only intermittently obedient

My day was toxic. Three triggers for my (oh, so fun, and escalating) chemical issue.

First - (1pm) Pantene has changed their (curly hair) shampoo formula. Instant headache, shaky feeling, nausea. Spent ten minutes rinsing the reek out of my hair. Applied extra (old formula) conditioner to counteract the long rinse. Hair still massively tangled & strawlike, and took three times longer than usual to comb out (6 minutes vs 2).
Symptoms mostly subside - still feeling shaky, like I'm ill.
Result = 4 minutes late to work, but stench is gone, so it's _o-kay_.

Nope - spoke too soon. Apparently emotions now running rampant. I almost burst into tears describing the situation to someone. (I don't cry in public. Ask anyone who attended my parents' funerals.) Boss asked me to go make copies at Kinko's. I went to splash my face before I left, but...


Second - (3pm) I walked into the hallway where the bathrooms are -- and spun around and left again. A nearly visible fug of cheap perfume (think Love's Baby Soft, mixed with battery acid) drove me out. Okay, my face doesn't need splashing. Off to Kinko's - back to office.
(4pm) Have to pee. It turns out you can't hold your breath that long. (I breathed into my hand to filter the nerve gas.) Return of headache & shakes, along with nausea, numbness in my fingertips, and a blotchy face. Relating this to Donna, I nearly burst into tears *again*. I held my breath, ran into bathroom & sprayed the NeutrAir in hopes of neutralizing perfume in case I needed to pee in the following seven hours. Donna reported back later -- no joy (and she's not even sensitive).
Symptoms mostly subside - *still* shaky.
Result = I have a key to the outside door near the bathroom on the first floor, so I'll just use that one. It's not ideal (down 3 flights [or 6? - it's 3 floors], out the door, around the building, in the side door, up a short flight & reverse for return - taking elevator instead of stairs), but I can deal.

Oh, wait.


Third - (5:20pm) Ten minutes before my lunch hour, someone sprayed a shit-ton of perfume in the office. I call out, asking who'd done it - no answer. Symptoms return in full, along with the taste of burning & stinging in my throat. Call Mike (the boss) to say I would try to stay, but might have to leave. He assures me he's asking around to see who did the spraying. As I explain how that doesn't help the situation, I nearly started crying again!! JesusFuckingChrist!!! All I want is to be allowed to work without being assaulted by the toxic stylings of my co-workers (all of whom are aware of the issue, thank you very much!). I left at lunchtime.

This is the first time I've had to leave work because of this, and I'd surely love it to be the last. Based on the attitude of my co-workers upon previous mentions of my sensitivity, I doubt it will be, though. Don't I know it's their god-given right to steep themselves in Eternity and bathe in Axe?


Oh, yeah. Did I mention that I had told Mike on Monday that it was getting much worse? And that he promised to talk to all the people in the office about it? AND THAT HE HASN'T DONE A DAMN THING?! Until 5:25pm today, anyway. You'd think he'd be more on the ball, since he's got the same issue.

Thank goodness that things that adversely affect my health aren't important. Otherwise, I'd surely be pissed RIGHT THE FUCK OFF!!


A shower and deodorant is all you need, folks. Really. I swear.