I Have TILT?

Or is it:

I am TILTed?

I feel TILTed?

TILTed I am?



I just read this great article on chemical sensitivity called Allergic to Life .  It was written a couple years ago but addresses gene mutations that might contribute to chemical sensitivity and brain scans that show evidence of physiological changes when exposed to poisons. I like that it indicates some progress is being made with research even if it's just this one person.

The researcher's ultimate goal is that doctors become more aware and educated so they understand how to identify those with chemical sensitivities and, therefore, provide better care. The article also addresses the naysayers who believe it's all mental which, of course, causes so much controversy it stops medical community acceptance right in its tracks. My cynical self thinks breaking through the narrow-mindedness is impossible.



And then there is the electric shock therapy some claim "cure" MCS. Whoa! I can't wait to sign up for some of that!

Of course, it's time for another terminology change. No longer Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Environmental Illness, or Sick Building Syndrome,  it's now called "Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance" or TILT. Like a pinball game? Hmmm...MCS survival is a bit of a game. Does this mean I have to change my blog name to TILT Survivor? Maybe "TILTed". I like that. It expresses how I feel most of the time.


If the abbreviated link above doesn't work at any point in time, here is the actual link:

http://discovermagazine.com/2013/nov/13-allergic-life

Corsets R Us

 

 

Today for a break from construction exhaustion I stopped at a garage sale. I didn't really plan to buy anything, but you never know when someone might be selling reclaimed wood, windows, doors or other possible construction supplies. It was more of a free sale than a garage sale as this woman was cleaning out a friend's storage unit and giving most of it away! I snagged about ten brand new gift bags which I'll add to my already huge collection. Since I so rarely give gifts to anyone, I'm not sure why I thought I needed them, but they were pretty. I also found a lovely woven, straw hat that would make a good sun protector or garden hat, a small rug that I might use in one of my newly remodeled closets, wooden beads, a book on the history of television, a large plastic bowl, and a beaded hippy necklace with a cross made out of blacksmith nails. I love free stuff. I figure if I decide I don't want it, I can try to sell it in my next garage sale or put it in my free box and give it away.

As I'm digging through the boxes hoping to find more treasures, I pulled out...a corset! A real corset. The sale organizer was nearby and I exclaimed, "WHAT the hell is this??" as I held it up for all to see. She laughed and said, "Oh, take that, it's free." I have no idea what possessed me to want used women's undergarments, but it's absolutely fascinating. It is a little discolored so it's not in perfect shape, but more importantly, it doesn't smell musty or laundered so it was a safe curiosity to explore.

Front view with laces and eyelet side.

As you can see it laces up the front and along the sides there are about fifty eyelet hooks. Parts are elastic or rubber, there are stiff "ribs" or boning in the back to hold you posture perfect, garter belts (!) for stockings, the fiber content is cotton, rayon and rubber, and the design of the material is a very pretty pale pink floral pattern. It's a size 44 so it wasn't for a petite woman. I wonder how old it is?  Ah! I love historical research!

Back view with ribbing.

Rubber has been around since the early 1800s and rayon since the late 1890s. Zippers were first manufactured in 1913, but I don't know if zippers were ever really used for undergarments. According to the tag it was manufactured by Carol Brent who was a designer for Montgomery Ward in the 1950s and 1960s. There are vintage garments for sale online by this designer, but this contraption seems a little archaic for the 1960s. I'm not that familiar with underwear history so what do I know? The lacing in the front, eyelets on the side and the position of the elastic which is along the sides and under the lacing makes me wonder if this isn't a maternity corset? Although I'm not sure why anyone would want to wear a corset while they are pregnant. Maybe it was fashionable? Maybe it was supportive and comfortable? Hmmmm.... There is a hook underneath the breast area, but I can't tell where it hooks and what it's for unless there is a missing piece.

Fascinating. OK, I've had my fun. Now what do I do with it???????

WHY ME?

Or more importantly, why not you? Why are some people more sensitive to everyday chemicals and others not? There are many theories: some valid...some not so valid.

Most American Medical Association doctors will tell you it's a psychological condition. Yes, you're just crazy and you are causing this yourself.  They don't even need to tell you - you can see it in their eyes and their attitude. You WILL feel insane if you see too many of these "professionals" who are locked within the confines of their narrow minds and corporate boys' club mentality. Reading I might be insane, I spent too many days sitting in perfumed rooms or around smelly people trying to "heal" myself and re-train my brain into thinking there was no problem. I rationalized if it's all mental then I have control. My job was at risk along with my health and I was willing to accept any theory as long as it would help me. I would have done anything to fix it. I practiced visualization and mind control techniques while breathing in the poisons. Yes, I was fine, I told myself, until my lungs would stop working and I would run gasping to the nearest exit. Needless to say, mind over matter didn't work. It's not a mental condition.

I have heard some people have been told God is punishing them. This is so ignorant I can't even comment on it.

My favorite reason for being chemically sensitive...my mother's cousin told me it was because I was not married. She was a 75 year old retired nurse so this was a variation on the American Medical Association's insanity theory. She was also not married so I'm not exactly sure of her reasoning, but she had been married so I guess she must have thought she was better than me.

Most of your friends and relatives will tell you, for lack of a better idea and no understanding, they think it's your immune system not doing its job. This would make sense as our immune systems should guard us against illness, but this is not necessarily the case.  In fact, my immune system is hypersensitive and overactive. I was asked by an environmental specialist who was assessing my condition, "Are you sick all the time, or not at all?" Not at all. In fact I remember the day my whole system went into high alert. I could smell every tiny bit of lotion, shampoo, soap, and fragrance on each person who came within five feet of me. Whoa! It was surreal and shocking. My reaction time went from fifteen minutes or so to one breath of toxic air.  My immune system is working overtime trying to warn and protect me which is what our bodies are designed to do. Although inconvenient and at times frightening, I don't see it as a faulty immune system. I believe this is why people who have other health issues become chemically sensitive. Our bodies become defensive as they try to protect and heal themselves.  I haven't had a cold, flu or sore throat for eleven years. One of few benefits of being chemically sensitive.

In addition, research indicates some chemically sensitive might have damaged or missing enzymes that would normally allow us to detox the chemicals out of our bodies. Instead of flushing out naturally, they are stored until we are overloaded. The overloading creates the poisoning. Reducing this load is the primary goal of most MCS patients.

Research programs for MCS are hindered, especially university research, because most of it is financed by chemical companies, and well, chemical companies won't be funding any studies that might affect their bottom line. Until there is more research, we won't clearly understand why some people are extremely sensitive to everyday chemicals and others not.

What reasons have you been given?