painting house a tic trigger?

[julia24]

OK, I have been working with an ND for my TS, and I have had the last 5 weeks until this week completely tic-free. I am also pregnant & trying to completely avoid meds.

 

Last weekend, we painted almost the entire house. I was out of the house during the painting part, but I came home that evening, and the paint smell was still very strong. It was around this same time that my tics returned and have remained anywhere between a 4 & 6 on the 1-10 scale, with 10 being my worst day.

 

I'm struggling to find the trigger here. I've also been killing a yeast infection with suppositories (sorry if TMI!). I stopped that about 4 days ago. The paint was exactly 7 days ago. We didn't turn on our furnace until 3 days ago, so I don't think it's that, since the tics returned 7 days ago.

 

I'm struggling to refuse the "wax and wane" ideology, and chuck it up to that. I've heard doctors say that so many times, it keeps sticking in my head, and I keep trying to tell myself there *has* to be a trigger.

 

No new supplements, no other chemical exposure.

 

Anyone want to help me brainstorm or offer their best guess?

 

And if you or your children have had a reaction to paint, how long did it last?

 

-Julie

[Chemar]

Hi Julie

 

yes, fresh paint can be a major tic trigger!

 

for my son, one of his biggest tic triggers is chemical smells and he knows instantly when he enters a room as to whether there is fresh paint, new carpet(formaldehyde), bleach (Chlorine is a BIG trigger for him), other chemical cleaners, air "fresheners", perfume, persticides etc etc

 

sooo

IMHO, the paint is most likely your trigger!

 

try to air the house as much as possible to help

 

yes, TS tics wax and wane but many of us believe that this is not just random but that internal or external triggers are responsible

 

keep us updated on the pregnancy and the arrival of junior

[patty]

Julie,

 

As I am researching for an air purfier, one of the Austin Air purifier claims it can also remove chemical smells. Maybe that may be helpful to you.

 

Take care!

 

Patty

[Claire]

Paint is a big trigger for many!!

 

For the future, they have low VOC (Volume of Contaminants) paints that don't cost significantly more (when you consider that most of the painting expense is labor). They use this paint for hospitals.

 

When we repainted, we even used it for the primer. It takes weeks and weeks to go away...leave the windows open as much as possible for a bit to help.

 

Given that you can't reverse the painting, Patty had a great idea on the Austin Purifier. We have one for chemicals...(we use the HEPA for normal). It is very quiet too! However, tough to do the whole house with one filter...

 

http://www.natlallergy.com/cat/11/healthma...-purifiers.html

 

 

Claire

[julia24]

>> It takes weeks and weeks to go away...leave the windows open as much as possible for a bit to help.>>

 

Thanks, Claire. As much as I didn't want to hear that, at least now I'm thinking there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. I had no idea that the effects would last beyond the paint smell. GRRRR....I'm pretty mad at myself now.

 

>>For the future, they have low VOC (Volume of Contaminants) paints that don't cost significantly more (when you consider that most of the painting expense is labor). They use this paint for hospitals.>>

 

Could you (or anyone else) tell me where I would get this kind of paint? Do they sell it at Home Depot along with the other paint?

 

I will *definitely* be using the low VOC paint in the future. Thanks!

 

-Julie

[Claire]

Julie,

 

I had called a local "Kelly Paint" store and they had it for a couple of brands. We didn't get it from Home Depot, so I don't know, but it was easy to find. We 'moved out' for a couple of days during the painting, but had no issue coming back

 

At least it is temporary, and congrats on your success so far!! Nice thing about have a no-tic baseline--you can spot the triggers more clearly.

 

Claire