Lynn, I have sensitivities and asthma, too, though not as severe as yours. I underwent patch testing this summer. I hope I never have to go through it again. I was found to be highly sensitive to nickel (which I knew), 'fragrance mix', and cobalt. I have had to search for new laundry detergent, soaps, shampoos, hair dye, fabric softeners, etc.; go through anything I would use or be exposed to as far as getting on my skin or into my system and get rid of it; stop using candles with any fragrance; and be ware of anything else that might spark a reaction. I spent a lot of time in my bathroom with a huge magnifying glass reading all the ingredients on every label. I still haven't gone through it all, but I have sorted out a lot of the things I can't use and replaced what I normally use with safe things. I'll get to the rest later. Until then, I don't even touch the bottles or containers. Still, I am not as bad as you. For those who may want to take a peek at one of the test results for Fragrance Mix, here is the link: http://www.truetest.com/PatientPDF/Patient_Fragrance.pdf. If you want to look over the whole site, here is the link for that, too: http://www.truetest.com/commonallergens.aspx It may help you to understand the severity of Lynn's CSSA. I, personally, cannot have anything with cinnamon or cloves in it because I so allergic that my mouth turns into one huge mass of blisters that last for a week. I am supposed to be wary of anything with vanilla or citrus in it, too, as well as wearing gloves if I have to peel citrus. That goes for anything that will touch or absorb into my skin. Allergies build up over time. It is RARE that one has an immediate, extreme reaction to something the first time one is exposed. PLEASE do not let any one tell you any differently. I developed the nickel allergy, which nearly killed me, when I was around 26. It was fortunate that I decided to go to the doctor's office when I did. Another day or so, and I would have died. The rest of it all developed over the past 35 years, because it took time to build up in my system. The fact is that your system can naturally handle a certain amount of allergens, even small overdoses if they are sporadic. But once your body hits that point where you are over the edge, that's when it all hits the fan! After my testing in June, I went to my hairdresser's salon to talk with her about the products we had been using on me. She was not there, and the lady at the front desk, Pat, who is a complete love, unwittingly went and had another hair dresser come out. This hairdresser is an idiot! and she explained to me quite loudly so every one in the shop could hear that ".... NOTHING they use in their salon could have possibly caused any problem because I would have had an IMMEDIATE reaction." I truly believe she thought I was there to go after the salon for causing my problem rather than listening to the fact that I was there for help, which I plainly stated. I became extremely upset, but she never had an inkling that I was quite livid. I thanked her for her time, calmly turned to Pat, and said, "Please have J.K. call me when she returns." Besides giving horrible haircuts (personal experience), that woman will cause a problem one day by giving some one bad information. In just one product I had purchased from the salon and had used heavily for the previous nine months had four allergens in it. Thankfully, my asthma seems to have lessened drastically. It may have been caused by all the allergens I was exposing myself to on a daily basis. At least for now, I am off my inhalers and have few symptoms. My breathing is much improved. Hugs to all, Mary

Hi Mary!!! Thank you! and Joan, too :o) Yes, it isn't easy, and yes, it's very dangerous, and yes, I am ever so thankful that I found more folks who understand!!! WOW! This is GREAT. Not that you have just about what I have_in fact, I think in some areas you are worse off than I am for sure!!!! This really makes me feel like I'm not alone, and you know that is very heartwarming. But, I'm not happy others are like me, because it isn't easy at all. Glad you are doing better, too, Mary!! So am I when I can stay away from the stuff. Hugs from a sloppy, wet Columbia. Tonight it will be dangerous out there, if all of this freezes again. From where I am sitting, right now, it looks like things are still a little icy, but melting. Take care if any of you have to travel in this mess. :o) Lynn .Mary wrote: > Lynn, > > I have sensitivities and asthma, too, though not as severe as yours. I > underwent patch testing this summer. I hope I > never have to go through it again. I was found to be highly sensitive to > nickel (which I knew), 'fragrance mix', and cobalt. > I have had to search for new laundry detergent, soaps, shampoos, hair dye, > fabric softeners, etc.; go through anything I > would use or be exposed to as far as getting on my skin or into my system > and get rid of it; stop using candles with any > fragrance; and be ware of anything else that might spark a reaction. I > spent a lot of time in my bathroom with a huge > magnifying glass reading all the ingredients on every label. I still > haven't gone through it all, but I have sorted out a lot > of the things I can't use and replaced what I normally use with safe > things. > I'll get to the rest later. Until then, I don't > even touch the bottles or containers. Still, I am not as bad as you. For > those who may want to take a peek at one of > the test results for Fragrance Mix, here is the link: > http://www.truetest.com/PatientPDF/Patient_Fragrance.pdf. If > you want to look over the whole site, here is the link for that, too: > http://www.truetest.com/commonallergens.aspx > It may help you to understand the severity of Lynn's CSSA. I, personally, > cannot have anything with cinnamon or cloves > in it because I so allergic that my mouth turns into one huge mass of > blisters that last for a week. I am supposed to be > wary of anything with vanilla or citrus in it, too, as well as wearing > gloves if I have to peel citrus. That goes for anything > that will touch or absorb into my skin. > > Allergies build up over time. It is RARE that one has an immediate, > extreme > reaction to something the first time one is > exposed. PLEASE do not let any one tell you any differently. I developed > the nickel allergy, which nearly killed me, when > I was around 26. It was fortunate that I decided to go to the doctor's > office when I did. Another day or so, and I would > have died. The rest of it all developed over the past 35 years, because > it > took time to build up in my system. The fact is > that your system can naturally handle a certain amount of allergens, even > small overdoses if they are sporadic. But once > your body hits that point where you are over the edge, that's when it all > hits the fan! > > After my testing in June, I went to my hairdresser's salon to talk with > her > about the products we had been using on me. > She was not there, and the lady at the front desk, Pat, who is a complete > love, unwittingly went and had another hair > dresser come out. This hairdresser is an idiot! and she explained to me > quite loudly so every one in the shop could hear > that ".... NOTHING they use in their salon could have possibly caused any > problem because I would have had an IMMEDIATE > reaction." I truly believe she thought I was there to go after the salon > for causing my problem rather than listening to the > fact that I was there for help, which I plainly stated. I became > extremely > upset, but she never had an inkling that I was > quite livid. I thanked her for her time, calmly turned to Pat, and said, > "Please have J.K. call me when she returns." Besides > giving horrible haircuts (personal experience), that woman will cause a > problem one day by giving some one bad information. > In just one product I had purchased from the salon and had used heavily > for > the previous nine months had four allergens in it. > > Thankfully, my asthma seems to have lessened drastically. It may have > been > caused by all the allergens I was exposing > myself to on a daily basis. At least for now, I am off my inhalers and > have > few symptoms. My breathing is much improved. > > Hugs to all,