My story

[Guest guest]

Almost two years ago. That is when I started experience symptoms similar to

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity. I was crippled, disabled, prevented from doing

all the things I used to enjoy. I went to a doctor when it got too much to bear,

and now I'm better, and can enjoy a normal life again.

It started with KaBoom, a carpet cleaner. My wife had to clean some gunk in her

car so she used some kaboom. She also used it inside next to our bed. It was

very apparent kaboom was making me sick, whenever I was around it, it felt like

trying to breathe in a sand storm.

It got worse from there, a lot worse. Before long, I was getting sick from

anything and everything. The products I began to spite were cigarettes,

deodorants and lotions. I couldn't go near them without feeling sick and dizzy.

It stopped me from wanting to go outside my house, which I started only doing to

go to my work.

Then I started reacting to alcohol. I would get terrible chest pains just by

smelling it. My nose was my enemy, and I couldn't drink anymore.

I became hermit-like. My wife suffered as much as I did, and me being sick put a

lot of strain on our relationship. I was tired and sick all the time, and she

felt it was all her fault because she would have a beer earlier in the day, or

would bring something in the house that affected me by accident. It wasn't her

fault, even I couldn't help hurting myself somehow.

I was miserable. I felt like I was in a prison. This went on for almost two

years. I had enough, so I decided to go to an allergist, so first I got onto my

fathers health insurance by signing up for some school courses (which I had no

intention of going to, I can't imagine how smelly college girls and boys must

be). The allergist was no help at all, and straight up told me that he couldn't

help me.

My wife recommended a different doctor, Dawn Motyka. I was very nervous going

in, but I left that first with a buzz of happiness. She said I wouldn't have to

live with this for the rest of my life, it could be fixed. I would have to lead

a healthy life in the long run, and in the short run, I would have to do some

specific things.

First was the diet, it's pretty extreme. No sugars, red meats, corn, wheat, and

about a million other things I couldn't have. In addition, I was to take

probiotics, quercitin, and omega-3 pills, along with a powder intended for

people with Chrohn's disease. She told me the problem was in my gut, and that is

what she intended to fix.

I wasn't the best at sticking to the diet. The first month or two I did great,

but started to add more things in when I was too tempted. My energy went up, but

the symptoms stayed the same, and got worse at times. But I still stuck with the

diet.

Then, I went to take a trip to visit some family in Michigan with my father. I

was nervous of course, traveling isn't easy when everything makes you sick. I

had to sit next to a guy with strong cologne. The first 2 hours of the plane

trip was pretty bad, but then, to my surprise, I started feeling normal. I could

still smell the guy, but it didn't have the same effect on me. Weird. Then, we

had a second plane, and right behind me was a lady who reeked of cigarette

smoke. This time, only after an hour I stopped being hurt. Weird.

After a couple days of visiting, something terrible happened. I went into a

restaurant, and dear God, they allow smoking indoors. I nearly freaked out, but

decided, with a little push from my father, to test out the non smoking section.

I did, and I was so damn shocked to notice that, even though I felt a little bit

hurt, I could tolerate it.

I needed to test this out further. I was hanging out with some cousins of mine,

they wanted to go to a bar. I decided to go, as bars still serve water and this

particular one had a no smoking rule. It went fine, but then they wanted to go

to a bar filled with more people, and I tagged along.

That far was filled with cigarette smoke. Oh, dear God, it was terrible, but not

for my usual symptoms. I was in a bar filled with smoke, people smoking right

next to me, and I could stand it. sure, my eyes itched a little, and my chest

had a little buzz to it, but I felt like I could be in there for a long time.

My cousins of course wanted to take their beers outside, the smoke was too much

even for them. I asked if I could have a sip of someones beer, HOLY SHIT, no

chest pains. I could drink again.

I ended up feeling 90% better the rest of that trip. I felt like a normal person

again. I had a grin from ear to ear the whole time.

Then, as we were driving back to the airport, on the way to home, we drove by a

bad skunk smell. My symptoms came back just a little bit. I was sensitive to

smells again, but it only lasted maybe an hour, and after I had something to

eat, I was normal again.

I had it figured out. Fucking skunks. They live under my house, and were only

gone last winter. They used to breed under there. My neighbor got the worst of

it, as they were directly under her rooms, but our whole apartment complex was

effected. Where they got under the house is boarded up now and I hope they all

die (a bit harsh, but I wouldn't actually do it myself, I just have hopes).

I'm now back home, and I'm still fine. It's only been a couple days, and I still

have to see my doctor again, but this is the best I've felt my entire life. Not

really physically, I'm still getting a little congested in the morning, and

can't wait until I move. But mentally, I know I can get better and stay better,

I've felt the proof.

Right now, I'm going to call up all my friends to set up a giant house party.

I'm thinking about getting crunked.