Multiple Chemical Sensitivity & Fibromyalgia

Patients with Fibromyalgia can also show signs of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Someone with MCS will react badly to low amounts of chemical substances in the environment either through smell, touch or ingestion. This may include fragrances from perfumes, cigarette smoke, paint fumes, certain medications and even chemicals present in tap water.

Common symptoms of MCS can include; muscle and joint pain, headaches, dizziness, nausea, extreme fatigue, allergy reactions such as sinus problems, wheezing or breathlessness.

Some researchers believe that MCS, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) are all part of the same family of illnesses, called central sensitivity syndromes.

If you already have one of these conditions, it can be hard to figure out whether you have the others, because symptoms can be so similar. They key is to watch for changes, such as new symptom clusters, like headaches and nausea that occur together or symptom triggers from fragrances, stress, or exertion.

You will find that not all sufferers will react in the same way to the same substances – while one person may be unable to be in the room with someone smoking or wearing a fragrance, they may have no reaction from other mild chemicals.

Doctors are still unsure about what actually causes MCS. Some symptoms appear after a chemical injury resulting from high-level exposure.

There is no medical treatment for MCS to date, but research suggests that reducing stress may help symptoms of the condition, along with FMS, ME/CFS, as well as good nutrition and a healthy immune system.