For the last several weeks I have become increasingly sick after someone sprays perfume or uses a cleaning product. I can actually taste it and I feel like I drank it.
I have to tell my teenage daughter to spray her perfume in a different room. Does this mean I am toxic and could it have anything to do with my elevated liver enzymes? Thanks.
Posted by ping (Member # 6974) on :
amkdiaries:
It means you cannot tolerate perfume or cleaning smells... It's called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) and is a very common sx for those of us with TBD.
I have a friend that put a sign on his front door advising all visitors that he does not allow persons wearing cologne or perfume to enter his home because he's so sensitive. There are many doctors offices with signs as well.
Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :
I never had this before. Can anitbiotics do this?
Posted by Renee K (Member # 21220) on :
I believe it is from an overload of toxins. As you kill off the bacteria the body becomes overloaded, can't detox well
Need to do better detoxification, tons of water, FIR sauna and whatever method your provider recommends.
My sensitivities have lessened quite a bit in a year of treatment, if I start to notice them returning I turn up the detox.
Still do avoid all perfumes and other strong chemicals in my home though
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Candida can cause this to happen--Jay-
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Your elevated liver enzymes would not cause this but show the liver stress that causes MCS.
You asked: "Can anitbiotics do this?"
Yes, but so can lyme toxins. It likely would not happen were it not for lyme/TBD or other infections and the combination of toxins from infections and chemicals from treatment.
Other drugs that may be hard on the liver might be discontinued if not front-line meds.
Be sure your LLMD is informed in this change for you. It may best from now on if you can use Rx that do not require the C P-450 pathway. Some do. Some don't.
Liver protection and support is ESSENTIAL and that may help you tolerate meds that do use the C P-450 pathway if there is no other choice.
Gentle - but consistent - detox methods as described above are good, too. You will need to be more careful with exercise for now as exercise is very hard on a toxic liver. Gentle, consistent. Non-aerobic is best.
There may be some other precautions you should take to help your liver metabolize through the Cytochrome P-450 liver detox pathway.
The inability to do so can involve increase levels of byproducts of (unachieved) metabolism call porphyrins.
Many lyme patients are affected by this and at least one LLMD thinks all lyme patients have at least one type of porphyria (that can be secondary to lyme but may also clear up when lyme is resolved).
Unscented soaps and shampoos are not always the same as Fragrance Free. You can consult the MCS site for help in selecting products.
You may be able to tolerate a light lemon or citrus IF from a true essential oil but, although "natural" lavender essential oil is nearly the "kiss of death" for those with MCS. -
Posted by Hoosiers51 (Member # 15759) on :
I can't tolerate those smells either. I especially hate the smell of deodorants on other people (like my husband) and the smell that comes from scented laundry detergent and dryer sheets.
About 9 months ago, I had some urine testing done, and my phthalates were in the 99th percentile, meaning I had way more phthalates in my body than most people's urine they test.
If I'm not mistaken, phthlates are in perfumes, as well as plastics. Also, I was high for other chemicals, like styrenes. These are things everyone comes in contact with, but for some reason, I am accumulating them.
So I truly believe it is that we must just not be detoxing this stuff well, and we have so much of it in our bodies already, that our body literally feels sick or detests even being near that stuff.
Those smells all really give me a headache! UGH.
I think the best thing to do is avoid them in your daily life. Even unscented regular dryer sheets contain phthalates, so I don't use any. I use natural, unscented laundry soap. I use lotions, etc with no phthlates ("fragrance"). But note that natural fragrances should be okay, if they are truly natural and they don't bug you otherwise. I also avoid plastics.
And I'm sure detox helps too, but I think a lot of it is our genetics (in my opinion), and that is hard to overcome with supplements, etc. Might as well try, but you are better off just avoiding.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
My experience is the same as Renee. Toxin overload. Turn up the detox and you will likely get rid of the problem. At least it works for me.
Terry
Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :
Thanks for the info. I must be overloaded but it is strange that while on antibiotics I didn't have the problem this bad.
When I am able to do the laundry I have to open the door near the washing machine because the smell of bleach makes me feel like I'm drunk. It also gives me a bad taste that remains and doesn't go away so I chew gum so I don't feel so sick.
I always see the sign in doctors' offices about not wearing perfume and never quite understood it until now. Oh well another problem to deal with.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Liver liver liver X 10
Build liver health + then mild but effective detox. Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :
For me, it means, having people clean with non toxic cleaners.
I have ordered some on vitacost.
I also have had to ask in home health care people not to wear perfumes or smell like cigarette smoke while they are in my home.
Better all around for us to get away from the toxin cleaners and smells.
But, I must admit it took me awhile to figure things out.
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
I used to love perfume. Now I can only use lightly some citrus body splash. And that is a big step up for me.
Our house is free of scented laundry soaps, cleaners, etc. Plastics and rubber make me sick even to think about. I cannot stand to be close to certain aisles in stores....lawn products are terrible, tires are impossible.
I guess it is all part of the lovely game we all play in our daily lives called survival. How I wish those trying to change health care could spend a week with a few of us! Posted by LymedOut (Member # 22351) on :
A toxic liver can cause this. It can also cause you to get angry or emotional when you smell/take in too much of these toxins. Do a search on "angry liver." If you already have elevated liver enzymes, I bet that's why you're so sensitive now. Detoxing like others have said should help.
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I had this before I ever knew what had me sick.
Posted by Snailhead (Member # 18091) on :
Could the smell from cooking certain foods, or even perhaps a bouquet of flowers do this as well? My husband sent me beautiful flowers today, but as I sat in the room with them (they are very fragrant) I just started getting sicker and sicker. Very toxic feeling inside.
Anybody know?
Posted by Robin123 (Member # 9197) on :
Amk, it's interesting to read that you said while on abx you didn't have the problem this bad.
So, the abx were keeping the load down then, but when off, you started to have more toxin load again?
I did the detoxigenomic liver test from Genova Diagnostic lab in NC - it showed how my body was able or unable to genetically detox in both phase one and phase two of liver detox.
If we have inherited a gene from each parent that keeps us from detoxing well, then we have detox problems with that particular pathway. Phase one is like the bathtub fills up too much, and phase two like the bathtub doesn't drain.
Phase one has eight enzyme pathways and phase two has ten major drains, of which the test tests for four main ones.
Many MCS folks show weakness re the first two enzyme pathways in phase one, meaning we metabolize incoming chemicals too quickly. I showed positive on both quick metabolizer pathways.
My LLMD is treating me for the two dysfunctional drains in phase two.
Posted by massman (Member # 18116) on :
Snailhead - yes, liver MCS.
Robin - great explanation on too much + poor drain !
Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :
Thanks for your replies. Maybe I do have an angry liver LymedOut because I have been arguing for the last five days with my husband and feel like getting a divorce right now. If it is the toxins and it passes which it should as I am on a lot of liver support then maybe the relationship will get better.
I had a test from Labcorp that showed I have difficulty getting rid of toxins but not really sure what measures to take. I will see what my next doctor's visit holds.
This is all so complicated for me- disease, toxins, metals. bad genes, etc.
Posted by LittleLymie19 (Member # 15610) on :
Much like Hoosiers, I cannot tolerate deodorants and fabric softeners/laundry scents are the absolute worst. I actually collapse when I'm around them for too long! Hair spray gets me as well.
This worsened when I was on treatment for mold/fungus/candida so I'm in agreement with groovy. I think Candida can be a cause. I don't really think it's always the candida or infection itself though...I believe it's actually the die off. I know many people have mentioned that as well. The toxins are what cause us to become so ill and sensitive. Our body is toxic so it can't deal with toxic fumes.
What sort of symptoms do you guys get when you're reacting? I believe it affects my brain and causes these weird seizure-like episodes. I think they're a form of autonomic seizures. I can't regulate my breathing and I don't feel like I'm getting air, and I can't think straight and become really foggy brained and feel like my brain isn't getting oxygen. Then my heart does weird things and I feel like I'm going to pass out.
I'm so sorry that this has happened to you. It can become incredibly isolating and debilitating. I hope that you can get a handle on it soon!
Posted by LittleLymie19 (Member # 15610) on :
Much like Hoosiers, I cannot tolerate deodorants and fabric softeners/laundry scents are the absolute worst. I actually collapse when I'm around them for too long! Hair spray gets me as well.
This worsened when I was on treatment for mold/fungus/candida so I'm in agreement with groovy. I think Candida can be a cause. I don't really think it's always the candida or infection itself though...I believe it's actually the die off. I know many people have mentioned that as well. The toxins are what cause us to become so ill and sensitive. Our body is toxic so it can't deal with toxic fumes.
What sort of symptoms do you guys get when you're reacting? I believe it affects my brain and causes these weird seizure-like episodes. I think they're a form of autonomic seizures. I can't regulate my breathing and I don't feel like I'm getting air, and I can't think straight and become really foggy brained and feel like my brain isn't getting oxygen. Then my heart does weird things and I feel like I'm going to pass out.
I'm so sorry that this has happened to you. It can become incredibly isolating and debilitating. I hope that you can get a handle on it soon!
Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :
My main symptoms are dizziness and this awful taste in my mouth that makes me feel as if I drank the perfume that someone else sprayed. I can close my eyes in the supermarket and immediately tell if I am getting closer to the detergent isle. I hope it goes away. I'm tired of chewing gum all the time to mask the taste.
Posted by Amelia (Member # 17677) on :
My heart goes out to you. MCS is no fun. I do not
heavy chemicals in my house at all. I also do not
spray for bugs- I use boric acid. I try to always
keep windows cracked in the house to let some fresh
air in. Mine is worst in new cars for some reason-
I just posted about that. There are some great
MCS websites out there and I would say
avoidance of the toxins are the key. There is
no doubt that when I was on Mepron I was the
Hardest hit. I think some docs are more aware
than others about MCS but I think for sure
detoxing is in order. Bless you-
Posted by Amelia (Member # 17677) on :
I will say this and I hope it doesn't scare you--
when I did go into anaphalaxis years ago from Lindane (too much) for head lice as a counselor,
we also bombed my apartment etc and that is when I began feeling very dizzy.
I would definitely talk to your doc about feeling
dizzy. I think that can be when you are most toxic-
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