The first line of defense appears to be not skincare but diet! I’d never heard of this until a few years ago, but somehow omega 3 oils and other fishy ingredients help protect skin from burning. Olive oil contains omega 3 fatty acids, too. Some seeds and nuts (like walnuts) contain omegas, too.
Shade is good of course. Or if there is no shade, we go all Georges Seurat and use umbrellas. I feel I should don a long dress with that umbrella, and actually I would if I still had one. I like to feel like “Elizabeth Bennet” walking through the grass. LOL
We also use long sleeves, long pants, hats, and “bandanas” (AKA random long pieces of fabric leftover from sewing).
If you wear glasses or sunglasses, you can cut a piece of leaf (Romaine or something else out of the kitchen if you are like us and have no deciduous trees!) and put it under your glasses over your nose! (But I also recommend–for health–take those glasses off for just 2 minutes a day to let the sun help you. This apparently cleans the blood.)
They say in old times people put leaves under their hats, too, though this is for cooling more than sun protection. Might be nice, though, if you are bald and your hat does not have an SPF rating (tightly woven).
Literally today I just found out they also make full coverage swimsuits, which are so cool!! Note: I have not tried these myself and don’t know the “extent” of sun protection, but it looks like a very reasonable option to me.
For most of us with moderate MCS and even mild mold illness, having guests in our houses can negatively affect our health. This is because it is nearly impossible to avoid chemicals in “most” of the developed world, and mold is common also. We are thankful to be able to have MANY people over, outside, because our “yard” is 6 acres of mountain pine trees with a “prairie” clearing on top, and our weather is often pleasant or “do-able.”
South view
For guests to come inside, here is our protocol:
1. Weeks before the visit, the guests confer on clothing stores/kinds that will work for us. One of the biggest things now for me is that the clothes cannot have antimicrobials or other strange chemicals added. These could even affect my washer or my clothes. The guests have new clothing mailed to us to wash for them in our methods/machine ahead of time.
2. If possible, a week or two before they come, the guests begin using castile soap on their hair (instead of scented stuff with other chemicals in it).
3. Guests do not bring anything in the house, including shoes, except necessities like hearing aids and glasses. Not cell phones, sadly. If the stay is long, we figure out an outdoor storage solution for shoes, phones, etc. and possibly have slippers or sandals for them to use inside the house. We offer them the use of our camera if they want to take photos. 😊
4. When guests arrive, they go straight to our shower. Their “street clothes” go into a small, new, washed, galvanized metal trash can. They use our soaps and “shampoo” (liquid castile soap).
5. If the stay is more than one day, we wash the clothes they had had sent beforehand, every night.
6. If their hair is very scented or something, we ask them to use milk (warmed 😊 ) on their head before shampooing. Not sure if this works on mold or not.
7. Overnight guests have VERY graciously stayed in our tiny mudroom/Steve’s office. If we did not have a separate room like that, it might be nearly impossible. 🙁 Couch pull-outs and such don’t really work (at least when I am at my more vulnerable times to chemicals) because chemicals come in under my bedroom door.
By my beautiful friend, Alice Johnson Kennison, who has stood with me through years of my own suffering and has gone through tons of her own also, still holding on to God.
Jesus purposefully came to earth to suffer for us. The Lord and Master of the Universe willingly came to see and experience exactly how we live here. He didn’t have to do that, but because sin had entered the world, we needed someone to cover the sin that stood between us and a holy God. He suffered from the same things we do His whole life, and then died an agonizing death of His own free will for us. It was so hard He even asked God to make it go away! But yet He chose God’s will.
He understands, He loves and pities us, and is bringing us to a better place THROUGH our sufferings. Everyone who lives on earth is going to suffer the effects of this fallen, imperfect world, but it is only for a brief time in eternity. Because of Jesus, sin now has no power to damn us eternally. Soon we will have a place to go where everything will be made new, with NO more pain, NO more sorrow. This is the very sure hope that we have as Christians!!
God’s plans are much higher than our plans, so no, we don’t understand fully what our suffering on earth means. It’s so hard sometimes, but His compassions never fail, they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness (Lam 3:22). We can always trust Him to love us, to understand our suffering, and to go through it with us.
Amen, sister!!!!!!!
Christa Upton Black Hills Picture Books Edgemont, SD 57735
Because of the massive damage that mold and chemicals have caused to my body, we have not been able to work full time 10 out of the last 12 years. In addition, we need to deal with the expenses of treating my illness (not covered by insurance) and replacing important things contaminated with DDT.
So we need your help to the tune of thousands of dollars. But every little bit helps. If you can, send checks to:
Christian Outreach Church 4430 Outreach Drive Hillsboro, MO 63050
Specify on check memo or note: Steve & Christa Upton.
If you need to use Paypal instead of a check, you can send a donation to: pdjupton@comcast.net
Actually I don’t think they are “coincidences” at all; I think God helped us.
Sheep’s wool insulation. We used Healthy House Building for the New Millennium as a guide. But back when Bower wrote the book, ALL home insulations were toxic in one way or another!!!!! So I thought, how did people keep warm before chemicals? Sure enough, there were (are) at least two wool insulation companies out there. We didn’t find out until way later–after the house was built–that wool is also highly mold-resistant, dries out fast, and even regulates humidity!!!!
Plaster walls. I did not want to deal with drywall and even more so: paint. I got scary symptoms even from zero VOC paint. Later we found out plaster also dries VERY fast (after we accidently flooded our bathroom to an inch up every wall), is mold resistant, breathable, and even seems to resist HT/HCCT. As opposed to drywall which is mold food.
Clothes washer below a window. New clothes often have formaldehyde and other nasty chemicals. When washing these, it is extremely helpful to have a fan blowing right OUT the window above the washer to take the new-clothes chemicals out the window and air out laundry room often. Works best of course to open another window across the house to let in fresh air and allow the fan to work efficiently.
We put my room in the southeast corner of the house. I didn’t realize how much SUN that would give me!!!!! 🙂
Christa Upton Black Hills Picture Books Edgemont, SD 57735
One of the main principles for mold / chemical reactivity, established by Erik Johnson, is decontaminating yourself after exposure to something that makes you sick. https://paradigmchange.me/edge/
Here are the specific steps we have developed over the years (ideally but not always ability to do):
1. Remove clothes in garage (mudroom for us though this later caused problems b/c we got a HIGHLY cross contaminating toxin in the mudroom this way, which then contaminated our house further and made us lose a ton of contaminated stuff. Long story you don’t want to hear. LOL I guess actually it means the same thing COULD happen in a garage…. So I’ll change to TRULY ideal: create a modest way to strip outside without being arrested 🙂 and have the 2. (clothes can) outside too. But for the VAST majority of toxins, the mudroom or garage really should be fine.
2. Put contaminated clothing directly into a metal container such as a new, clean, washed (for release oil chemicals usually on metal things), tightly-lidded galvanized metal trash can. (We keep errand clothes in this can until literally ready to put them in the washing machine. One of my friends was so sick they had to build a separate laundry house with facilities only for work clothes).
3. Streak to the bathroom. LOL My hubs would holler loudly (mudroom, no garage) and make sure the laundry “door-opening” curtain was closed. Someone could also use a piece of cloth (which would need to be washed later) or a length of paper towel.
4. Put baking soda in wet hair and beard and let it sit until done washing up.
5. Shower, possibly washing twice and putting washcloth outside afterward if the washcloth bothers the MCSer. Thankfully this doesn’t happen much for me. Hubs only had to wash twice when the toxin was SUPER SUPER bad. OR pour milk over skin in case the toxin is fat soluble. (You can experiment. Might be a waste of milk.)
6. Wash hair at least twice OR rinse off baking soda and then experiment with: vinegar, milk, etc. OR just realize that it’s not going to be perfect, and try to make do/endure. Stuff in hair often stays 3 days, but I’ve only had to seriously endure ONE particular toxin (pesticide) where I finally considered asking hubs to shave (and he did). Normally (like just scent) it’s not that bad to wait the three days and wait for it to wear off. Hair dryer outside can help, though.
7. Wash tub (ideal, we rarely do this).
Christa Upton Black Hills Picture Books Edgemont, SD 57735
Job 38:4-74 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
We Ain’t God
These verses sound humbling, and indeed they are. God is telling Job why Job CAN’T understand *why* he lost literally everything in his life (except his wife) and why he has to suffer so.
Comfort
But these verses have been EXTREMELY comforting to me in the last 18 months in particular. Why? Because I do not have to understand WHY I’m going through my great suffering. I do not have to figure out “the lesson.”
I do not have to worry that God is punishing me, I only have to listen for the gentle Voice of the Holy Spirit. I do not have to try to make the suffering stop by my own ingenuity. I only have to do what God says (which is sometimes less than what I expect of myself), trust Him, and if He allows suffering even with that, then He has a good reason for it.
I know God’s character–in a word, PERFECT. Thus, no matter what He says to do, it IS good, even for ME (not just for others’ sake) (Romans 8:28), whatever suffering He is allows has a mighty good reason. This is sure and certain, because it must cost God a lot of pain to see His babies suffer, considering His great compassion, His kindness, gentleness, love. You can literally SEE His character in kittens, stars, rainbows, marital pleasure, soft grass, mighty mountains, gentle breezes, mighty hurricanes. God is not like the Roman gods–selfish and nasty.
Say Yes to Sacrifice
So when God asks me to suffer for a while, why shouldn’t I say yes? Of course, I’ve often said, “Yes, Lord,” with tears streaming down my face. But look what God says: “11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” Job got much more back than he originally had, even here on Earth, not to mention he got Heaven. I’m not some saint or anything, I just WANT THAT!!!
But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. Psalm 3:3I once heard a preacher say that in order to receive blessing from God, one needed to “lift their head.”
I heard it at a time when I had just lost my house, stuff, neighbors, some family, reputation, health (to the point of being disabled), livelihood, savings, and even church (long story) to toxic mold. I could hardly drag my feet to “keep going” much less “lift my head.” I cried.
Well according to the Scripture above, there was good reason I cried–that preacher was utterly wrong. GOD lifts our heads, not us through our own power or strength, especially when we don’t have any strength left. Yes, we do need to persevere through any trials He allows in our lives, but even in that, He does not expect us to do that by ourselves.
Christa Upton Black Hills Picture Books Edgemont, SD 57735
For those of us with CIRS or MCS (or Toxic Injury or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Environmental Illness or mold toxicity or whatever you want to call it), sometimes camping helps. Sometimes camping helps A LOT (life changing).
The idea is to get a truck with a metal truck bed (with no truck bed liner) and add a metal truck bed topper. The genius is that not only does the metal not off-gas harmful chemicals, but it also decontaminates far easier than most materials. If you should run into mold or something, most toxins should wash off with just plain soap (or even maybe just plain water).
With a family, a sick parent could sleep in the truck while the rest camp in a tent or something that may not have worked as well for the sick one.
The second idea is a shed. Here are my recommendations:
Build
up the ground so the shed will be on the highest part all around. Pack down
firmly (Bobcat or something). Add 6 inches of gravel for a capillary break.
Wash
all pieces of the shed (because they will have release oil on them).
Pour a small slab of plain concrete (no additives). Let cure AT LEAST 30 days. Longer if humid. However, this being an open shed with no wood, hubs just pointed out this longer cure time actually may not be necessary!
Put
flashing at the bottom of the slab or be prepared for rainwater to come in
under the shed walls (which is actually fine if you are not going to insulate
or finish the inside unless the climate gets more than 18 inches of rain, and
then it still might be fine).
Put up shed. Even if you are considering insulating, let it sit uninsulated until you are POSITIVE no rain will ever come in again. This might include caulking screws, etc. I really would recommend bare steel, no insulation and no finishing, though.
Increase
the overhang or add gutters. If windy and high, increase the coverage of the
apex of the roof.
If
you want, tile the floor. If you tile the floor, it will be easier to clean of
spills and VOCs.
Martha spent many hours researching and writing this book. Let’s find out more!
Q: Martha, what (or who) inspired you to write this book?
A: When I was first diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), I joined a couple of email groups for Christians with the condition and began to read the same types of stories over and over again from people of many different faith traditions and backgrounds. The common pattern was for people to get progressively sicker from chemical exposures at church while they tried and tried to get church members and leaders to understand the issue. They would eventually give up trying to attend and would feel forgotten and abandoned when they did.
It didn’t take long to realize there was a need for a book that educated Christians about MCS and toxicity issues. The conviction that I should write it myself took longer. It seemed like a daunting task, and I fought the idea when I first felt that God was asking me to do it. At one point I told God I was willing, but I asked him to be very clear in his direction. Not long afterwards, my sister sent me some tapes of a Beth Moore presentation. In one of them she said “Tell your story” and remarked that some of us should write our stories down. Then she talked specifically to someone named Martha. I assume she was talking to a Martha in the room with her, but when I listened to the tape, I felt pretty sure that God was talking to me.
Q: What did you enjoy most about writing it?
A: I enjoy research and learning new things, and what I learned for this book was directly applicable to my life, which was nice.
Q: What was the hardest part about writing it?
A: There’s a great deal of pain in the MCS community. It was hard to be reminded of the overwhelming needs day after day and to feel so limited in my ability to make a difference.
Q: Does this book apply to people who are not Christians, too?
A: The warnings about how untested and potentially unsafe common products are and how we’re all being affected by them absolutely apply to everyone. I also write about the struggles that are common to people with MCS regardless of their beliefs. I address church members and leaders directly at times, but a great deal of the book is information that anyone can use.
Q: What would you say to someone who has no family or friends who understand their MCS?
A: First I would say that I’m sorry and that trying to help with that situation is one of the reasons I wrote the book. The challenges are both emotional (we need validation) and physical (we need people to take our needs seriously and to avoid exposing us to things that make us sicker.) Joining a support group can help with the first part of that equation, but the second half is trickier. I would urge people not to give up hope, though. I know of many situations where family members and friends slowly began to understand and change harmful behaviors. Sometimes it just takes time.
Q: What message would you most love for Christians to come away from the book sticking in their heads and hearts?
A: Seemingly small decisions about products we use can have big consequences, both for ourselves and for people around us. Caring for our bodies and loving others means paying attention to chemicals.
Q: What is the easiest thing churches can do to minister and bring about hope for those with MCS?
A: I’d love to see churches both find a way to include people who can’t attend in person and make their facilities more accessible and toxin-free. Bringing people into Bible Study and other groups through video conferencing or even just by phone really isn’t hard. As for making changes to the physical environment, getting rid of fragranced products (air fresheners, cleaners, hand soap, etc.) is probably the easiest first step to take.
Q: What is your favorite song or Scripture that relates to this illness?
A: There are many, many songs and scriptures that have sustained me on this journey of MCS. Today what comes to mind is Isaiah 43:1-2 which says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.”
From the standpoint of trying to educate and advocate, I find God’s instructions to the Israelites about mold (in Leviticus 14) to be helpful. God didn’t tell them to just ignore the toxin or pray it away or assume that their faith would protect them from its effects. He gave very detailed instructions for avoiding and removing it.
Q: What is your favorite way to relax or bring calm and refreshment to your soul and body?
A: As you implied in your last question, turning to scripture and uplifting music can be extremely helpful. I have a 30 page list I made of some of my favorite Bible verses and I go back to them again and again.
I also find that my
mood can be improved with humor. I have a lot of humor sites bookmarked on my
computer, and I’ve learned that spending 10 minutes or so reading “dad jokes”
or watching cat videos can generally pull me out of a funk. I walk as often as
I can, and when I do, I try to remember to focus on gratitude and thanking God
for all his gifts to me. When I turn to him, he’s always there, and when I
remember to look for blessings, I find them.
Thank you so much for sharing today! Thank you for the beautiful work you have created in this book.
From 2007 to 2010, I suffered accidental Toxic Injury (also called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or Environmental Illness). But, the forced time in bed has given me time to write. It has been such a blessing to work on my children's books and stories!
I love: God, family & friends, outdoors, gardening, animals, writing, reading, photography, cooking, music, dance, bare feet, long skirts, lavender & yellow, and chocolate.
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