Women growing older with environmental sensitivities: A grounded theory model of meeting one's needs.

This article describes a telephone interview study of 21 women over the age of 65 with environmental sensitivities (ES), including both chemical and electrical hypersensitivities. We employed Charmaz's constructivist grounded theory, using incident, focused, and theoretical coding levels. We were interested in how informants thought their needs would be met as they grew older with ES. We found a central process (that which motivates informants) of "balancing on a changing tightrope with great overwhelm" with three categories: No Safety Net, The Knowing, and Going Through the Cracks. No Safety Net refers to the inaccessibility of most community and health resources for persons who must avoid chemicals, electromagnetic fields, or both. The Knowing refers to having the awareness that one has been dealt out of the equation and will not receive help from conventional sources. Going Through the Cracks describes living one's life by finding small openings and opportunities for living and experiencing what most take for granted. We describe these categories in detail and appeal to health care providers and the general public to view culture through the eyes of those who are unable to participate in it to an extent considered "normal."

Experiences of persons with multiple chemical sensitivity with mental health providers.

In this paper, we summarize the results of an online survey of persons in the United States with chemical intolerance/multiple chemical sensitivity who sought help from mental health providers, including counselors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and others. Respondents reported on their most recent contact with a provider, describing reasons for the contact, accommodations requested and received, and suggestions for how the experience could be more helpful. Overall, though clients were accommodated in small ways, some received no accommodation, and many felt that the providers needed to be more knowledgeable regarding chemical intolerance. Results are discussed in terms of the importance of providers becoming more aware of multiple chemical sensitivity and more willing to make their services accessible to these clients.

Unmet health care needs for persons with environmental sensitivity.

Studies of unmet health care needs have shown that women, people with poor health, and people with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to report having unmet health care needs. In this study, we examined the types of and reasons for unmet health care needs in 465 people with environmental sensitivities. A second area of inquiry involved negative reactions to general anesthesia. Results showed that the most common barriers to receiving care were the inability to find a provider who understands environmental sensitivities and a lack of accessibility due to chemical and electromagnetic exposures in health care environments. Lower income and poorer health (longer illness, a worsening or fluctuating course of illness, and a higher level of disability) were significantly correlated with the total number of reported unmet health care needs. Some people with environmental sensitivities reported having negative reactions to anesthesia of long duration; most common were nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and reduced cognitive ability.

Physicians' perceptions and practices regarding patient reports of multiple chemical sensitivity.

Ninety physicians practicing in the state of Virginia USA completed a mail survey regarding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Survey questions addressed demographics; familiarity with MCS; etiology; overlapping conditions; accommodations made for patients and practices regarding evaluation, treatment, and referral. A little over half of respondents were familiar with MCS. Under a third had received any medical training regarding chemical sensitivity, only 7% were "very satisfied" with their knowledge, and 6% had a treatment protocol for the condition. Participants cited a range of etiologies and overlapping conditions including asthma, Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS), Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), Chronic Fatigues Syndrome (CFS), and Fibromyalgia. Physicians infrequently considered chemicals as a cause of illness when seeing new patients. Evaluation techniques included interviews, blood work, immune profiles, and allergy testing. Interventions recommended included chemical avoidance, alterations in the home environment, diet restrictions, the use of air filters, and referrals to outside specialists.

Isolation and lack of access in multiple chemical sensitivity: A qualitative study.

This paper describes a qualitative interview study of 26 persons with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), also referred to as chemical intolerance. We used a phenomenological perspective and planned to focus on the impact of MCS on relationships, but found that difficulty with accessing safe spaces at times prevented relationships by limiting access to personal interactions. Thus, persons with MCS either lost or were unable to cultivate new relationships as a result of lack of spatial access. Others' lack of understanding and refusal to make accommodations at times denied spatial access to those with MCS. In this way, relationships (relationality) and spatial access (spatiality) interacted with one another to keep persons isolated. In this paper, we describe informants' detailed experience of living with chemical intolerance in a culture where chemical exposures are commonplace.

Of the world but not in it: barriers to community access and education for persons with environmental sensitivities.

In this article I explore community access-primarily the lack thereof-for persons with disabling environmental sensitivities (ESs). Respondents with chemical and electrical sensitivities described their level of access to common community resources that most persons take for granted, including communities of worship, grocery stores, health food stores, community meetings, public libraries, the homes of extended family members and friends, offices of dentists and medical doctors, public parks, and classes at their local universities. Most had tentative access at best. In addition, participants listed the disability barriers that most restricted them from public participation. Results are described using both quantitative and qualitative data and the problem is analyzed within the context of industrial capitalism's influence upon institutions.

Sickness-related dysfunction in persons with self-reported multiple chemical sensitivity at four levels of severity.

AIM: To examine quality of life outcome for persons who self-report chemical sensitivity, often referred to as multiple chemical sensitivity. BACKGROUND: Multiple chemical sensitivity is poorly understood with few providers specialising in its treatment. This lack of treatment and the ubiquity of chemicals engender severe life impacts such as job loss, financial loss, social isolation and even homelessness for persons who experience these sensitivities. DESIGN: Survey. METHOD: We examined chemical incitants, symptoms and sickness-related behavioural dysfunction as measured by the Sickness Impact Profile in 254 persons self-identified with multiple chemical sensitivity. RESULTS: Chemicals rated as causing the most symptomatology in respondents were pesticide, formaldehyde, fresh paint, new carpet, diesel exhaust, perfume and air fresheners. The five highest rated symptoms in this sample were tiredness/lethargy, difficulty concentrating, muscle aches, memory difficulties and long-term fatigue. Overall mean Sickness Impact Profile score was 25.25%, showing serious impairment, with the most serious dysfunction in the categories of work (55.36%), alertness behaviour (53.45%) and recreation and pastimes (45.20%). CONCLUSION: Multiple chemical sensitivity is an important health care issue because it often includes serious dysfunction, is poorly understood by providers and poses extensive financial and treatment obstacles for those who experience it. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Persons with multiple chemical sensitivity seek medical treatment in a variety of contexts and informed providers can both avoid iatrogenic harm due to medical exposures and provide any possible treatment for the chemical sensitivities. Understanding the impact of the health condition is crucial to communicate with and treat persons who experience the sensitivities.

Disability-induced identity changes in persons with multiple chemical sensitivity.

In this qualitative study, the authors asked respondents with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) in an open-ended question how having the condition affected their identities. Authors then examined responses for themes, which they discuss within the framework of critical theory. Emergent themes included loss of a stable, familiar personality, loss of self-positioning, emotional suppression to meet others' expectations, redesigning the planned life, forced growth, struggling with support, discovering the spiritual self, and identity reconsolidation. The authors compare findings with published works on adjustment to chronic illness and other delegitimized illnesses, find them to be fairly congruent, and then discuss problems regarding cultural acceptance of MCS as a condition caused by chemical exposure.

Perceived treatment efficacy for conventional and alternative therapies reported by persons with multiple chemical sensitivity.

Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a condition in which persons experience negative health effects in multiple organ systems from exposure to low levels of common chemicals. Although symptoms experienced from particular chemicals vary across persons, they are generally stable within persons. The sensitivities often spread over time, first to related chemicals and then to other classes of chemicals. This study examined self-reported perceived treatment efficacy of 101 treatments used by 917 persons with self-reported MCS. Treatments examined included environmental medicine techniques, holistic therapies, individual nutritional supplements, detoxification techniques, body therapies, Eastern-origin techniques, newer therapies, prescription items, and others. The three most highly rated treatments were creating a chemical-free living space, chemical avoidance, and prayer. Both creating a chemical-free living space and chemical avoidance were rated by 95% of respondents as helpful. Results for most therapies were mixed. Participants had consulted a mean of 12 health care providers and spent over one-third of their annual income on health care costs. We discuss this drain on personal resources and describe respondents' attitudes toward the possibility of healing from MCS.