By Kathleen Wallace

I used to run a successful company. I lost my home, my business and my family life because of Lyme disease and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).

In many ways, MCS has been my hardest challenge.

MCS is a medical condition characterized by adverse health effects from exposure to common chemicals and pollutants. These can come from items like pesticides, new carpet, paint, renovation materials, diesel exhaust, cleaning supplies, perfume, scented laundry products and air fresheners.

The symptoms of MCS are diverse and unique to each person, ranging from mild to life threatening. They can include headaches, trouble concentrating, nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.

Living with MCS significantly degrades your quality of life. Access to healthcare can be difficult, since we have to tolerate hospital and office air, which can cause us to react badly.

We lose the ability to use public transportation, public housing or hotels. We are unable to participate in many community activities. The social impact is gruesome.

One of the hardest thing for me has been when family, friends and physicians don’t believe in my MCS. Many have ignored my pleas to use MCS-friendly products on themselves and their clothing. Despite coming from a big family, I have often spent holidays alone, watching from a distance as my family celebrated without me.

MCS is the pure definition of invisible illness.

Triggered by different conditions

MCS can affect people with many different illnesses and conditions: Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, and ME/CFS, to name a few. It is time to bring these different groups together to address barriers that need to be overcome. We are a gap in the medical community.

We deserve fair access to safe services, healthcare, transportation, education, housing and employment with income security to ensure equality.

Until these milestones are reached, here are a few suggestions that may help you. The daily goal is to reduce the number of chemical exposures that you have.

For example, use products that are fragrance-free on yourself and for cleaning your home. Keep away from air fresheners. Eat a clean diet. Take supplements to keep your body strong and enhance cleansing your system. Avoid public places, especially on weekends when they are the most crowded. Wait outside for appointments. Sit in an jnfrared sauna to detox. Remember that avoidance is key. Always advocate for yourself!

The organization MCS Friends offers information and support. There are also Facebook support groups: Fragrance Free Coalition; MCS & Food Intolerance Support; MCS/TILT Survivors; Canary chat.

Kathleen Wallace lives in New York state.