{"id":3854,"date":"2021-04-29T09:44:37","date_gmt":"2021-04-29T13:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/?page_id=3854"},"modified":"2022-12-07T12:11:07","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T17:11:07","slug":"my-illness-journey","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/my-illness-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Voice Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Does Anyone Care<\/strong><\/a>
Ren\u00e9e Gabrych<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lack of accommodation for a disability<\/a><\/strong>
Ginger Major<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am tired of living in hell<\/a><\/strong>
Olly Gabrych<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Housing Crisis for People with MCS<\/a><\/strong>
Line <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Stolen Life<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>
S. Shepherd<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dead But Alive
What is sensitivity to chemical products (MCS)?<\/a><\/strong>
Sylvie Hach\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>
Muriel L\u00e9tourneau<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Life Becomes a Nightmare<\/strong>
My story of living with multiple chemical sensitivities<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>
Danielle Castonguay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I Suffer Too Much, I Can\u2019t Keep Quiet Anymore!<\/strong>
I feel inspired by a mission<\/strong><\/a>
Line <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the \u201cInvisible Illness\u201d becomes Visible<\/strong>
Or \u2013 Monster Lady Comes for a Visit<\/strong><\/strong><\/a>
Lisa Edelsward<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The story of a teacher<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>
Marlene<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Living with the Feeling of Being on borrowed time<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>
Isabelle Martineau<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

MCS: A Life-Altering Disability<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>
Ruth Woitowitz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Existing (NOT \u201cLiving\u201d) With Multiple Chemical Sensitivities<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>
Ruth Woitowitz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the Lucky ones!<\/a><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong>
Debra Aronson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Illness Journey<\/strong><\/strong>
Sophie M.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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My Illness Journey<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sophie M.<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I grew up in an old farm house with only a few oak trees in the front yard and always a field of cow corn beside it along with other crops. It was fun to watch the planes spray the field of corn swooping and diving, like the barn swallows.\u2006 \u2006 Today, the barn swallows are gone, as are the crop dusters that were common in my childhood.\u2006 \u2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you have never really been healthy you do not realize you are ill.\u2006 \u2006 As a child, tights and other synthetic fabrics would result in rashes.\u2006 \u2006 When I slept, I sweated so much that the wooden head-board on my bed went white in three spots.\u2006 \u2006 At seven my hair started changing; becoming darker, oilier, and limp.\u2006 \u2006 And more rashes were occurring.\u2006 \u2006 My nose was constantly congested, and my ears often full of wax.\u2006 \u2006 By then, I had been diagnosed with dyslexia: so, brain fog was a normal part of my day – just gazing off then coming back to myself.\u2006 \u2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At twelve years of age, I flew to Europe and spent a month living with my pal\u2019s family who had moved to a small village by the sea.\u2006 \u2006 My diet and environment changed, my acne disappeared, I felt more alive, and then I came home.\u2006 \u2006 A few months later I had my first menstruation.\u2006 \u2006 It was black and painful. Within the year I was at the children\u2019s hospital.\u2006 \u2006 My teenage years were forced menstruation every two months through prescription medication, creams for worsening acne, which eventually became painful bumps on my scalp.\u2006 \u2006 At sixteen my Dermatologist left the province and soon after I stopped seeing my Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OBGYN).\u2006 \u2006 I stopped all treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remember my first few months of University partly for the stink of the pollution.\u2006 \u2006 It was hard to breathe or rather, I would hold my breath as a walked across the street past idling cars.\u2006 \u2006 After several months, I did not smell or notice the pollution.\u2006 \u2006 I tried to swim at the pool to stay fit but in the end I stopped.\u2006 \u2006 The chlorine caused severely blood shot eyes and congestion, and I did not feel well.\u2006 \u2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eventually, after over a year with no menstruation I went to the campus medical clinic.\u2006 \u2006 The OBGYN diagnosed me with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).\u2006 \u2006 I went on the birth control pill, which was also supposed to fix the acne issues and initially, sort of did, though the acne slowly returned over time and was worse.\u2006 \u2006 Within three months of starting the pill I saw a surgeon for lumps in my right breast.\u2006 \u2006 Thankfully, they were fibrosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I developed more visible PCOS signs on my body, along with shorter and blacker menses.\u2006 \u2006 My brain fog worsened.\u2006 \u2006 I was always tired.\u2006 \u2006 My sense of smell and taste buds dulled.\u2006 \u2006 I had lots of nasal congestion at times, and rashes on my arms that slowly took longer to heal, as they became larger covering more skin.\u2006 \u2006 All of this happened over a ten-year period during which I completed my degrees, worked, and tried various birth control pills.\u2006 \u2006 Eventually, I pleaded with OBGYN\u2019s to stop the pill, but was told not to due to the risk of ovarian and uterine cancer.\u2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Healing Journey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I turned to a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and stopped taking birth control pills.\u2006 \u2006 Various blood tests, and several elimination diets helped and with time I learned I had a sulphite allergy along with several chemical and igG food allergies. Thankfully, just removing various foods from my diet along with using biological cleaning products without harmful chemicals ended the rashes and brain fog.\u2006 \u2006 Unfortunately, the nodular acne on my scalp, face, and even ears, improved more slowly.\u2006 \u2006 Eventually, my ND recommended I see a Medical Doctor (MD) who specialized in Environmental Medicine (EM). This EM helped me figure out my allergies to chlorine, lectins, and much more.\u2006 \u2006 It has taken more than ten years to reach the health I enjoy today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I spend weekends cooking; every meal is made from scratch.\u2006 \u2006 As much as possible, I purchase organic food, soaking all fruits and vegetables in water with a bit of baking soda, to remove pesticides.\u2006 \u2006 Before I cook or drink, my tap water it is filtered and an activated charcoal stick added to purify it. I do my best to avoid chemicals in my hygiene products, and block the cigarette smoke from the apartment below by regularly applying grout to all cracks.\u2006 \u2006 I own white T-shirts now, as I no longer turn them yellow from sweat after just one wear.\u2006 \u2006 Perfumes and heavy fumes of any sort are avoided.\u2006 \u2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, I don\u2019t believe I will ever be cured.\u2006 \u2006 At a conference, I walked into a washroom and almost vomited, the room reeked of chemicals.\u2006 \u2006 After I was done, breathing as little as possible, I collapsed in the first seating area I found.\u2006 \u2006 Half an hour of sipping water and mindfully breathing, stabilized my spinning head and cleared the congestion that started.\u2006 \u2006 The exhaust fumes on the drive home started a migraine, so I am grateful a colleague drove. Thankfully, I do not live or work in the city.\u2006 \u2006 As a result, heavy fumes can usually be avoided but I am cautious with public washrooms.\u2006 \u2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My menses occur every 29 days, a gorgeous red colour.\u2006 \u2006 So long as I avoid all dietary and chemical triggers, my skin and scalp remain clear of acne.\u2006 \u2006 It is lonely at times; socializing is difficult because of the scented products people wear and clean with.\u2006 \u2006 My food sensitivities and allergies, including caffeine make socializing even more challenging.\u2006 \u2006 Even the residual chlorine on herbal tea bags can provoke symptoms, and this means that often, only water is safe.\u2006 \u2006<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wish children\u2019s hospitals had EMs on staff and that it was easier to find them. Mine retired and my family doctor does not know who to refer me too, let alone understand the treatment plan I\u2019m on. Thankfully, with careful budgeting and planning I can afford my ND\u2019s services.\u2006 \u2006 I wish salt water swimming pools were common, putting my feet in a chlorinated pool quickly results in what my niece and nephew call vampire eyes.\u2006 \u2006 Lastly, it would be wonderful if hospitals were a safe place for people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) and my other allergies.\u2006 \u2006 My past experiences make me reluctant to seek their care.\u2006 \u2006<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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