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Heavy perfume in medical facilities, or anywhere, really
Lung Health | Last Active: Aug 11 12:17pm | Replies (78)Comment receiving replies
@chicagomichelle, @peggyj4411 and @ladycat, Hello and Thank you for starting this important discussion on a topic that we could all benefit from addressing and discussing.
After I was personally addressed at work by another coworker who was offended (and also has respiratory issues) by a scent that I love to wear. I read our work policy and put some thought into how to address this issue. You see, I use an essential oil that helps me focus (something that I struggle with daily) and believe has benefit to me throughout my work day. After talking with supervision I came to the realization of what kind of burden this was posing on others people as well. I had no idea how it was effecting others in our work group. I was able to do some research and found alternative ways to address my focus issues without any smells...which makes for a happy work group! 🙂
Looking into our dress and decorum work policy, I found it reads as is- "It is unacceptable for employees to smell of cigarette smoke or other strong perfumes or odors while at work. Employees who arrive in the work area with the smell of cigarette smoke or other strong smells on their clothing will be required to change before entering the work area". This is something that is given to all employees when they start here.
In our Allergy and Pulmonary areas there is verbiage on the patients itinerary that kindly asks for patients and attending family members to please avoid perfume and smells in these areas, which is great.
I also looked into our patient education center thinking this would be a good place to have educational material on those that suffer from respiratory issues and what happens when those patients come into contact with strong perfume smells. I found nothing. I then looked for a courtesy sign or something that states information for patient awareness to no avail. The positive spin.... these are all areas with room for improvement! Thank you for helping Mayo Clinic become an even better place for others.
Do any of you have ideas or thoughts for others reading this post on how to politely approach someone that may have an offensive or threatening perfume on? @chicagomichelle, what was the response you received from the hotel guest?
Replies to "@chicagomichelle, @peggyj4411 and @ladycat, Hello and Thank you for starting this important discussion on a topic..."
I thought the same. Change Drs.
Whoops, I just noticed a second ago I have been spelling your name wrong! I apologize profusely! I have Rapid Advancing Wet Macular Degeneration in both eyes and cataracts, so my vision kind of sucks. Still, I should have been more careful, Rosemarya! Again, my most sincere apologies! Virtual hugs from New York, Peggy
Oh Michelle, you are going through pure Hell! What a horrible experience when you are so sick! The pneumonia alone could have killed you---and having sepsis and that wicked norovirus on top of it, yeeech! I never heard of that ventricle problem before, geez Michelle, that experience is positively awful. God must want you to live for a really good reason--to teach the medical profession a thing or two. You are an incredibely brave person. Start getting better, ya hear? We need you on this wonderful site! Love, Peggy
@peggyj4411, Peggy, you spelled my name correctly. It is Rosemary. I do not have a sensitivity to heavy perfume smells, other than an intense dislike for some fragrances. When I read some of these replies, I begin to learn how terrible it must be for you with sensitivity to fragrances.
Have you had an opportunity to speak with your Social Worker yet?
Have you considered speaking with one of the nurses or aides with whom you have a good relationship. Perhaps if you appeal for help from one of them, your concerns might be heard and maybe acted upon.
Rosemary
Hi Rosemary! Thank you for all those great replies; it is so encouraging to communicate with someone who is so sympathetic to me! No, I haven't spoken with my Social Worker yet but I am due to see her early next week anyway. I am trying to work up conversations with the nurses and aides, but it is difficult. I tell them they smell great (actually, most of them do!) but it's kind of hard for me to breathe without the oxygen when I am around a lot of those (quote) "luscious smells". So far I have been ignored or given a dirty look, so I drop the subject. Any approach to perfumes and my respiratory problems usually get ignored, so at the moment I am rather discouraged. I never came out and said I am allergic to your scents; could you please go easy on the perfumes. Another problem, Rosemary, is that these ladies also use a lot of different--smelling hair spray and other hair goop, like gels, mousse, coconut oil, etc. I am violently allergic to all things coconut! Fortunately, not many of these girls saturate themselves with it. I will get back to you for some help on still another allergy misery, perfumed strips in fashion magazines! Gotta go, thank you again for all the many nice things you've helped mw with!
@peggyj4411 Oh dear Peggy, I am so sorry you are going through this. It's so hard to get those who wear heavy scents to understand. Maybe you can find some back up articles on line and have them ready for when you meet with your social worker. They have to take you seriously. Please do not worry about offending those wearing the scents, they are polluting your fresh air and this is wrong. You would think that in 2017, people should be acutely aware of this.
Today, I hired a "task rabbit" to wash 3 loads of clothes and put fresh sheets on my bed. When she showed up, I could smell her perfume! My heart sank and I unfortunately said nothing. I guess I was pretty desperate for clean sheets. I will never hire someone again without stating no perfumes please. I'm hoping my bedding did not get too terribly tainted.
If you would like some help with talking to the social worker, you are welcome to have them call me. You can say I'm a friend who suffers from the same issue. Maybe 2 voices can be stronger than one here. In any case, please do not give up, you have the right to fresh air. Please stay strong and keep fighting for this and if you would like me to help you, let me know and I will send you my number. xo Michelle
I ask cleaners to wash the perfume off. One person who objected to this wound up being a nut job. They usually are sympathetic.
I don't like having allergies - can't do anything about it, in spite of urging that I get used to the smell of picking up dog waste. Do you think its possible to get used to offending smells?
The problem is when it's permeated the persons clothing, it can't really be wiped off then.
For me, it is worse when I have a respitory infection. My senses become heightened and I react to everything. I believe the infection I currently have has been brewing since I last left Mayo. I needed to stay in a Minneapolis hotel that was brand new and still smelled of paint. My eyes burned the entire time there. When I came home, I tried to drink from a bottle of water in my fridge. It was a plastic Gatorade bottle and I could literally taste the chemicals in the plastic. That probably should have been my first clue. It's a terrible thing to have to live with, especially when it's not well understood.
Oh Michelle, my apologies for not answering your message sooner; I;ve been zapped to the gills with sinus and eye problems. You are such a caring person and I only wish I could help you in some little way! Would you believe a friend here in this facility complained on my behalf and without telling me, all the problems I've been having with over---drenched aides and other personnel? And not with only the perfume; also many other issues with certain aides having nothing to do with strong odors. I can't imagine what this friend really said, as she is a chronic complainer and a pain in the ass to the entire staff. But the 2 worst--scented and worst behaved aides actually came to work on the morning shift with a definite reduction in their heavy perfume odors! It took me awhile to realize there was something different, but not before my friend popped in and told me what she had done.Actually I was very annoyed at this lady for going behind my back, violating my confidence over some things that were not to be repeated about these aides. They are nasty and lazy to begin with.Now, although one was perfume--free.today and the other very lightly scented, they've got my number. But hey, what am I complaining about, progress was made! I see my Social Worker again tomorrow (the first time was, "Oh, just ask them nicely.......) and hopefully more progress will occur. It was so kind of you to offer to call my Social Worker; if the need does arise, I will certainly ask for you to call! We just all have to carry on our crusade against the chemical warfare out there! I hope you are feeling better this week, Michelle. I fully understand the smell and taste of liquids in plastic bottles; yeeech! I have to drink bottled water, because our water system is heavy chlorinated and tastes like Clorox. It is awful! Gotta go, hope you are OK for now! Love, Peg
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20 years ago, after allergy testing - I was given papers with what brands I Could buy without being allergic. Does Mayo offer this list?
I don't like being told to avoid certain ingredients - then with every cosmetic and product I buy - I'm supposed to carry around of list of chemicals I'm allergic to. And to put some in a baggie to be tested at Drs. - then go back to see if there is a reaction.
What has your experience been?
And could you recommend Allergist in either So Bay, CA or West Valley, AZ?