|
[ Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |
My eyes were exposed to cement dust in the workplace three years ago. I am a white collar worker who happened to occupy an office near where some workmen drilled a hole in the cement floor to run new computer wiring. They did not attach a vacuum to their drill and they did not clean up the pervasive cement dust that was left everywhere. Within ten days I was at the ophthamologists office with acute conjunctivitis. I did not at that time make the connection to the cement dust. What followed was a year of; prescriptionchanges due to swollen eyes, overall eye irritation and several bouts of conjunctivitis despite various eye medications and systemic antibiotic treatments. The end result is that I now have chronic blepharoconjunctivitis, dry eye syndrome and multiple chemical sensitivity. Biopsy of the conjunctiva reveals moderate to severe chronic inflammation of the conjunctiva and a marked decrease in goblet cells. Certainly the dry eye condition is painful and distracting. I cleanse my eyes with eye scrubs, use wetting drops, and use a facial steamer when the eye pain is very bad in order to "wet" my eyes. But what has been most debilitating is my increasing sensitivity over this three years to scents, dust, paper dust, inks, perfumes, cleansers, copier toners, etc. It started with eyeaches when I would get near the offending substances and progressed to headaches and sometimes migraines. Since my eye tear film has been compromised I no longer have the same protective covering. I sense that these chemicals are actually absorbed thru the eye membrane leading first to the eye ache and subsequently the headaches. This has now become a multiple chemical sensitivity. I no longer go certain places or see certain people because of the scents I know I will run into. It's better to avoid them altogehter than to lose a day to eye and head pain. Has anyone encountered something similar. i.e. the possibility of increased sensitivity and absorption of chemicals thru the eye membrane??? My greatest concern is that continued exposure to the offending elements will result in further sensitivity. Most of the offending substances I encounter are in my office environment.
In Reply to: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity via eye surface posted by Barbara on April 26, 2001 at 23:38:53:
I got MCS from chemical fumes that burned my lungs and
the reactions have lessened over time but I am still not
back to where I was 14yrs later so I have to be careful but
my reaction isn't as bad.
Cement will tear up skin so must do a lot of damage to the
eyes. Wondering if the irritation swelled the tear ducts and
keeps the tears from coming or if something else happened??
There may be things to help but you will have to search.
The amino l-glutamine is said to help in trauma and
emphesmia so I took it to help my lungs and it has helped.
I Think I would try many nutrients like a multi vitamin,
mineral, amino and see if you notice any improvement and
maybe vitamin A which helps vision would help. I look for
Anything related and give it a try and sometimes I get
lucky. I think yu have to be like a detective and search
for clues and answers.
VF
In Reply to: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity via eye surface posted by Barbara on April 26, 2001 at 23:38:53:
Hi, Barbara.
The cement dust episode tipped you over into MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) see the archives and find a good Clinical Ecologist.
Contact CIIN to learn more about it. This will only get worse until you start dealing with what this is and why you had this susceptibility (which you had to have or EVERYONE in the plant would be having this same problem).
Let us know what you learn.
Walt
In Reply to: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity via eye surface posted by Barbara on April 26, 2001 at 23:38:53:
This IS NOT necessairly Multiple Chemical Sensitiity!
MCS is a neurological disorder due to damage to central nervous system, neurotoxicity and altered brain metabolism as result of altered neurotransmission.
MCS mechanism is related to toxic injuries were the Brain Blood Barrier (BBB) is penetrated through the nasal- olfactory center(can be penetrated through th eyes) as the easiest way to breach the weakest point BBB center.
But you need to have a well documented exposure.
Unfortunatelly MCS is being misdiagnosed in many other cases.
Yes! As an exception ----> Dental mercury neurotoxicity can cause MCS causing neurological dammage!
Consequently to known toxic exposures the metabolism of brain is being altered.
MCS can be confirmed by brain SPECT scan.
One of great expert is Dr. G. Hauser at UCLA.
The eye inflaation is real, and your symptoms are real
but you need to link a known neurotoxic event to diagnose MCS.
The diagnosis of MCS is very abused by many who are well intended but do not understand the injury.
You may have what is hypersensitive airways a conditionknown as RAIDS, Reactive Airways Induced Dysfunction Syndrome, which is a ditinguished condition but and can be prerequisit to MCS.
Many does not understand that MCS need the link to neurotoxicity, and diagnosis of MCS without uch link are only confusing.
Very agggressive etensive antibiotic treatments could participate to MCS as those are neurotoxic substances, but it must be really very heavy.
The problem is that MCS diagnosis is NOT well defined and many get mislabeled with the real MCS which is aquired after known exposures (include dental mercury!).
If you have dental mercury fillings than only than this link could be made.
MCS belongs to the family of Environmental Illnesses (IDIOPATIC DISORDER and Toxicity Induced Lost Tolerance - TILT or MCS) including pesticides poisoning and heavy metal poisoning which is main cause of MCS.
Yes you could have MCS but it is not so sure as of yet.
The problem with diagnosis of MCS is that the wrong diagnosis may be more damaging than the real symptoms.
To have proper diagnosis of MCS you need to show some form of neurological injury.
Pesticide and Heavy Metal Poisoning
Instructions for Handling of Biological Pesticides and Analysis of Blood/Urine Samples
In addition to any routine medical tests to be performed in the work up of a case, there are several laboratory tests specific for suspected cases of pesticide poisoning.
Blood and urine specimens can be analyzed for the presence of pesticide residue. Confirmation of acute organophosphate exposure is possible by measurement of plasma (pseudo-cholinesterase) and red blood cell (acetylcholinesterase) levels. To be the most reliable, specimens should be collected as soon as possible after exposure and prior to giving any antidotal therapy, if feasible.
Blood
Given the usual uncertainty about the specifics of chemical exposure, it is best to draw several tubes of blood which may be used for analysis, if needed.
Draw one or two (5-10ml) samples into heparinized (green top) tubes. This sample may be used for cholinesterase testing, if appropriate for the suspected pesticide exposure. Consult with the laboratory performing the analysis for specific instructions, as methods vary.
Draw one sample (5-10ml) into glass tube (red top), with no heparin or preservative. Remove rubberized stopper and cover it with foil, and replace stopper. Tape down stopper. This sample can then be used for analysis of pesticide residues.
Samples which can be delivered to a lab within 24 hours of drawing should be kept refrigerated. If delivery time will exceed 24 hours, samples should be frozen.
Urine
Samples may be collected in a plastic container unless poisoning by a chlorinated compound is suspected, in which case a glass container is preferable. Do not use any preservative. Samples should be handled and shipped in the same manner as blood.
Other biological media (gavage, stool, adipose tissue)
Use glass containers and freeze samples; ship frozen and package with dry ice or blue ice packs.
Non-biological samples
Sometimes it is necessary to analyze a drenched piece of clothing to confirm the identity of a pesticide after an accidental exposure. Samples of material should be double bagged in polyethylene bags and packaged separately from other samples for shipment and analysis. If a sample of a pesticide product is sent for analysis, it should be in a glass container, clearly labeled, and sent separately to avoid cross contamination of biological samples.
In Reply to: Re: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity via eye surface posted by MAI on May 03, 2001 at 15:30:39:
Thanks, MAI.
Walt
|
[ Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Archive ] [ Main Archives Page ] [ Glossary/Index ] [ FAQ ] [ Recommended Books ] [ Bulletin Board ] |
Search this site! | |