This trip to Ireland has been challenging for me because I suffer with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). If you don’t know what that is, Dr. Campbell offers this page. At home, I can control my environment and stay balanced, but on the road every environment comes with hazards. The city is rife with toxic chemicals from cigarette smoke to perfume to diesel exhaust. While every B&B is a potential bomb of scented laundry detergent, fabric softener, perfumes or air fresheners. The symptoms lessen when I leave the area but are persistant; for example, I can taste perfume almost constantly now. I’ve experienced new symptoms over the last couple of weeks: tingling tongue, tremors, fatigue, insomnia, and brain fog. I now carry antihistamines which help with some symptoms and an epi-pen, just in case.
Sadly, this may be my last road trip.
Some folks have been amazingly kind and understanding, especially women who’ve reacted themselves to different chemicals. One woman rewashed all the sheets before I arrived in hot water with no soap. But, let’s face it, anyone accommodating guests has to wash their sheets with detergent and a business can’t afford to use “natural” unscented soaps. Some places that I’ve queried send their laundry out so have no control over what the commercial laundry uses. My daughter says that I should open a B&B for people with sensitivities and allergies.
All of this creates stress and anxiety. I power on, but the threat is always looming.
 What can you do in this situation?
Avoid. This is number one and also the biggest challenge. You never know what’s coming around the corner.
Spend as much time as possible outside in the fresh air. I’ve done lots of walking in the pastures and fields of rural Ireland. In Dublin, I had to reverse this process because the downtown core is loaded with smokers, diesel buses, and perfumes. Boys, your cologne and after shave is the worst! One family I met at Uisneach, who have lived in Ireland for thirteen years, moved to the country when their children were born because the particulate level is so high in Dublin.
Communicate. Phone ahead, explain the situation, ask if they use scented fabric softener, and warn your hosts. Airbnb was good enough to refund two nights accommodation when I had to leave because the scents made me sick. Sometimes I feel like a whiner, but health is your priority. If you suffer in silence you will only get worse. Ask if you can see (smell) the room, and if it’s scented, walk away.
Hotels might be slightly better than B&Bs but not always. We checked into a hotel in Waterford because we were unable to find any other accommodation, went to the room, and had to leave within the hour. We both reacted to the old carpets, dust, and smoke in the hallways. That was our worst day yet. We drove another two hours and tried three other B&Bs before we found one that was suitable in another town. Even then we had to make some adjustments.
Air out the room as soon as you can and leave the windows open at night. A couple of places I slept in socks, slippers, pjs, sweaters, and wrapped in blankets, but the country air was fresh. At one location, we were able to find another duvet that had not been freshly washed in fabric softener. Cover the pillow with your clothes, then remember to wash your clothes and hang them out in the fresh air; otherwise, you’ll be packing the scent with you.
Be an advocate. I think that people with MCS have to talk about it. The truth is: these chemicals hurt everyone. People with MCS are just the canaries.
Try and stay balanced. This is difficult at times. I’m also food sensitive (gluten and dairy intolerant) so keeping myself fed is an ongoing challenge. Ireland is quite hip when it comes to food allergies. I saw this sign at the surf shack at Curracloe Beach.
Some restaurants are excellent. One server said, “What would you like? I’ll make you up a plate.”
Another host, left us almond milk, butter substitute, gluten free bread, and fresh free range duck eggs; then brought us fresh zucchini and cucumbers from her greenhouse!
On the other hand, in one small town, after scouting three restaurants, the only thing we could find for supper was french fries and salad. Everything else was breaded, buttered, or cheesed. Tonight we were fortunate to find a Malaysian place in Kinsale (near Cork) and feasted on pad thai and curry!
Take vitamins, meditate, and sleep when you can.
The Outcome?
Despite all of this, I’ve undertaken loads of research, which is why I came here. I’ve learned much about myself and my subject. I’ve met wonderful folks and made new friends. And I still love Ireland, the landscape, the culture, and the people. If you’re planning a trip to this beautiful island, message me and I’ll recommend some people that will look after you.
Have been enjoying your posts about your trip to Ireland but am so sorry about the allergy problems.
When you have time, do contact me by e mail so I can tell you about my story.
Sue
Yes for sure. We can go for tea! I’ll be back around town next week.
It’s amazing to me that you’re able to travel while having to deal with all of that. You’re so brave and adventurous! I think Dublin would be difficult for me too.
Ah, thanks. Yes, it’s certainly been a challenge, and I knew it would be difficult. Today I feel great. The sea wind here in the southern part of the island is so clean and fresh, and we’re at a great B&B.
Wendy I hear your pain. I travel with a pillowcase after staying in an airbnb where the sheets were so scented I could hardly stand it. Yes I slept in sweaters so I didn’t have the covers up around my face. My niece’s blouse was unbearable during our hour long car ride last week. I am having guests for a week and I request that they use all my body products. Just got back from a weekend at my sister’s cottage and I am still wheezing! Not many understand what this is like!
We are the canaries. The chemicals in those scents are destroying people and our environment. It’s tragic.
love reading your journey with the faires i do believe in fairy’s and Angels it made me very emotional reading it. I have had Mcs for over 4 years now, every day is a challenge for me and for many other people who have this horrible Mcs but i’m very fortunate to have support from a good friend who also got Mcs from the same person that caused our Mcs by not disclosing that the flat i moved into had major problems with chemicals to.I wish you well in your journey in your life keep going your doing the right thing getting out there and spreading the word for all us canary’s. And letting us know we’re the good and bad places are to stay thank you.
Hi Joanna. Thank you for your comments and for the follow. This story is true. It really happened to me last year. Since then, I’ve become much more aware and am able to manage myself and my environment. But travel can be a challenge and I still have problems with laundry products (the worst) and personal products like cologne. I’m glad that you have support. (Sometimes I feel like people think I’m overly sensitive or making it up.) But MCS is very real and debilitating. I’ve been working with a naturopath to cleanse my liver. She says what happens is that the liver (the body filter) becomes overwhelmed and then the body begins to identify things as toxic. Ingesting lots of parsley, cilantro, barley grass in smoothies daily helps to detox. Best wishes to finding health and peace. Wendy
Thank you for explaining about the liver all this is a big learning curve for me still so much to understand and learn i will try the smoothie you have suggested. So pleased i can get your books on my kindle as i love reading i would go to the local library every other week my book reading passion was taken away from me when i got Mcs. book print affects me badly ant new printed stuff in the post has to be aired out and i have to wear gloves and a nose guard to read them.our lives change so much with this mcs thanks for your reply Joanna.
Yes, I know what you mean about ink. I have a terrible problem with anything that comes in plastic, including mattresses that off-gas. I have to wash everything and let things air outside. Don’t you just wish the world could see that we are the canaries and this is a problem? I’m glad you can read on a kindle. I just uploaded a new edition of To Sleep with Stones today. I can send you one if you like for your kindle. Thanks. Wendy
Oh my goodness I do understand we have to air out every thing that comes in the home. plastic is horrible burns my face red rash lips numb tingling makes me drained have to go to bed. I can taste things too horrible. New clothes been washed in bicarbonate having been outside for weeks I end up giving my things away but that’s how it is with us canarys I wish people would realized that the products perfumes,washing powders,cleaning products, even clothes that have these chemicals in them are not doing them any good either and they may end up as canarys as well. Wendy would love that to sleep with the stones on my kindle thank you Joanna