Holiday Shopping

I've just been doing my shopping for Christmas (and yes, you're all getting what you got last year ;o), and watching my cat run around as though he has a flea, although I can assure you he does not, he just likes to think he does sometimes...likes to pretend he's a "Big Boy".

Buying gifts for someone who has chemical sensitivity is a bit like trying to find Richard Branson the perfect gift. Obviously toiletries are out (see the previous post). Foods are also highly awkward, chocolates and wine...tummy aches written all over them. Anything made of plastic, vinyl, synthetic is right out. And flowers - well they are a problem too as not only are they likely to have been well treated with pesticides but they contain their own chemicals which can trigger nasty reactions (ask me about gladioli - actually don't).

Books seem a good idea - and many people with sensitivity can manage a book. I can't as the inks & other chemicals cause me problems...audio books on the other hand have no such issue. DVDs can be ok as well, though they take a lot of cognitive energy & not everyone with chemical sensitivity can manage the concentration of a whole movie.

Here, we like things such as photographs or video (of you - rather than just of some random strangers).

Donations to charities are always fantastic:
http://www.aessra.org
http://www.mecfs-vic.org.au
http://www.anzmes.org.nz

You can also do what we often do & give people goats, ducks or chickens through agencies such as World Vision, Save the Children, Amnesty - whichever cause best suits your own beliefs & desires to make a difference in the world. It puts a smile on the face of the person receiving any gift such as this.

Vouchers for books, music (real or digital) are a good couple of options. Always usable.

In our home we are signed up to "The Cult of Less" - not as bad as it sounds :o) - we are cultivating having less "stuff" in our home. The stuff we do have we try to hang on to only the very practical. It's not that we don't like "stuff" - we do. It's just easier to dust this way & so many things are available digitally. Once I can convince my husband that he can use an eReader instead of having so many books I think we'll see a big reduction!

And if you're really into stuff then I guess just make sure it's organic, unbleached, recycled, whatever you like (sounds a bit like our toilet paper hmmm...Mum, I just had a brilliant idea for a gift for you :o).

Best of all you can send your love. 'Cause that's all we really need here.

And if you're buying for Richard Branson, skip the cufflinks this year, I'll bet what he'd really love is a toilet or a tap for drinking water (in a country where there's a scarcity of either).

If you have any other brilliant ideas on "gifts for the chemically challenged" post them here!

I love you just the way you smell

I love you just the way you smell. Please don't add perfume to anything. You aren't any cleaner for being perfumed...in fact I might start wondering what you're trying to hide :o).

Change your laundry detergent. Next time you visit the super pick out a "sensitive" version. If you use Persil choose "Persil Sensitive". If you use Omo use "Omo Sensitive". Another good one is Planet Ark's Aware - Sensitive version of course. Seriously, it will make all the difference to me. Maybe the difference between whether I can have you visit or not.

Shampoo and Conditioner (and bodywash/soap etc). Look for ones that say "fragrance free". Skip the ones that say "organic ingredients" (some of the ingredients are, some aren't - lucky dip). And to be honest, skip the Redken, Sunsilk, Pantene, whatever & get something lovely for yourself like Al'chemy Very Gentle Unscented Shampoo & Conditioner. It's beautiful stuff. If you must use fragranced products please don't wash your hair just before you come over. Give it a day or two to "offgass". It needs it.

Deodorant. This is going to sound gross, but you don't need it. I prefer the smell of B.O. to the smell of Lynx or Impulse (and if you ask you'll find most people hate those). Please, please don't buy spray on deodorants. Ever. They are the worst. I understand if you can't give up deodorant, but look for a roll on or stick, maybe a hypoallergenic or "Mitchum Unscented".

Have a quick glance over the ingredients in your products - particularly the ones I've just mentioned. If they say "fragrance", whether it's "natural" or other, please don't use it around or near me.

Covered in chemicals

One day people will look back at our time & wonder what on earth we were thinking using such toxic chemicals on our bodies & in our homes, much the same as we look back today & wonder what on earth brought people to using lead face powder.

The Romans knew about lead's effects. Didn't stop them using it. Nor did it deter the Europeans in the Middle Ages, Renaissance Italians or the Elizabethan English. Seems we're not all that quick on the uptake.

Here, today, in the name of cleanliness/vanity we scrub our skins with soaps containing known carcinogens, irritants & endocrine (hormone) disruptors. We put aluminium under our arms where the skin is at it's thinnest, and where it can be absorbed the most readily. Of course we stopped cooking with aluminium years ago - Alzheimers - or did you forget? :o)

We pour potions over our bodies, moisturisers, ointments, perfumes. Our scalp - not too far from our precious brain, is often daily scrubbed with these chemicals & then sprayed, gelled or fudged (Are you are going to eat that fudge? I wouldn't recommend it).

That's not enough of course, we also need to spray & perfume our house - not just for vanity of course, but we don't want any bugs about, so bring out the pesticides & spray them, lay them or sprinkle liberally. After all it's only for pests. Do you know what a flea feels like after a dose? I do. I'm guessing it's the same for the flies and all of the other creepies, crawlies, wrigglies & flappies.

I actually do know what this feels like. Balance goes out the window & confusion reigns supreme. Walk in a straight line? Forget it, not going to happen. Who am I where am I why do I feel so odd? Why do my hands shake? Why does my body feel so surreal?

I won't even begin on what the other chemicals are doing to me. We've cocooned ourselves in formaldehyde, we've created illnesses in children we design pills to treat. Try me on RED. I'll be the same as any ADHD kindergartener. Is this a pysch diagnosis? Maybe. That's what they taught at uni. No-one mentioned RED or YELLOW or BLUE.

We're eating it, drinking it, draped in it, consuming it, absorbing it, breathing it. Right now.

The Waiting Room Story

One day, while still fairly new to wearing my carbon filter masks in public, I went to a doctor's appointment. As I sat with my husband in the waiting room a small child entered with their mother. Quietly while they sat the child asked her mum "mummy, why is that lady wearing a mask?". Her mother answered "it's because she is very sick".

Shortly after this event another small child entered with his father & as they sat in the waiting room the same question appeared on his lips. "Daddy, why is that lady wearing a mask?". "Because she doesn't want to spread germs" was "Daddy's" answer. Under my breath, so I thought and unpremeditated to my husband: "It's because I'm tooooo ugly".

Father of second small child cracked up laughing. I could have sworn I said it ever so softly.

:o)

;o)

Course it's me ya nongle.
xx

Thank you DDA

I'm so pleased this country has a Disability Discrimination Act. Once this was pointed out to the clinic mentioned in my last blog, the second letter I received was significantly more accommodating. I didn't expect as much as they offered. But am very happy. I am about as protected as I could have hoped from the chemicals that were making me sick, while still visiting a public place.

1. I have a separate room to wait in away from the general populace - it is well ventilated & I can sit outside on the veranda
2. The clinic I now attend has better ventilation & I can still see my own GP
3. I can leave straight after & pay by phone & not wait at perfumed reception to pay
4. The air perfume dispenser will be removed from one toilet

Well done to them for coming through.

Re: Air Fresheners

We have reviewed your requests re air fresheners and perfumes.

Our clinic is designed to provide the best experience for the majority of our patients and as such we will not be making any changes.

Yours sincerely...