Wow, two months since my last post!! Sorry, I've been kind of busy -- just a few days after my last post I fell and broke my leg. My femur actually. And the doctor thinks that my broken leg may be related to my breathing problems. Yes, we are all interconnected. Breathing problems lead to heavy steroid use which leads to osteoporosis which leads to other things which leads to femur fractures!! Who would have thought. It really sucks sometimes. I really try not to use that word too many times, but it fits so well with this situation. It SUCKS!! Okay, so let me back up and fill you all in on the past two months.

For most people, calling the paramedics is bad enough, but for those of us with MCS, it can be even worse. Not only did I have to allow a bunch of rescue personnel into my home (I think I counted at least 5 at one time), they are going to take me to an antiseptic hospital!! Just think, if the paramedics had been at a fire and still had smoke on their clothes, or they had on lotion or even strong deodorant it can set off a huge asthma attack. And since my home is my "safe place" where I can control the smells that I allow into it, having a bunch of strangers in my house was kind of scary. Then they had to take me out of the house to the ambulance, where I have to get past the exhaust fumes. Then, they took me to a hospital with all of it's wonderful smells!! Let's just say, it's a challenge when you have someone with allergies as severe as mine. Luckily, the worst didn't happen.

Hospitals present their own set of challenges for MCS people. Not only do we have to worry about all the people who work there, but all the sanitizers and antiseptics they have to use to keep it clean we are allergic to!! It's hard to convince all those nurses and techs and everyone else to NOT use hand santizer before entering my room. I actually found it almost easier to make them all wash their hands in plain water after entering my room. I had a big sign on my door saying: "CAUTION: Do not enter if you are wearing lotions, perfumes, hairspray, or anything scented." Well that cuts down on visitors!! It's not too bad. I guess I am just used to it. It also means that the housekeeping staff isn't even allowed to come into my room. Their shoes and clothes usually smell of the cleaning stuff they are using. It also means that sometimes my nurse or aide had to be changed with another because they had worn lotion or perfume or something. It makes it difficult. At least this time they were really good about finding people who didn't have odors to work in my room.

But, I have survived all the trials of hospitals and such and my leg is healing. I have a rod and pins in my leg to hold me together. The good news is - I can't break this bone again!! Of course the kids all wanted to know if we could put magnets on my leg since I have metal in it!! I had to laugh. Just so you know, I tried, they don't stick! Better run for now. More later.