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Prior to 1988, I was a healthy, athletic physician who played drums in a rock band.
A year later I was severely disabled with what is known as Multiple Chemical sensitivities
(MCS). The onset was subtle, with slowly worsening food intolerance, progressing to the
point where I could only eat three green vegetables. By then I was also having severe
reactions to inhaled substances and had developed headaches, fatigue, heart palpitations,
nausea, and severe diarrhea. Like so many others with MCS, I could no longer tolerate where
I lived and was forced to live outside in my yard, the car, or a makeshift shelter.
Despite some improvements since the late 1980's, I still face food intolerance,
malnutrition, and adverse reactions to a wide array of chemicals commonly found in the
air, foods, and water in our everyday environment. I go to few places outside my home in
order to avoid exposures to cigarette smoke, pesticides, perfume, vehicle exhaust,
cleaning products and other toxic fumes which make me sicker. I still do not know what
caused my MCS, although I do know that I am sick now and that my illness is real and has
been devastating.
What is MCS?
Persons who have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) experience adverse health
reactions following exposure to a wide spectrum of certain chemicals at levels which
ordinarily do not affect others. The stimulating agents are found everywhere in our
modern world: Pesticides, new building materials, new carpets and furniture, glue and
solvents, paint, perfume and many personal care products, detergents, fabric softeners,
shampoos, hair sprays, mousse, soaps, lotions, deodorants, tar and asphalt fumes, smoke,
cleaning products, disinfectants, vehicular and industrial exhaust fumes, fresh ink, new
plastics, and synthetic clothing. Symptoms can be provoked by even minute amounts of
substances being inhaled, ingested, or absorbed through the skin. Many with MCS also react
to mold, dust, pollen and animals. There are significant overlaps between MCS and the
syndromes of Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction system and Fibromyalgia, a painful chronic
condition of joint and muscle pain.
MCS occurs in people of all ages, races, and socio-economic conditions. Women are
affected more frequently than men. Although the exact prevalence of this disorder has
not been clearly defined, a 1995 randomized study in California found that 16% of the
population reported some degree of chemical sensitivity and 7% said they had been
diagnosed with MCS. Three physicians in northern New Mexico who treat patients with
MCS estimate that collectively, they have diagnosed 1500 new patients in our area in
the past two years.
The severity of this illness varies greatly, from those with only minimal symptoms
as a “real” illness, there are some physicians who understand and treat the condition.
It has also been recognized as a potentially disabling condition by the Federal Social
Security Administration, Department of Housing and Development (HUD), Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Academy of Sciences. The newly-built medical
facility in Taos, NM - Holy Cross Hospital- was constructed with rooms designed to
accommodate chemically sensitive patients, by not only utilizing less-toxic building
materials, but also establishing guidelines for staff to refrain from wearing scented
personal care products and utilizing less-toxic cleaning methods.
Causes of MCS:
MCS is thought to result from exposure to toxic chemicals, although the exact
etiology of MCS is unproven and the mechanism of the illness is unknown. Some
develop MCS after a single major exposure, while others seem to develop symptoms
slowly following cumulative events. Many of those with MCS report the onset of their
illness after moving into a new home or working in recently remodeled offices. Many
members of the health care profession have developed this disorder, seemingly after
chronic exposure to disinfectants and other chemicals found in hospital and other
health care settings.
The Symptoms of MCS:
The symptoms of MCS vary greatly and are unique to each person, but the unifying
factor is that chemically sensitive people experience the onset and/or exacerbation of
their symptoms following exposure to chemicals. The diversity of symptoms and the lack
of a clear causative agent has contributed to the bewilderment of medical professionals
who, all too often, throw up their hands in frustration and attribute the symptoms to a
pure psychiatric problem.
The symptoms of MCS run the gamut of all the body systems: headache, fatigue, sleep
disturbances, dizziness, heart palpitations, respiratory difficulties, swollen lymph
nodes, abnormal taste sensations, impaired circulation, gastrointestinal problems,
joint and muscle pain, weakness, loss of coordination, nerve irritations, and even
seizures. Many cerebral symptoms can also appear, such as clouded thinking, difficulty
in concentration and communication, memory loss and feelings of intoxication. Emotional
symptoms may occur as well, such as depression, panic attacks and emotional outbursts.
Finally, persons with MCS may have typical symptoms associated with allergies such as
itchy eyes, nasal congestion, sinusitis, asthma, hives and other rashes, and even
anaphylactic reactions.
The onset and severity of symptoms following an exposure varies from person to
person based on their general state of health, recent cumulative exposures, and other
unknown factors. Symptom onset may be delayed by hours or even days from exposure. The
duration of an individuals reaction can also vary from seconds to a few weeks or months.
Diagnosis and Treatment of MCS:
The diagnosis of MCS is often easy to make, but difficult to prove, since there are
no agreed upon diagnostic criteria for this disorder. Like other conditions with limited
physical and laboratory findings - e.g. headaches— the physician must often rely
primarily on reports from the patient’s array of symptoms resulting from environmental
exposures. Various tests such as brain scans, immunological studies, enzyme functioning,
and neuropsychological tests have shown abnormalities in many people with MCS, pointing
to possible damage to the immunological and central nervous systems.
There is no known cure for MCS, but a variety of treatments can help reduce the
reactions and improve the overall health of people with the disorder. Avoiding exposure
to stimulating chemicals is of prime importance, but not always possible in the
environment of modern society. Treatments that have been found to be helpful include
nutritional supplements, detoxification treatments, allergy desensitization and
correction of hormonal imbalances. Complimentary medical techniques such as
acupuncture and homeopathic medicines have also found to be effective.
Although some people seem to fully recover from MCS, most unfortunately
demonstrate a chronic relapsing course characterized by spurts of improvement
countered with distressing setbacks. MCS is rarely fatal in itself, but deaths
have been known to occur as a result of severe broncho spasm, heart irregularities
and malnutrition. Tragically, suicide is also a factor of morbidity for those with
MCS who find their worlds overwhelmingly intolerable due to the pain, isolation, and
hopelessness associated with this illness.
Written by Dr. Ann Campbell, M.D. Santa Fe, NM
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