[Mother Margaret]

My husband agrees as does my family, that I spend too much time on this; however, many people are harmed by this chemical; and there is a greater good if it can be detected.

The gulf war vets couldn't understand why spouses were coming down with the same symptoms ('gulf war syndrome' symptoms) ... even little children were coming down with the symptoms who were born before the soldiers' deployment to the war!

Sinus passages, etc would dry out some; however, if the seasoned painter is correct, as I believe is the case, the primary route of exposure to this 2-butoxyethanol is the eye membranes and cuticle areas.

Many others know about this chemical, just search on the internet. It goes on for pages and pages and pages ... I approach it from a 'lay person's perspective'

It is very frightening actually.

Note Sarah's concern, "I just went to the dentist!"

Note this example: newbride:Severe Itching, Rash, Brought on by weird things

"I developed what started out as an eye irritation in August of 2001. Within a few days, it spread to my face and around my neck and shoulders. Like you, I've been to every doctor (deramtologist, allergist, etc.) under the sun and have found no answers. I've tried every cream, ointment, cut out foods, soaps, etc., and no answers. The best way for me to describe to people how this rash feels is that it's like someone poured Clorox over my face. The only thing that will tame the rash is steroids (prednisone) but I can only take so much of that (many side effects). The rash can be triggered by almost anything, and when it hits hard, my body wears down and I just try to sleep it off. When the rash does simmer down, I'm left with flaking, purple/pink skin on my eyelids, under my eyes, on both sides of my cheeks, and develop a line around my neck crease. It's been a living nightmare. If anyone has ANY similar situations or have found potential triggers/solutions, please post your message. (Posted on healthboards.com this month)

'Dear Maggie' reply: "new bride?

Did a new man come into your life in Aug, 2001? I ask this because eyes burning and hurting and watering and feeling like hot pokers were in them ... or to a lesser degree, irritated mostly in the mornings, could be second hand solvent exposure. Does your husband have a job that exposes him to 2-butoxyethanol? It's in paints, dry cleaning and plastics, oil clean up; lots of things that have to do with home maintenance; some military jobs, etc, etc.

You could be getting your own exposures, too. Do you also have fatigue? If this chemical has had an effect on you, you can end up with diagnosis such as CFS, CFIDS ... what I'd call the 'gulf war syndrome' symptoms. You would notice the fatigue and many people can pin point the very day it started and remember what they were doing then. If you have had too much exposure, check 'the retic ratio' Do you have too many immature red blood cells? The bone marrow compensates for what will some day be noticed as hemolytic anemia if this chemical is involved.

Besides the eyes being a primary route of exposure, the rash spreading could be from more and more direct exposure to this chemical. For instance, oven cleaners are very horrible for a complex version of this. Have you been cleaning ovens? Do you use Lysol tub 'n Tile? or 409 Cleaner or Simple Green?

Now, if you are affected by this chemical you will notice the fatigue, but others will notice a very agitated personality change ... sort of 'flying off the handle' for no reason ALL THE TIME. You would also notice central nervous system depression, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating and also short term memory loss; many times horrible headaches come and go with this chemical's exposure.

Study up on it some. It could be worth your while. Many people are affected; but few recognize the symptoms or the significance of having found too many immature red blood cells."

Newbride "Wow---how did you guess?!!! As a matter of fact, a new man did come into my life (we started dating when my rashes began) and we're now married! We always used to joke that he was the cause of my reactions, but seriously, we did go through his soaps, detergents, etc. He works at a typical desk job, so he's not exposed to anything strange at work.

I did have patch testing done and the tests came back positive for some chemicals found in cleaning agents (especially polishes) but I typically avoid those items. However, that being said, my eyes havent been white since this whole nightmare began. They literally swell up--sometimes to the point where I can't leave the house.

As for feeling sluggish, I feel completely worn down when my reactions are at their worst, but I always attribute that to the fact that my body is working hard to fight off the reactions.

I'm concerned now because I'm hoping to become pregnant, but I won't be able to take anything to help with the nightmarish reactions when they occur."

Dear Maggie, "Both you and your husband - Check 'retic ratio'

What kind of work does your husband do?

You should both ask your doctor to check your 'retic ratio'

This will tell you if you have too many immature red blood cells; if the 2-butoxyethanol type chemical is the culprit your symptoms for fatigue are worse because you are being exposed to it somehow.

There was a man named Ian who posted on this forum a few months ago. And he was concerned about his girlfriends eyes burning and itching and his being relegated to the next room at night. Her symptoms were worse in the morning and then wore off as the day went on. They, too checked the things they were using like deodorant and shampoo, etc.

There is some good information on some of my other posts and also my reply to Ian's post.

Now you could be having your own exposures to this chemical, or just getting it secondhandedly from your husband. You must stop this exposure as the health effects are worse and worse the more exposure you get. Wearing chemical goggles at night might make a difference?

Since you say this reaction has been going on for 3 years, I'm wondering if your husband has been exposed to this chemical, perhaps, all this time? He would feel fatigue big time, have all the time depression, and fly off the handle all the time, too, for anything and everything. It can also make it more difficult to have a child."

Right now, I'm considering a study. I am waiting for the evidence to come it. This is a provable theory.