I hate my immune system.
Dec. 22nd, 2004 10:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rootofnewtDear Bed, Bath, & Beyond:
I normally avoid your store like the plague, as the odoriferous stench you insist on piping through the ventilation combines with the for-sale stinkbombs you call candles, rendering the whole building into a super-duper migraine zone.
Tonight, though, you outdid yourself. I had an anaphylactic reaction to your store. Yes! I could.not.breathe and was lucky fight or flight kicked in, enabling me to rush outside, where I eventually started breathing again-- with a series of coughs and gasps before I could inhale. Now, I probably should have used the epinephrine and had I gone more than 90 seconds without breathing, I would have. It's certainly terrifying to realize that not only is one's throat swollen to the point of not being able to swallow, but one's lungs *will not function*. That's right--my airway was about as useful as 80 year old galvanised pipe in a hard water area.
So, just what *do* you use? Normally, I'd suspect synthetic compounds, as my typical reactions are neurotoxic or reactive airways. Tonight, though? It's as though you managed to make a solution of soy, papaya, rubber, and aloe, then aerosolized it and saturated the building with it. Quite impressive. I was so shocked by the onset that I didn't use the epi-pen, but I certainly should have. I didn't expect to have an airborne reaction causing respiratory distress. Sure, I'd expect it in a tofu factory, but not in a store selling random domestic things. I'm just glad my own adrenaline kicked in so that I was getting some oxygen in by the two minute mark.
Even better? I get to take extra antihistamines until the lump in my throat disappears completely. A quick dose of caffeine eliminated most of it, but the chlorpheniramine helped the rest of it subside. And I get to take naproxen for several days, as the costo flared incredibly quickly, as it does when I'm exposed to severe allergens. If I have a heart attack or stroke, expect firebombing. I'm pretty sure that such a situation would drive my husband over the edge.
Congratulations, you're worse than cats! Ten minutes from vague headache to a completely non-functioning respiratory system.
I will still probably buy the Roomba from you next month, seeing as how I can get it 50 bucks cheaper there (thanks for all those 20% off coupons), but I'll send my husband in. Don't expect me to ever enter your store again, though. Also, please don't sell your secret anti-![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
krasota system to other people. My friends attempt to kill me all too often and I prefer that it be a slight challenge.
Sincerely,
krasota
I normally avoid your store like the plague, as the odoriferous stench you insist on piping through the ventilation combines with the for-sale stinkbombs you call candles, rendering the whole building into a super-duper migraine zone.
Tonight, though, you outdid yourself. I had an anaphylactic reaction to your store. Yes! I could.not.breathe and was lucky fight or flight kicked in, enabling me to rush outside, where I eventually started breathing again-- with a series of coughs and gasps before I could inhale. Now, I probably should have used the epinephrine and had I gone more than 90 seconds without breathing, I would have. It's certainly terrifying to realize that not only is one's throat swollen to the point of not being able to swallow, but one's lungs *will not function*. That's right--my airway was about as useful as 80 year old galvanised pipe in a hard water area.
So, just what *do* you use? Normally, I'd suspect synthetic compounds, as my typical reactions are neurotoxic or reactive airways. Tonight, though? It's as though you managed to make a solution of soy, papaya, rubber, and aloe, then aerosolized it and saturated the building with it. Quite impressive. I was so shocked by the onset that I didn't use the epi-pen, but I certainly should have. I didn't expect to have an airborne reaction causing respiratory distress. Sure, I'd expect it in a tofu factory, but not in a store selling random domestic things. I'm just glad my own adrenaline kicked in so that I was getting some oxygen in by the two minute mark.
Even better? I get to take extra antihistamines until the lump in my throat disappears completely. A quick dose of caffeine eliminated most of it, but the chlorpheniramine helped the rest of it subside. And I get to take naproxen for several days, as the costo flared incredibly quickly, as it does when I'm exposed to severe allergens. If I have a heart attack or stroke, expect firebombing. I'm pretty sure that such a situation would drive my husband over the edge.
Congratulations, you're worse than cats! Ten minutes from vague headache to a completely non-functioning respiratory system.
I will still probably buy the Roomba from you next month, seeing as how I can get it 50 bucks cheaper there (thanks for all those 20% off coupons), but I'll send my husband in. Don't expect me to ever enter your store again, though. Also, please don't sell your secret anti-
krasota system to other people. My friends attempt to kill me all too often and I prefer that it be a slight challenge.Sincerely,
krasota
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no subject
Date: 2004-12-23 03:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-23 05:51 am (UTC)i don't have problems besides regular allergies and tonight, i had a horrible reaction. my lungs were closing up and i was wheezing. i had to take my inhaler and i still felt spinny. my lungs are still wheezing right now, even, and i've been out of the store for nearly an hour.
it's most definately horrible... all of the christmas scents combined with the fibers from the fabric products we sell. me, being nearly normal as far as allergic reactions go.... i'm having problems.
granted, i have resparatory problems and allergy ones, but it's never been _this_ bad before. uugh.
i'm so sorry that you had such a bad reaction though.
if you don't want to come back to the store... i can see about purchasing the roomba for you if you'd like. i get a 20% discount for being an employee and could bring it back to c'ville when i return to school.
just let me know.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-23 06:18 am (UTC)When I had a workplace with severe air quality issues, they got reported to OSHA. I'm not saying you should call, but if your mother is concerned, you certainly can't prevent her from making calls . . . ;)
no subject
Date: 2004-12-23 06:18 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-23 06:26 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-12-23 06:33 am (UTC)Maybe I should pick up another. 3m has some nice latex-free particulate/VOC respirators now.
no subject
Date: 2004-12-23 02:03 pm (UTC)Hello
Date: 2004-12-25 01:17 am (UTC)I found you on livejournal because I also have multiple chemical sensitivites.
You might like to visit my livejournal...www.livejournal.com/users/hopeforhealth
HopeForHealth
no subject
Date: 2004-12-27 06:49 pm (UTC)