Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Archives

irritated skin due to chemicals

Since I'm here I might as well ask another question. I've been living in the Netherlands for a while and I go out to local dance clubs pretty much every week. About a year ago, this guy I know handed me a small bottle and asked me to smell it. I (being stupid) did and got this really wierd feeling, kinda dizzy but I cant really explain it. Turns out to be some (at the time) perfectly legal form of solvent that people sniff to get a sort of high that lasts about 2 or 3 seconds. Apparently it replaces oxygen in your bloodstream which accounts for the dizzyness. Anyway, I did this on several occasions with no lasting effects until one time when suddenly and I really mean within like 3 minutes, my nose just totally blistered. The skin seemed to just flake off and a clear fluid seemed to seep out of the skin underneath. anything I tried in the following days to help the problem just made it worse. I went to the doctor after about 4 months when the rash or whatever it is spread to my right cheek and eye-lid. He gave me something that he said resembled cortizone. that helped a little and now I just have this light itching on my cheek and eye-lid. Sometimes its a little red and swollen but mostly it just itches. It never seems to really go away. I dont hardly have any problem with my nose at all. Anyone know what this could be? Seems unlikly that a chemical reaction could last a year. I'm not even sure if the problems with my nose are even connected to my cheek and eye-lid. Ok, that was my story...
tig

Follow Ups:

• Re: irritated skin due to chemicals (Archive in MCS.) Walt Stoll 10:05:34 11/18/02 (0)
• Re: irritated skin due to chemicals a 08:18:49 11/18/02 (0)
• Re: irritated skin due to chemicals Terri-Lynn 22:44:25 11/17/02 (0)
• Re: irritated skin due to chemicals PhillyLady 18:29:36 11/17/02 (0)

In Reply to: irritated skin due to chemicals posted by hypotigger? on November 17, 2002 at 11:05:39:

Hi hypotigger:

You should find out the name of the chemical you smelled, and then do research on it. You say it replaces oxygen in the blood. What does it replace it with? How can you be properly treated medically when you don't know exactly what you were exposed to? It sounds like your immune system was damaged.

In Reply to: irritated skin due to chemicals posted by hypotigger? on November 17, 2002 at 11:05:39:

You silly girl to do it the second time; If it is a solvent and you met this person in a bar dance club and it gives you a false high?? Oh well, time to clean up you body now. I agree with the Philly Lady-your immune system couldn't handle it; Fells like that is what started setting it off;
Try perhaps some aloe Vera on your face and Vit e and Lavender pure oil sometimes in small amounts also helps such things; Do some deep breathing blowing out and get on a mini trampoline and work those toxins out; Use natural soaps with no perfumes, or like Pears, glycerine based;
Rub your thymus-upper chest-and work out the toxins in there also on a mini trampoline would be the best way;
Good luck! You can move thru it, but keep your immunity high by eating right and staying out of those smoke filled places over there.

In Reply to: irritated skin due to chemicals posted by hypotigger? on November 17, 2002 at 11:05:39:

How could you possibly, willingly go sniffing chemicals for a high? I am sorry but I am not one of the bleeding heart liberals who feel sorry for drug users (YES, that is what you are is a drug user). You consciously make the decision to sniff drugs. It is YOUR choice. They hurt their families and throw them all by the wayside if by chance the drug TAKES them and they can't control it anymore. Did you know that chemical sniffing (known as huffing) is addictive to the point that in Asian countries people are on the sides of the road just huffing and caring of nothing else. I hope you think of my hateful drug abuse opinionated self next time you are faced with the decision to do this and know that if you go overboard and can't handle it one day-it is your own stinking fault and you don't deserve a government funded rehab center, etc. Sorry for the harsh opinions, I will probably get blasted but it is too easy for people to do it again with a hug and an "I understand". Besides, I do understand because I had a loved one who chose to use drugs. That is why Dr. Stoll is so harsh, everyone wants a solution but doesn't want to work for it. Drug users don't realize they are where they are because of themselves. WHO IN THE HECK IS GONNA SNIFF SOMETHING FROM A STRANGER? choices, choices, choices/...........CONSEQUENCES

In Reply to: irritated skin due to chemicals posted by hypotigger? on November 17, 2002 at 11:05:39:

Hypotigger.

I must add my indignation to that of all the other responders. Carbon monoxide kills it's victims by "replacing the oxygen in the blood"! Why would you ever DO something like this?

These kind of chemicals commonly cause severe allergic reactions like this. Your problem is that this stuff pushed you over the edge of your tolerance to chemicals and so now you are going to react to nearly everything that comes along.

See the Housewive's Dermatitis archives for the concept.

Let us know what you learn.

Since you cannot go back and make a better decision, your only real option now is serious wellness ASAP and avoidance of as many airborne chemicals as possible. Let us know how you are doing in about a year.

Walt