1. What is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.)?
It is a chronic
neuromuscular disease which affects most of the organs and systems in the body and brain. There are neurological abnormalities and cognitive
dysfunctions, coupled with immune system disregulations.
The illness is complicated with numerous symptoms,
such as swollen glands, sore throats, muscle pain and weakness, insomnia, low grade fever, headaches, severe exhaustion, brain fog, loss of words and short term memory, and inability to function normally for at least six months.
Fibromyalgia is very similar and includes pain at various body trigger points. Both
illnesses are debilitating. Louise has both M.E. and
F.M.
See http://www.mefm.bc.ca
2. What is Environmental Illness (E.I.)?
It is multiple chemical sensitivities, inhalant allergies, and food sensitivities. Often electro-magnetic sensitivity, too. Although everyone is affected by exposure to high amounts of chemicals, a person who is environmentally ill has symptoms
when exposed to low amounts of toxins found in common products;
for example, perfumes, cleaning/laundry products, car exhaust,
smoke, new carpets/buildings, and pesticides.
Even natural fragrant products and foods as well
as dust, molds, grasses, trees, and animal dander can cause
serious and/or chronic debilitating symptoms.
See easy-to-read brochure:
http://chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org/chemsense-brochure.htm
We
highly recommend that you take time to read a 50 page booklet about MCS, see "Understanding & Accommodating People with
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in Independent Living" by Pamela Reed Gibsson, PhD.
Scroll down page to the Table of Contents.
We recommend your reading the whole booklet in order to gain an overall, integrated understanding of MCS.
However, these are the sections regarding housing:
(when printing, they are pgs. 19 through 26)
3. What is the relationship between
M.E. and E.I.?
That is still being researched. After a person has had M.E. for five
years or so, it is possible to become more and more toxic
and to gradually develop the symptoms of Environmental Illness.
However, chemicals, vaccines, drugs, and various
other toxins, as well as viruses, can affect immune systems, and lead to M.E. and E.I.
Louise became ill in 1973 with mononucleosis and a malabsorption problem, but likely had M.E. She also
had been exposed to amoeba and pesticides. Living in the Philippines, she received an abundance of vaccinations,
which likely contributed to the compromise of her immune system. Louise had malaria, and undiagnosed fevers.
By 1980, Louise had Environmental Illness, and was tested by a Clinical Ecologist, who assessed her as being
sensitive to almost all chemicals and foods, and many inhalants. However,
she also had inhalant allergies as a child. She knew by 1976 that she had several food sensitivities.
When a person has M.E., they usually never feel normal or are able
to function normally; however, there are often fluctuations and relapses--ups and downs. Many things can cause the ups
and downs, including weather and barometric changes; seasonal changes; chemicals, foods, inhalants, as well as exceeding strick
limitations. Stress is not tolerated.
Dr. Paul Cheney has written about the complicated stages of M.E. and the breakdown of the detoxification system, so that the brain becomes toxic as well as the body. The later stages of M.E. are even more complex than
the earlier stages. See http://www.cfsresearch.org/cfs/cheney/13nf.htm
Louise has third stage or end stage M.E., which has left her incapable of much interaction
with people and unable to live outside of a very restricted lifestyle. Some of the symptoms she had in the first two stages
have decreased a little, but likely her brain and DNA have been irrevocably changed. However, when not exposed to chemicals,
but to fresh air, it does help bring some sense of well-being.
By focusing on routines and setting up a support system for herself, she has discovered
ways she can use her limited funtioning time to do some of the things which she really needs to do, or wants to do.
Writing is one of those things, and during 2002, she sold three writing tips, one poem, and one article.
