his Q&A blog is open for all to participate. Feel free to ask your own questions and answer questions posted by others. I know all of you have a wealth of information and experience on healthy living and you are welcome to share it here. 
Travel
Houston PLACE to Stay ? Safe? Safer?
To no avail, I've been searching for days on end for some place in the Houston, TX area that is safe to stay for someone with MCS. Staying in conventional hotels has been an absolute nightmare. I'm aware of two large chains' allergy rooms and they are indeed good for people with traditional allergies, but they seem to use MORE chemicals for killing conventional allergens. Not a help here. Houston is seeming more and more like a place where people/businesses just don't have an awareness of chemical issues. Even small B and B's have not responded favorably. If anyone has particular information, it would be great to hear it before we go to Houston next weekend. Thank you very much.
Readers?
Fragrance-free hotel in Los Angeles
Does anyone know of a hotel in the Los Angeles area that is as fragrance-free as possible for an MCS person?
Readers?
Hyatt Hotel Hypoallergenic Rooms
Debra,
A recent blurb in the NY Times indicates that Hyatt has developed "hypoallerginic rooms". It states:
"....Hyatt uses a six step cleaning process to sanitize its special rooms that includes disseminating tea tree oil, a natural disinfectant, through the ventilation system, and using ozone to get rid of lingering odors. The hotel is using a medical grade air-purification system that it says eliminates at least 98 percent of airborne viruses, bacteria and pollen. Guests may still open the windows; the system will zap introduing irritants within an hour."
I'm curious about your thoughts on this. My understanding is that tea tree oil, while natural, has a very strong odor which makes it a no go for me.
Thanks for your two cents!
It's not clear to me from this description whether or not the tea tree oil is applied while the guest is in the room or not.
I don't think what is described would be harmful to an average person, but might be a problem to someone like yourself that has a specific sensitivity to tea tree oil.
How can I be safe while flying?
I am planning a trip in about 3 weeks and will be flying for the first time since developing MCS. (First flight for 7 years) It will be within the USA. I am very concerned about all the chemicals in the cabin of the airplane as well as the concentrated exhaust outside the airport and the smells inside the airport. Being near perfume or other fragrances makes me cough uncontrolably. Pesticides and cleaning products bother me in other ways.
I have read about using oxygen in flight, but how is that done? Does one use an oxygen mask or just the tube that goes to the nose? New plastic smell bothers me, so how can I avoid that with oxygen? Is there a brand of tubing or mask that is better about not smelling like plastic? Do I just need a prescription for oxygen, or a special kind of prescription?
Thank you for your help and please tell me how to protect myself.
Debbie in NM
There is already some information about this at Q&A: Toxics While Traveling, but it doesn't answer your questions about oxygen.
Readers, any experience or advice to share on this?
Jamaica cruise
Hi Debra,
My husband and I canceled our planned honeymoon to Jamaica after finding out that they still spray flights with residual pesticides, but we'd still love to travel to the island. I was not able to find out anything about whether cruise ships that put into port in Jamaica are also treated with pesticides. After Julia Kendall's death shortly after visiting Jamaica, I'm understandably concerned. Can anyone help reassure me that a cruise to Jamaica is a possibility?
Thanks,
Jenni in Ohio
Readers?
RV or Travel Trailer?
I have MCS and would like to travel. Which is better? An RV or a travel trailer? I am thinking that a trailer could be made safer than an RV. My husband would rather not have to pull a trailer. Which one could be made the safest with the least amount of work?
Also, what kind of outer material would be best? Aluminum, fiberglass, or porcelain? I would think that to be surrounded by aluminum might cause a problem with EMF's. I don't know anything about fiberglass as pertains to MCS.
Do you or your reader's know if there is a brand that is the best (quality, and uses less toxic materials)?
Thank you for your help.
I have no experience with this.
Readers?
RV's for Chemically Sensitive
As one with allergies and moderate chemical sensitivities, I have always been leery of RV's. However, we are getting closer to retirement and enjoy visiting state and national parks....and finding hotel/motels can be problematic and limited. We found a dealer in our region who carries AIRSTREAM, as we have always wanted to look at them and have basically ruled out other small/medium trailers we have viewed. We found very interesting in several that they had the aluminum skin on the inside, too, as a wall covering. That was intriguing as it would be one less man made covering to outgas formaldehyde and such, and would provide more of a seal. There still was, of course some cabinetry and such of man made components. Also, the dealership owner is one of the few we have found who understood thoroughly about the formaldehyde issue (although there was a lot of press about the sick folks in FEMA trailers). They carried a few other brands, and he was talking about last summer when he was out working/tidying in the trailers in high heat that he got sick in one of the other ones, from the outgassing of the fumes. After stepping into a Denali at the dealership, we were able to tell the great difference in air between it and the Airstream. We have learned in our home to have as much solid wood as possible and no particle board, plus no chemical cleaners, fragrance, etc.
We are nearly scared to make an investment, but.....Any information, suggestions, experiences, etc. would be greatly appreciated!
I have bought several of your books over the years and always enjoy the blog.
Thanks,
Cathy
Readers? Your experience?
Trip to Europe for MCS
i am planning on going to europe in the spring;i am chemically sensitive,so i would like to find out how / and what experiences people with MCS had
on one hand,i am told that europe is a waaaaay much greener than the usa; on the other hand i am told that the smokers are all over,and there is rare to find cafes,bistros,etc,smoke free
is "the downy and tide " an " epidemic,as it is here?
do people acknowledge chemical sensitivities,and know the NAME/DEFINITION?
is a trip to the laundromat,a " TRIP TO HELL " ,as it is in the usa ?
i dont dip/soak myself in chlorinated pools,and to find a hotel,cross coutry here,in the usa,is a nightmare,with ALL the cleaning toxic stuff,febreeze and similar sprays,etc
what about eating organic?
no oriental-deepfried- mac donalds-alike junk
EVEN IF I DONT REACT TO THE JUNK, " IGNORANCE IS NOT A BLISS ANYLONGER !!! "
please help
the more details,the better,please
thanks
I went to Germany last September. I can tell you some pros and cons.
Yes, cigarette smoke is everywhere. A lot of "green" in Europe has to do with energy savings, and they do have a lot of natural and herbal products, especially in Germany and England, but I didn't notice a particular awareness of MCS.
I had no problem getting organic food in Cologne, a major city.
A benefit is that many of the buildings in Europe are very old, and the lesser-priced lodging is usually in an old building. I found a lovely old building to stay in with a big room with big windows into the back garden, not on the street. It was very quiet and no exhaust fumes from the street.
The most difficult part is the plane trip. I think my flight was 17 hours from Florida to Germany, with two stops to change planes. (There was even organic food at the airport!). They do spray something in the plane, some kind of pesticide or disinfectant, but for me it's just difficult to be in the closed plane for the transatlantic flight, which is something like 8-9 hours from the East Coast, and only breathe that recirculated airplane air. And then, when you get to the airport, the air is full of jet fuel and plane exhaust.
It was a major victory for me to go to England in 1987 and not react. I went for a month and was fine. That was my proof I had recovered from MCS. That said, I think it would be difficult for someone with MCS to make the trip.
Non-toxic MCS Friendly Hotel in Boston?
Anyone know of a non-toxic hotel or B&B in the Boston area? I haven't been able to find one online.
Readers?
Traveling in China
I'm wondering if you or your readers have had any experience traveling in China? I have MCS and am concerned about air quality and the challenges of finding "scent free" hotel rooms, etc. Two of the locations would be Shanghai and Harbin and the travel would occur in January or February so it will be cold which means no open windows. My husband has a business trip there and I've been invited, but am very concerned as I've read about the extreme air pollution and already know the challenges of trying to find acceptable hotel rooms in the US. Any input would be most appreciated.
Thanks much, Kelly
Readers?
