May 9, 2009

Celebrating MCS Improvements Part 3


Along with all of it's many gifts, Spring has brought me many opportunities to notice ways in which my health is improving and moving forward!

With MCS, one can react to any source of VOC (Volatile Organic Compond) - even a 'natural' source such as flowers, mold, fresh cut grass, wood etc.


All of the things on this list caused very bad reactions only 2 years ago - bad enough that I had to avoid all of them. Last year I was much better than the year before but still quite restrictive however... this year is dramatically better than last year and I feel no restrictions at all to these four things listed below! This is absolutely wonderful and feels like such a gift and blessing. I'm outside for hours each day and it's so good for my soul.

Gardening: rarely, if ever, do I react to mold from soil now. I garden every day! I used to have to wear a mask and gloves. I garden maskless now but do sometimes wear gloves if my eczema is acting up.


Fresh cut grass in the neighbourhood smells fresh and lovely to me! This blows my mind since only a few years ago, the terpenes and other VOCs released from fresh cut grass felt like poison to me and I had run and close the windows if I heard anyone mowing their lawn. As long as the grass smell was in the air (often days) I had to keep the windows closed and stay inside or only go out wearing a mask.
*note* there is an interesting PDF file paper here that shares results of research done on VOCs emitted from grass - it gives the actual VOCs and amounts after specific time periods (includes formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and more! ack!).
If PDF form is a problem, you can view it in text form here (hope that link worked!)


Fragrant flowers blooming in the neighbourhood such as Lilac, Hyacinth, apple etc are enjoyable instead of making me nauseous and terribly sick (and necessitating the same frantic run for indoors and battening of the hatches as cut grass used to). What a joy to be able to appreciate a pretty, natural smell instead of feeling it's the enemy. I still don't bring fragrant flowers into the house but can envision a day when that will be possible!

Raking leaves: mild to no reaction to leaf mold (I used to get 'stoned', exhausted and incoherent).



As a wonderful added bonus, my reactions to the following chemicals have also dramatically improved. I suspect it's been happening gradually over the winter and spring is giving me the chance to notice it since I'm outside more and wanting to open windows.
When I say 'reaction' I'm also including recovery time improving.
It takes more of a substance to cause a reaction, even then the reaction is much milder than in the past and my recovery time is much shorter. Yay!!!

  • dryer exhaust
  • lawnmower fumes
  • BBQ fumes
  • car exhaust
  • cigarette smoke
  • tar (including new roof smell - a neighbour just got a new roof)
  • wood smoke
  • perfume, cologne and body spray
  • laundry products on people's clothing, scented products on their hair and skin (I've actually been able to meet some of my neighbours after living here for a few years!)

I get so much hope and inspiration when I catalogue these improvements!
If any readers have noticed improvements, I love hearing about them - please share them in the comments section if you'd like to.

If this post was of interest to you, you might also like:

Moving Forward... Noticing The Positive Part 1

and

Celebrating Improvements - Noticing The Positive Part 2



7 comments:

  1. Liberty, that's wonderful! It's very encouraging to read about your healing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Shayla ☺
    Sometimes I lose track of just how very much I've improved so it helps me to be able to go back and read posts like this one.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hello Liberty,
    It's been many days since visiting your blog. I enjoyed reading your noticing of improvement ...it does take noticing to be present for the miracles. My experiences with improvements change as my situation changes. Now that we are living from our wheelie home on The Ledge, I must remember to be even more gentle with the set-backs. Major change: moves, building a house and adjusting to a new environment unsettle the foundation of health. You are right in saying that reaction to old 'triggers' lessen with recovery ... I find that try ... two days down time instead of weeks at a time.

    Glad to read of your miracles. Sharing miracles multiplies them, I am sure of that!
    Love your way, Mokihana

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello,

    I have recently recovered completely from MCS after living more than 20 years with the condition. I have posted my story in a few places:

    http://www.kingtooth.com/files/Matt_Rixen_Case_History.pdf

    and

    http://www.ei-resource.org/index.php?option=com_joomlaboard&Itemid=6&func=view&id=623&catid=10

    hope this can help you and your readers!

    Matt Rixen

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Matt,

    Thank you for sharing the links to your story. Do you mind me asking how much it cost to get tested for oral galvanism?
    I had read Dr. Lisa Nagy's story before and have been wanting to get tested for some time.
    I am so happy to hear of your recovery.
    I would caution any readers who feel better to not try the same exposure tests you did but I am glad it worked out okay for you!

    What a difference this must be for you :-)

    take care
    Liberty

    ReplyDelete
  6. I found your blog tonight and I SOOOOOOOOOOO VERY much needed an encouraging one!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!! this is all so new to me and I have heard so many not positives I KNEW there had to be a positive I KNEW there is healing from this THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH for making this blog I am beyond excited. I had hope that was fading but I kept telling myself there is positive there has to be next google search I found it OHHHHH SO happy am I right now !!! ALso SUPER happy that you went to a salon. I do hope that you keep blogging I want very badly to HEAL I KNOW I WILL I just need tools and encouragement!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hi Jennifer
      thank you for commenting. I'm so glad that you found this blog and it has helped shore up your hope!
      I have no doubt that you will heal. I've replied to your private email.
      I hope you check out the page on my blog that lists other's who are healing. There are now countless more!

      Delete

Comment Policy

By posting a comment, you are agreeing that you have read this policy.

Comments are moderated and it may take a few days for them to appear - your patience is appreciated :-)

Please keep comments respectful.
I reserve the right to delete offensive comments.

I am a big believer in the mind-body connection and it's powerful effect on healing. Please keep in mind that some very ill people may be coming to this blog for a positive boost - your comments can have either a negative or a positive effect on them!

Let's aim for positive ☺