I've been struggling with how to delve into the topic of diet. As I've said a few times on this blog, it's a major subject in my life. It needs a good introduction, because it's really just that huge of an issue in my life. The trouble is, I'm not a doctor or nutritionist. I've learned that every person is very unique, and a diet that works well for one person may work poorly for another. There are facts that are true for everyone, but the details are where we all differ.
There are a few angles I could take on introducing diet on this blog, but I think I'll introduce it through the lens of chronic illnesses. Generally speaking, I believe most people that read this blog probably are here searching for answers about health concerns.
5 years ago, if you would have asked me if I believed I would ever develop a chronic illness, I would have said "not likely." If you would have asked me why, I would have said, "because I eat a clean, organic diet. I'm careful about what I put into my body. I'm investing in my health. It's all the food additives that make us sick, right?" I know a lot of people who would have given the same answer. Well, here I am today, fighting chronic illness, even after that clean, organic diet I ate.
I'll back up a bit. I was born allergic to about 10 different foods. My parents have told me all sorts of stories about how difficult it was to care for me as a baby because they didn't know how to feed me. They eventually found a formula without my allergens, and then thankfully I slowly outgrew most of the allergies as I got older. Eventually I was only allergic to wheat and corn, and then by 4th grade I appeared to only be allergic to corn. (In recent years, however, that wheat allergy has made a come-back.) This corn allergy resulted in many painful hives, rashes, heart palpation, fevers, gut aches, severe anger issues, and more. The problem with corn is that it is in almost everything. I grew up learning to read food labels, being very careful and selective in restaurants (avoiding many restaurants too,) saying "no" to any food I wasn't sure of, and saying "no" to food that friends insisted was corn-free (because they often don't know all the different names for corn on food labels.) I grew up being used to bringing my own food with me, knowing I couldn't rely on others to feed me safely. To me, reading food labels is normal - it's second-nature. I never buy a single product without reading the ingredients first, even if I've bought the item before (because companies change their ingredients every so often.)
I was introduced to the world of organic food when I was a young teenager. My mom found it harder and harder to find food that was safe for me (other than meat and vegetables - but I'll get into the problem of corn in meat later,) so she tried searching in local food co-ops. We quickly found that organic and natural brands had less corn overall, mainly because they don't use high fructose corn syrup. As I grew older and more independent, I started buying my own lunches and snacks at the local food co-op, because it was organic and safe. The older I got, the more of a habit only buying organic food became. I knew that I felt better when I ate organic, but I also did a lot of research into why organic was a better option. I learned about toxins in food, how dyes cause brain and reproductive dysfunction, why corn syrup (which wasn't proven safe) was in everything, the danger of GMOs, and more. I was quickly converted to eating strictly organic... except for the treat of getting to eat out. I considered it my "cheat time." My husband knew this about me when he married me, but I think he was in a for a shock when he found out what it actually meant to buy only organic foods all the time - ha!
So, how it is, you ask, that after a lifetime of reading food labels and avoiding all forms of corn and food additives that I managed to get chronically ill? Shouldn't I be really healthy since I haven't been poisoning my body like most people in America? Well, there were signs that my diet wasn't working for me, such as the fact that my weight increased to almost 180 pounds despite plenty of physical exercise, drinking my healthy kobmucha drinks, never drinking soda, and all those good things. (I'm 5'5", so this was very overweight.) Heck, I was even dairy and gluten-free - so should I have been losing weight? The question I'm asking myself now is, "Would I have been way more sick than I was if I wasn't eating carefully all along?"
Last year, I learned many valuable lessons about food, with the help of my naturopath (who is a huge blessing to me.) First of all, I was eating tons of foods that my body isn't capable of tolerating. Organic or not, I can't digest them well. Second of all, I can't handle sugar - sugar is a strong poison to me, and I used to eat more of it than I realized. Third of all, I was eating lots of grains, which I now know cause all sorts of horrible problems for me, such as inflammation, irritable bowel, leaky gut, and more. Fourth of all, I found out that I wasn't eating enough of what my particular body requires to stay strong and healthy. I learned a whole lot more, but these are the highlights.
I did lose about 20 pounds of weight before seeing my naturopath, but struggled to lose any more than that. I was still overweight. After very carefully following my naturopath's tailored-to-me diet, I lost an additional 30 pounds. I'm down to around 130 pounds, which is a healthy, normal weight. Weight loss wasn't my goal, though. My goal was to get my life back - I wanted my health back! Thankfully, I have been reclaiming my health in the past year since starting treatments with him. I no longer suffer arthritis, major inflammation issues, or fibromyalgia. I have a lot less brain fog and more energy.
Again, this is just a general overview - an introduction. I'll write about details in future posts.
In conclusion...
Diet is an exceptionally important part of our health. Just because you eat organic doesn't mean you eat healthy, in fact you could still be eating too much trans fat and sugar. Just because you're a vegan doesn't mean you're eating right for your body and your specific needs, in fact you could be hurting yourself more than you realize. Just because you eat Paleo doesn't mean you're avoiding enough foods, in fact you could still be eating foods that cause health issues for you. You need to learn your body and your needs, and eat only according to what your body needs, not how diet fads tell you to.
Most importantly - stay positive! Dietary changes aren't a "loss." They're an opportunity to feel better so you can experience life more fully and joyfully! Diets aren't "limiting," they're actually opening you up to a world in which you can fully function and feel great. As I talk about food, never assume I'm complaining. I'm actually extremely grateful for my food allergies, because they prepared me for making the lifestyle change I needed to when it came to food. The danger of modern food is a scary topic in most situations these days, but for me the topic of food is a joyful one, because finding the right food for me in this toxic society has changed my life for the better.
P.S.: Want to hear a funny story? One time, when I was a teenager, I was at a sleep-over party with friends. One friend asked if I could eat popcorn. When I said no, she asked, "Why not? Does it have corn in it?" I said, "read the ingredients, you'll see." The first ingredient was corn, and she said, "Ohhhhhhhhh..... duh!" I forgave her and we laughed it off.
This is one of many examples of why I don't trust other people to make food for me. :)
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
How do I make money while suffering medical issues?
The past 2 1/2 years have been a rough, long, and unfortunate journey for me. We moved from Idaho to North Dakota 2 1/2 years ago, because my husband was offered a great job and we had a very affordable place to move in to here. The move was extremely stressful on me - I never had so much anxiety in my life! I needed several months to relax and recover before I found a job and started working. I was exhausted from working 50 hrs a week between two hard jobs in Idaho, and the move took every ounce of energy I had left. When I finally took a job, it was an oddly relaxing job. I worked as a church secretary for 30 hours a week. Back then I knew I didn't have it in me to work full time, so the lighter hours appealed to me. The job was not stressful in the least. I enjoyed creating the weekly bulletins, registering new members into the church, working with all the Faith Formation students, creating posters... it was not a draining job by any means. I liked it, and I loved that I was working for the church. Despite this, my health steadily became worse and worse while working there. At first I was just tired all the time, making all sorts of stupid mistakes and stumbling over my words. Then both of my hands, one after the other, swelled up and became unusable. Then I started to get the general feeling of being "unwell," and shortly after that I started to feel unwell every day, all the time. Eventually, I could hardly stay awake in the mornings at my job. My brain fog was so extreme that I couldn't remember the names of regular visitors. I couldn't look people in the eye when talking to them because I was too tired to keep focus. I kept working, even though I kept growing worse. I had been seeing all sorts of doctors in town, racking up some absurdly expensive medical bills (and received no help from them.) After flying out to see my naturopathic doctor for the first time and finally gaining answers and hope, I came home and quit my job. The regime he put me on needed full-time dedication, and I needed a lot of rest too. It's been a year, almost to the day, since I quit. I've been willingly unemployed every since, allowing my body to heal.
I'm doing a lot better now, but I'm not healthy. I have a ways to go. I'm better enough that I feel I can manage working 10-15 hours a week, for now, to help bring in income to pay our bills. And so, I'm currently in the process of looking for ways to make money. This is a challenging process. I have no lack of jobs to choose from here in ND - there are way more jobs than workers! I could have any job I wanted if I were healthy. My health is the challenge.
At first, I thought I should take my old job back at the natural foods department in the local grocery store. I worked there for 2 years about 7 years ago, so the learning curve would be minimal and the work would be simple enough. I figured it would be a good fit for me. My only concern was MCS reactions, because the store isn't that clean. I thought that a dirty environment would be a lot safer than a clean environment where toxic chemicals are regularly sprayed. Well, that plan got shot down, quickly. I waited a week too long to offer myself to the job. They hired a full time person the week before, which is what they really wanted anyway. Dang!!
So what was next? My husband is a piano teacher, and he told me his student's mom was asking for help at her store. One thing led to another, and I decided to attempt working in her store. It was a bridal store, which intrigued me. I should not have accepted the job at the interview, though. I was feeling a bit sick just being in the store for that hour. She had Air Wick fragrances plugged into many outlets around the store, which caused me to react the moment I walked in, like a brick wall. I didn't understand how sever my sensitivity was, though. I thought that if that was the worst I'd react, maybe I could tolerate the job for 15 hours a week. The job was appealing because of the relaxed, slow atmosphere, and I thought it would be worth minor reactions if it meant the job would otherwise work well for me based on my other medical issues. After 4 hours of my first day of work, I had to quit. I was in serious pain. I had no idea I would react that harshly. At first my heart was palpating, then I had burning eyes and throat, then I felt a bit nauseous, then the fatigue was taking over, and then I lost all focus. Brain fog. After I got home, I started to feel the old fibromyalgia type pain: muscle cramping, electrical-like pain flowing through my muscles, dull aching, and tenderness. This was a week and two days ago. I'm still recovering.
I now know that I have to be very picky about where I work. There is one store in town that I think would work from an MCS point of view, but I have the feeling it may not work for other reasons. The idea of applying there is simmering on the back burner. It may be my back-up plan. So I've been monitoring job postings this week, keeping my eyes open for something that may work well for me.
Yesterday I applied for a job that sounds perfect for me in every way except from an MCS viewpoint. I thought, however, that it would be easy to make reasonable accommodations for me. The job would be administering tests on computers. I'd check test-takers in, answer their questions, and make sure they don't cheat. I would also do the basic cleaning as no janitors are hired. That, to me, sounded perfect. If I can have a say in the types of cleaners used, then I could use non-toxic products that would be safe for me! Perfect fit, right? Besides, the pay and the hours are great. Definitely very interested. I just had a phone interview for the job, and I was very open and honest about my MCS trouble. I thought I sold myself very well, because I have quality experience in administering tests and I can be very quite for hours with ease, but the the interviewer kept saying, "I don't think this will work for you." She explained that the company cannot change out the types of cleaners they use. The company buys cleaners in bulk, then distributes them to all the branches around the country. They will make no change for one employee. I even offered to bring in my own cleaners, but she said they may not be approved. She did, however, promise to ask around and see if it's possible for me to use my own cleaners, and she will call call me back later this week with an answer. I have hope that they're willing to work with me - afterall, Bismarck is lacking workers, right?
This was a great learning experience for me, even if I don't get offered the job. I now have a better idea of how hard it may be for a company to make reasonable accommodations for me. In some situations, yes, employers legally have to make reasonable accommodations for employees. I need to be an employee first.
I should probably try to make money online. I have a few ideas for how, and I'm pretty sure they would do well. The first problem is that making online income requires a ton of work. More work than I have the energy for. The other problem is that it always takes a long time before making any money from any online business. It could take months, or longer! If I could find the right job in town, it would not only be easier, but I could potentially make more money more quickly.
So where do I go from here? Maybe I should go apply at that one place that's simmering on the back burner. It might be worth being in an MCS trigger-free environment, even if the other aspects of the job could be slightly troublesome.
I'm open to suggestions or tips! If I do find a job that works well for me, I'll be sure to report it in hope that I help others with MCS who need to make money.
I'm doing a lot better now, but I'm not healthy. I have a ways to go. I'm better enough that I feel I can manage working 10-15 hours a week, for now, to help bring in income to pay our bills. And so, I'm currently in the process of looking for ways to make money. This is a challenging process. I have no lack of jobs to choose from here in ND - there are way more jobs than workers! I could have any job I wanted if I were healthy. My health is the challenge.
At first, I thought I should take my old job back at the natural foods department in the local grocery store. I worked there for 2 years about 7 years ago, so the learning curve would be minimal and the work would be simple enough. I figured it would be a good fit for me. My only concern was MCS reactions, because the store isn't that clean. I thought that a dirty environment would be a lot safer than a clean environment where toxic chemicals are regularly sprayed. Well, that plan got shot down, quickly. I waited a week too long to offer myself to the job. They hired a full time person the week before, which is what they really wanted anyway. Dang!!
So what was next? My husband is a piano teacher, and he told me his student's mom was asking for help at her store. One thing led to another, and I decided to attempt working in her store. It was a bridal store, which intrigued me. I should not have accepted the job at the interview, though. I was feeling a bit sick just being in the store for that hour. She had Air Wick fragrances plugged into many outlets around the store, which caused me to react the moment I walked in, like a brick wall. I didn't understand how sever my sensitivity was, though. I thought that if that was the worst I'd react, maybe I could tolerate the job for 15 hours a week. The job was appealing because of the relaxed, slow atmosphere, and I thought it would be worth minor reactions if it meant the job would otherwise work well for me based on my other medical issues. After 4 hours of my first day of work, I had to quit. I was in serious pain. I had no idea I would react that harshly. At first my heart was palpating, then I had burning eyes and throat, then I felt a bit nauseous, then the fatigue was taking over, and then I lost all focus. Brain fog. After I got home, I started to feel the old fibromyalgia type pain: muscle cramping, electrical-like pain flowing through my muscles, dull aching, and tenderness. This was a week and two days ago. I'm still recovering.
I now know that I have to be very picky about where I work. There is one store in town that I think would work from an MCS point of view, but I have the feeling it may not work for other reasons. The idea of applying there is simmering on the back burner. It may be my back-up plan. So I've been monitoring job postings this week, keeping my eyes open for something that may work well for me.
Yesterday I applied for a job that sounds perfect for me in every way except from an MCS viewpoint. I thought, however, that it would be easy to make reasonable accommodations for me. The job would be administering tests on computers. I'd check test-takers in, answer their questions, and make sure they don't cheat. I would also do the basic cleaning as no janitors are hired. That, to me, sounded perfect. If I can have a say in the types of cleaners used, then I could use non-toxic products that would be safe for me! Perfect fit, right? Besides, the pay and the hours are great. Definitely very interested. I just had a phone interview for the job, and I was very open and honest about my MCS trouble. I thought I sold myself very well, because I have quality experience in administering tests and I can be very quite for hours with ease, but the the interviewer kept saying, "I don't think this will work for you." She explained that the company cannot change out the types of cleaners they use. The company buys cleaners in bulk, then distributes them to all the branches around the country. They will make no change for one employee. I even offered to bring in my own cleaners, but she said they may not be approved. She did, however, promise to ask around and see if it's possible for me to use my own cleaners, and she will call call me back later this week with an answer. I have hope that they're willing to work with me - afterall, Bismarck is lacking workers, right?
This was a great learning experience for me, even if I don't get offered the job. I now have a better idea of how hard it may be for a company to make reasonable accommodations for me. In some situations, yes, employers legally have to make reasonable accommodations for employees. I need to be an employee first.
I should probably try to make money online. I have a few ideas for how, and I'm pretty sure they would do well. The first problem is that making online income requires a ton of work. More work than I have the energy for. The other problem is that it always takes a long time before making any money from any online business. It could take months, or longer! If I could find the right job in town, it would not only be easier, but I could potentially make more money more quickly.
So where do I go from here? Maybe I should go apply at that one place that's simmering on the back burner. It might be worth being in an MCS trigger-free environment, even if the other aspects of the job could be slightly troublesome.
I'm open to suggestions or tips! If I do find a job that works well for me, I'll be sure to report it in hope that I help others with MCS who need to make money.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
The Wounded Hawk
Last night I was reading A Bride's Story Vol. 5 by Kaoru Mori, and one of the chapters really inspired me. I think it captured the greatest issue all sick people worry about the most. Before I share the story in the chapter, let me give you a bit of background. A Bride's Story is a Japanese manga (not a childish manga, like you may be used to seeing,) about nomadic (traveling) tribes living on the Silk Road (eastern part of the Middle East) during the turn of the 19th century. It follows a few main characters as they live their day-to-day lives, really immersing the reader in the culture, habits, or lifestyle of these nomadic Muslim people. The two main characters featured in the pages I'm about to show you are an odd couple in an arranged marriage. The woman, Amir, is about 20 years old and is married to Karluk, the 12 year old boy, from a neighboring tribe (they have a very loving and patient relationship, despite the ages.) Amir loves to hunt with a bow and arrow, and then cooks for and feeds Karluk's family with the meat.
(Japanese books are read from right to left, the opposite of English books. Click on the photo to enlarge them to read. I do not have permission to use these images, but I do own the books. The scan quality isn't great because I didn't want to hurt my book by flattening them. I also don't want to give away the whole story/ experience, as I believe in buying the books to support the author. These books are expensive - but so worth reading!)
Amir goes out hunting and spots a wounded hawk, which she can tell is a trained hawk belonging to someone...
She takes the hawk back to her village with the intention of trying to heal it and finding its owner...
Amir hand feeds the hawk meat and tends to its wound. A while goes by, and Amir and Karluk decide it's time to release the bird to the wild since no one has claimed it. The hawk can't fly.
Karluk asks Amir if she wants to keep it as a pet, and she says, "That is completely unthinkable!" She wants the hawk to have a full life of flying and hunting, saying the hawk wouldn't really be living as a pet. She would rather the hawk be eaten in nature.
Karluk offers to "put down" the hawk so Amir, who had grown attached to it, doesn't have to. They bury the bird. The owner of the hawk finally comes to town, just a little too late.
There are many wonderful, strong messages to consider in this short story. What is the value and purpose of life? Is life worth living if you're not in good health, unable to "fully live?" Do other people have the authority to help you end your life if you're not healthy enough to "fully live?" Did Karluk do the right thing by putting down the hawk, or would the right thing have been to let the hawk live until it was eaten by a predator? Was Amir wrong to refuse to keep it as a pet and give it the happiest life it could expect to have with a broken wing?
If you're reading this blog, I'm guessing that you or someone you know is suffering complicated health issues. Those of us who are not healthy can relate to this poor hawk, can we not? The hawk had the will to live, because it gladly accepted food from Amir. The hawk had the will to attempt flight after trying to heal its wing. The hawk clearly desired to live a full, normal life. Don't we also desire a full, normal life? We say things like, "I wish I could taste my neighbor's heavenly pumpkin pie again, but my body would hurt too much if I did." Or, "If only I didn't get sick, I'd be president of my company now and I would be so fulfilled!" Or, "I wish my spouse didn't leave me, because it's not my fault that I got sick and couldn't take care of myself anymore!" Or, "If only I could do that one thing, despite my sickness, I would be happy." I also know that many sick people are too depressed to care about a normal life again, but yet somehow, they hold on to life, knowing there might be something left for them.
What do we do with us sick people who have the will to live, yet can't fully participate in life to the degree that most people do? Would it be more hospitable of us to "put them down," so to speak, than to help them live their life, with their abilities, to their fullest? Is life not longer valuable if the person can't fully participate in life? If a painter loses their hands, they can learn to paint with their mouth or toes. If a pilot loses his vision, he cannot make any adjustments in order to continue flying. There are various degrees of limitations among the sick. Some are able to make do with their limits and still find fulfillment in life. Others will have to learn a whole new way to be fulfilled if they are to continue enjoying life. What constitutes "not being able to fully participate in life?"
This is a very dark subject. I've been there - a year ago I was laying in bed in sheer pain, contemplating my worth. Wondering if recovery was even possible. Wondering if I'd ever feel even an ounce of happiness again. I held on to hope. I chose to believe that my life has value, even if I was useless to others in that state. I chose to believe that I deserved to live, even if my life was miserable and painful every moment of the day. I chose to believe that I could create a purpose for myself, even if I stayed that miserable the rest of my life. I chose to give my life value, and I chose to live. If I were that poor hawk, though, I would have been "put down." I, thankfully, am recovering! I know others, however, who haven't made any improvements in years, yet they still hold on to life, believing that they also deserve their valuable life. Some of these sick people I know are even very joyful, happy people, despite their severe limitations from poor health. They found purpose, and they're living their purpose!
As a Roman Catholic, I have faith-based answers to all these questions. I don't want to disclose them on this blog, as my intention is to help you come to your own conclusions. I'm not here to preach religion. Don't you think, however, that you would prefer to fight for your life than to let someone end it for you? What is your life worth to you? Can you make adjustments in order to find fulfillment? If not, do you still want your life? Why?
Have hope. Have faith.
Give yourself purpose.
Your worth is not determined by your health limitations.
(That said, I would have done the same as Amir and put the hawk down. The hawk grew completely dependent on her, and she couldn't be fully responsible for it as she had too many other responsibilities to her fellow humans. If the hawk were a human, however, the story would have been much different.)
(Japanese books are read from right to left, the opposite of English books. Click on the photo to enlarge them to read. I do not have permission to use these images, but I do own the books. The scan quality isn't great because I didn't want to hurt my book by flattening them. I also don't want to give away the whole story/ experience, as I believe in buying the books to support the author. These books are expensive - but so worth reading!)
Amir goes out hunting and spots a wounded hawk, which she can tell is a trained hawk belonging to someone...
She takes the hawk back to her village with the intention of trying to heal it and finding its owner...
Amir hand feeds the hawk meat and tends to its wound. A while goes by, and Amir and Karluk decide it's time to release the bird to the wild since no one has claimed it. The hawk can't fly.
Karluk asks Amir if she wants to keep it as a pet, and she says, "That is completely unthinkable!" She wants the hawk to have a full life of flying and hunting, saying the hawk wouldn't really be living as a pet. She would rather the hawk be eaten in nature.Karluk offers to "put down" the hawk so Amir, who had grown attached to it, doesn't have to. They bury the bird. The owner of the hawk finally comes to town, just a little too late.
There are many wonderful, strong messages to consider in this short story. What is the value and purpose of life? Is life worth living if you're not in good health, unable to "fully live?" Do other people have the authority to help you end your life if you're not healthy enough to "fully live?" Did Karluk do the right thing by putting down the hawk, or would the right thing have been to let the hawk live until it was eaten by a predator? Was Amir wrong to refuse to keep it as a pet and give it the happiest life it could expect to have with a broken wing?
If you're reading this blog, I'm guessing that you or someone you know is suffering complicated health issues. Those of us who are not healthy can relate to this poor hawk, can we not? The hawk had the will to live, because it gladly accepted food from Amir. The hawk had the will to attempt flight after trying to heal its wing. The hawk clearly desired to live a full, normal life. Don't we also desire a full, normal life? We say things like, "I wish I could taste my neighbor's heavenly pumpkin pie again, but my body would hurt too much if I did." Or, "If only I didn't get sick, I'd be president of my company now and I would be so fulfilled!" Or, "I wish my spouse didn't leave me, because it's not my fault that I got sick and couldn't take care of myself anymore!" Or, "If only I could do that one thing, despite my sickness, I would be happy." I also know that many sick people are too depressed to care about a normal life again, but yet somehow, they hold on to life, knowing there might be something left for them.
What do we do with us sick people who have the will to live, yet can't fully participate in life to the degree that most people do? Would it be more hospitable of us to "put them down," so to speak, than to help them live their life, with their abilities, to their fullest? Is life not longer valuable if the person can't fully participate in life? If a painter loses their hands, they can learn to paint with their mouth or toes. If a pilot loses his vision, he cannot make any adjustments in order to continue flying. There are various degrees of limitations among the sick. Some are able to make do with their limits and still find fulfillment in life. Others will have to learn a whole new way to be fulfilled if they are to continue enjoying life. What constitutes "not being able to fully participate in life?"
This is a very dark subject. I've been there - a year ago I was laying in bed in sheer pain, contemplating my worth. Wondering if recovery was even possible. Wondering if I'd ever feel even an ounce of happiness again. I held on to hope. I chose to believe that my life has value, even if I was useless to others in that state. I chose to believe that I deserved to live, even if my life was miserable and painful every moment of the day. I chose to believe that I could create a purpose for myself, even if I stayed that miserable the rest of my life. I chose to give my life value, and I chose to live. If I were that poor hawk, though, I would have been "put down." I, thankfully, am recovering! I know others, however, who haven't made any improvements in years, yet they still hold on to life, believing that they also deserve their valuable life. Some of these sick people I know are even very joyful, happy people, despite their severe limitations from poor health. They found purpose, and they're living their purpose!
As a Roman Catholic, I have faith-based answers to all these questions. I don't want to disclose them on this blog, as my intention is to help you come to your own conclusions. I'm not here to preach religion. Don't you think, however, that you would prefer to fight for your life than to let someone end it for you? What is your life worth to you? Can you make adjustments in order to find fulfillment? If not, do you still want your life? Why?
Have hope. Have faith.
Give yourself purpose.
Your worth is not determined by your health limitations.
(That said, I would have done the same as Amir and put the hawk down. The hawk grew completely dependent on her, and she couldn't be fully responsible for it as she had too many other responsibilities to her fellow humans. If the hawk were a human, however, the story would have been much different.)
Sunday, October 26, 2014
"Canary"
I recently learned that people who suffer multiple chemical sensitives are called "canaries." This is because we're being likened to canaries used by miners. Miners would take the birds with them into the mines and send them ahead into uncharted territory. If the birds died, the miners would know there is toxic/ deadly gas that needs to be avoided. In other words, a "canary" is a person who suffers toxins other people can't yet detect.
The analogy made me cry a little. It's a rather grim, depressing way of describing ourselves. It makes it sound hopeless, as if we were born to suffer. As if we're disposable test subjects. If too many "canaries" die from a company's products, is that when it is decided to pull those products from the market? Unfortunately, this does sound like the truth. Companies don't pull their poorly tested products from the market until too many people complain about the dangers and side effects they experienced with the product.
If those of us who chemical sensitive are "canaries," shouldn't everyone else pay close attention to us as we use products in order to save themselves from harm? If we are going to embrace being "canaries," shouldn't we use our roles to be activists for a cleaner, safer, less-toxic world?
I, personally, am not so sure I want to embrace the term. I believe I serve a greater purpose than being the one to "suffer" or "die" as a warning to others.
My doctor warned me not to Google MCS. He didn't want me reading all sorts of misinformation and skepticism from the medical community. He also didn't want me to get scared or confused. I needed to learn my own body without influence. I'm sure he had other reasons for telling me not to Google this. I respected this, and I didn't Google MCS... for the first month. As the "diagnosis" (he doesn't like to diagnose or use labels, which I also respect) made more and more sense during that first month, my curiosity grew. I did, however, remember how futile and infuriating it was to research fibromyalgia online. I learned not to bother reading medical websites, because they are wrong and will only anger me. I also read a lot of very bad advice. This time, when Googling MCS, I ignored all the medical results and "studies" and went straight to the blogs and forums of people with MCS. I just wanted to read about other people's experiences to gain a little perspective. Reading these blogs has helped me gain a lot of perspective. While I don't feel the need to wear an organic hemp mask and a personal air filter everywhere I go, I think I could have needed to be that extreme if I didn't seek out treatment for all my health problems when I did. While I don't get extreme flu-like symptoms that warrant an ER visit when I'm reacting, my reactions, though more mild, are still my body's very important way of communicating with me. I may not be "as bad" as the most vocal "canaries" online, but my suffering is still my own and is still important. I'm also learning from these blogs ways that may help me improve more. I do live in a house with carpet, particle board cabinets, a memory foam mattress, rotting window frames, and so on.
The most helpful/ interesting blogs for me so far have been:
http://safecanarynest.com/welcome
http://thrivingwithmcs.com/blog
If you don't suffer MCS, but want to know what it's all about, I highly recommend either of these blogs. They're very "eye opening" and they're about these people's experiences.
The analogy made me cry a little. It's a rather grim, depressing way of describing ourselves. It makes it sound hopeless, as if we were born to suffer. As if we're disposable test subjects. If too many "canaries" die from a company's products, is that when it is decided to pull those products from the market? Unfortunately, this does sound like the truth. Companies don't pull their poorly tested products from the market until too many people complain about the dangers and side effects they experienced with the product.
If those of us who chemical sensitive are "canaries," shouldn't everyone else pay close attention to us as we use products in order to save themselves from harm? If we are going to embrace being "canaries," shouldn't we use our roles to be activists for a cleaner, safer, less-toxic world?
I, personally, am not so sure I want to embrace the term. I believe I serve a greater purpose than being the one to "suffer" or "die" as a warning to others.
My doctor warned me not to Google MCS. He didn't want me reading all sorts of misinformation and skepticism from the medical community. He also didn't want me to get scared or confused. I needed to learn my own body without influence. I'm sure he had other reasons for telling me not to Google this. I respected this, and I didn't Google MCS... for the first month. As the "diagnosis" (he doesn't like to diagnose or use labels, which I also respect) made more and more sense during that first month, my curiosity grew. I did, however, remember how futile and infuriating it was to research fibromyalgia online. I learned not to bother reading medical websites, because they are wrong and will only anger me. I also read a lot of very bad advice. This time, when Googling MCS, I ignored all the medical results and "studies" and went straight to the blogs and forums of people with MCS. I just wanted to read about other people's experiences to gain a little perspective. Reading these blogs has helped me gain a lot of perspective. While I don't feel the need to wear an organic hemp mask and a personal air filter everywhere I go, I think I could have needed to be that extreme if I didn't seek out treatment for all my health problems when I did. While I don't get extreme flu-like symptoms that warrant an ER visit when I'm reacting, my reactions, though more mild, are still my body's very important way of communicating with me. I may not be "as bad" as the most vocal "canaries" online, but my suffering is still my own and is still important. I'm also learning from these blogs ways that may help me improve more. I do live in a house with carpet, particle board cabinets, a memory foam mattress, rotting window frames, and so on.
The most helpful/ interesting blogs for me so far have been:
http://safecanarynest.com/welcome
http://thrivingwithmcs.com/blog
If you don't suffer MCS, but want to know what it's all about, I highly recommend either of these blogs. They're very "eye opening" and they're about these people's experiences.
Friday, October 24, 2014
MCS Map
I stumbled upon a really interesting project for those with multiple chemical sensitivities. It is a map which tracks where in the world people with MCS live. You have to fill out a short, easy, non-invasive form to put yourself on the map. The person who is running the map has to review your form before the map gets updated with your location. My submission isn't on the map yet, but it will be soon enough.
MCS Map Project
It is very helpful to connect with others who share your condition, but it's also very enlightening to know just how many others share it! This makes me feel vindicated, like I'm not the "weirdo" with the rare unexplainable condition that no one believes in. :)
MCS Map Project
It is very helpful to connect with others who share your condition, but it's also very enlightening to know just how many others share it! This makes me feel vindicated, like I'm not the "weirdo" with the rare unexplainable condition that no one believes in. :)
Chronic Fatigue and fibromyalgia through Western Medicine
Chronic fatigue syndrome is the elusive "mystery" diagnoses within western medicine. It is often accompanied by fibromyalgia, another "mystery" diagnoses. The diagnoses usually have to be made by a rheumatologist, who typically cannot diagnose either condition without a great deal of testing by other doctors first. The rheumatologist diagnoses by a process of elimination through these tests, not by signs and symptoms. The reason for this is because both chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia are not understood. They are the names of diagnoses given to seemingly healthy patients (based on positive blood work, nerve tests, MRIs, X-Rays, and other tests) who complain of a constant lack of energy and chronic widespread pain.
I spent most of 2013 in doctor offices at the local hospital for various reasons: wrist pain, MRSA abscess, heart palpitations and chest pain, menstrual issues, widespread constant pain, allergies, brain fog, and plummeting energy. I didn't feel healthy. I felt pretty awful, and I couldn't necessarily tell what wasn't feeling right - it was just a general sense of not feeling well. I saw an internal medicine doctor (at the walk-in clinic,) neurologist, cardiologist, orthopedic doctor, allergy specialist, occupational therapist, ER doctors, gynocologist, and rheumatologist. Due to the extra long waiting list for the two local rheumatologists (what does that tell you about the city I live in?), I traveled out-of-state to see one. The simplified results, in general? "Idiopathic." I'm "the golden image of health." I was told by one doctor to see a psychologist, and she set me up for an appointment with one the very next morning, nearly forcing me to go. I didn't go, because I knew it wasn't all in my head. I had never been more insulted in my life (I have a great deal of respect for psychologists - I even worked for a couple and felt it was the most rewarding job I could have!)
I did gain a few things from these doctor visits, such as healing my wrist (temporarily, the same issues came back a year later,) finding out I do actually have arthritis damage and possible fractures, being saved from the worst possible pain ever that is a MRSA abscess in a location I do not need to disclose to you, getting recommended for a laparoscopy to confirm a diagnosis of endometreosis, finding out that my heart murmur hasn't grown any worse despite the heart trouble I've had, and gaining some helpful diagnoses. The diagnoses are fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, and arthritis. Though these diagnoses didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, they gave me labels to give to my employers. That was worth a lot.
I received the diagnosis of arthritis back in 2011 in Idaho, when my wrist pain was first getting out of control. Seeing that doctor was worth it, as I learned a great deal (though he put me in horrid pain by injecting my wrists with cortisone, which crystallized in my wrists, but that's another story.) I saw a doctor who specialized in hands - in fact, he only took patients who had hand issues in his clinic. He took x-rays, and the results were obvious. I had white lines around my inflamed wrist bones that were obvious even to my untrained eye. My right wrist was in worse shape than my left wrist, and I could see that the bones in my right wrist were more inflamed than in my left. That was the easy diagnosis to get. I found in late 2013 through my naturopathic doctor that I wasn't stuck with the arthritis. Within a couple months of his treatments, diet, and supplements, inflammation throughout my entire body went down substantially. My wrist was feeling better than it had in years.
Getting the other diagnoses was harder, and cost me a lot of money. Based on finances alone, I do not recommend going through all the hoops to get diagnosed. Why? Because medical doctors can't treat you, even with a diagnosis, because they don't understand the conditions. I gained information, but I did not gain any help. None whatsoever. Long story short, I went back to the internal medicine doctor at the walk-in clinic after running every possible test she could think of. I was the one to ask her about the possibilities of Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, or fibromyalgia. She said, "Oh, well I'm comfortable diagnosing fibromyalgia. I just have one test to do first. Do you want to try?" It was the infamous "tender point test." She tapped 18 points on my body, and if I responded "ouch" to at least 11 of them, I got the diagnosis of fibro. Keep in mind, she wouldn't do this test without first doing all the other testing I did. This was a "last resort" test, but it was my idea, not hers. I passed the test with flying colors (what are flying colors anyway - we keep using this expression, and it sounds odd.) It was at the time that she added the diagnoses of chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression, saying I exhibited all the symptoms and they tend to go hand-in-hand with firbo.
She put me on the lowest dose of Cymbalta, an anti-depressant, saying that she's seen her other fibromyalgia patients improve with it. Before Cymbalta, I was at least able to go to to work. I wasn't feeling well, or even doing a good job in many instances. But I showed up, did my job, and got paid. On Cymbalta, I couldn't get out of bed. It caused me to go from bad to near death. I missed over a week of work. I couldn't get out of bed to feed myself, so my husband brought me breakfast and tea. I couldn't read, I couldn't play a game, I couldn't day dream, I couldn't sleep - I was a zombie. I lost my will to live, and to this day I wonder how I actually survived (thank you, Holy Spirit!) After 13 days of taking it, I quit. I refused to take anymore. The problem was that it did damage to me that I believe I'm still recovering from. I hardly improved after cutting myself clean of the drug - even months later, I was still feeling like a complete zombie.
The problem was... she wasn't techincally qualified to diagnose fibromyalgia, and so insurance wouldn't accept it. Technically, a rheumatologist has to diagnose. I had my first appointment with a naturopathic doctor in New Hampshire (he came highly recommended, worth traveling for.) I decided that while I was traveling anyway, I might as well see a rheumatologist. I was able to get an appointment the day after I saw my naturopathic doctor the first time. I really liked the rheumatologist. He listened well, he asked a lot of detailed questions, and he examined me very thoroughly. He confirmed the diagnosis of fibromyalgia with mild confidence. He told me I certainly had the symptoms, and through process of elimination based on all the testing I had done, the diagnosis made sense. He also did the tender point test on me. His recommendation? He quite seriously, honestly, said, "Do what your naturopathic doctor says. I bet it will work." My jaw hit the floor. He also recommended seeing him again after several months of working with my naturopathic doctor, because he wanted an update. I never felt the need to go back to him, because my naturopathic doctor was actually treating me, and was actually getting results (and still am!)
Since my rheumatologist told me to follow "alternative medicine," I've made the decision not to bother with MDs anymore. I won't be doing my follow up appointment with my cardiologist (he had a few concerns, but I already got my answers - allergies cause heart distress.) I decided not to get the laparoscopy, because my issues are clearing up on my ND's regimen, slowly but surely. I will not get more blood work done, despite the recommendation of my internal medicine doctor. I see no point, whatsoever. My allergy testing was a complete and total joke - it showed I wasn't allergic to corn, and corn allergy reactions have put me in the ER before! I lost my trust in "testing" methods. Why would I return to spend money on an institution I don't trust?
The entire experience of seeing medical doctors wasn't a waste, like I said earlier. It made me much more willing to trust my naturopathic doctor without wondering if I was taking too extreme of measures of traveling to see him. I did learn my blood sugar and blood pressure levels (which I was told were very healthy levels, but after my own research and 3 alternative medicine doctors, I found out I was hypoglycemic, which is NOT healthy - doctors and nurses are only trained to treat high blood sugar and pressure.) I also ruled out all sorts of medical issues and had a few treated, like I mentioned earlier. It gave me peace of mind. Occupational therapy did help me recover motion in my wrist when I had lost all motion (but I now know a MUCH cheaper and faster way to solve the problem.) Was the whole process worth the $7,000 (after insurance) I'm paying off? No. My money was more valuable.
Oh, and by the way, I no longer have any fibromyalgia symptoms, unless I eat sugar in any form. Sugar is my worst enemy. I have a great deal of respect for my naturopathic doctor. ;) This is the topic for another post.
I tried to spare you a lot of detail in this so I could focus on the overall point of the story. If you want more detail on my experiences with doctors, I would be happy to talk to you about it. Leave me a comment or email me: Sarahmlanger@gmail.com.
I spent most of 2013 in doctor offices at the local hospital for various reasons: wrist pain, MRSA abscess, heart palpitations and chest pain, menstrual issues, widespread constant pain, allergies, brain fog, and plummeting energy. I didn't feel healthy. I felt pretty awful, and I couldn't necessarily tell what wasn't feeling right - it was just a general sense of not feeling well. I saw an internal medicine doctor (at the walk-in clinic,) neurologist, cardiologist, orthopedic doctor, allergy specialist, occupational therapist, ER doctors, gynocologist, and rheumatologist. Due to the extra long waiting list for the two local rheumatologists (what does that tell you about the city I live in?), I traveled out-of-state to see one. The simplified results, in general? "Idiopathic." I'm "the golden image of health." I was told by one doctor to see a psychologist, and she set me up for an appointment with one the very next morning, nearly forcing me to go. I didn't go, because I knew it wasn't all in my head. I had never been more insulted in my life (I have a great deal of respect for psychologists - I even worked for a couple and felt it was the most rewarding job I could have!)
I did gain a few things from these doctor visits, such as healing my wrist (temporarily, the same issues came back a year later,) finding out I do actually have arthritis damage and possible fractures, being saved from the worst possible pain ever that is a MRSA abscess in a location I do not need to disclose to you, getting recommended for a laparoscopy to confirm a diagnosis of endometreosis, finding out that my heart murmur hasn't grown any worse despite the heart trouble I've had, and gaining some helpful diagnoses. The diagnoses are fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, and arthritis. Though these diagnoses didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, they gave me labels to give to my employers. That was worth a lot.
I received the diagnosis of arthritis back in 2011 in Idaho, when my wrist pain was first getting out of control. Seeing that doctor was worth it, as I learned a great deal (though he put me in horrid pain by injecting my wrists with cortisone, which crystallized in my wrists, but that's another story.) I saw a doctor who specialized in hands - in fact, he only took patients who had hand issues in his clinic. He took x-rays, and the results were obvious. I had white lines around my inflamed wrist bones that were obvious even to my untrained eye. My right wrist was in worse shape than my left wrist, and I could see that the bones in my right wrist were more inflamed than in my left. That was the easy diagnosis to get. I found in late 2013 through my naturopathic doctor that I wasn't stuck with the arthritis. Within a couple months of his treatments, diet, and supplements, inflammation throughout my entire body went down substantially. My wrist was feeling better than it had in years.
Getting the other diagnoses was harder, and cost me a lot of money. Based on finances alone, I do not recommend going through all the hoops to get diagnosed. Why? Because medical doctors can't treat you, even with a diagnosis, because they don't understand the conditions. I gained information, but I did not gain any help. None whatsoever. Long story short, I went back to the internal medicine doctor at the walk-in clinic after running every possible test she could think of. I was the one to ask her about the possibilities of Multiple Sclerosis, Lupus, or fibromyalgia. She said, "Oh, well I'm comfortable diagnosing fibromyalgia. I just have one test to do first. Do you want to try?" It was the infamous "tender point test." She tapped 18 points on my body, and if I responded "ouch" to at least 11 of them, I got the diagnosis of fibro. Keep in mind, she wouldn't do this test without first doing all the other testing I did. This was a "last resort" test, but it was my idea, not hers. I passed the test with flying colors (what are flying colors anyway - we keep using this expression, and it sounds odd.) It was at the time that she added the diagnoses of chronic fatigue, anxiety, and depression, saying I exhibited all the symptoms and they tend to go hand-in-hand with firbo.
She put me on the lowest dose of Cymbalta, an anti-depressant, saying that she's seen her other fibromyalgia patients improve with it. Before Cymbalta, I was at least able to go to to work. I wasn't feeling well, or even doing a good job in many instances. But I showed up, did my job, and got paid. On Cymbalta, I couldn't get out of bed. It caused me to go from bad to near death. I missed over a week of work. I couldn't get out of bed to feed myself, so my husband brought me breakfast and tea. I couldn't read, I couldn't play a game, I couldn't day dream, I couldn't sleep - I was a zombie. I lost my will to live, and to this day I wonder how I actually survived (thank you, Holy Spirit!) After 13 days of taking it, I quit. I refused to take anymore. The problem was that it did damage to me that I believe I'm still recovering from. I hardly improved after cutting myself clean of the drug - even months later, I was still feeling like a complete zombie.
The problem was... she wasn't techincally qualified to diagnose fibromyalgia, and so insurance wouldn't accept it. Technically, a rheumatologist has to diagnose. I had my first appointment with a naturopathic doctor in New Hampshire (he came highly recommended, worth traveling for.) I decided that while I was traveling anyway, I might as well see a rheumatologist. I was able to get an appointment the day after I saw my naturopathic doctor the first time. I really liked the rheumatologist. He listened well, he asked a lot of detailed questions, and he examined me very thoroughly. He confirmed the diagnosis of fibromyalgia with mild confidence. He told me I certainly had the symptoms, and through process of elimination based on all the testing I had done, the diagnosis made sense. He also did the tender point test on me. His recommendation? He quite seriously, honestly, said, "Do what your naturopathic doctor says. I bet it will work." My jaw hit the floor. He also recommended seeing him again after several months of working with my naturopathic doctor, because he wanted an update. I never felt the need to go back to him, because my naturopathic doctor was actually treating me, and was actually getting results (and still am!)
Since my rheumatologist told me to follow "alternative medicine," I've made the decision not to bother with MDs anymore. I won't be doing my follow up appointment with my cardiologist (he had a few concerns, but I already got my answers - allergies cause heart distress.) I decided not to get the laparoscopy, because my issues are clearing up on my ND's regimen, slowly but surely. I will not get more blood work done, despite the recommendation of my internal medicine doctor. I see no point, whatsoever. My allergy testing was a complete and total joke - it showed I wasn't allergic to corn, and corn allergy reactions have put me in the ER before! I lost my trust in "testing" methods. Why would I return to spend money on an institution I don't trust?
The entire experience of seeing medical doctors wasn't a waste, like I said earlier. It made me much more willing to trust my naturopathic doctor without wondering if I was taking too extreme of measures of traveling to see him. I did learn my blood sugar and blood pressure levels (which I was told were very healthy levels, but after my own research and 3 alternative medicine doctors, I found out I was hypoglycemic, which is NOT healthy - doctors and nurses are only trained to treat high blood sugar and pressure.) I also ruled out all sorts of medical issues and had a few treated, like I mentioned earlier. It gave me peace of mind. Occupational therapy did help me recover motion in my wrist when I had lost all motion (but I now know a MUCH cheaper and faster way to solve the problem.) Was the whole process worth the $7,000 (after insurance) I'm paying off? No. My money was more valuable.
Oh, and by the way, I no longer have any fibromyalgia symptoms, unless I eat sugar in any form. Sugar is my worst enemy. I have a great deal of respect for my naturopathic doctor. ;) This is the topic for another post.
I tried to spare you a lot of detail in this so I could focus on the overall point of the story. If you want more detail on my experiences with doctors, I would be happy to talk to you about it. Leave me a comment or email me: Sarahmlanger@gmail.com.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Chlorine, otherwise known as bleach
Chlorine is one of my worst offenders. I didn't realize how much it was affecting me until I started to avoid it, then I noticed some of my symptoms clearing up. I always thought I could tolerate it in small amounts, and that I wasn't actually around it all that often. I assumed that I wasn't exposed to it unless I was swimming or drinking too much unfiltered tap water. I've slowly come to realize just how wrong I was. Chlorine is something we're overexposed to, and it's in a lot more than I realized until recently.
Tap water:
You're probably aware that there is chlorine, fluoride, and arsenic in our tap water. The city you live in is required to tell you the tested levels of all water contaminates or additives in the tap water. They are not shy to say that there is chlorine in the water, because it is supposed to keep the water sanitary. In theory, that's a comforting thought. It's nice to know that all sorts of toxins, bacteria, parasites, fecal matter and other microscopic hazardous "things" are getting killed by an additive to our tap water, right? Well, the problem is that chlorine is also a toxin! And we don't just drink it. We shower in it, bathe in it, wash dishes with it, cook with it - we're exposed to chlorine every time we turn the tap water on.
Swimming pools:
I love to swim. It's my favorite way to work out - always has been. As a kid, I can't remember a year that I wasn't in swimming lessons, and earlier this year I bought a membership to the YMCA primarily due to their heated swimming pools, and started swimming at least once a week for a few months. That's when I started to figure out my sensitivity to chlorine.
Paper products, like toilet paper:
There are a couple methods of making paper stark white, but can you guess what the most popular method is? Bleach. Your basic printing paper or note paper isn't my main concern, though. Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, and tissue paper are the worst offenders because we rub them against our skin several times throughout the day. The paper can be rough on our skin as it is, but the chlorine makes it even more harsh. It causes dryness, irritation, rashes, peeling skin, and itchiness that the paper alone can't do.
Feminine hygiene products:
This deserves a post of its own - it's a huge topic! It's also one of the scariest. It's easy to assume that a tampon or pad is just some formed cotton with a little bit of plastic - harmless and necessary for the job. The problem is, the cotton needs to be sanitized to be made safe. Tampons and pads are heavily treated in chlorine, because they're meant to be used in or near a woman's most sensitive, exposed skin. They need to be very sanitary to avoid infections. (There is an additional issue with these products: cotton is one of most heavily sprayed crops, meaning it's covered in pesticides. I'll get into this in a later post.)
Cotton balls and other cotton products:
When I look at a cotton ball these days all I see is a ball of bleach and pesticides that we routinely rub against our skin or cover a wound with. I cannot emphasis enough how many pesticides are in cotton.
Clothing:
Cotton clothing is often contaminated with bleach in the manufacturing process as a way to sanitize and whiten the clothes for sale. It's also very likely that you, or your mom (whoever does your laundry,) adds bleach to the detergent in order to fight stains and brighten the colors.
Cleaning detergents:
Because of chlorine's amazing ability to kill mold and mildew as well as sanitize anything, it's a very common ingredient in many household cleaners.
Dishes:
If you have ever worked in a place that serves food (in my case, I worked in a movie theater for about 4 years,) then you're probably familiar with the 3-sink dish washing method: soapy water, rinse water,
sanitizing water. We had to put a cap full of bleach in the 3rd sink, and all dishes had to go through that water before getting placed on the drying rack. In other words, the intent is to coat the dishes in bleach to keep it "sanitary."
An ingredient in other household products:
Did you know that chlorine is used to make pesticides and rubber? (Click for source.)
I'm sure I'm missing places where you can find chlorine, because it really is just that common. I still haven't explained the harm that chlorine causes, though. For me, personally, it cases a few noticeable issues. If I drink water with chlorine, I notice that I have to pee much more often in greater volume than what I drank. It irritates my bladder too, making me feel like I can't hold the tiny amount in my bladder and that that tiny amount is going to leak out. (There is a second cause for this problem, which I'll explain in another post.) When I shower or bathe in unfiltered tap water my skin and hair dry out. I feel brittle, and my skin is usually a bit red and irritated. I didn't realize this was an issue until I showered and bathed in filtered water. When I use bleached toilet paper, it leaves me feeling dry, rough, itchy, and sensitive. When I swim in chlorine, I struggle to breathe for the next day or two and it takes up to a week to repair my hair and skin. It also causes heart palpitations and headaches.
Don't just take my word for it. Even the CDC issues warnings about it. Studies have shown that too much chlorine exposure is linked to asthma. It is known to cause dental erosion. It's also linked to bladder cancer.
Detoxing from chlorine has made a great difference for me. I'm breathing better, have healthier skin, my bladder isn't irritated as easily, and dryness and skin irritation from paper products are no longer an issue. I am aware that I'm hyper sensitive to chemicals, but you're probably reading this because you are too.
My Suggestions
Water filter:
They really do work! I've personally only used the Brita pitchers and faucet filters. Both of these products have filtered chlorine out of tap water effectively. Tap water tastes much better and doesn't irritate me as much after it's filtered!
Shower filter:
I recently bought a Culligan shower head with a filter. It works very well! The shower water doesn't smell anymore, it's much softer, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed instead of irritated and dry. I highly recommend this!
Paper products:
I'm a big fan of Seventh Generation, because they specialize in unbleached paper and cotton household products. I really like their whitened toilet paper, but I love their brown toilet paper. I also love their paper towels. They are a little on the expensive side, but thankfully I've been able to find store brands that sell unbleached toilet paper and paper towels. Full Circle and Whole Food's 360 brand are both cheaper and just as good, but because they are store brands, you cannot buy them online (as far as I've seen, anyway.)
Feminine Hygiene:
There are a few of options here, and my favorite suggestion is to switch to menstrual cup. There are several brands out there, all a little different in their shapes and sizes, so I encourage you to shop around to find the brand that works best for you. I am madly in love with my Diva Cup. It is 100% silicone - the same material used in breast implants. I'll explain the benefits of the cup in another post that focuses on female issues (another huge topic for me,) but this is the ultimate solution to reduce chlorine.
Another option is to switch to unbleached organic cotton tampons and pads. This is the more expensive and more wasteful option, but if you're reliant on tampons or pads then you need to make the switch. There are a couple of brands that offer these products, but I'll link you to my favorites. I greatly prefer Seventh Generation pads and pantyliners over any other brand, because they actually stay in place and don't fall apart after a few hours like other brands I've tried. As for tampons, Seventh Generation is great because they offer a version with applicators, but I prefer Natracare.
The other option to to either make or buy reusable pads. I personally have never been able to get these to work well for me, simply because my cycles are too demanding. They also don't fit my underwear well. I know other women have had great success with them, though!
Household cleaning and mold killing:
White vinegar is just as effective at cleaning and killing mold as bleach. White vinegar might hurt your nose, but at least the fumes aren't toxic! Vinegar also sanitizes just as effectively. There is no reason to use bleach instead of vinegar. In fact, white vinegar is highly effective at most cleaning jobs, and can replace most of your cleaners. It will clean windows without streaking, kill germs on baby toys, sanitize the kitchen counter, soften and clean your clothes in washing machine, and clean the floor with your mop.
Swimming:
This one is the hardest. Ideally, I'd say go swim in a lake. Since that isn't a possibility for most people (or if it is, the water is too cold,) then the alternative is to seek out a salt water pool.
Cotton products:
There are a few brands these days that sell organic unbleached cotton balls. I personally like cotton rounds the best.
Clothing:
Where there are many organic cotton clothing companies out there, what I'm not sure about at this time is whether or not they use bleach. I cannot, at this time, offer advice on avoiding bleach in clothing, except that I recommend avoiding using bleach on your clothing when you wash.
That's it for my suggestions for now. I would LOVE to hear your chlorine story and your avoidance suggestions too!
Tap water:
You're probably aware that there is chlorine, fluoride, and arsenic in our tap water. The city you live in is required to tell you the tested levels of all water contaminates or additives in the tap water. They are not shy to say that there is chlorine in the water, because it is supposed to keep the water sanitary. In theory, that's a comforting thought. It's nice to know that all sorts of toxins, bacteria, parasites, fecal matter and other microscopic hazardous "things" are getting killed by an additive to our tap water, right? Well, the problem is that chlorine is also a toxin! And we don't just drink it. We shower in it, bathe in it, wash dishes with it, cook with it - we're exposed to chlorine every time we turn the tap water on.
Swimming pools:
I love to swim. It's my favorite way to work out - always has been. As a kid, I can't remember a year that I wasn't in swimming lessons, and earlier this year I bought a membership to the YMCA primarily due to their heated swimming pools, and started swimming at least once a week for a few months. That's when I started to figure out my sensitivity to chlorine.
Paper products, like toilet paper:
There are a couple methods of making paper stark white, but can you guess what the most popular method is? Bleach. Your basic printing paper or note paper isn't my main concern, though. Paper towels, toilet paper, napkins, and tissue paper are the worst offenders because we rub them against our skin several times throughout the day. The paper can be rough on our skin as it is, but the chlorine makes it even more harsh. It causes dryness, irritation, rashes, peeling skin, and itchiness that the paper alone can't do.
Feminine hygiene products:
This deserves a post of its own - it's a huge topic! It's also one of the scariest. It's easy to assume that a tampon or pad is just some formed cotton with a little bit of plastic - harmless and necessary for the job. The problem is, the cotton needs to be sanitized to be made safe. Tampons and pads are heavily treated in chlorine, because they're meant to be used in or near a woman's most sensitive, exposed skin. They need to be very sanitary to avoid infections. (There is an additional issue with these products: cotton is one of most heavily sprayed crops, meaning it's covered in pesticides. I'll get into this in a later post.)
Cotton balls and other cotton products:
When I look at a cotton ball these days all I see is a ball of bleach and pesticides that we routinely rub against our skin or cover a wound with. I cannot emphasis enough how many pesticides are in cotton.
Clothing:
Cotton clothing is often contaminated with bleach in the manufacturing process as a way to sanitize and whiten the clothes for sale. It's also very likely that you, or your mom (whoever does your laundry,) adds bleach to the detergent in order to fight stains and brighten the colors.
Cleaning detergents:
Because of chlorine's amazing ability to kill mold and mildew as well as sanitize anything, it's a very common ingredient in many household cleaners.
Dishes:
If you have ever worked in a place that serves food (in my case, I worked in a movie theater for about 4 years,) then you're probably familiar with the 3-sink dish washing method: soapy water, rinse water,
sanitizing water. We had to put a cap full of bleach in the 3rd sink, and all dishes had to go through that water before getting placed on the drying rack. In other words, the intent is to coat the dishes in bleach to keep it "sanitary."
An ingredient in other household products:
Did you know that chlorine is used to make pesticides and rubber? (Click for source.)
I'm sure I'm missing places where you can find chlorine, because it really is just that common. I still haven't explained the harm that chlorine causes, though. For me, personally, it cases a few noticeable issues. If I drink water with chlorine, I notice that I have to pee much more often in greater volume than what I drank. It irritates my bladder too, making me feel like I can't hold the tiny amount in my bladder and that that tiny amount is going to leak out. (There is a second cause for this problem, which I'll explain in another post.) When I shower or bathe in unfiltered tap water my skin and hair dry out. I feel brittle, and my skin is usually a bit red and irritated. I didn't realize this was an issue until I showered and bathed in filtered water. When I use bleached toilet paper, it leaves me feeling dry, rough, itchy, and sensitive. When I swim in chlorine, I struggle to breathe for the next day or two and it takes up to a week to repair my hair and skin. It also causes heart palpitations and headaches.
Don't just take my word for it. Even the CDC issues warnings about it. Studies have shown that too much chlorine exposure is linked to asthma. It is known to cause dental erosion. It's also linked to bladder cancer.
Detoxing from chlorine has made a great difference for me. I'm breathing better, have healthier skin, my bladder isn't irritated as easily, and dryness and skin irritation from paper products are no longer an issue. I am aware that I'm hyper sensitive to chemicals, but you're probably reading this because you are too.
My Suggestions
Water filter:
They really do work! I've personally only used the Brita pitchers and faucet filters. Both of these products have filtered chlorine out of tap water effectively. Tap water tastes much better and doesn't irritate me as much after it's filtered!
Shower filter:
I recently bought a Culligan shower head with a filter. It works very well! The shower water doesn't smell anymore, it's much softer, and leaves my skin feeling refreshed instead of irritated and dry. I highly recommend this!
Paper products:
I'm a big fan of Seventh Generation, because they specialize in unbleached paper and cotton household products. I really like their whitened toilet paper, but I love their brown toilet paper. I also love their paper towels. They are a little on the expensive side, but thankfully I've been able to find store brands that sell unbleached toilet paper and paper towels. Full Circle and Whole Food's 360 brand are both cheaper and just as good, but because they are store brands, you cannot buy them online (as far as I've seen, anyway.)
Feminine Hygiene:
There are a few of options here, and my favorite suggestion is to switch to menstrual cup. There are several brands out there, all a little different in their shapes and sizes, so I encourage you to shop around to find the brand that works best for you. I am madly in love with my Diva Cup. It is 100% silicone - the same material used in breast implants. I'll explain the benefits of the cup in another post that focuses on female issues (another huge topic for me,) but this is the ultimate solution to reduce chlorine.
Another option is to switch to unbleached organic cotton tampons and pads. This is the more expensive and more wasteful option, but if you're reliant on tampons or pads then you need to make the switch. There are a couple of brands that offer these products, but I'll link you to my favorites. I greatly prefer Seventh Generation pads and pantyliners over any other brand, because they actually stay in place and don't fall apart after a few hours like other brands I've tried. As for tampons, Seventh Generation is great because they offer a version with applicators, but I prefer Natracare.
The other option to to either make or buy reusable pads. I personally have never been able to get these to work well for me, simply because my cycles are too demanding. They also don't fit my underwear well. I know other women have had great success with them, though!
Household cleaning and mold killing:
White vinegar is just as effective at cleaning and killing mold as bleach. White vinegar might hurt your nose, but at least the fumes aren't toxic! Vinegar also sanitizes just as effectively. There is no reason to use bleach instead of vinegar. In fact, white vinegar is highly effective at most cleaning jobs, and can replace most of your cleaners. It will clean windows without streaking, kill germs on baby toys, sanitize the kitchen counter, soften and clean your clothes in washing machine, and clean the floor with your mop.
Swimming:
This one is the hardest. Ideally, I'd say go swim in a lake. Since that isn't a possibility for most people (or if it is, the water is too cold,) then the alternative is to seek out a salt water pool.
Cotton products:
There are a few brands these days that sell organic unbleached cotton balls. I personally like cotton rounds the best.
Clothing:
Where there are many organic cotton clothing companies out there, what I'm not sure about at this time is whether or not they use bleach. I cannot, at this time, offer advice on avoiding bleach in clothing, except that I recommend avoiding using bleach on your clothing when you wash.
That's it for my suggestions for now. I would LOVE to hear your chlorine story and your avoidance suggestions too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)