I am really new to this blogging thing, so please bear with me. I thought maybe I should let you know about myself. I have MCS multiple chemical sensitivity. I was not born with it, I developed it in 2000. What it means is that basically I am allergic to everything that has a smell. What happens to me? I can stop breathing when I am exposed to my triggers.

Because of my MCS, I have developed severe asthma. A second of exposure can lead to a life threatening asthma attack within 30 seconds. Needless to say, I have spent many hours in emergency rooms keeping me alive. It is pretty scary not only for me, but for those who have witnessed it. For a long time, I went through test after test trying to find the cause. I kept telling the doctors that it was smells -- perfumes mostly-- that were causing the problems and they kept telling me it must be something else. Finally, I found a doctor who believed me. He has been a lifesaver -- literally.

The biggest problems I have now are trying to avoid smells. They are everywhere!! Walking into a store can be deadly. Many times I have had to leave without buying anything because of the smells in the store. And finding things that have no smell is just as frustrating. Hand soap, laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo, deodorant, household cleaners ... all have smells. The worst are the ones labeled "unscented". Most usually have a "masking scent" so they have only a slight odor. Unfortunately, I am allergic to these as well. Yuck!! I have spent years washing my hands and face with water only because I could not find soap that I could use.

My purpose for having this blog is to let people who have the same problems I do know that there are things we can do to minimize exposure to our triggers. It is also to let you all know that there are others out there who are experiencing the same problems and to help each other find answers.

Well that is who I am. I will come back and write more another day.