Fragrances and asthma/allergies

@lisalucier It kind of depends on how well I'm breathing. There have been times, I have used both the preventative and rescue inhaler about an hour before an event. I think my best remedy is to wear an N95 mask, but only if I am breathing well enough to be able to do that. We did just go to the ballet, and I wore an N95 until the lights went out. That was not stopping some fragrance, so I swapped it for a respirator and I did just fine. I changed to the N95 for when the lights came back on. We were in the last row on the main floor with some empty seats next to us, so I don't think anyone noticed. I did see a handful of other people wearing masks. It does also help me to take a shot of oxygen if I'm still recovering after inhaler use. They sell it at pharmacies now, and I had this from visiting high elevations in Colorado on vacation.

Hi, @jana13 @km6 and @crn - I've had to tell a piano teacher and a drum teacher that I do not do well with my allergies and asthma with the scented candles they had burning in their homes. I didn't find it comfortable to speak up, but I could not stop coughing and silently wheezing with the candles in each instance.

Do you have any suggestions on communicating your needs for no fragrance in a business so it's as well-received as possible? How about in someone's home?

Like all of you, I'm suffering from irritant asthma triggered by the toxic chemicals in fragrances etc. Thank you for sharing your stories and experiences- the stories are very personally familiar. It's sometimes feels very isolating when you can't go anywhere without risking asthma attacks but we're not alone. Hopefully one day we will be able to stop these chemicals from being used everywhere. I'm using Brea 200 with Salbutamol and Atrovent emergency inhalers when breathing is tough. The combination of the two inhalers helps a lot. I switched to Brea because there were too many side effects from my other meds. I cleared all the scented soaps, creams and cleaning products in my home and replaced them with very pure products and it helped a lot. Good luck to all of you and thanks for sharing!

What is the respirator you refer to?

I was wondering if anyone has tried acupuncture for fragrance sensitivity. I’m not overly optimistic but I’m already using all the conventional treatments and wish there was something more I could do.

I've not tried acupuncture, @drsharon. I have reactions to products made with faux fragrance ingredients and have taken many of the same steps as you. Fortunately, my husband and kids think just about anything that smells other than food "stinks," so no one in my household is working "against me" toward a highly fragranced household.

My version of an asthma reaction to chemical irritants is a coughing fit. I also feel like I'm wheezing and my lungs are tightening, but not audibly. But I've never had to see a doctor immediately for this.

My friend reacts so much to strong fragrances that we've had to call an ambulance.

What is the most difficult reaction you've had to fragrances, drsharon? Have you had to go to the ER?

Hi Lisa, thanks for the reply. It sounds like we have a similar problem. I also cough badly with tightness of chest and a lot of phlegm, and I’ve never wheezedMy Home, my children’s homes, and a number of my friends homes are now completely scent free and all personal products are sent free as well which help a lot. I’ve managed to control my worst attacks with a combination of emergency, inhalers, Atrovent and a salbutamol which are available in Canada and the thoracic Institute has walked in clinics for asthmatic so I haven’t to go into the emergency. Unfortunately, it’s difficult to go anywhere else even with an N 95 mask as a single whiff of scent is enough to bring on an attack. I just wish there was more awareness of the dangers from these chemicals that smell nice, but they’re so toxic. There are no cures at present, only avoidance and coping with the symptoms.

For any pulmonologist I have seen - I have asthma - the intake questionnaire asks if I have ever been exposed to fumes. The answer is yes, when I worked. Yesterday I was exposed to a horrible perfume that seemed as if the wearer had bathed herself in gasoline. I am sick and tired of people forcing me to smell something that they “enjoy” when they need to be using it “in bed” and showering off when they are done. I am still freaked by the asthma attack I had. I have decided to just start being as insulting verbally as perfume wearers are by wearing that garbage smell, for the most part, and tell them they have BO.

Hi Shar1504,
I know how you feel. I am very sensitive to strong perfumes. I react to them and feel sick. My mom had pulmonary emphysema and had an awful time around strong perfumes. Recently, the hospitals in Washington State where I live have signs up asking people not to wear perfume. Perfumes don't smell good like they used to. Chanel #5 was never offensive.
It might be best to just tell the perfume wearers that you have asthma and that their perfume really bothers you. Otherwise, you may just end up in an argument that you would be blamed for.
I wish you the best.
PML

@shar1504

As @pml stated, just let the person know of your sensitivity to perfumes without bringing rude….rudeness is not necessary and solves nothing. Physically keep your distance if you can or perhaps hold a tissue over your nose. No one likes to smell strong odors emanating from people especially if it’s from someone you see daily. Ask if anyone else around her is feeling the same way. It’s a sensitive issue and she may not realize how she is affecting others. Years ago , in my workplace, we did have a manager intervene with someone in a similar situation. It was resolved but we don’t know what was said.

FL Mary