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Prev: Multiple chemical sensitivity: study of 52 cases
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From: Ilena Rose on 3 Sep 2007 19:23 Bravo Lourdes. May you and all those in these groups be protected by the Quackwatch Propaganda Team who spreads disinfo about mulitiple chemical sensitivity. Stephen Barrett, never even board certified himself, ridicules it by calling it a 'fad diagnosis.' The patients get blamed, as well as everything but the chemicals. Many women from our international breast implant support group suffer from MCS, and I am thrilled when voices of reason like Ms Salvador's drown out the chemical industry noise and denials. http://breastimplantawareness.blogspot.com http://ilenarose.blogspot.com Health Lover http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=36567 Lourdes Salvador September 3, 2007 Studies estimate that 16% of Americans exhibit symptoms of chemical sensitivity. Roughly 6% of those meet the established criterion for multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). MCS is a chronic condition that affects multiple organ systems, not specific to any gender, age, socioeconomic group, or nationality. The onset can be gradual as a result of chronic low-level exposure, or sudden as a result of a single acute toxic exposure. Damage may be permanent and irreversible. The primary recognized treatment is avoidance of all chemical exposures. Many everyday products may contain unregulated chemicals that are neurotoxins and may trigger a reaction from low-level exposures, including personal and laundry care items, perfumes, colognes, lotions, deodorants, hair dyes, scented candles, air fresheners, cleaning products, plastics, carpet, vehicle exhaust, herbicides, and pesticides. Some people with MCS have been shown in studies to have slow detoxification systems that hinder the breakdown of these substances. Symptoms from exposure can range from minor annoyances to life-threatening reactions. Other conditions that are frequently comorbid with MCS include chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, asthma, allergies, and autoimmune diseases. The mission of MCS America is to gain respect and understanding for the many men, women, and children suffering with multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), toxic/chemical injury (TI/CI), and other related disabilities through brochures, printed materials, newsletters, support groups, public awareness campaigns, and lobbying for the full recognition of MCS in the medical and legal communities while promoting mutual respect between fellow human beings and encouraging all members of the MCS community to participate and create a world in which there is no threat of toxic injury. MCS America wants the same recognition for MCS that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently granted to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. MCS is particularly significant when one considers that this condition impacts an estimated 16% of the population as opposed to 7% who are affected by diabetes, which most Americans are familiar with, costing billions in treatments, lost income due to missing work, and absenteeism from school. Janice Trease, Chapter Coordinator for MCS Nebraska, a subsidiary of MCS America, notes that even though the Midwest is not heavily populated, she sees signs of MCS around her every day. Some sufferers are not aware of their own condition in the early stages and resources are scarce in Nebraska. A sufferer of MCS herself, she travels 150 miles to Missouri, the nearest treatment center, for medical care. "Chemical sensitivity affects every aspect of my life. Every contact must be closely monitored. MCS requires hyper-vigilance to avoid an unexpected exposure that can cause severe life-altering reactions," said Trease. Trease looks forward to the day when MCS is fully researched and recognized. Her all time favorite quote by Schopenhauer is "Every truth passes through three stages before it is recognized. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is opposed. Third, it is regarded as self evident." She says it will be a great day to celebrate when the scientific community confirms the biomarkers for MCS and the community regards it as self-evident. Nebraska residents interested in joining MCS Nebraska and participating in a discussion group may apply at: MCS Nebraska Support Group. For more information, referrals, and resources on MCS Nebraska, see the MCS Nebraska subsidiary website at MCS Nebraska. For more information on MCS America, see MCS America. To join MCS America for support, information, and activism, apply at: MCS America Members Support Group. To subscribe to MCS America News, a monthly newsletter, send an email to subscriptions(a)mcs-america. About the Author Lourdes Salvador is a writer and social advocate based in Hawaii. She is a passionate advocate for the homeless, having worked with her local governor to open new shelters and provide services to the homeless in a new approach to end homelessness. That passion soon turned to advocacy and activism for victims of multiple chemical sensitivity. Since 2006, she has been the president of MCS America and a featured monthly writer for MCS America News. She co-founded MCS Awareness in 2005. She also serves as Partner, Environmental Education Week and Partner, Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE). For more information about Lourdes and her advocacy work, please visit: www.mcs-america.org, www.thetruthaboutmcs.blogspot.com, and www.cafepress.com/mcsamerica. Copyrighted � 2007 Lourdes Salvador
From: Medusa on 5 Sep 2007 18:00 Ilena; > Bravo Lourdes. > May you and all those in these groups be protected by the Quackwatch > Propaganda Team who spreads disinfo about mulitiple chemical > sensitivity. > > Stephen Barrett, never even board certified himself, ridicules it by > calling it a 'fad diagnosis.' He is a well-known jerk and shill for the chemical industry. > The patients get blamed, as well as everything but the chemicals. > > Many women from our international breast implant support group suffer > from MCS, and I am thrilled when voices of reason like Ms Salvador's > drown out the chemical industry noise and denials. > > http://breastimplantawareness.blogspot.comhttp://ilenarose.blogspot.com > Health Lover > > http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=3... > Lourdes Salvador > September 3, 2007 <snip excellent article> I have been told by someone who works with Social Security that MCS is now recognized as a disability, but good luck getting SS Disability payments for it. :((( Thanks for posting this! Medusa
From: Mark Probert on 5 Sep 2007 22:15
Medusa wrote: > Ilena; > >> Bravo Lourdes. >> May you and all those in these groups be protected by the Quackwatch >> Propaganda Team who spreads disinfo about mulitiple chemical >> sensitivity. >> >> Stephen Barrett, never even board certified himself, ridicules it by >> calling it a 'fad diagnosis.' > > He is a well-known jerk and shill for the chemical industry. > >> The patients get blamed, as well as everything but the chemicals. >> >> Many women from our international breast implant support group suffer >> from MCS, and I am thrilled when voices of reason like Ms Salvador's >> drown out the chemical industry noise and denials. >> >> http://breastimplantawareness.blogspot.comhttp://ilenarose.blogspot.com >> Health Lover >> >> http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=3... >> Lourdes Salvador >> September 3, 2007 > > <snip excellent article> > > I have been told by someone who works with Social Security that MCS is > now recognized as a disability, but good luck getting SS Disability > payments for it. :((( You are correct. Their criteria are: 12.07 Somatoform disorders: Physical symptoms for which there are no demonstrable organic findings or known physiological mechanisms. The required level of severity for these disorders is met when the requirements in both A and B are satisfied. A. Medically documented by evidence of one of the following: 1. A history of multiple physical symptoms of several years duration, beginning before age 30, that have caused the individual to take medicine frequently, see a physician often and alter life patterns significantly; or 2. Persistent nonorganic disturbance of one of the following: a. Vision, or b. Speech; or c. Hearing; or d. Use of a limb; or e. Movement and its control (e.g., coordination disturbance, psychogenic seizures, akinesia, dyskinesia; or f. Sensation (e.g., diminished or heightened). 3. Unrealistic interpretation of physical signs or sensations associated with the preoccupation or belief that one has a serious disease or injury; AND B. Resulting in at least two of the following: 1. Marked restriction of activities of daily living; or 2. Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; or 3. Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence, or pace; or 4. Repeated episodes of decompensation, each of extended duration. Note that this is under Somatoform disorders under the psychiatric criteria. |