Category Archives: Environmental Sensitivities

Support the Ontario Centre of Excellence in Environmental Health (OCEEH)

Posted on September 26, 2014 | 3 comments

The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario (MEAO), along with others, has been working on a plan to get proper health care and supports established for the hundreds of thousands of people in Ontario who are affected by the “often overlapping, commonly disabling and sometimes life-threatening conditions of ES/MCS (Environmental Sensitivities/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), ME/CFS (Myalgic Encepahlomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and FM (Fibromyalgia).”

A quick, easy summary document of the features and benefits of the OCEEH  business case proposal for a comprehensive network of care and support has been sent to every MPP in Ontario. Here it is for you too (copied from the PDF 2014 OCEEH IN A NUTSHELL), so you can encourage your local elected representatives to support it in Ontario, and to support similar plans everywhere else in the world:

ONTARIO CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (OCEEH)
‘IN A NUTSHELL’

“Five percent of Ontario’s population is affected by the often overlapping, commonly disabling and sometimes life-threatening conditions of ES/MCS (Environmental Sensitivities/Multiple Chemical Sensitivity), ME/CFS (Myalgic Encepahlomyelitis/ Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and FM (Fibromyalgia).

As of 2010, over 568,000 Ontarians had been diagnosed with one or more of these conditions. This number grew from 439,000 in 2005, as reported in Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey. It demonstrates prevalence comparable to diabetes, heart disease, cancer and effects of a stroke. These are very widespread conditions, and the 2010 figures are likely underestimates.

Recognition, diagnosis and treatment of these serious conditions are absent from Ontario’s health care system at present. Even though a commission of enquiry recommended services be put into place for ES/MCS as long ago as 1985, exclusion, discrimination and stigmatization of those living with these conditions have been the rule; and Ontario has lost physicians seeking to help these groups.

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Posted in Accessibility, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fibromyalgia, Health Care, ME/CFS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Policy

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“Sensitivities” in the Canadian Family Physician journal

Posted on September 21, 2014 | 24 comments

The June 2014 edition of the Canadian Family Physician journal contains a couple of excellent articles by Dr Stephen J. Genuis. Here’s the abstract and link to one of them:

Approach to patients with unexplained multimorbidity with sensitivities

Abstract:

Objective To explore the underlying causation of unexplained multimorbidity with sensitivities and to discuss the management of patients who present with this perplexing condition.

Sources of information Medical and scientific literature was used from MEDLINE (PubMed), several books, toxicology and allergy journals, conference proceedings, government publications, and environmental health periodicals.

Main message Multimorbidity with sensitivities has become an increasingly common and confusing primary care dilemma. Escalating numbers of debilitated individuals are now presenting to family physicians and specialists with multisystem health complaints, including sensitivities and fatigue, with no obvious causation, a paucity of laboratory findings, and a lack of straightforward solutions. In the recent scientific literature, there is discussion of sensitivity-related illness, an immune-mediated disorder that frequently manifests with multisystem symptoms, commonly including sensitivities and fatigue.

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Posted in Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Health, MCS/ES, Public Health

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It’s What You Can’t See that Hurts You

Posted on September 10, 2014 | 9 comments

What it can be like having a friend with MCS… from a real friend <3
“I would go through all those steps, put on my safe clothes and Colleen would still say “Nope. Still contaminated.” I wanted to punch something. Here I would do just about anything for a friend, and it still didn’t work. It didn’t dampen her spirits, though. After that happened, she would just smile and say how I had worked harder than anyone else to solve this problem, and it was too bad that it hadn’t worked. That really didn’t help me much. I still felt frustrated.”

Joe's avatarStepping Out with an Agoraphobic

Invisible Illness

This week is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. It runs through September 14th. It was suggested to me that I write about my experiences in dealing with my illnesses, and I will – perhaps at a later date. Instead of looking within myself, I thought I would broaden the scope of my focus and talk about an invisible illness that has hit close to home, and changed how I live my life.

To have a loved one succumb to an illness is one of the most painful things imaginable – and that pain applies to friends, as well as to family. What is even worse is when that illness is new, uncommon, or even invisible. This is what has been happening to my friend, Colleen, who has Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, a crippling disease that has rendered her disabled.

I must admit that sometimes I don’t feel like…

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Posted in Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Fragrance, Friendship, Inspiration, MCS/ES, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Support

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Severe MCS/ES… What Does It Mean?

Posted on September 3, 2014 | 16 comments

To some degree, severe MCS/ES (like pain) is subjective. In other ways it’s a moving target, as we can be fine (or almost fine) one minute, and be completely incapacitated the next hour (day, week, or month) from an exposure, or combination of exposures. One day, a perfume exposure during lunch with friends might “just” give someone a throbbing headache for the rest of the day, but the next day, because there was also a cloud of diesel smoke, a fragrance contaminated piece of mail, someone installed wi-fi in the apartment next door, and someone else’s dryer vent was pumping out chemicals when we walked by with the dog, the same 3 breaths of perfume at the pet store we were trying to buy dog food from, could send us to bed for a week, or longer.

To make matters more difficult for others to accurately assess (and assumptions and clueless opinions are rampant where invisible disabilities are concerned), the recovery period, when most incapacity takes place, occurs when no-one is around to witness the effects, as many symptoms are delayed reactions. This means that people with severe MCS/ES are usually only seen during better moments, not when we’re at our worst.

severe mcs es

Something else I often see is that people’s ability to tolerate change and adversity varies greatly. Some people fall apart when faced with the slightest challenge, while others can endure unbelievably difficult circumstances and suffering without ever complaining.

One person’s severe is another person’s “just another day”. And, as I found out, when we think things are as bad as they can possibly be, they can get 1000 times worse (especially where brain function is concerned). This can really confuse people, ourselves included…

That said, there are tools that have been designed to help medical professionals assess all kinds of health and disabilities. And accurate assessment is especially important when applying for disability benefits.

What follows are a few tools that can help us understand. This information is not meant for acquiring disability benefits. I’m providing it for educational purposes only.

How can “sensitivity” symptoms affect life?

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Posted in Brain, Disability, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, MCS/ES, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

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Breath-taking: An architectural answer to one homeowner’s severe allergies

Posted on June 28, 2014 | 8 comments

Safe, medically required, non-toxic, EMF/EMR safe housing CAN be built. I linked to another article and the architect’s website in the 1st comment below.
“Because Barbara Tudhope has severe allergies and acute sensitivities to dust, pollen, electromagnetic radiation (EMF) and a long list of construction materials, the couple designed their home to foster an environment that doesn’t cause her any adverse reaction.

… “Almost all construction and renovation uses building materials that off-gas volatile organic compounds [VOCs], and contractors generally pay little attention to electrical and magnetic fields in the homes they build,” says Mr. Tudhope, a business writer. “But both can have serious acute and chronic health consequences for someone like Barbara, and, in truth, for almost anyone.”

Featured Image -- 5368

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Posted in Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Healthy Environment, Housing, Indoor Air Quality, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

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Home Dental Extraction SUCCESS (#1)!

Posted on June 22, 2014 | 27 comments

This is just a brief post to rejoice about the successful home extraction of a rear molar that was causing me unbearable problems.

The dentist who did this takes seriously his oath to “do no harm” and did not use it as an excuse to do nothing, like most dentists and doctors are prone to doing when they don’t want to change the way they do things to accommodate someone with disabilities.

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Posted in Accessibility, Dental Care, Disability, Environmental Sensitivities, Health Care, Human Rights, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

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New Link: CHRC Policy On Environmental Sensitivities

Posted on May 21, 2014 | 4 comments

The Canadian Human Rights Commission

Policy on Environmental Sensitivities

A PDF of the policy (which I copied here when I saw it had disappeared) is now available to download from the Canadian Human Rights Commission website, having been reviewed in January of 2014. (It’s not available to view as a simple web page).

The site also includes new links to download PDFs of the 2007 documents “The Medical Perspective on Environmental Sensitivities” and “Accommodation for Environmental Sensitivities: Legal Perspective”.

The_Canadian_Flag

 

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Posted in Accessibility, Environmental Sensitivities, Human Rights, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Policy

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Steve Weller: Dispelling Misconceptions about EHS

Posted on May 13, 2014 | Leave a comment

Thank you Steve for sharing your story, and thank you Kim for posting it.
…
“Steve, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Microbiology from Monash University in Australia, is now the Vice President of Stop Smart Meters Australia.

And in an effort to educate politicians, scientists, and the general public on the under-recognized health crisis of electrosensitivity, Steve has documented his own case, along with much scientific research, in an 18-page brief titled “Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS): A Personal Case Study”.

Read and download Steve Weller’s complete case study here:
…

Kim Goldberg's avatarRefugium

By Kim Goldberg

May 13, 2014

Steve Weller, Vice President of Stop Smart Meters Australia, and author of the report: “Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS): A Personal Case Study”. Steve Weller, Vice President of Stop Smart Meters Australia, and author of the report: “Electromagnetic Hypersensitivity (EHS): A Personal Case Study”.

Australian Steve Weller was 32 years old when he first determined in 2001 that he was sensitive to wireless radiation. He had used computers his entire adult life. He also worked in the IT (Internet and Telecommunications) industry, and describes himself as an early adopter of technology.

“I was looking forward to the freedom [wireless technology] would afford me,” Steve recalls. “No more wires cluttering the desk, free to do my work on my laptop at the kitchen table while I had breakfast.”

Being technically savvy, Steve decided to buy the most powerful Wi-Fi router that was available at the time. His subsequent discovery that he was being sickened by the hardware of his life and work was not easy news to absorb…

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Posted in EHS, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Wireless

Environmental Sensitivities Day Event in Montreal

Posted on May 12, 2014 | 1 comment

From the Environmental Health Association of Québec (aseq-ehaq)

May 12, ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITIES DAY – Let’s talk about it!

Conference on Environmental Health in Montréal May 12, 2014

Montreal, May 12 , 2014 – Today, May 12th is Environmental Sensitivities Day.

On May 12, in addition to a conference in Montreal, the Environmental Health Association of Québec is having events on Environmental Health in Québec City, Sutton, Saint Casimir and Gatineau.

The Environmental Health Association of Québec is proud to present a ground breaking conference titled:

TOXIC LEGACY & GENDER INEQUALITY
Women are more susceptible to the effects of the environment on health. How you can safeguard yourself from harm.

Simultaneous translation available

Chair:
Dr Barry Breger, M.D.

Speaker:
Dr John Molot, M.D., C.C.F.P., F.C.F.P.
Environmental Health Clinic, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto

Press Conference: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. (Private press time with Dr Molot)

Registration including booth visits: 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Conference: 6:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Meet the speaker & book signing: 9:15 – 10:00 p.m.

EHAQ bilingual_conference_invitation_jpegVenue:

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Posted in Education, Environmental Health, Environmental Sensitivities, Health Promotion, MCS/ES, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Pollution

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Proclamations – City of Toronto – May 12th, 2014

Posted on May 4, 2014 | 6 comments

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day

proclamation-header-ford

 

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day

May 12, 2014

WHEREAS Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day aims to raise awareness and end the stigma and discrimination that accompanies these chronic illnesses.

Over 568,000 individuals living in Ontario are afflicted with one of the three following chronic illnesses: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia or Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. Once diagnosed, an individual is often ill for years with as many as 70 per cent of sufferers becoming disabled for life.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, commonly known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a neurological and autoimmune disease characterized by overwhelming fatigue, pain, headaches, cardiac symptoms, immune disorders, dizziness and balance problems.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by severe musculoskeletal pain and tenderness in many areas of the body along with fatigue and sleep dysfunction, generalized or regional stiffness and in some cases neurological and cognitive symptoms. This pain can become strong enough to prevent people from working or engaging in physical activities for months and even years.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, also called Environmental Sensitivities or Intolerance, are initiated by an unusually severe sensitivity or allergy-like reaction to many different kinds of pollutants such as chemicals, perfumes and other environmental triggers.

Each year on May 12, communities across Ontario will join the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario to increase awareness and educate the medical profession about these chronic conditions. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day will raise funds to support the crucial services provided by the Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario and other organizations.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Mayor Rob Ford, on behalf of Toronto City Council, do hereby proclaim May 12, 2014 as “Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Awareness Day” in the City of Toronto.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia Day – Proclamations – City Clerk’s Office | City of Toronto.

♦

 With thanks to MEAO (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association of Ontario)

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Posted in Environmental Sensitivities, Fibromyalgia, Government, ME/CFS, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

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