the brasso incident

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Registered: 03-28-2003
the brasso incident
6
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 3:55pm

You know, this will sound really off the wall, but I had a really bad Sunday. I was very angry. I had poor stress tolerance. I just couldn't stand anyone around me. I didn't want anyone to talk to me. I had to shut myself down in a way so that I knew I wouldn't attack anyone in the family (verbally). I felt extremely explosive all day (I managed with great difficulty to suppress it). It was almost like PMS times 1000, but there was no way possible it was PMS because I was entering ovulation so I very confused and frustrated. It was so bizarre for me to feel like this because this is out of my character. I also was suffering, to be honest. I didn't even want to be around me. I just wanted to be in a dark hole somewhere.

Then I realized that the day before I was using Brasso to clean some metal and got some all over my skin. I am mildly chemically sensitive anyway. It dawned on my by Monday the correlation between the two events. I felt so completely good by Monday that it was a relief and I could think more clearly. It made so much sense. When I have PMS, I have those types symptoms on a far lower level. Well, the liver cleanses old hormones and we have a lot more hormones getting in gear when we are about to start menses that the liver has to process. This is why it gets a little backlogged and there's bloating, irritiblity, etc. during PMS. I realized that I really must have taxed my liver with the whole Brasso incident because it was a very similiar feeling, but far more intense.

Anyway, my point is that I bet it's a very similiar thing happening with our kids who may be more aggressive or have meltdowns. I really felt aggressive like that and there was nothing rational I was able to really process emotionally. Again, not within my normal character. I know our kids aren't using brasso, but this weekend was a huge clue to me where to begin to focus. This also may explain more why puberty sets off more episodes of seizures or other things because the liver has more hormones to process than normal on top of other chemicals we put in our bodies. Such as food dyes, pesticides or whatever? Maybe even the chemicals that touch our skin such as the petroleum products in our fabric softener? I knew this cerebrally before, but now I'm really seeing the big picture of how it all matters.

I know that docs will sometimes give people lactulose to those with cirrhosis to help deal with mental changes that occur to the buildup of ammonia created by a poor working liver. (So we know a sad liver can induce mental changes).

I know this is probably a weird thing to share.

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 5:44pm

LR,

please don't stop sharing your insights. I find them fascinating.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Avatar for littleroses
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Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 9:48pm

Thanks for not laughing at me, then. LOL One more thing I forgot to mention is that there was one thing that made me feel better and slightly able to forget how I felt mentally and physically when I was in the zone of it. So, it seemed I obsessed over it, just to feel better. I never thought of obsession as a relief, I guess, so that was interesting to notice.

The really interesting thing I realized is that I had good and bad obsessions when I felt like that. The good obsessions helped me to get in the zone and calm me. The other one was "bad" and I couldn't stop focusing on it and it aggravated my anger and snowballed my overall anxiety. If I didn't have the "good" obsession, then the "bad" one would gain control. It was almost like a race. I was even AWARE that it was irrational, but I couldn't stop it.

Again, this is not something I experience on a normal basis and I don't recall ever experiencing this intensity before, but I was really affected by my "chemical spill". I didn't have a reaction like a rash or redness or anything, but I had a reaction nonetheless. It really helped me to understand my daughter's good and bad obsessions and what they mean to her on an emotional level. Can't say I'd do it again or recommend the process to anyone else (LOL), but it was a learning experience.

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Registered: 12-20-2004
Wed, 02-22-2006 - 10:55pm

Wow! How ironic to read this post. I do not have the time to read too many, but it was weird I felt compelled to read 'the brasso incident'. So thanks for the info on liver functions. After my DD was born (nearly 2 yrs. ago) the Dr. noticed my liver functions were elevated. They noticed it when she was about 4 mos. old. I was nursing my baby, in excellent health, so this really baffled me. I kept on saying to the Dr. that I had severe pain in both of my pregnancies, and it's near where my liver is, but they doubted that was why my enzymes were elevated. After mos. of blood work and testing, it kept on getting better. But it upset me and they nearly made me feel like something was majorly wrong. My new Gyn. said that my liver probably does get pushed on enough in pregnancy that it does cause a bit of an injury, to which the enzymes were elevated. Dr. after Dr. and no one would admit to that prior. Amazing how Dr's 'practice medicine' huh.

During both pregnancies I also had extreme itching that would come and go. It was SEVERE after DS was born. After DD was born, it would be in different areas (sometimes feet/ankles) and eventually moved to my scalp. It was so bad that in hindsight, it easily made me feel cranky. I sort of wish my family could have understood! A small area of my hair fell out and I was left w/ a bald spot that is still growing in. I had a bald spot in my early pregnancy w/ DD. Dr. just said it was alpecia then, but after the itching on my forehead and allergic like bumps behind my ears (as of last spring/which has since gotten better) the Dr's kept on saying it's seboreah. But I've never had flaking or dandruff. I have allergies, and cat allergies, and we have a cat, so it probably could be from her? Ironically, the cat has similar skin reaction to mine. I give up!

So my skin or eyes were never yellow and the conditions have gotten better, but I am still left w/ severe itching (lately the palms of my hands and last night my leg). I plan to have my blood tested again. It could also be stress related? I pray it's nothing more.

Odd to be discussing this on the Aspergers board, but oh well! Thanks for posting!

-Melanie
2 march munchkins, almost 2 and almost 4
adopted brother, almost age 10, w/ Aspergers




Edited 2/22/2006 10:57 pm ET by laniemarie427
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 02-23-2006 - 12:17am

Again LR very interesting!

Gotta get that liver functioning properly don't we. Good food and few chemicals. Over simplified way to put it.

But I have been enjoying the occasional glass of grapefruit or pomegranate juice since our last discussion. I have horrible PMS so I think maybe I will try being more diligent about those type of things around that time and see if it helps. Now if I could just get cait to drink grapefruit juice!

Renee

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Avatar for betz67
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 02-23-2006 - 7:58am

wow! what a great insight!

I never really thought about how the liver function would be closely tied w/ what we eat or what touches our skin. This would explain some of DH's moods when he feels just like what you're saying! He tends to be my worst about eating whatever junk he can find.

Our kids have eczema (also allergies and asthma) so we use very little chemical stuff in our laundry and we super rinse (3x in the new front load washer-- gets almost all residue out) and never any fabric softener. Since we made all those changes our kids are much better, both in terms of itching and irritablitly of the skin and also just generally in a better mood-- they sleep better and their metabolism is more regulated. I really notice a difference if someone else washes their clothes!

Betsy

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Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 02-23-2006 - 8:23pm

Renee

My DS loves those big Texas Rio Red Grapefruit. I haven't been able to find any organic ones, but they are good. Not so tart and a beautiful salmon color. We peel and eat like an orange. They gotta be the Texas Rios though.

Chrystee

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