I would love to accept your invitation and join you, but I ask that you read this first and consider if you can accommodate my chemical injury.

Ever see the movie Bubble Boy? The beginning of that movie is a lot like what my life has become due to my chemical injury. While I don't need a hamster ball to survive, my body can no longer deal with the toxicants found in everyday life.

This condition is called MCS/EI or TILT and it impacts where I can go, who I can be around, and how I must take care of myself.

It's not that I don't enjoy the company of others, but the chemicals that are in most American products make me ill. The chemicals used in clothes and personal products make me feel like I have the flu, and the more people there are around me, the worse it gets. Here's a helpful link if you want to know more.)

Chemicals in clothes and personal products? Yes. It's amazing.

Laundry detergent and fabric softeners often have scents (chemicals) that are designed to make the clothes smell fresh for a long time. Then there's cologne, perfume, scented soaps, lotions, not to mention air fresheners and candles. The list goes on and on, and I can give you more information if you want it. All of them have a negative impact on my quality of life.

Being around any of these chemicals, in even small amounts, will give me a headache. Literally.

And that's only the start. Fogginess of mind, forgetfulness, fatigue. The presence of these chemicals can even make my joints ache.

Higher concentrations are much worse. Nausea, burning eyes, tunnel vision, irregular heart rhythm. Sometimes, I can't even talk because I am unable to form words.

It all depends on the concentration of the chemicals present and how long I'm exposed to them.

I also have to be very careful around petroleum products. Gas, oil, and exhaust from engines. New building materials like paint, flooring, plastics, and wood products made with binders. It's amazing how many petrochemicals are a part of our lives.

I would like to spend time with you, but I need to make sure that I can do so without hurting.