Experience with Chemical Sensitivity

Updated on February 22, 2013
R.M. asks from Fulton, CA
11 answers

For the last year or two, my husband has developed some fairly constant allergies. Waking up with violent sneezing fits, rashes on his body, etc. We eliminated the dryer sheets from the laundry, and I triple-rinse the clothes, and he doesn't seem to be getting the body rashes as often. But the sneezing hasn't stopped. He is a guy who is otherwise fit and healthy and eats well -- better than I do, actually.

The master bath is right next to the bedroom. A week or two ago he took almost all of the cleaning products out of the bathroom, and put them outside, I have thoroughly cleaned, and dusted everything in the house, rug doctored the rugs, and am still in the midst of trying to purge as much as possible. One good thing is that I'm not noticing the mildew smell I had been noticing for the last year, when I walk into the house, although I don't know what I have done to remove that.

For a couple of days, I didn't use the automatic scrubbing bubbles shower cleaner, and he was doing okay. Then yesterday I used it, and this morning he woke up sneezing violently again. When I use it, it definitely permeates the bedroom.

So what do you think? Could it be chemical sensitivity? I'm going to switch to all natural cleaning anyway (vinegar, water, baking soda, other?), because I've just been looking online, and it sounds like most products have some pretty toxic chemicals, and they aren't necessary, anyway.

Thanks.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Kelthy -- I did get rid of about 8 pillows in the house -- and all of the feather ones. A couple of them in the kid's room definitely had some mildew.

He had an allergy test -- nothing conclusive. He wasn't allergic to much of what he was tested for.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.T.

answers from New York on

All of those chemical cleaners are made of strong chemicals and you should consider not using them anyway. I cannot be in a bathroom where they have bene used int he last 24 hours - my throat feels like it's going to close up and my eyes being to water. Our grandmothers cleaned with vinegar, water, bleach & borax. They do work really well. The only other cleaners I use are pinesol, comet and Dawn (for dishes) as it works really well on greasy stuff.

I'm sure he's got problems with that stuff - get rid of it. I know you can find "recipes" for cleaning solutions online. My neice has tried a few different recipes and has disocvered the ones that work well and she now uses only home-made natural stuff and she saves a ton of money too!

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

P.M.

answers from Portland on

Could be. I've met people with chem sensitivities (in groups of patients sitting through day-long sublingual testing), and they report an amazing variety of symptoms. Some coughed, sneezed, had itchy eyes or sore throats. Some had extensive rashes. Some became hyper, or had mood swings, or fell asleep. Some become unable to sleep, or develop central apnea. Some had headaches, body aches, muscle spasms. Some became dizzy or nauseated. One fainted.

Many had multiple systems affected. Lucky me, I'm in that group.

Symptoms can also come or go over time. By very carefully limiting my exposures, I have gotten "better" enough over the past 25 years that I can now risk going out in public once in awhile, but I can still get major whaps on occasion. Last time I was cornered in conversation with a friend of my daughter's who was wearing toxic levels of perfume, I ended up with a migraine so bad I vomited on my way home, 24-hour "flu" symptoms, and no sleep for 2 nights. This is serious trouble for those of us who have it.

Good for you for giving up some of those incredibly nasty products. The natural stuff really works about as well, and sometimes better, for much less $. Be aware that cosmetics can also give off traces of chemicals, especially hair products, that can affect other people. I've had to leave several times when a woman who uses hair spray comes to my church.

I suggest you keep a notebook of possible connections, as this can become hard to sort out otherwise. I actually made a chart with all potential problem chemicals down one side, and reactions across the top. Kept adding to both lists over a couple of years. Put an X each time symptoms occurred following any exposures. Patterns emerged over time.

Wishing you success in your search.

3 moms found this helpful

L.M.

answers from Dover on

I think you are on the right track. Just be careful what you are cleaning with, washing your clothes with, etc. Most detergents contain a carcinogen that takes an average of 11 rinses to remove all traces. While it's not cost effective or practical to rinse 11 times, without doing so leaves this chemical on your body all day, every day. That's why I switched to using safer products in my home.

3 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.C.

answers from Atlanta on

Absolutely. I can't even be in a kitchen or bathroom that has been recently cleaned with harsh chemicals (Scrubbing Bubbles is a big offender), or I struggle to breathe as though I have asthma or something. We just don't use the harsh chemicals in our house - and that goes for cleaning as well as shampoos and soaps, laundry detergent, and cosmetics. Good luck.

ETA: And I want to second Rhonda's recommendation of ewg.org. Great, informative site.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.E.

answers from Wichita Falls on

I would encourage him to go to the doctor for allergy tests. My husband was having issues until we found out he was allergic to tallow, an ingredient in almost all soaps (yes, even ivory). Till you find out what he is allergic to, you will continue to stumble upon it in various products.

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.P.

answers from Sacramento on

Hands down my favorite site for information on these sorts of things is Environmental Working Group. You can find healthy alternatives to those nasty chemicals. It sounds like you've done a great job making progress to find and eliminate triggers. It's probably a 'cocktail' of things that simply push his body over the edge. There are thousands of chemicals out these that are used in products and are on store shelves and enter our homes without any testing for safety--mind boggling for sure once you start investigating.

Their site also has a fabulous section, "Skin Deep" in which you can find personal care products (hairspray, toothpaste, soap, makeup, etc.) as those can be part of the cocktail too. As you are finding, even the fumes that linger in the air hours after use can add to the attack on his body. You are doing great--hang in there and keep chipping away!

2 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.S.

answers from Miami on

You know after I had my daughter I got chemical sensitive also. It could probably be the new cleaner but also check your pillows. Some pillow fibers mess with me now when they didnt before. I had a really great down feather pillow that was given to me when I was pregnant. I worked well for years until it got a tiny whole in it enough that some of the feathers managed to work its way partially out. Oh Boy talk about problems when I went to sleep. Washed everything changed everything then realized it was the feathers.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from San Francisco on

Sounds like you're making great progress.
I used to use scrubbing bubbles on the tub/shower. It's really effective, but lately I've been using the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for bath & tub. It's also really effective and is infused with a little febreeze, but the smell is very very mild, not anything chemical like cleaners. And there's nothing sprayed on so there's not much to volitalize.
My Mom claims that the very best cleaner in the world is-- water. Totally anti-climactic, but the other day I tested a stone tile cleaner (loaded with chemicals) against water and the results were identical. It takes more strength and elbow grease, but really, so easy.
On my hard wood floors I use a solution of 1 gallon hot water with about 1/2 cup white vinegar. It does not smell good, but the smell doesn't linger and it works very well.
Good luck. If you can clear the house out so his system can calm down a bit you might be able to introduce back one or two of your favorite products on an occasional basis.

1 mom found this helpful

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I've noticed that I feel a lot more congested when I use spray cleaning products vs gel or powder. I can't use Formula 409 at all; that one sends me into a full on allergy attack. I did try to go to baking soda and vinegar, but honestly, it just didn't get everything as clean as I like it to be. Maybe I was doing it wrong, but I would scrub and scrub, and the shower tile never lost that grayish soap scum layer. I finally went to Soft Scrub for showers, toilets, sinks, and tile countertops. Because it's a gel-type product, it doesn't seem to bother me nearly as much as the spray stuff, and it does work REALLY well. I squirt some onto the surface, use a scrub brush to scrub it all over the surface, leave it on there for 10 minutes, and then rinse. Totally clean, and doesn't send me into an allergic fit. I do open the windows while I'm doing all of this; the smell doesn't linger.

I have crazy sensitive skin and so do both kids, and I like Method laundry soap, with Borax in the wash water (we have very hard water, and Borax helps with that). I don't use fabric softener; I'm allergic to every single one I've ever tried. But the Borax seems to make fabric softener unnecessary. From what I've read, I believe Method is a pretty "green" detergent (biodegradable and all that), and they do make one that is unscented.

One thing I have done is switched to a Shark steam mop for the floors. It gets the floors very clean, and only uses water. So that is one way I was able to stop using quite so many chemicals.

Is it possible he has developed an allergy to your cats? It's uncommon, but people do sometimes have allergies later in life that they didn't before.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.L.

answers from San Francisco on

Hi there I just wanted to add that if you are still using softener in your washing stop and use vinegar instead. You would not have to rinse 3 times and he would not be sensitive to it. We use the combo of a free and clear detergent with the vinegar as the softener for all our laundry as my daughter has highly sensitive skin and after eliminating everything ( soap, lotion, shampoo ) and she was still getting a rash someone suggested it might be the softener. Once I also eliminated that the difference was amazing. It doesn't smell at all by the way. Hope it helps.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.L.

answers from Fresno on

Sounds highly possible. In addition to eliminating toxins he also needs to detox. There are many herbal detoxifiers. Think about a cup that is full if toxins and you stop pouring more in but noe you need to start pouring some out. Shaklee has some great green non-toxic cleaners that have been around 30 plus years. www.larks.myshaklee.com. go to Shop and then to Healthy Home

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions