By Janine Ridings

In February of 1993, my husband and I decided to paint the condo we were living in. My husband owned a painting company, and he had his painters use a quick dry oil enamel product which turned out to be highly toxic to me. The paint affected my nervous system, and in addition I experienced chest pain, various gastrointestinal problems, fever, chills, etc.

We were forced to move out of the condo after several unsuccessful attempts to get rid of the paint odor that was making me ill. We lived with my parents for about 7 months until we were able to purchase a home. The next unusual episode occurred one night as I was in our garage, getting ready for a garage sale. All of a sudden I started experiencing similar symptoms to what I had had after the paint exposure: anxiety, chills, gastrointestinal problems, etc. This time I was unable to pinpoint the cause of my symptoms, and so I consulted an Environmental Specialist who was able to help me determine the source of my symptoms. We determined that a weed killer in the garage was the culprit. At this point I joined a support group for people with MCS (Multiple Chemical Sensitivity) but did little to change my lifestyle.

The next crisis came when I decided to clean my carpets. After the carpets had been cleaned, I returned home and had an extremely bizarre reaction to the cleaning chemical used. When I walked into my home, my whole body felt like it had been lit on fire. In addition, I experienced gastrointestinal symptoms along with the inability to concentrate. After numerous failed attempts to get rid of the chemicals that made me ill, I was once again forced to move from my place of residence. My parents were gracious enough to let us stay with them for four months and then we stayed in a hotel for another four months. ( At the tune of $2,500 per month) During that time, we were forced to sell our home we loved in a neighborhood we loved, and we purchased a different home that I could safely live in.

Having been displaced from two residences due to reactions from toxic chemicals, I finally started realizing this was not just a simple allergy problem I had. This was a major illness that was having a significant impact on my life. I finally started to change my lifestyle dramatically, ridding my home of any potentially toxic chemicals, and replacing them with safe alternatives. I also started being careful about where I went so that I would not continue to expose myself to toxic environments such as dry cleaners, print shops, moldy buildings, etc.

Even after making attempts to live my life more cautiously, I still encounter unforeseen exposures to chemicals. In February of 1998, I became very ill after an airline trip where I was exposed to jet fuel fumes. My symptoms included seizures, extreme fatigue, and various other ailments. I was basically bedridden for about three months, and I had to have people take over my duties as wife and mother during that time.

Looking back, it saddens me to think that so many of my problems could’ve been avoided, if only I would have had proper information warning me about the potential danger of chemicals. Being displaced from my places of residence twice was a very devastating experience for me and my family. Prior to becoming ill, I had never heard that paint, weed killer, new carpet, etc. could cause people to become ill. After my airplane trip, I learned that 1,000 other cases of chemical injuries had been reported to the airline I had flown on, yet no warning was given to me about the potential danger before I stepped on the plane.

At the present time, my lifestyle is very limited. I stay home a majority of the time in order to avoid chemical exposures. A simple trip to a mall, a doctor’s office, or even someone’s home could trigger symptoms such as migraines, tremors, difficulty breathing, blurred vision, etc. Rather than subject myself to such symptoms, I choose to remain secluded from society most of the time. I am able to attend church occasionally when I have the strength. My church has been extremely supportive of the special needs my illness brings. My pastor has put an announcement in the weekly bulletin requesting that people refrain from wearing perfume or cologne while attending services. The people in the church have also been very supportive in bringing meals and offering other support during times of distress after I have had severe chemical exposures. I feel very blessed to have such a wonderful group of supportive people at my church!!!!!

One of the most difficult thing about being a Mom with MCS is having to miss my children’s performances in school concerts due to perfume wearers, new carpeting in the auditorium, etc. During those disappointing times, I try to focus on the blessings I still have left in my life, rather than focusing on all the things I am no longer able to participate in.

Even though the challenges this illness brings to my life are often overwhelming, some positive changes have also occurred in my life as a result of having to live with MCS. One of the best things that has happened to me through the challenges, is that it has forced me to reevaluate the priorities in my life. This has caused me to focus more on what really matters most to me in life which are the three F’s: faith, friends, and family.

Over the years, my illness has gotten progressively worse. The more chemical exposures I have, the worse my reactions get. Since there is no known cure for MCS, avoidance of chemicals, along with a healthy diet, vitamin supplements, and detoxification programs are what I am currently doing in order to build up my immune system.

It’s time that consumers demand that manufacturers of potentially dangerous products label them as such, with possible health risks explained. Just as drug companies put warning labels on their products, so should manufacturers of carpeting, air fresheners, perfume, pesticides, etc. I hope my story can serve as an example to others who may not be aware of how dangerous exposure to chemicals and pesticides can be. I hope others can be educated enough to make wiser choices than I have made so they don’t end up going down the same path that I have.