24 more hours

[JudyJudyJudy]

Dh's cousin is really nice, but, damn, I can't do this again. I have suspected before, but now I am thoroughly convinced, that my allergies and chemical sensitivities are connected to my arthritis. My joints in my feet, hands, and left knee are bad right now. I was sitting down with my knees exposed, and even Jacob noticed how swollen part of my left knee is. This really sucks. People don't understand that my allergies and sensitivities aren't just a little bit of a nuisance.

[Bellaelle]

I bet you developed it when you got that case of salmonella poisoning. That really sucks.

[JudyJudyJudy]

You're probably right. However, I've gotten worse over the years, and my chemical sensitivities have gotten really bad. When I'm exposed to allergens and chemicals, not only do they affect my head, sinuses, throat, and chest (the obvious things), but they also affect my joints. It might seem weird, but both are related to inflammation, so it makes sense.

I'm afraid dh's cousin thinks I'm rude or antisocial because I've been holing myself up in my room every chance I get, and I haven't ridden in the car with her and dh since she's been here. I have to protect myself as much as I can, though. The stuff she uses on her hair is so bad that dh admitted that it even bothers him. He even went with her and bought some more stuff, but it's just as bad if not worse.

[Bohemian]

Sorry you are in so much discomfort! :( I'm glad that she'll be gone soon. Hopefully she can stay somewhere else when she comes to visit again. I thought in your other thread you were going to say something to her, did you not or is she just continuing to use her products? Either way it sucks that she isn't more sensitive to your allergies.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Sorry you are in so much discomfort! :( I'm glad that she'll be gone soon. Hopefully she can stay somewhere else when she comes to visit again. I thought in your other thread you were going to say something to her, did you not or is she just continuing to use her products? Either way it sucks that she isn't more sensitive to your allergies.
She knows I'm very sensitive. Mil warned her before she came last time. Because of that, she didn't even bring her perfume. At first she thought it might be her deodorant that was bothering me, but dh gave her a bottle of unscented, and nothing improved. We figured out that it's the gel stuff she uses in her hair.

There really isn't anywhere else for her to stay when she comes. Dh's only family in Georgia lives over an hour away, and that's his father's side of the family. This cousin is from his mother's side of the family. I wish dsd could get a bigger place so that they could wear their smelly stuff together!

I'm afraid I'll never get the smell out of my house. It's on my pillows on the couch and everything.

[maksmom]

Oh, Judy I'm sorry this didn't get resolved. I'm kinda of shocked that she won't stop using the stuff in her hair, if she knows it's making you sick. I hope you can get the smell out soon and easily, so you can be comfortable in your own house. (hugs)

[TuetonicWillow]

I can't imagine not at least trying to accomdate my hosts. I'm glad it's almost over.

[Sputterduck]

You have a right to be able to healthy in your own house. She shouldn't be using what is hurting you. :(

[WalkingTittyBar]

Im glad its almost over for you. My aunt has a severe sensitivity to smells and I have seen her nearly pass out from cigarette smoke and smelly lotions. It is very scary to watch and I know it makes her terribly miserable.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Dh is heading out to the airport early because the smell is so bad. It is bothering him, too, and Jacob is sneezing and coughing (Jacob has asthma and a lot of allergies). Even though it is supposed to get below freezing tonight, dh told me to open all the windows before I leave to take Jacob to fencing.

I truly can't do this again; I just can't. I know this might sound extreme, but I'll seriously consider getting a divorce before I go through this again. I'm going to have to try hard to find a job I can do online so that I'll be able to do that.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Jacob just got out of the shower. I said, "I thought you had already taken a shower."

He said, "I did, but I had J___'s smell on me (she had hugged him before she left), and it was making me feel sick."

It's bothering the others, so you can imagine how it is affecting me.

[Bumpy]

I am sooo sorry. My mil has severe chemical sensitivites too, it is so hard on her and she gets really lonely. People just don't understand that when you say that you have a problem that involves more then the obvious. Deordorant, shampoo, lotion, soap, conditioner, hair gel or cream, hand soap, cleaning supplies, make-up(which is really bad), face creams and lotions and exfoliating stuff. that is only the stuff I can think of that I have to buy specific for my mil. Anything I buy has to be compatiable. Oh and my laundry soap and dyer sheets. I couldn't imagine not doing it though, she doesn't deserve people coming in and contaminating her airspace

[JudyJudyJudy]

I am sooo sorry. My mil has severe chemical sensitivites too, it is so hard on her and she gets really lonely. People just don't understand that when you say that you have a problem that involves more then the obvious. Deordorant, shampoo, lotion, soap, conditioner, hair gel or cream, hand soap, cleaning supplies, make-up(which is really bad), face creams and lotions and exfoliating stuff. that is only the stuff I can think of that I have to buy specific for my mil. Anything I buy has to be compatiable. Oh and my laundry soap and dyer sheets. I couldn't imagine not doing it though, she doesn't deserve people coming in and contaminating her airspace
I need a relative like you. :hug: I, too, feel lonely. I'm to the point that I avoid people so that I don't have to be sick. At the very least, my house should be healthy for me. I can't help but to resent dh for not respecting that.

[still_me]

I need a relative like you. :hug: I, too, feel lonely. I'm to the point that I avoid people so that I don't have to be sick. At the very least, my house should be healthy for me. I can't help but to resent dh for not respecting that.


I thought of you the other day. Our grocery store smelled like a huge fake pine tree the other day. It was horrible and I like smells. I couldn't imagine you having to walk past Bath and Body, Abercrombie, or into a large department store.

If I ever get the chance to meet you I promise I won't wear anything that will affect you. I might smell like the worst case of BO, but at least we could hang. :D And sorry about your DH. I'd cook cabbage until his nose burnt. Then maybe he'd get how smells can really mess with you.

[JudyJudyJudy]

Thanks, still_me. :) I do have a hard time in department stores. The clothes themselves are bad enough, but I completely avoid going anywhere near the perfumes. When I have to walk past a Bath and Body, I walk totally on the other side of the mall. I'm to a point where I avoid even going to the mall. Even in places like Target, the candles and stuff like that really affect me.

I got nauseated the other day because dh had bought some English muffins, and the package smelled like the detergent aisle. I thought I must be losing it, so I got him to smell, and he said, "Ewww, I didn't notice that before, but it does smell like it." I can smell things from a distance; I don't have to even have them near my nose to smell them.

[SingingMom]

I always wash all the bedding before my step_MIL comes over, because she is sensitive to the fabric softener. So I always get some unscented detergent and rewash the bedding and towels for her.