I wondered which of the following mul... - Fibromyalgia Acti...
I wondered which of the following multichemical sensitives you may have experienced since your diagnosis with Fibro if any at all?
Mdaisy317 VotersPlease select all that apply:
Hi M 
LOL I will edit my initial response to the other one now
All of the above 
Frightening to think about really but they have all got worse over time. The worst one is the one which means I cannot take anti-inflammatories to help ease my skin sensitivities and general problems. I am using a pain gel with diclofenac in it but it's not really effective enough.
I can't say since diagnosis because it took so long to get it, plus having Hypermobility Syndrome increases such sentitivities also, so not sure whether the heightened multichemical sensitivities are because of the FMS or the HMS
I have been clinically photophobic since my teens long before any diagnosis or recognition of my pain problems but the sound issue has been a problem for the last 5 years or so and really makes me quite poorly. I have had to leave parties, restaurants, supermarkets and even my own front room because of noise and loud sounds. Quite sad really when my friends just labelled me as being anti-social rather than recognising I had a problem 
I have many increased hypersensitivities which have gradually worsened over the years but all prior to getting a diagnosis
Major problems with chemical smells such as air-fresheners, deodarants, and other chemical smells too?
For instance when in a car and we pull up so they can fuel the car I get poorly off the fumes and smell of petrol and deisel and have done also since childhood! But again....... is it the FMS or HMS I cannot say which
Also, I had a bad experience in a taxi that had a Magic Tree air freshener hanging in it that made me hyperventilate.
I now need to use Salamol inhalers to ease the discomfort this hypersensitivity problem causes
I could go on and on about this subject M as I am so seriously affected by it all and even often cannot eat food because the smell puts me off it!
Interesting discusion topic M, cheers it will be intersting to read everyone's responses
xxx sian
I feel the cold more nowadays, so either I'm frozen or I'm having a hot flush! Having survived the menopause and finally stopped having hot flushes for a couple of years, now the darned things have started again...grrrr!
I had severe sensitivities to some of these things long before my diagnosis, e.g. certain foods and food additives, skin allergies, allergic rhinitis, but I think these have got worse.
I have become acutely sensitive to cold and damp over the last few years, and I frequently become very feverish. It's interesting that temperature sensitivity seems to be a common symptom.
Mim x
I have suffered for many years in the heat and sweat profusely, its so embarrassing as my hair is always wet in the heat and I actually have sweat dripping from my face and neck, is this a sign of fibro, if so I have had it longer than I thought!!!!
I suffer from terrible night sweats, not so bad during the day.
I suspect fibro is frequently not recognised, or not diagnosed for years after we've actually developed it. I think I've suffered from fibro for at least 40 years, although it was only diagnosed about 20 years ago when other health problems I have were discovered.
For me, cold is a worse problem than heat. I get terribly cold but I can feel feverish at the same time. It makes me feel really ill and hugely increases my level of pain. I think it raises my inflammation level which may be why I become so feverish with it.
Forgot to mention the temperature sensitivity and have just suffered because the back door was open and I didn't know so been sat in the draught and I am now curled in a ball under a duvet re-adjusting my body temperature.
The pain is unreal
Re chemical allergies, i was very aware early stages of Fibromyalgia before being "officially" diagnosed when using bleach i felt it initially attack my throat & breathing then muscle painwas always worse after use, i now have known allergies to fragrance, perfume & nickel having to wear latex free gloves for food prep as part of allergies are onions, garlic, peppers, I'm okay eating them but not on contact with skin, I hope this information is helpful to the survey. Honor xx
Hello, your comment is interesting, I have started to notice I get water blisters on my hands which the doctor said is contact dermatitus, I never had this until I was diagnosed with fibro. I also have problems using clenaing chemicals such as bleach, I find I can't breathe and feel very nauseous and dizzy. It's good to know one is not alone in their suffering, especially when family members don't understand what you are going through. XX
I splashed out on the original steam cleaner so that I didn't have to use chemicals.
hi Sarah, how's you? Long time no see
Hi, i've had computer glitches but hopefully it's ok now. I'm working still but struggling to last the week. I was working 9am - 1pm, the I got told I would either have to work 8.30am - 4pm mon -fri or have no work.
I have been referred to St. Thomas' hospital's pain management clinic as my back keeps going into spasm.
How r u doing?
My laptop keeps playing up. I hope you can negotiate the work situation. That sound so unfair. I've just been to occ health because I fell off my bike in December, only just returned to work. the fibro doesn't help and I suspect HR don't want to. Otherwise fine and dandy. I hope the pain clinic works for you.
I have to use non latex gloves too now which is definitely something new but have always had trouble with cheap earrings.......... I used to coat them with clear nail polish as a quick fix-it if necessary
I've put Other, only because I've had all these well before dx with Fibro. Some have got worse, eg can't stand lights on n use mainly candles...saves on electric lol others are worse too, different foods for IBS and Diverticular Disease, had to change to soluble fibre from insoluble fibre, which I was told when first dx.
Chill everyone, it could be worse 
Oh and feeling cold at 20.5c, sore ears from earrings if any nickel in them, allergic to most antibiotics now, was once only Penicillin! A Rh positive, was dx with SLE in 1991, then had another test in 2007 and I havent got it now! Always ad 2 glasses of wine in evening, then 2yrs ago just didn't want any and now had a sm glass of sloe gin etc., approx., once a month...what's that all about!?
😱
Food allergies like chilli and nuts, any nuts, also perfumes, exhaust fumes and some cleaning chemicals.
Body temperature extremes that I have had before, during and after the menopause. Just when I thought I was rid of them!
Going into gift shops that sell pot pouri and other "natural" strong smelling items like soap.
Good survey!!
Hi Bluebell
Are you thinking of that smelly shop L**H ( don't wish to write it properly) that you can smell from a mile away which makes the chest tighten and brain pop out
How are you doing? Haven't seen you in a while
{{{{{{ BB99 }}}}}} fluffies on route to you
xxx sian
No tolerance of red wine 😕 used to be my favourite ....... Not sure if it's the meds or the sulphites or simply the wine ? White no probs (occasional glass )
It's spooky reading your comment. I haven't touched alcohol for a long time now mainly because of the meds but tonight I really fancied a glass of red wine - only drank half (was a large glass mind) and now feel as though I've got a hangover!
Got it in one! 😜
And bright lights overhead...or car headlights at night .... In fact most bright lighting, incl sun or reflected sunshine ...... Have had to get a pair of sunglasses like Jackie O had 😎
Gosh sorry to copy but me too, went to optician today and they said it could be my fibro due to sensitivity to light!
Tea1234
Irritated eyes burning itchy dry and sore blurred vision. Also developed sensitivity to most painkillers which I had no problem with before being told I have fibro! Some make me feel anxious itchy and nauseous others make me very tired. And some give me headaches, figure that out! Tramadol just bungs me up and causes more pain! So no point in taking them cause they make me feel like crap! Prefer to meditate and keep stress at as low a level as possible by pacing myself and just not getting involved in any conflict! And saying no a lot!
I can honestly say that I feel sick when hearing loud noises. Also certain types of bread make me sneeze now. As for my skin, I get a very red like rash, which seems a burning itch. I keep some double base gel beside my bed at night for my itch. Interesting|
Karen xx
Another thing I have noticed is I cannot wear any jewelry, for example even a small bracelet or necklace feels like it is choking me. Karen xx
Looking at the graph, I cannot believe how many people have the same problems as me, I honestly thought it was just me, that fibro had somehow affected me in a strange way! I am hypersensitive to smells & it affects me every day but, often, my husband & son can't smell anything, so it makes their lives hard too! I'm also hypersensitive to noise, which can drive me to tears sometimes & it gets worse in summer, with dogs barking & kids screaming! I know it's all part of life but it sure does make me suffer!
I can't tolerate alcohol anymore & I used to enjoy having a little tipple on a night out but its lime & soda for me now. I had some chemical sensitivities before I had fibro but they have become significantly worse, & more varied, over the fibro years. Three weeks ago, I had an injection in my shoulder for calcific tendonitis & I had a very bad reaction to it. It lasted two weeks & was very frightening. I'm going to discuss it with my specialist, as he did the injection, so he'll know exactly what was in it. It's such a shame because after the reaction finally stopped, I realised that my shoulder pain is much better but I won't have another unless he can give me something else.
The worst one for me, though, is temperature. I am so sensitive to even the smallest changes in the weather, the winter has been a complete uphill battle & I often wear hats, scarves & gloves in the house during the day & sometimes at night, too. It's been lovely in my part of the world for a couple of days & Ive been able to sit outside in the Spring sunshine, before it get too hot!
Hi all! The worst for me is noise. I used to love concerts and loud music now the sounds of cutlery and pots and pans after washing up makes me want to scream. As does my twelve year old shouting down the X box cheat, cheat! I use earphones and gentle music to help get to sleep and to be honest I have to force myself from behind closed bedroom door to join in normal family life. The other one is funny little rashes but I put these down to the cocktail of medication. There is no way they have done any significant study into the long term effects of the different mixes of tablets we all take. Some of the tiredness I am sure is not just chronic fatigue but tablets as well. Then to end on is my old favourite constipation from the morphine!
Interesting! I have had for years ( since very small) intense reaction to strong chemical smells. Can't go down the cleaning aisle in supermarkets, have always had to run through the perfume bit in department stalls. Have to stear clear of scented versions of most things - soap, washing powder, shampoo etc etc. Seem OK withost essential oils though. Since being iller, noises - to point I could here DVD player going round two rooms away when trying to sleep ( it wasn't on, just the disc whirring round). Random and varied skin complaints. Have had IBS since early 20's (15 yrs b4 diagnosis of FM) and this is set off by many differing foods. Initially had extreme reaction to cold - where it literally hurt to be slightly cold, along with occasional times where I will be running a slight temperature for weeks at a time - odd!!
Sore red eyes with weakness to light.
do I get a prize for a full house? - maybe a day off from fibro?
I also can't stand the sound of crockery clanging; certain tv and radio presenters voices; and the feel of metal - in partic. cutlery (I buy plastic).
Race you to the front of the queue Ham Solo 
zeb boings high, double twists and boings off sideways due to the poorly spring
Ok Ham solo the prize is sure to be yours 
LOLOLOLOL zeb now chuckling at going around in a big circle and ending up at the Fluffie pool
Catch everyone or dive in for softness and comfort
{{{{{ Hamble }}}}}}
That is funny what you mention about the touch of metal, I have had issues with that since being very small but couldn't get M&D to understand me I guess because as a child I must have sounded ridiculous saying touching metal was painful I have always had plastic handled cutlery but now I have the Rubber handled from OT because they're easier to grip since my hands got quite bad
I have always had a problem with metal, getting older I can use it to my advantage. If I touch metal especially shopping trolleys and car doors, lift buttons I get a static shock off it. If I touch someone at the same time I touch metal they also get a shock, mean of me but funny.
I get a lot of pain & cramp in my hands, I often wake up in the night when I do sleep to find one of arms has gone to sleep & I have to use the other hand to get it moving. It's intertesting on occasion when they are both asleep.
That something that i had never thought of, static electric shocks. I have had them since i became a teenager Along with an inabillity to get warm.
Ditto
Weird feeling that isn't it? when they're both asleep
Wake up thinking I'm paralised sometimes because of it
Chemical smells leave me nauseous and dizzy, no one else seems to notice. High pitched and very base sounds make me feel really sick and dizzy too. The Magic Tree freshener is a massive no no, as is any air freshener in my house. I'm trying to get used to perfume again as I used to love it.
the voice distortion on some regards e.g. cher's "believe, makes me feel sick.
Certain Snell's, bright lights and certain noises all effect me. My family use to tease me about having asbestos hands as u could lift a fairly warm plate and drink very hot drinks with no problems, now I am the exact opposite. I can't take anti inflammatory tablets due to another condition. I have just read that some one else had said they get water blisters on their hands, that is something I get now too. My hands and feet swell at a hint if heat and I find it difficult to stay cool on a moderately arm day. It is all great fun, but would not ask anyone in their right minds to join in
I've been sensitive to sounds all my life but it has got worse since fibro. I now have dry, irritated and painful eyes and have to use gel drops. I didn't tick the touch bit but actually I now hate the feeling of the shower on my skin which is a real problem as I only have a shower. I am now allergic to my cats when I had one for eight years before becoming allergic to her. I must be allergic to other things too but I don't really know what as I am on prescription anti-histamines every day. Finally, I was diagnosed with migraine at 57 and asthma at 59.
I forgot - any flashing light, even a car in front never mind an ambulance make me feel as if I'm going to be sick. I have to pull over to the side of the road when I can and wait until the road is nearly empty.
One thing not on there is sense of smell. I've developed the nose of a spaniel since diagnosis, to the point where a lot of cooked food is too unbearable to be in the same room with, even previously favourite meals
Hmm. Interesting. I was careful to filter out anything that was clearly linked to some of my other problems. And even the one I ticked, temperature, is doubtful. I'm not terribly surprised there's a pattern here. a broad spectrum with variations. Some of these sensitivities can be really debilitating.
I meant to include this: some of those things I already had long before I knew about fibro and they're not noticeably worse.
I did one of those silly on line self tests for something else. Not related but may be relevant. I'm a super taster. The questions were along the lines of "do you avoid eating in groups" "do you avoid eating in public" not once did it ask "do you avoid certain foods" or "do certain foods make you retch". "do certain foods taste over strong/vile"
I just thought "what has this to do with excess taste buds. Those questions are all about social ineptitude" (which I also have)
I have developed so many allergies that I never had before, from food stuffs to certain types of flowers, and from latex to red pigments in fruit.
I've developed an allergy to work
I like it, i'm sure i'm catching that one, I so don't want to be at work anymore. I work with 2 year olds in a Government funded 2 year project scheme for 2 - 3 years, we have 20 2 year olds in the morning, then 20 different children in the afternoon. The children do 15 hours a week, 3 hours a day mon - fri.
severe allergies to antibiotics, dressings & medication,
Smell - cooking, perfumes - anything really! 😨
my other is very sensitive to smells.
loud noises ..... Telephone ringing, Children screaming in the supermarket drives me round the bend.... Seagulls or dog barking...sharp high pitched noises are the worst.
Hot/Cold weather... hot flushes and nerve pain on hands when cold...Winter is the worst season of the year for me....
Smells . Especially certain parfume and any form of aerosol. Instantly triggers migraine and pains up the back of neck and head .
Smell is probably the worst and somthing else i had as a teenager. some purfumes make me feel sick and dizzy and the smell or food cooking is vile unless i know what is being cooked.
It has come in useful now and then when i could smell gas and no one else could. We could have lost Oldbury if i had not insisted that i could smell gas in a closed room full of chemicals and naked flames burning.
I have to wear gloves when handling frozen food and the slightest touch or bump is painful.
Does anyone else have problems with using trains and buses in that the movemeent makes you sick and dizzy. i even have problems in an ambulance.
Beloved Grandaughter is lucky to be alive when she stated screaming while having a `you tapped me so ill tap you` fight with her brother.
The pain it caused in my head was unbelievable.
No problems with trains but you reminded me of one of the biggest 'sensitivities' I've had since getting fibro is travelling in the car. If I'm driving, anything over 50mph is too fast and it is like a white knuckle ride if I am on a multilane road as all the other cars whizzing by makes me feel ill. I drive my OH insane when he is driving as I can't relax and am as alert as if I am driving, letting him know about things happening that he may have missed. I also ask him to slow down a lot as I feel sick and scared. I was never like this before and never suffered from travel sickness as a child. Makes travelling very hard and stressful - I would prefer to travel everywhere by train if only it was affordable.
I am ok in a car. its the way that buses trains ect sway. A short trip to hospital in ambulance last year left me feeling really sick and dizzy. I was in a worse condition than hubby when we got there and he was the patient.
Other = I always felt sensitive to smoke, and I've always been a non-smoker - however during some phases, I've had lymph glands raising by detecting molecules of smoke at the bottom of a garden, when I've been inside, in bed, with the window shut. when much improved and working again for a while, this sensitivity persisted...and I had to literally hold my breath and duck everytime I come across someone smoking in the street...or suffer consequences of this immediate physiological effect. And wondering if anyone else experiences something similar? Thanks...
Lots of the above...and, again at most acute sensitivity of the condition, feeling so bruised and painful all over that human touch (even a hug from a dearest person) became unbearable. In a previous place I lived, I found a very sensitive and perceptive 'bodyworker' who actually worked 'off the body' with some very real effect, to help alleviate the symptoms and discern where most attention is needed (both physically, emotionally) .
I feel the same my husband cannt put his arm around me because it's too heavy and really hurts and the hair on his body in bed feels like needle sticking in me he just cannt come near me it's terrible. I cannot control my body heat and my head, face and neck sometimes get really wet with perspiration . On the topic of electric shocks I get them all the time, when we were in Marks my husband was going to go to another store and went to kiss me goodbye and he had a shock from me he wasn't very happy and I said that I get them all the time, but that Fibro it gets you in all different ways.
Lights hurt my eyes, I have lost hearing in my right ear, my sense of taste is no more, some food that I loved makes me feel physically sick, I suffer from so many allergies I now carry an Epipen, my skin is dry, sometimes even the slightest touch can send feelings like electric shocks through my body, I get a form of eczema which I never had before, keeping warm is hard I feel the cold almost all the time whether inside or out. Then on a night, I have hot sweats and flushes even though I have already had the menopause.
I'm prone to mosquito bites and they very quickly set up "all over itch" condition that I have to take anti histamines for
