HogDog
Sep 28, 2010
Undergraduate / Living With MCS: Personal Essay (issue of importance) at UT Austin [9]
Thanks a ton for your the replies.
Here is my Second Draft:
ESSAY:
"I'm sorry but you smell." The offended friend or relative will then instinctively move to sniff their underarm, "Oh, no-no, you smell too good, you see my mother has what they call Multiple Chemical Sensitivity." I continue my awkward speech, "the chemicals you wear: your fabric softener, perfume, makeup, laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, and that new-car-smell-in-a-can stuff appear to make her very ill." This is the reality of the situation for those affected with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS); though almost comical on the surface, this 'unofficial disease' isolates its victims and the people closest to them. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, and many other organizations do not recognize MCS as a legitimate diagnosis. Inherently, the disease is politically polarizing, and as a result, those affected are often short shifted when it comes to finding treatment, acceptance, and understanding for their condition.
I remember at a young age when my mother first began showing symptoms. It began with changing clothes after returning home to remove residual odors; soon my mother was wearing a mask whenever she went out, and anything bought new would have to be 'aired-out' for weeks. As time passed my mother leaving the house became a rarity, guests and family members no longer visited, and my mother would keep the windows shut most of the time for fear of getting a whiff of the neighbor's laundry. Cooking homemade soap became the norm, and special aluminum tape was used to seal certain rooms. Even now, despite our efforts, my mother's health continues to decline.
Allergy-like reactions to lows levels of common toxins, solvents, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and many other chemical triggers that could go mostly undetected by an average person characterize my mother's condition. Symptoms are legion, but a short list would include hyperactivity, brain-fog, cold sweating, dizziness, cough, chest tightness, watery eyes, nausea, and chronic sinus infections. Because the chemicals that spark these symptoms are unrelated, and the disease itself idiopathic, many medical professionals brush the condition off as simply psychological, or a misdiagnosis. It is not my objective to argue the merits of this disease being psychological, physiological, or neurological as some theories suggest, but to highlight the strain put on those affected and their families by such divisiveness. In an editorial for the "Journal of Toxicology - Clinical Toxicology" titled, "Multiple chemical sensitivities--public policy," Dr. Ronald Gots wrote, "The phenomenon of multiple chemical sensitivities is a peculiar manifestation of our technophobic and chemophobic society. ... It may be the only ailment in existence in which the patient defines both the cause and the manifestations of his own condition." In my experience, this comment reflects the attitude many individuals, both those outside and within the medical community, have toward MCS. You cannot argue away physical symptoms, treatments come with time and research, but the politics involved create the symptom of social isolation. When discussion breaks down to assigning labels like "chemophobe," and when proponents retort with comments such as 'industrialist eco-killers' (I am trying to find an exact quote I read from an article but managed to lose), the patients and their families are stuck in the crossfire.
The interaction with Medical Doctors has ranged from sympathetic to downright perverse. The faces of doctors who have simply ignored the condition, or prescribed a healthy dose of 'remove stress from your life' have blurred. Others are much more memorable, such as the neurologist who pretended there was an earthquake to test my mother's mental stability. This is not to say that all medical doctors lack understanding, but if such skepticism exists in the medical world, you can imagine its prevalence amongst laypersons. It is amazing to see long time friends and family besmirch my mother over politely being asked not to wear perfume to thanksgiving dinner, or her wearing chemical filter mask while in their company. Some are offended and see MCS as a mere excuse to get out of obligations or to avoid their convenience store cologne. Others think that this 'psychological condition' just needs tough love. My immediate family is extremely grateful for the compassion and understanding shown by the select few, or by the doctors who have tried their best to help and treat her condition. An ailment is an aliment is an ailment, psychological or otherwise. Conditions of all types demand treatment and compassion. This disease is both debilitating and alienating enough on its own, society and doctor's divisive actions need not help it become a more insulating way of life.
Thanks a ton for your the replies.
Here is my Second Draft:
ESSAY:
"I'm sorry but you smell." The offended friend or relative will then instinctively move to sniff their underarm, "Oh, no-no, you smell too good, you see my mother has what they call Multiple Chemical Sensitivity." I continue my awkward speech, "the chemicals you wear: your fabric softener, perfume, makeup, laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, and that new-car-smell-in-a-can stuff appear to make her very ill." This is the reality of the situation for those affected with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS); though almost comical on the surface, this 'unofficial disease' isolates its victims and the people closest to them. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, and many other organizations do not recognize MCS as a legitimate diagnosis. Inherently, the disease is politically polarizing, and as a result, those affected are often short shifted when it comes to finding treatment, acceptance, and understanding for their condition.
I remember at a young age when my mother first began showing symptoms. It began with changing clothes after returning home to remove residual odors; soon my mother was wearing a mask whenever she went out, and anything bought new would have to be 'aired-out' for weeks. As time passed my mother leaving the house became a rarity, guests and family members no longer visited, and my mother would keep the windows shut most of the time for fear of getting a whiff of the neighbor's laundry. Cooking homemade soap became the norm, and special aluminum tape was used to seal certain rooms. Even now, despite our efforts, my mother's health continues to decline.
Allergy-like reactions to lows levels of common toxins, solvents, volatile organic compounds (VOC), and many other chemical triggers that could go mostly undetected by an average person characterize my mother's condition. Symptoms are legion, but a short list would include hyperactivity, brain-fog, cold sweating, dizziness, cough, chest tightness, watery eyes, nausea, and chronic sinus infections. Because the chemicals that spark these symptoms are unrelated, and the disease itself idiopathic, many medical professionals brush the condition off as simply psychological, or a misdiagnosis. It is not my objective to argue the merits of this disease being psychological, physiological, or neurological as some theories suggest, but to highlight the strain put on those affected and their families by such divisiveness. In an editorial for the "Journal of Toxicology - Clinical Toxicology" titled, "Multiple chemical sensitivities--public policy," Dr. Ronald Gots wrote, "The phenomenon of multiple chemical sensitivities is a peculiar manifestation of our technophobic and chemophobic society. ... It may be the only ailment in existence in which the patient defines both the cause and the manifestations of his own condition." In my experience, this comment reflects the attitude many individuals, both those outside and within the medical community, have toward MCS. You cannot argue away physical symptoms, treatments come with time and research, but the politics involved create the symptom of social isolation. When discussion breaks down to assigning labels like "chemophobe," and when proponents retort with comments such as 'industrialist eco-killers' (I am trying to find an exact quote I read from an article but managed to lose), the patients and their families are stuck in the crossfire.
The interaction with Medical Doctors has ranged from sympathetic to downright perverse. The faces of doctors who have simply ignored the condition, or prescribed a healthy dose of 'remove stress from your life' have blurred. Others are much more memorable, such as the neurologist who pretended there was an earthquake to test my mother's mental stability. This is not to say that all medical doctors lack understanding, but if such skepticism exists in the medical world, you can imagine its prevalence amongst laypersons. It is amazing to see long time friends and family besmirch my mother over politely being asked not to wear perfume to thanksgiving dinner, or her wearing chemical filter mask while in their company. Some are offended and see MCS as a mere excuse to get out of obligations or to avoid their convenience store cologne. Others think that this 'psychological condition' just needs tough love. My immediate family is extremely grateful for the compassion and understanding shown by the select few, or by the doctors who have tried their best to help and treat her condition. An ailment is an aliment is an ailment, psychological or otherwise. Conditions of all types demand treatment and compassion. This disease is both debilitating and alienating enough on its own, society and doctor's divisive actions need not help it become a more insulating way of life.
