past. Maybe dudes are smellier? Just kidding.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, this post is fantastic. Now if only I could show it to my family members and not have them totally brush it off as just more of my "hysterics." >.<Jamie Bougherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08198950584501536101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-16371525138952846562008-11-18T15:45:00.000-08:002008-11-18T15:45:00.000-08:00I am really glad you posted the links to the info,...I am really glad you posted the links to the info, b/c even when I thought I was eliminating chemicals and such from my life while trying to rule out health problems, I didn't realize I was still bringing the stuff into my home.<BR/><BR/>Also, a little off topic, but I have given you an award at my place, if you were so inclined to pick it up. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-53489738928003033132008-11-17T19:36:00.000-08:002008-11-17T19:36:00.000-08:00Great post! I have chemical sensitivities to all s...Great post! I have chemical sensitivities to all synthetics: cleaning products, personal products, food additives, synthetic vitamins. I loved your analogy of the "toxin bucket." People have a hard time understanding when I explain that I have to be more hardcore for a certain period of time with my food & environment because I'd been too lax for a few days.<BR/><BR/>I had Tourette's Syndrome as a child & it still comes up when I have consistent chemical exposure. Tourette's is also related to ADD, ADHD & OCD. It makes me wonder how many of those "disorders" would be alleviated if chemicals were eliminated in their environment.<BR/><BR/>In some ways, though, it's useful to be a chemical watchdog. I can eat a food from the Natural Foods section & tell you within 30 minutes if it's actually full of chemicals. <BR/><BR/>-JulieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-56517360892869337762008-11-17T13:09:00.000-08:002008-11-17T13:09:00.000-08:00Wow, thanks for the great post :)This makes a lot ...Wow, thanks for the great post :)<BR/>This makes a lot of sense for me as both my mother and I are fairly sensitive to smelly things.<BR/>And I'm with phoenixandtree about the boundary thing - I wouldn't let anybody smoke in my house, why should I let them be smelly at me?!Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16239905782862048901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-35404033852610918392008-11-17T11:54:00.000-08:002008-11-17T11:54:00.000-08:00I'm still learning about MCS (although I'm pretty ...I'm still learning about MCS (although I'm pretty much fragrance free already for ecological/anti-consumerist reasons). I think it's important that you pointed out that it's not so much a disease as a lower threshold for the poisons that we're all being exposed to. I also think that it's totally reasonable to set firmer boundaries around people coming to your house--your Beloved's health and well being are probably more important than a visitor's access to your house.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-11823418966827613372008-11-17T11:39:00.000-08:002008-11-17T11:39:00.000-08:00I'm in a rush at the moment, but I just wanted to ...I'm in a rush at the moment, but I just wanted to say real quick that I really liked this post and I'm so glad you posted that resource roundup (because I was totally gonna ask if you knew how to get truly fragrance-free laundry detergent ^_^).<BR/><BR/>I will, I hope, be back later to comment better.Jamie Bougherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08198950584501536101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-42879319964986037442008-11-17T09:26:00.000-08:002008-11-17T09:26:00.000-08:00What's wierd too is, what's the big aversion to th...What's wierd too is, what's the big aversion to the way we smell naturally? I love the smell of human! Besides, how we naturally smell can be a way to know things that our bodies try to tell us, so by covering that up, we kinda cut ourselves off from some very key information sometimes. My doctor suggests too, that deoderants are a complete waste of time, even if they aren't masking--we simply don't smell as bad as everyone seems to think.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, PD.<BR/><BR/>LambnessAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-9964192141054923172008-11-17T01:25:00.000-08:002008-11-17T01:25:00.000-08:00vega -- I think that many people probably have mil...vega -- I think that many people probably have mild MCS and don't realize it. I know that my digestion improved greatly, as did general itchiness that I'd had for years.<BR/><BR/>I strongly encourage those who have chronic headaches and sinus problems (that their doctors can't find a cause for) to at least give fragrance-freedom a try. <BR/><BR/>I know that it's definitely improved my health.PortlyDykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598941981828041835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-20655776162333370692008-11-17T01:07:00.000-08:002008-11-17T01:07:00.000-08:00Wow, thanks for this post! I'd heard of MCS in a ...Wow, thanks for this post! I'd heard of MCS in a general sense but I had no idea how much it could affect people, and how long the effects last. I don't think I can really look at all that scented junk the same way anymore...I'd always thought of it as annoying but mostly harmless.<BR/><BR/>It also amazes me how many people I've met have some form of MCS. In most groups I've been in where the topic comes up, it seems like at least one person either has some form of it or knows someone who does. I'd also be curious to know how many people have mild MCS and don't know it-- I know I'm sensitive to chemical scents but I'd never thought that this weird allergy stuff I get (sort of like a mild cold) could be related. Now I wonder if it is...<BR/><BR/>Anyway, what this rambling comment is trying to say (I should not read blogs at 2 in the morning ^-^;) is thanks for bringing attention to this and explaining just how big of a problem it is to people. It definitely got me thinking about my lifestyle and hopefully it will do so for other people too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-83061075749326279522008-11-16T23:59:00.000-08:002008-11-16T23:59:00.000-08:00purpleshiny -- IME, it's always been a bit awk...purpleshiny -- IME, it's always been a bit awkward for me, even with people I know -- and I'm not sure why that is. <BR/><BR/>However, this is what I would suggest. Print out some information from the web, and give it to them (or leave it for them), with a really, really sweet request. I usually say something like: "I know this isn't your fault. Most people aren't aware of these issues, and it's sometimes hard to get the information".<BR/><BR/>I also ALWAYS try to have an alternative ready for them -- maybe gift them with a set of "dryer balls" and some laundry soap that you can tolerate? People like gifts. ;)<BR/><BR/>Here are some links that might be helpful for you:<BR/>Here's a link about dryer residue<BR/>http://www.dld123.com/q&a/index.php?cid=4661<BR/><BR/>Preparing Your Home for the Chemically Sensitive Visitor<BR/>http://www.healsoaz.org/preparing_home_for_mcs_visitor.htm<BR/><BR/>Less Toxic Personal Product<BR/>http://www.healsoaz.org/less_toxic_personal_products.htm<BR/><BR/>The Dirty Dozen<BR/>http://www.healsoaz.org/dirty_dozen.htmPortlyDykehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08598941981828041835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4795483213843043301.post-52206939759525730712008-11-16T23:04:00.000-08:002008-11-16T23:04:00.000-08:00My girlfriend also has a sensitivity to fragrances...My girlfriend also has a sensitivity to fragrances, though it's not as severe--more of a headache and allergy-like symptoms type of thing.<BR/><BR/>We've recently realized that the upstairs neighbors have been using dryer sheets and scented detergent to an extent that it's affecting our laundry. We share the laundry room with them but don't really know them otherwise--I don't even know their names. Have you ever had to communicate about chemical sensitivity via a note to a stranger? How do you handle it without sounding passive-aggressive and/or crazy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com