HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

chemical odors

Support Forums
>
Fibromyalgia
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 3/12/2012 6:52 PM (GMT -5)
I was cleaning today with bleach. I began to feel like I had a knot in my throat/chest then all of a sudden My neck and shoulders began to ache horribly. I know fibro can make you chemical sensitive, but does it trigger pain out of the blue? Appreciate the help.
Posted 3/12/2012 8:24 PM (GMT -5)
I love to clean with bleach also. Last week I cleaned too much and when I got done I was in bad pain. I just over did it. You have to be real careful using bleach. Always have an open window and don't mix other chemicals with it. If you had some chest and throat discomfort I would be careful. It could be an reaction to bleach. I am not sure if you dilute your bleach. That sometimes cuts down the strong smell. I sometimes think I am going to give up my bleach due to spots on my clothes or things. I just seem not to want to change to color Clorox . I was wondering how long we're you cleaning?
Posted 3/12/2012 8:42 PM (GMT -5)
Hi ak angel

  Thanks for your reply. I was only doing daily basic cleaning today.Maybe worked around the house maybe 1 to 11/2 hours. Just decided to use bleach to clean kitchen surfaces to kill germs. I even had windows open since it was so nice here today. I figured the throat/chest issue was bleach related, but was shocked when the pain struck. That was the only thing I could think of since everything happened at same time. I love bleach but will find something else if I need to. I guess I should take notes so I will know what triggers my pain.

Posted 3/13/2012 1:32 AM (GMT -5)
Who knows why we get so much pain sometime. I did several hrs. cleaning when I got my pain. Hope your pain doesn't last long.
Posted 3/13/2012 6:51 AM (GMT -5)
I can't be around bleach. I know no one should be using bleach unless they're around good ventilation like an open window.
Being around chemicals especially bleach makes my fibro much worse.

I believe with fibro we are constantly being tested in regard to what we can be around, what we can eat and drink plus what we should eat and drink, which supplements we should take, which medications we should stay away from due to the side effects and lack of benefit, try to  do stretches each day to deal with the tightness and also stay as active as we can, and figure out which stressors we should try to stay away from.

Good luck to you.
Posted 3/13/2012 12:37 PM (GMT -5)
Maezyaya,

My mother used a lot of bleach and other cleaners - splashed them around pretty liberally when she was on a cleaning jag. She developed Idiopathic (unknown cause) Pulmonary Fibrosis late in life. When they'd ask (again) what she'd been exposed to, I always brought up these chemicals, though doctors never really picked up on that idea.

But I've always been extremely sparing in my use of chemicals, probably too much so. I have some black mold areas in my upstairs bathroom that I guess I'm going to have to use bleach on, but it will be the minimum amount, with heavy-duty gloves.

Debbie
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply