A Husband with Hives

This came to light last year when my beloved broke out, overnight, in lumps, bumps, wheals and rashes.  He was covered from head to toe and his face, lips, and hands were swollen.  It was a shocking sight and with no idea what it was we ended up with an emergency hospital appointment.  We were calmly told it was Hives – an allergic reaction to something.  We then had to find out what the allergy was and it seemed to be ‘dairy products’.  So he spent 3 months extracting dairy from his diet, which was no mean feat as he loves cheese, pork pies, etc.  We found milk products in soap, red wine and other places we had no idea that contained milk.  We read labels, we became aware, educated, enlightened.  He has converted to Soya Milk in tea and on cereals, and eats goat’s cheese and goat’s butter.  The Hives went away.

He re-introduced some diary products and it occasionally comes back, mostly on his head and back at shoulder level.  His face often looks blotchy red with raised bumps or dry skin patches.  Being a caring wife I am forever wondering what is causing it.

At random I took a bathroom product to research as having looked at foodstuffs closely and changed my own eating preferences, I am also aware of chemicals in our household items too.  So here are the results of my findings of a well known dandruff shampoo that my beloved has been using: 

This is what anyone using the product is putting on their head each time they shampoo (and it runs down your body in the shower and can enter your system through your skin).

Ingredients

Aqua = water, especially when used in the pharmaceutical industry as a solvent (a substance in which other substances are dissolved, often a liquid.)  So I am guessing the following list is dissolved by ‘aqua’ but to me that just means ‘broken down into mini pieces (I was a long term dissolvable aspirin taker – dropping the tablet into a small amount of water to avoid swallowing a tablet).  Why don’t they just say ‘water’?

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate         I highly recommend you read up on these two for

Sodium Laureth Sulfate       yourself.

Well, having researched the above two items, I now want to dash upstairs and dispose of the product.  It only took me 30 minutes to research on-line to inform myself – this is not good!  I am dreading getting to the bottom of this list. 

Glycol Disterate – an emollient, can be seen as a cream coloured wax in room temperature, a compound based on stearic acid which is, a naturally occurring fatty acid; used to opacify (to cause to become opaque) liquid soaps, lotions, creams and shampoos.

Zinc Carbonate – a mineral ore which is a water insoluable zinc

Sodium Xylenesulfonate - a chemical formula; a surfactant (which is a complex naturally occurring substance made of six lipids (fats) and four proteins that is produced in the lungs).  Helps remove dirt from skin and hair. May irritate eyes temporarily, studies show no carcogenics.

Zinc pyriyhione – my research found benefits and reviews for skin conditions like acne, psoriasis and rosacea.  This ingredient is what helps get rid of dandruff.  However the possible side affects convinced me that it contributes to my husband’s Hives.  So check your allergies before use.

Cocamidopropyl betaine – a synthetic surfactant that comes from coconut oil but which has also been associated in some cases with irritation and dermatitis. 

Dimethicone – commonly referred to as silicone (which is sometimes used in breast implants, contact lenses and explosives).

Parfum – basically perfume!

Sodium benzoate – An ‘E’ number – E211 a preservative.  One report on www.naturalnews.com says it “promotes cancer and kills healthy cells”.  Another says “it is used as an antifungal preservative in pharmaceutical preparations and foods”.  Yet another says it is “generally recognized as safe in small doses”.

Guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride – a derivative of guar gum, an antistatic agent, natural food thickener used in everything from ice cream to pastries..  Plant product.

Hydrochloric acid – anything ending in Acid always sends shivers down my spine however we produce Gastric Acid in our stomachs naturally.  Wikipedia says it is a clear, colourless, highly pungent solution that is a highly corrosive, strong mineral acid with many uses – one of which includes removing rust from steel. (Please read the whole article on-line)

Magnesium carbonate hydroxide – often known as milk of magnesia (aha something I recognise and don’t need to explain).

Hexyl cinnamal – is a naturally occurring and synthetic scent ingredient, it is associated with allergic reactions. Found in the essential oil of chamomile.  Imparts a jasmine-like scent.

Magnesium nitrate – occurs in mines and caverns as nitromagnesite.  A naturally occurring mineral.

Sodium polynaphthalenesulfonate – sodium salts, deemed safe in cosmetics by Cosmetic Ingredients Review Expert Panel.

Methylchloroisothiazolinone – is a preservative with antibacterial and antifungal effects.

Cl 42090 – Brilliant blue colourant E number 133.

Cl 19140 – Yellow colourant E number 102

Magnesium chloride – extracted from sea water, used to hydrate.

Methylisothiazolinone – preservative possibly toxic that could cause nerve damage.

“Cosmetic companies defend their use of this ingredient by stating that they use very low amounts, at around 15 ppm. They further claim that because the ingredient is in “rinse-off” products, any dangerous or toxic effects are washed down the drain. Meanwhile, you have a bacteria-free formula that lasts a long time on your shelf.”

So it, along with all the other chemicals found in just one of my household products gets into our water system.  I know I am now getting paranoid and that one person changing their shampoo is not going to make much difference to the environment but just as I learnt about the contraceptive pill having an affect on fish (it being wee’d out, flushed down the loo, ending up in rivers, changing the sex of fish) is everyone’s shampoo chemicals giving us serious health issues?

I typed the list of ingredients, then went back to research them. I realised how little notice I take of what I have stored in bottles in my bathroom.  After typing the list (the words were so small I had to use a magnifying glass to read them) I then asked myself:  What are these words on the shampoo bottle?  What do they mean, what are they?  I can’t even pronounce most of them and two are just numbers.  What are the manufacturers hiding from us?  Why can’t they use words we the consumer understand?  Do we need labels like our foodstuffs with red, amber and green to indicate the good, not so good, and harmful contents?

I appreciate much research is done before products reach our supermarkets and shops but who is making the decision that things are ok for us to use without health hazards?  Products tested on animals may react differently in humans, surely?

I am just an ordinary consumer, not one prone to buying from advertisements although I realise these can and do influence our choices.  I am not in anyway normally interested in science but there comes a time when my choices need to change, hopefully it is not too late to do so.  I have blindly used things I now won’t touch, and have naively brought products for my home without much thought to the environment, my skin and my body.  But that is changing.

My summary of findings on this one product follows:

Toxic

Harmful

Irritant

Astringent

It has both benefits and side affects but, for me, the side affects outweigh the benefits.

On the front of the bottle it claims “up to 100%* flake free anti-dandruff shampoo”

On the reverse the * after the 100% means “visible flakes from a distance of 2 feet”.

Also on the reverse it tells users to “Shake before use.”  Who does that????  And Why???  It does give a warning to avoid contact with your eyes.

The shampoo has a symbol on saying  “research validated by British Skin Foundation” which deals with finding cures for skin diseases.  Another time I may look at their website and see if they are not only finding cures but actively addressing causes.

Author & Bloggers Meet Up II

Bacchus Bar, Birmingham

                                                                                                   Networking

 Kim Nash, Publicity Manager of Bookouture;  Christie Barlow, Author & myself

What a Fab Day

With train tickets in hand, acquired from a machine rather than a person in a ticket office, I set off for the second city.  The transformation of 'Birmingham New Street' station to 'Grand Central' was amazing.  I felt like I was in New York!  Arriving an hour early I explored the new surroundings: shops, eating areas, coffee bars, wine, ice creams, sushi - it was all available.  In order to get my bearings as to where I was, I exited the Grand Central and crossed the road, which now has tram lines in it so I expect before too long there will be electric buses running there.  The Bacchus Bar was easily found but I went into New Street and back tracked 'up the ramp' that was a familiar entrance to the old station and to the Bull Ring Shopping Centre.  I found a few shops to browse in, made some purchases then went back to the Bacchus Bar.

It has been 40+ years since I went into a pub in Birmingham and, descending the steps, the horror of the Birmingham Bombings back in 1974, when I was a teenager, flashed through my mind.  I had just left New Street having been to see a pop idol, Gilbert O'Sullivan, the same night the bombings had occurred.  Shuddering at the thought that terrorism has never ceased, I opened the door and entered the underground bar in the Burlington Arcade, New Street which has a street history since 1398. It's beauty took my breath away and I wanted to just stand and stare but as I was there for a purpose and people were enjoying their drinks at tables in various coves and wrought iron surrounds, I made my way to the champagne bar which was reserved for our meet up.  There were Kim and Christie and I felt 'at home' in their company.

The room, with its low ceiling and decorative murals, soon became filled up with chatting, enthusiastic people all wanting to get to know one another, meet up with other writers and learn about what they write, whether published, whether a blogger, reviewer, editor, etc.  The room was alive with LIFE.  It was sooooo uplifting.  I am not sure if I was the oldest person there but I felt so much younger, indeed one young lady complemented me on my age by being astounded by my daughter's age, so that boosted my ego!

Photographs were taken, cards and twitter or facebook tags exchanged, lunch eaten, wine, coffee, tea.  It was hard to hear at times with so much chatter but as the room depleted it descended into a more conducive noise level.  I made myself talk to people I hadn't met before and when finally I felt exhausted I left and took the train home.

Twitter and facebook went mad last night and it was wonderful to be able to add new friends and see other people's photos.  When people meet with a common interest it is so much easier to relax in their company.  I found that experience when I went on my writer's holiday last August on the Island of Skyros. (See previous Blogs).   Special people, special places, special talents, special friendships.

To try and still my mind I watched a film, War Horse, in the evening, but alas when my head hit the pillow it was reliving the day.  As always, anxieties and worries never come into being.  If we listen to strongly to the NATs (Negative Automatic Thoughts - see a much earlier blog) we will miss so many opportunities to learn, laugh and LIVE.  Thank you KIM NASH for inviting me and organising these events.  You are a very, very special lady. 

Natural Beauty Products

In the last six months I have had my eyes and mind opened to products that I am just bowled over by and wonder why this information is not more widely known.  Products like toothpaste, moisturiser, soap, shampoo and bubble bath are slowly but surely changing in my household.

Being conscious of so many of my friends being ill will cancer or other life changing illnesses makes me question what causes these illnesses.  If you read my Blog on my 60 day challenge you will know that I have changed my eating habits and am living a more healthy lifestyle, not necessarily as a weight management aid nor to help fitness levels but because I believe I MYSELF want to control what I put in my body and how I care for it.  I became aware of additives to my foods that were not doing me any favours - extra salt, extra sugar, chemicals that I didn't know what they were for or how they worked and whether I ought to be digesting them or not.

I am a long time believer in natural remedies, reading health issue articles and books but obviously not discounting the wonderful work that the NHS do when we need operations, investigations and any cures that they offer. 

A lot of people at this time of year are 'dieting' again.  It pains me to hear their struggles with weight gain and loss.  There are always new plans, groups and theories to try.  Some call them money making scams but 'result' pictures show the difference eating in this way or that way can make and how it can change your life if indeed you stick with it, even after the goal has been reached.  It has to be a way of life, not just for a few months, a year or two, but forever.

That brings me to the first review of FOREVER LIVING products. ALL their products for life balance, fitness and weight management, beauty, pets and home are Aloe Vera based, not tested on animals.  Aloe Vera can be ingested with added fruit juices, vitamins, minerals, herbs etc and/or applied to the skin.  My three favourite products are : Forever Bright Toothgel which does not contain fluoride formulae or bleaching agents.  It is green and a bit strange at first when you have had a life-time of white or stripped paste to use day and night but after a recent filling which left me with a very sensitive tooth I cleaned my teeth and then coated my sensitive tooth with the gel for overnight relief.  It worked.  Secondly I would not be without FL Relaxation Massage lotion.  Together with Aloe Vera it contains white tea and the oils of lavender, bergamot and sunflower seed.  It smells heavenly and I rub my neck and shoulders every morning after my shower.  A lovely start to the day.  I also use FL Aloe Moisturising lotion daily on my face - it contains aloe, joboba oil, collagen and elastin - as a base before any make up.  I wont be going back to other long trusted face creams of which I never did read the label of contents of.  I have my sister to thank for converting me and bringing FL products to my attention.  If you want to support her in her career with this company please look her up on Facebook - Healthy Living Forever with Julie. 

Secondly and equally amazing are the ARBONNE products.  I invited two friends to sample some products from this range.  We learnt some ghastly facts about mites in your mascara/eyelashes (make-up has shelf life just like food, and their products have a 'use by' date on); that products we put on our skin is gets into our systems, it doesn't just stay on the surface.  We were challenged to try this theory out by putting a clove of garlic between our toes and within a minute we would taste garlic as it travelled through our bodies.  (I will try this out one day, none in at the moment).  And the image of smokers putting nicotine patches on, in order to give up smoking, they are getting their nicotine through the skin.  So Arbonne products are pure, safe and beneficial formulated without artificial flavours, sweeteners, chemicals, preservatives, petrolatum etc etc etc.  If you wish to know more and are on Facebook please key in your search box : Arbonne with Independent Consultant Kim Nash. 

Lastly, on a recent visit to Bath City, my friend and I came across a LUSH shop.  I had previously been introduced to this shop by my daughter who showed me all the wonderfully natural products in the store and then we had a demonstration of the Bath Bombs - 'bubble bath' to us oldies, but no bottles in sight.  The Bath Bombs fizzed, bubbled and coloured the water and even gave out little rose buds to float in your tub.  All made from harmless products - it made me think "what have I been sitting in, in my bath all these years?"  My friend and I purchased a few items to try and we are both absolutely amazed by the shampoo soap bar.  No plastic bottle just a bar of round soap that you lather in your hands then rub on your head which generates more and more soap.  It leaves my hair squeaky clean and together with the bath bombs I am again convinced I need to change a few more habits of a life time.  Lush can be found on-line or in shopping centres in major cities. 

Go on, try something new, be amazed and thrilled as I am.  Let me know how you get on.

 

Authors and Bloggers Meet Up

This was taken in Athen's airport last September.  The book I found was Carole Matthew's latest (then) book The Cake Shop in the Garden.  My favourite author and such an alluring cover.  I was returning from a Writer's Retreat in Skyros and my dream is one day to have a book on a bookshelf for sale.  I don't crave fame and fortune, just to realise that dream. 

For those that 'follow' me on Facebook (Sue Flint, Author) or Twitter (@tweetsue13) you will know I am on that journey.  I have sent off children's books to publishers and have broken through the 40,000 word barrier of a novel.  It feels there is still a long way to go but I am enjoying the journey.

This coming Saturday I have been invited to join a group of Authors and Bloggers in Birmingham. When I accepted the invitation I thought it would be a small group, 12-15 people at most, but there are nearly 50 people going.  I have met 2 before and one I am looking forward to meeting as we 'comment' on Facebook.  So, as you can imagine, I am both very excited and a little bit scared. 

Nerves are a funny thing aren't they?  They churn your stomach up and give you all sorts of negative thoughts.  Should I be going?  I'm not yet an Author.  Where is it?  Will I feel I don't belong?  Who will be there?  And on and on go the 'shall I cancel' thoughts. 

I have learnt not to listen to the rubbish that comes and goes in my head.  JUST DO IT.  I tell myself.  And I will.  I will board the train into Birmingham alone, ask if I get lost, act confidently even if I am quaking in my boots around other authors, and return triumphant have met, I am sure, some very interesting people all at different stages of writing and publication.

Wish me luck.

A New Year

365 blank pages.  Well, 366 as this is a leap year.  As with all blank pages its hard to know where to start.  What will I write? 

I write anything - lists of jobs to do, things to buy, etc.  I write emails, letters, personal journals, etc.  and then I am writing a novel and some children's story books.  It excites me, it is my passion and I wish I had pursued this avenue a long time ago, but its better late than never.

I read too.  I am a slow reader, I like to savour the story and even when I wonder how it will end I make it last, perhaps only reading a chapter or two at a time.

I don't make New Year Resolutions but I have decided to log all the books I read, the films I see, the theatres and other places of interest that I will visit.  Having Blogged about my Review of 2015 (scroll down to see that) I didn't feel it did the year justice.  A ten minute write up of a whole year!  Ok, so it was a summary, but so much more could have been written. 

What makes me want to share so much of my life with others?  Why do I want others to read my work?  At the time of writing I don't feel alone, I feel there are people out there who identify with my struggles and celebrate in my joys.  You dear reader, make life more interesting.  I love your feedback and comments.  I would write anyway, even if you didn't reply.  Writing is part of who I am and always has been.  Where some people paint or draw, sew, bake, garden, dance etc. my main 'hobby' is the written word.  Don't get me wrong I like pictures and nature too, I can sew and bake and plant things.  My dancing days are few and far between now but I once dreamed of being a ballerina like most little girls.

So I have filled a page of writing, of nonsense you may say, but it got my fingers going and I can return to the job in hand - writing the second third of my novel which I hope to have completed by May 2016 before I go on a tour of Portugal and Spain with hubby and friends.  I hope to have completed the novel by August and have the first edited draft in a publishers hands by the end of 2016.  If I set myself this goal maybe I will surprise myself and get it done well before these deadlines.

I really appreciate all the Tweets of encouragement on Twitter.  If you are not following me on Twitter please do @tweetsue13; or on Facebook - Sue Flint, Author.  Otherwise do leave a comment below, just so I know someone out there has read a Blog or two.  Many thanks.

May your year be all you hope for.  Wishing you good health, a peaceful heart and loving, happy relationships.