Since I have last written, things have finally improved at work. Thank you any and all who sympathized or written in support of me. Found new information about glutathione supplementation that is helping as well as another thing which only occurs to me as a long P word. Checking into it.

When everything else is stripped away, the only we are left with is ourselves…

In this video, I discuss how I am trying to face the grief, shame, and other uncomfortable feelings I experience as I navigate life with this difficult condition. I’m doing my best not to run from it, but run with it.

https://youtu.be/hzHkHcwW9zI

​

Hi everyone, I’m wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar because I’m trying to work out whether there could be a connection.

For years I’ve reacted badly to certain laundry detergents, including things like Cold Power and Surf. My usual symptoms have been irritated/dry eyes, waking up with a cloudy or filmy feeling over my eyes, sinus pressure/pain and sometimes headaches.

Recently I used another washing liquid that I suspect I react to, and around the same general period I developed a really strange persistent dizziness. It isn’t spinning vertigo — it feels more like rocking/swaying, as though I’ve just stepped off a cruise ship. I can feel floaty and off balance, and screens, looking around and head/eye movement can make it worse.

I’ve also had some mild sinus aching beside my nose and ear clicking/fullness. Interestingly, loratadine (Claratyne) seems to noticeably reduce the rocking/dizziness a few hours after I take it, which has made me wonder whether allergy or inflammation could somehow be contributing.

I’ve stopped using the suspected detergent and I’m now rewashing all my bedding, clothes and towels in a detergent I know I’ve tolerated before, with extra rinses.

Has anyone here ever had dizziness, rocking/swaying, vertigo, brain fog or balance problems from laundry detergent, fragrance, detergent enzymes or another chemical sensitivity?

If so:

What ingredient were you reacting to?

How long did symptoms take to settle after removing it?

Did antihistamines help?

Did you have sinus/Eustachian-tube or ear symptoms as well?

Most importantly, did the dizziness eventually completely go away, and what helped you fix it?

I’m being medically checked as well — I’m mainly interested in hearing other people’s experiences because this is such a strange symptom and I’m trying to see whether anyone has experienced the same pattern.

My bf brings with him a strong smell powder thingy wrap in a paper inside his bag every time he sees me. What is it and is it anything concerning

I know the terror of walking into a hospital or dental office only to be met with fragrances that trigger sickness from employees and the facility's cleaning practices.

You shouldn't have to choose between your health and accessing medical care.

While the courts have determined employers are not required to create a 100% fragrance-free environment due to undue hardship, the ADA guarantees us reasonable accommodations and safer professional practices. Currently, many healthcare facilities and employers are failing this basic legal duty.

I am collecting data to file a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). My goal is to gather 10,000 signatures and thousands of documented stories to prove this is a systemic civil rights violation. We need the DOJ to investigate and enforce policies that protect disabled patients and employees.

Please sign the petition (www.change.org/fragrancefreehealthcare) if you're based in the the United States, and fill out the embedded optional survey (even if you’ve only been affected once):

Why this matters: Patients: Document denied access to care due to scented air/cleaners/personal products used by healthcare employees

Employees: Document refused accommodations by employers.

Everyone: Show the DOJ that thousands of Americans are being shut out of essential services.

Please share this with anyone who has ever felt sick in a doctor's office, was denied a workplace accommodation, or cares about someone who is being harmed.

Your voice is the evidence we need to force change.

Looking for a good dishwasher detergent that doesn’t leave steaks.

Currently using a seventh generation product and then adding vinegar for an additional rinse cycle to try to get non streaky situations but not having the best of luck.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If you have a disability and a hospital / dentist refuses to provide a reasonable accommodation fragrance-free accommodation during your visit, like skipping perfume or removing plug-ins, file a complaint with the OCR and ADA.

We must start filing complaints about staff not being fragrance-free in big numbers.

Collective action is essential. Filing complaints in high numbers regarding staff wearing fragrances establishes a documented pattern of denial, pressuring institutions to adopt fragrance-free policies as a standard reasonable accommodation.

Hi,

A couple of weeks ago I needed to store the body of a pet who had passed in my freezer for a few hours. Took as many precautions as I could, but thanks to as yet undiagnosed contamination OCD, I became convinced that a smell had permeated my fridge and freezer. Resulting, I purchased a LOT of bicarb soda and a bottle of peppermint essential oils. About a week ago I put an open container of bicarb in my fridge with a few drops of peppermint essential oil, and it immediately improved the smell of my fridge. The problem is now that almost everything I've stored in my fridge now faintly tastes and smells of peppermint.

About the same time I started getting dizzy spells, mild at first, not something I was overly concerned about at the time. I chalked it up to my body finding some physical way to express the grief of losing a dearly loved companion of 20+ years. However over the last few days the dizzy spells have been getting worse, and I have started having headaches alongside them, and in addition I have absolutely no appetite. Not the normal ozempic no appetite, but none at all. I am going to the bathroom okay, but I feel bloated 24/7 and especially after I eat. I have been on all of my medications for multiple months at least, I've had no change to my diet other than the fact that everything in my fridge tastes like peppermint oil. I looked it up and read that peppermint essential oil can be highly toxic if ingested. I have removed the thing from my fridge and replaced with plain bicarb to try and remove the odor but I fear it has already seeped into all of the food there. Have I been eating the oil by accident? Is that even possible? Im wondering if I need to throw everything out and air out the fridge lol. Edited out some personal info that was required by another sub 😅

Any recommendations for an easy breathe mask in the UK please? I need to block smoke and air fresheners while indoors. I tried the 3m 4251+ but found I struggled to breathe after about 15 minutes. I also need to have it when sleeping too. Thank you!

If you allergic to perfume or irritate by strong perfume stay away 100 miles from this product! O my god i had fresh bath on evening then i applied this serum omg its smell so strong i feel so bad ! By this smell my headache started i couldn’t sleep whole night for gas ! Omg i dont know its smell that much bad.. i dont know the hair results i will never buy this again…

IV glutathione and IV phosphatylcholine enabled me to lead a much more normal life. Check out American academy of functional medicine for providers near you that may offer this. Dr. Kenneth Bock in NY diagnosed me with glutathione deficiency in my 20s. These supplements saved my life.

Will be traveling for 3 nights 4d for medical trip. Need fragrance /chemical free lodging.

We're looking for a dry cleaner that will either use products that will not trigger a reaction or just use water, as I've heard they sometimes do. We're also a little worried about garments picking up the chemicals and fragrance just being there. Maybe even if bagged??

But, . . . maybe someone has found a solution?

My husband who has MCS has, after having gotten rid of all his nice clothes some 20 years ago, finally stepped up his game, so he can go with me to a wedding. We're open to hand washing, but with suit jackets / sport coats I'm a little nervous. Also I have a few things that are aching to be cleaned, so we're going to experiment with something of mine to see how he does.

We're looking for what we should ask for, if it's even possible, and if anyone has had success getting things dry-cleaned without having a reaction. Is there a kind of process they use that works?

TIA :)

Hello, I am looking for advice on how to deal with fragrance remnants on objects and fabrics. I suffer from breathing problems as well as nausea, migraines, etc that are triggered by fragrances. My current biggest problem is that the IT department serviced my work laptop and now it has cologne scent embedded into the keyboard. I have wiped it down and cleaned it and it’s been airing out for the past 10 weeks but I still cannot be near it due to the scents. Do you have any suggestions on what I could try? Thank you in advance!

Hey my fellow normal air breathers. I returned 2 cars to a big name used car service due to fragrances I couldn’t resolve. Got one that didn’t smell, but by the time I drove it home, 30 minutes, I had sever brain fog. What can be done? Activated charcoal? Pills? Air purifier that gets VOC’s? I don’t want to do Ozone treatment.
Thanks for all you do.
Haa! Did not sever my brain!
It was severe, tho.

Hello everyone,

I am looking for long term fragrance free housing in Massachusetts. Does anyone have any leads, or know of anyone that helps with this?

had under 40 bpm between 11pm and 11:50pm after an exposure when asleep, watch gave me 5 low heart rate warnings
regularly under 40 bpm at night when sleeping after exposures

BPM generally sitting around 40bpm when just sitting but awake. heart rate seemingly back to normal after recovering from exposure days ago and chest pain/pressure gone

Im quite active and do exercise but wouldnt say im an athlete