From : Adriana
Venice, Italy

May I introduce myself? I’m 55 years old. This is my story, my health file:

All it has begun on the half of April 2001, when I have had to close all the windows, notwithstanding I’m living on the third floor, since in the below garden they were cutting the grass and, also if it was a pleasant smell, in such occasion it created me a suffocation sense.

On the end of April 2001 I went to France, where the smell of the cut grass created me not little troubles. Then, at the return in Italy, I was affected with bronchial-tracheitis, treated with antibiotics.

Within few days I notice that I cannot take my parfum, neither that one of my husband, neither that one of other persons, notwithstanding they were previously appreciated and very well tolerated by me.

At this point I ask to the family doctor, who fears to be a question of intolerance, and he prescribes me a first treatment as follows :

* Ventolin flogo
* Deltacortene strong
* Zirtec pastille,

but what above doesn’t get any effect and the doctor suggests to change with:

* Tilade
* Deltacortene strong
* Zaditen pastille (then syrup).

Still no results.

I decide to apply to an allergologist who, performed all the various tests for the allergies, says that I’m not allergic to null, but I’ve a serious intolerance to the parfums and... it there no much to do.

Also to this doctor I explain that, together with my husband, we assist three times each week to meetings with the presence of about a hundred of persons, smells of which are remarkable.

He prescribes me some tests as x-ray to the thorax, normal spirometric test and also with added ‘metacolina’, and the following treatment:

* Oxis 4,5
* Telfast 180

All the above test result negative, being as usual. Therefore the allergologist changes the treatment :

* Aliflus diskus 50/250
* Telfast 180.

On the Sunday 21st, October, 2001 I decide to suspend all above treatment, because many troubles begin to be more intensive, included strong pains in the liver.

Particularly, there is no one practical benefit, considered that I must be isolated in a separated room during our meetings, hoping that nobody enters.

On the 23rd October, 2001 I explain to the allergologist my decision. He accepts and suggests that perhaps... I could try to Bologna... or to Florence.... Or perhaps with gastroscopy ….. I thank him and say good-bye.

On the 25th October we inform of all above also our family doctor, who with regret explains to me that there is nothing to do for intolerances. It remains only one remedy : to avoid all the smells, all the parfums, etc..

For safety’s sake I request to do further blood and urine analyses: all correct, unless cholesterol.

A month later I have started a natural medicine treatment to detoxicate myself after 6 months of antihistaminics and cortisone.

After a month of therapy, together a important diet, the troubles to the liver, and to the stomach, etc. are disappeared, but clearly they are not shoots the problems of the intolerance.

On January, 2002 I submitted myself to further allergologichal tests - through blood analyses - further 400 (four hundred) tests. Results : I’M ALLERGIC TO NOTHING.

Through some searches, also in Internet, I have been able to verify that my symptoms, my reactions, they are identifiable with the called "M.C.S." (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) or "multiple Sensibility to the chemical agents". My family doctor agrees as well as the naturopath/homeopath with which I remained under his treatments .

During these three years my homeopath changed treatment every three months, and I can say that my situation slightly improved in respect to the begin of homeopathic medicine.

I thank our God that now often I can take one (only one) smell/parfum, lefting the source immediately (previously I had to run away very quickly).

For your better information, M.C.S. here in Italy isn’t a acknowledge disease, so together with our Association A.M.I.C.A. we try to get the acknowledgement from our Health Authority.

I hope that my story can help you.

I’m sorry for my English …

sincerely regards,

Adriana