I have been sensitive to certain fragrances and cigarette smoke for years. However for the last two years, I have had full blown MCS.

I can no longer fill up my car with gas due to gas fumes. I can not read a newspaper due to sensitivity to newsprint. Paperback books are out as well. My husband shops in the stores for me as I can not go into stores due to sensitivity to all of the fragranced products. I can no longer go to Church, as Sunday is the single most fragranced day of the week. A naturopath believes that I went downhill and went full blown with MCS when we moved into a new house two years ago. To make matters worse our daughter who lived with us as well at the time also developed hypersensitivity to fragrance and other chemicals. I can no longer work but my daughter who is in her early twenties is struggling to work with a sympathetic boss. I also worked for several chemical companies in the office and I had no idea that the environment was posing a harm to me.

We also had our prior house sprayed with pesticide for 15 years. I am sure all of this has played a roll in my condition. Trying to stay at a motel/hotel on a trip is a process, going to check out many rooms to find one that I can stay in overnight. I am sick of professionals telling us that it is a psychological problem. Can you imagine that your lifestyle is affected in this way and not have some psychological issues. My current MD appears sympathetic but has no clue into the condition. He gave me the best advice which he could and that was to become an expert on this condition.

My husband and I have spent hundreds of hours on the internet and had no idea that this condition was so prevalent in our society. For example, perfumes have more in common with gasoline than any other product. The manufacturers don't have to tell us any of the chemicals that are used since they are protected by "trade secret laws". If women only knew what they were putting on their bodies, they would not continue to be so cavalier about the growing use of these uncontrolled and unregulated toxins. They have no idea that the fragrance they are so selective about and pay such a high price for are full of unidentified toxic chemicals. The days of perfume from natural sources such as flowers, herbs, and plants are gone forever.

I can recall a time that I could go to a shopping mall. Now that is impossible. All of the major department stores have enormous displays of every perfume and cologne imaginable. The noxious odors permeate the entire mall area. They are always at the major entrance to the store so you have to run a gauntlet to get into the store if you can still go shopping.

David still works in an office with a large group of women who use fragrance. When he comes home he has to hang all of his clothes outside in the garage and take a shower. Even if he does not wash his hair, the fragrance that is attached to his hair causes me discomfort in my sinuses.

If we have some type of need for a repair person to come into the house, just the fact that they use a fragranced detergent gives me a headache. These people look at me like I was from another planet. Imagine trying to explain all of this to a doctor who doesn’t have the foggiest notion of what I am talking about. No wonder we become labeled as having psychological problems by a community of doctors who are both ill informed and uncaring.

Recently a group of women from my former Sunday school class wanted to give me a surprise birthday party in January. These women all know my problems and have stayed away from me not because they did not care but because they just did not know what to do. They approached David and asked how they could become “unfragranced” for an evening. David and my daughter purchased fragrance free soap, cut them into smaller pieces, also fragrance free shampoo, and free detergent for clothes. They made up kits and provided a detailed list of instructions, no hand cream, no jell in hair, no hair spray. They came “au natural’. It turned out to be a wonderful evening of fellowship and fun. We had not seen each other for years. I cannot tell you what a positive impact it had on my psyche.

We are very fortunate to have a support group in Atlanta- Atlanta H.E.A.L. Even though we may only meet monthly, the fact that we have a common bond against a common enemy makes my life more bearable.

Joyce Taylor

Joyce is a member of Atlanta HEAL (Human Ecology Action League)