Makeup That's Good for You!

Wearing a bit of makeup can not only help boost your self-image and self esteem, it can, believe it or not, also be at least somewhat healthy for your skin. The last few years I have been a low-to-no-makeup kind of girl, but every now and then the dark circles under my eyes remind me that a little concealer would make me feel a lot better and help erase the signs of my illness from my face. When I worked as a television host in front of cameras and bright, unflattering lights, I was never caught without my makeup on. Now, however, it's a much different story. I am hardly ever caught with makeup on. I had forgotten how much I like wearing it, and enjoy playing around with colors.

Since I like to avoid anything with chemicals and heavy synthetics, I was in search of a makeup with more natural ingredients. Tarte cosmetics make the grade. I purchased Tarte's The Jewelry Box from Sephora this winter and have since enjoyed every single shade of eyeshadow, which applies easily and has a smooth finish. I also like their illuminizer and eyeliners. It is all great quality makeup, and best of all, nothing irritated my skin or eyes, so I can wear it without worrying about developing a case of red eyes or breaking out from the chemicals. My only complaint is that the lip gloss in the set is a bit sticky and I don't care for the lip gloss shades against my pale skin. However, overall this product was a great value, great quality, and reminded me how fun makeup (minus the chemicals) can truly be. The fact that Tarte cosmetics also contain a blend of free-radical fighting super fruits, vitamins, minerals and natural plant extracts is an added bonus.

The Effects of Deconditioning on Dysautonomia

Any POTS or Dysautonomia patient knows all too well that sometimes we have those days where we can't get out of bed no matter how hard we try or how well hydrated we are. Whether we're experiencing dangerous lightheadedness, syncope, fatigue, or pain, sometimes the bed is our only option. Even when things are going well with our health for an extended period, we may still experience a really bad day here and there. That's the unpredictable nature of POTS for you.

Personally, my symptoms have responded very well to weight-bearing exercise and recumbent cycling. When POTS first struck my senior year of college, I was in the best shape of my adult life. I was taking a strenuous ballet class twice a week, yoga three times a week, and walked all over the place all the time. So to all those misinformed people out there who think that POTS is simply a result of being out of shape, I say they're absolutely wrong. I know many POTS patients were great athletes before they fell ill. At my absolute sickest when I couldn't do much of anything, a well-meaning but stubborn and ignorant relative told me I was just out of shape, and that my "heart condition" would go away if I simply got in shape and exercised everyday. Of course his proposal sounded preposterous to me. I could hardly lift my head off the pillow most days let alone become a fitness guru. And his oversimplified explanation didn't account for why I got sick in the first place when I was in such great shape as an active college student.

Nonetheless, my electrophysiologist also urged me to join a gym even if it meant exercising for just five minutes at a time. Eventually (about a year after my diagnosis) I took his advice and began a careful exercise regime. Although I was doing fewer reps and lifting lighter weights than the senior citizens at the gym, I was feeling better after these brief workouts. I also purchased a recumbent exercise bike for home use and between riding that 3 or 4 times a week in conjunction with the weights at the gym 2 or 3 times a week. Between these two activities I was feeling a lot better and able to accomplish a lot more in a day than I had previously been able to. I also experienced far fewer woozy spells. In fact they were almost gone. However, if I went off track and missed a few days of exercise, the woozy spells returned and I felt potsy again. This tells me that consistent (but not strenuous) exercise is the key to a more normal life, at least for me.

After a few months of getting into a good exercise groove, I started a full-time job that sucked up all my time and energy. My whole day revolved around my job and there was no time left for exercise. Although I enjoyed and needed this job, it had clearly impacted my health in a negative way. Sitting upright at my computer desk all day with my hand glued to the mouse was not doing anything to improve my strength or circulation, in fact, the excessive and prolonged inactivity was diminishing it. The woozy spells were back with a vengeance upon standing, my feet were always icy cold, and I was experiencing sudden and intense bouts of weakness where I couldn't do anything but lay there. It may be a blessing in disguise that I lost my job when the company downsized by 50%. Even though I was telecommuting (about as ideal as it gets for someone with a chronic illness), my body could not handle 40-50 hours a week. I didn't even have that many good hours to spare in a week. Although the layoff came as a total unwelcome surprise to me initially, I am now realizing that I was putting my body through hell just to be working. Of course I do not have the luxury of simply not working to focus on my health (I wish I did) as I need the income, but ideally it will be something that pays better than my last job and it will only be part time (I hope).

Since losing my job I have been in a bit of a funk, mainly because my job was basically my whole life since November up until last week, so I am feeling a bit empty inside. I have been lounging around more than I should be, staying in bed longer to try to get sleep that doesn't come, and feel too tired and sluggish to exercise. Yet I know I need to exercise again because it will give me strength and energy and should markedly improve my symptoms as it did the last time. Since I have been spending more time laying down lately, my symptoms have gotten worse. I believe that in order to feel better, I have to keep moving, constantly stimulating my circulation particularly in the legs and I will not be able to go extended periods (in my case about 4 months) without exercising ever again.

For a more comprehensive look at what prolonged bedrest can do to the body even in healthy individuals, please check out this link. Whether you agree or disagree with the bedrest philosophy, it is interesting to consider how your own body responds to bedrest, and conversely, how it responds to exercise.

Atlas Orthogonal Chiropractic: Does It Work?

Although I am a perpetual skeptic, and I openly admit that I don't entirely understand the science behind it, chiropractic adjustments have worked wonders for me. Particularly for my excruciatingly painful TMJ headaches. Following my car accident, I completed 4 long months of physical therapy and experienced little to no pain relief but a slightly improved range of motion. I also endured several massages, some of which offered temporary (lasting a few hours) relief and muscle relaxation, others which left me in worse pain than I had started with. I even completed a few months of bi-weekly acupuncture treatments which helped significantly, but the effects only lasted a day or two. About the only thing I didn't try during that period was chiropractic care, and I'm not really sure why. No one had suggested it yet. But I sure wish they would have.

About a year after my accident and I was still suffering from chronic, intense daily headaches (even after being fitted for and wearing my first custom mouthguard or 'therapeutic jaw splint' as they called it, on a daily basis). I simply couldn't stand the pain anymore. I had tried just about every over-the-counter pain relief method known to man, heat, ice, and even several prescription narcotic pain meds, and none of these offered even momentary relief. I was beginning to think that life was simply going to be filled with chronic and debilitating pain, which was a disturbing, discouraging, and painful realization for me. Everyone told me TMJ pain was among the hardest to extinguish in the human body, as the temporomandibular joint is constantly at work and never rests completely (it is at work when talking, eating, and even breathing). Basically, jaw joints never get a break. I consumed an exclusively liquid diet, wore my mouthguard day and night as instructed, and refrained from talking, chewing, singing--basically everything I previously enjoyed. At that point in time I would have been completely satisfied with even a slight improvement in the intensity of the pain.

One day a coworker recommended her chiropractor to me. She said he used a quick (2-3 seconds) and painless method called the atlas adjustment. I had never heard of the atlas before and wondered what it was and what adjusting it could do for my headaches. So I figured why not give it a try, it couldn't have made things any worse. At the same time, I was afraid that if this didn't work, I might be all out of options and therefore be sentenced to a miserable life of pain. Luckily, that was not the case. My car insurance agreed to cover my chiropractic care until my benefits ran out. I had a few x-rays taken of my head and neck and some manual measurements performed by the chiropractor. He then determined the appropriate settings on the machine to adjust my atlas to. The atlas is the uppermost vertebra of the spine, also known as C1. The heavy human head essentially rests upon that tiny vertebra and if you have have ever been in a car accident of any kind or sustained any kind of fall or physical injury, then chances are your atlas may be off kilter. If it is off by even the slightest bit, a number of serious health and pain conditions may result. My chiropractor seemed to think that if he could get my atlas securely back into place (turns out mine was quite far off) that it would alleviate some of the pressure and pain in my neck, and encourage my jaw to also fall back into proper alignment. I laid on my right side as a tiny needle-like instrument rested behind my left ear and vibrated gently for a few seconds, completely painlessly. For the first month or two, I had 2-3 of these adjustments a week. Then weened off to once a week, then once a month, which seems to keep my atlas in place. However, the past 6 months or so I had not been to the chiropractor at all due to a change in insurance, and once again the bad headaches began to recur.

Last week I suffered one that lasted 4 days before I finally decided that I had to go to the chiropractor whether I had to pay out of pocket or not. Thank goodness I did. This time, all it took was one adjustment, and about 20 minutes later my persistent headache pain started to ease off, and within an hour it was gone. I awoke the next morning with a completely pain-free neck and jaw for the first time in several months. And the relief lasted for 4 whole blissful days. Then I went to the grocery store. The checker bagged my groceries so heavy that I had a hard time just getting them from the cart into the car. My chiropractor does not advise any heavy lifting, especially in the first few days following an adjustment. Well, those heavy grocery bags did the trick and the next morning I woke up with my usual jaw headache. So although atlas orthogonal adjustments certainly do work, the effects don't always last, especially if you engage in any strenuous activity afterwards. So looks like I will be going back to my chiropractor as soon as the snow lifts. Even if I end up having to pay, it's well worth it to be pain-free.

Coconut Water Comparison and Review

For those of you who suffer from chronically low potassium like me and are sick and tired of synthetic sources like Gatorade, consider giving coconut water a try. It is nature's Gatorade, free of artificial colors, flavors, and excess sugar. My friend Nikki is into holistic nutrition and recommended it for me. She is one of those inherently smart individuals who is probably much smarter than my actual doctor and I hope to someday make her my nutritionist. So I trusted her opinion and gave it a try.

To my surprise, coconut water tastes good chilled and delivers an instant punch of potassium similar to the effects of V-8 juice. Although V-8 is still great, it is sometimes a bit too strong and tomato-ey for me to stomach when I am already feeling sick. So it is nice to have coconut water on hand as a back up. It agrees with me well and does not make me nauseous like Gatorade often does. It also contains A LOT more potassium, not to mention potassium from a natural source. It also contains other essential elements like phosphorus, magnesium and calcium, and of course, some sodium too which is great for most POTS patients.

There are currently two major brands of coconut water being sold and distributed in the U.S.: Zico and O.N.E. In terms of quality, price, nutrients, and even taste, they are both comparable and it is probably a matter of personal preference for most people. I picked up a few bottles of Zico first at my local Trader Joe's. My first sip was refreshingly reminiscent of a shot of Malibu Coconut Rum, which was nice considering drinking and dysautonomia don't exactly go hand in hand. So now I can drink coconut water to be reminded of a simpler time: that one blissful year between twenty-one and twenty-two before I got sick where I got to drink the occasional social Malibu and Coke without fear of health repercussions.

The one advantage O.N.E. has on Zico is better flavors. That's right: flavored coconut water. An instant trip to the tropics for your tastebuds available in three tantalizing flavors: pink guava, pineapple, and mango. These flavors also remind me of the tropical trio of Malibu Rums: Pineapple, Passion Fruit, and Mango. Of course, don't be confused, this is not a review of Malibu Rum, nor would I advocate drinking any kind of rum if you have dysautonomia. That would be very bad. Coconut water, however, is harmless and the health benefits are undeniable. The only downside I have discovered about coconut water is the price: 14 fluid ounces of Zico will run you about 2 bucks unless you are lucky enough to find it on sale somewhere and stock up.

Other Side Of The World

The last few weeks have been considerably tougher for me than usual. Not in a health sense but in an emotional one. My father, who lives on the other side of the world, contacted me recently. He has essentially been a stranger to me for the past twenty years. I finally decided to "do the right thing" and write him back even after a lifetime of no effort on his behalf. Although I felt and still feel that it is too late to salvage any sort of a real relationship, I wrote him the letter. And writing it proved to be somewhat therapeutic for me. I did not resort to using profanity or overt insults like I wanted to, but I did give him a piece of my mind in a very direct yet tactful way. I received his response via snail mail and it did not contain any shocking surprises, just tired excuses. It was clear by reading his letter that he is every bit as self-centered as I had imagined, inquiring very little about me or my situation in life. He is clearly very focused on himself and always has been. The one good thing that has come out of this whole communicating-with-the-estranged-father-thing is that I finally learned a little bit more about my health history on that side of the family. He does not know how sick I have been for the past three years and how hard his sudden decision to contact me out of the blue has been on me. When I was a child, he was always out of sight and out of my mind. He admits in his letter that I was probably better off without him growing up. And he is probably right. Throughout my childhood I kept hoping to witness the slightest ounce of effort on his part. No birthday cards, no Christmas cards, year after year. Absence.

So its no surprise that lately I have been questioning a lot of things in my life, including the impact that his absence has had on me as a person. He certainly made life more difficult for my mother and I both financially and emotionally, and when I really think about it, I realize how lucky I am to have turned out as normal and well-adjusted as I have (although I certainly still have my issues, who doesn't?) His leaving at such an early age left me with very limited faith in relationships and marriage, and makes me very skeptical of any guy who tries to enter my life.

Over the last few weeks I have decided that I need a change in my life. A big one. A change of scenery, a move. I want to move to the other side of the water (about an hour away) to be closer to my family I have here in the states, the only family I have ever known. I also need to be somewhere that is more centrally located, so living near a ferry is a prerequisite, as is being within walking distance to a business/retail district where I can take care of light shopping and errands without always having to drive for miles. Ideally I will find a place that is newer construction but still has character, and also a separate space I can designate for my home office. Although I love my new job working from home, there are many elements of working in a conventional office environment that I really miss--especially the social aspect of always having coworkers nearby. By the time I finish my full-time work for the week, I am usually exhausted, my eyes hurt from staring at the computer screen all day, and the last thing I feel like doing is going out. But yet I miss it so much. I think living in a new place would provide a nice change of pace, and being closer to things would enable me to at least leave the house on lunch breaks with more minimal effort. Where I currently live, I am too far away from most places, and the fact that I can't drive very far due to dysautonomia makes me feel trapped in a tiny bubble that I am ready to escape from. I am sure many of us have felt that way at times, but lately I just can't shake it. I haven't felt like myself. Sometimes I wonder if I may even be a little depressed. However, this time I don't think it's anything therapy sessions can cure. So it's time to take matters into my own hands and make a sensible change to snap myself out of this rut.

Guest Post: Defying Gravity

The following is a guest post written by a good friend of mine from college, Marie C. Sakai. She drew her inspiration for 'Wings' from the song 'Defying Gravity.' Marie is an amazingly talented artist, writer, and above all else, a wonderful human being. She is an editor for All Things Healing and teaches art to children in Oregon. Check out her personal blog and her Facebook fan page. Her above illustration, "The Illumination of Energy," was published in the Fall 2010 edition of 'Touch Magazine.'

Wings

When will your wings dry my beloved? When will you fly the sky again across moon beams and pyramids and find yourself in love again with the world you came out of?

When will you soar the sky, take a quantum leap into the world farther than the eye can see and the ear can hear--farther than anything else my dear. How far will you go how far will you come? What is that you have been longing to undone and what is it you have been longing to do inside of me and you.

Where are those wings now? Furled and encumbered, I know it true. But don't worry my child, my love, My beloved you'll start happening too.

You may not be able to defy gravity yet, but you know that would be the perplexity of the whole thing definitely. You may not be able to justify what and why things happened to you--but I'm not interested in the why, I just want to know what your soul feels like when it soars that sky so blues, so augmented hue of greens, that you fly the sky far away that you go where you soul leads you to stay. I want to know what happens when you go--what happens when you know all the souls that go with you-are drying their wings too.

mcs

Head Trip Massager

This product is a must-have for anyone suffering from a chronic illness like dysautonomia. The Head Trip Massager, available at Bed Bath & Beyond, retails for a mere $9.99 and provides instant, hypnotic relaxation. It is like the best scalp massage you've ever had, instantly transporting you to a serene, calming paradise. My massage therapist had one and tried it on my scalp following a massage and it felt amazing. I then decided to purchase one myself and it is probably the best ten bucks I've ever spent.

The Head Trip is great because it is not electric or battery operated, you can take it anywhere, and it is inexpensive, lightweight and good quality. There are, however, still a few minor issues with this product. Beware: if you have long, thick hair like mine, even one use may tangle, tease, and knot your hair badly. So do not use it if you plan to go anywhere afterwards. Instead use it before bed to promote relaxation and restful sleep, or in the morning before you do your hair. Also, this product is inevitably more relaxing if someone else uses it on your scalp. Luckily, it is easy to use, does the work itself and requires minimal effort from the other person. Because this product promotes natural muscle relaxation, it may be good for people who suffer from headaches. It actually helps take the edge off my stubborn TMJ pain.

If you are a fan of this product, you may also like the Body Trip Massager, also available at Bed Bath & Beyond for $12.99. It is great for back and leg massages, encouraging better circulation and natural relaxation.

Why It Is Important To Obtain Your Medical Records

If you suffer from what most doctors consider a "rare" or unheard of medical condition, chances are, you have been to more than your fair share of doctors in order to get a valid diagnosis, and if you're lucky, maybe even get some treatment. And if your experience has been anything like mine, you may not even be able to remember exactly how many doctors you've been to. I've been to about 25 different practitioners in a three year period. Between a massage therapist I only visited once, to an acupuncturist I saw dozens of times, I know my medical history is floating around out there all over the place, and certainly not just confined to my PCP's office. The funny thing is, I have seen very few of my own medical records; which I admit is entirely my own fault. It is the patient's responsibility to request and collect them. Doctors don't typically offer them up unless you submit a formal request which often involves paying the doctor's office a fee for the copies. I still need to take the time to contact all these doctors offices and gather my records from each and every place I have been a patient at in the past few years. Be forewarned: gathering your medical records, even from just one office, can sometimes be a time-consuming and frustrating process. One where you may have to deal with incompetent office personnel and wait a ridiculous amount of time to receive your records. Be patient, but also be persistent: conduct frequent follow-up phone calls to ensure that your requests weren't forgotten and that your medical records are on their way. Arrange to pick them up by a certain date if possible, that way they are operating under a deadline instead of mailing them out at their own convenience. Once you receive your records, it is important to review them carefully. If you notice any gaps, missing records, untrue or incomplete information, be sure to file a complaint with your insurance company, medical board, and if necessary, contact a lawyer if there is evidence of slander or negligence in your files. This doesn't happen often, but if it does, it's important that you take the appropriate steps to correct the problem.

By now you may be wondering exactly why gathering your medical records is so very important. Other than satisfying your own curiosity, having your medical records on hand serves some very valuable purposes.

1) Lawsuits. Whether you are filing for one, or involved in one, the first thing most lawyers will request is your medical records--whether the case directly concerns your medical history or not. After my car accident, I had to release some of my medical records to lawyers for review. Therefore, it is beneficial to know what doctors are actually saying about you.

2) Provide Documentation for Disability. When applying for disability, your medical records will be under scrutiny to ensure that you are a deserving recipient and are actually unable to work. Your medical records will either help to support or refute your claim.

3) Track your own progression over time. You should know your own medical history like the back of your hand to save yourself from repeating unnecessary costly medical tests and to avoid potentially preventable medication allergies and reactions. It can also be beneficial to access your old blood work records and test results to see how things have improved or declined over time.

4) Protect your reputation as a patient. It may be important to know what your doctor really thinks of you. If he really thinks you are a hypochondriac but doesn't ever say it to your face, that information may be following you around from doctor to doctor for years to come via your medical files. Reading the doctor's comments is also a great way to get to know him better. Does he take thorough notes after each appointment, or only jot down a few key words each time? Generally, the more detailed notes, the better.

5) For tax write-off purposes. If you itemize deductions on your income tax, things like dental work and chiropractic care may be able to be written off at a small percentage. Talk to your accountant for more details.

Top 10 Cost-Cutting Tips for People with Chronic Illness

1) Cut your current cell phone bill in half by switching to a pre-paid plan like one of the Straight Talk Cell Phone Plans from Walmart. Pre-paid plans allow you to avoid all those pesky local and federal taxes while still getting quality service and reception (pre-paid providers use the same cell-phone towers the four major nationwide providers do) so your clarity and strength of signal shouldn't be sacrificed. Also, pre-paid plans offer a refreshing flexibility that standard contract plans don't: you can adjust your plan on a month-to-month basis to meet your talk/text/web needs. For instance, save more money during the months you don't plan on using your phone as much by opting for the $30 plan (1000 min, 1000 text, 1000 MB of web usage). Otherwise, enjoy unlimited everything without fear of overage fees for a clean $45 per month. For many people, an unlimited cell phone plan is sufficient and they choose to discontinue their land line phone service altogether and rely on their cell phone. However, if you still need a land line phone for emergency and local calls, contact your local phone company to determine if they offer a reduced rate for people with disabilities or low incomes. While you're at it, call your local city or county offices to find out if they participate in the utility tax refund program which qualifies eligible low income customers to be reimbursed for the amount of tax paid on utilities throughout the year--could be as much as a few hundred dollars by the end of the year depending on where you live.

2) Cut your cable bill significantly by switching to basic cable (sometimes as low as $10 a month for about 30 basic channels) and consider enrolling in Netflix for as little as $7.99 per month to enjoy unlimited streaming of new release DVDs and TV on DVD. Enjoy unlimited online streaming and DVD rentals delivered directly to your doorstep from Netflix for just $9.99 a month. Or, simply enjoy streaming thousands of your favorite programs from sites like hulu.com for free and at your convenience.

3) Cut your car insurance premium without sacrificing coverage by calling your agent to inform them that you are no longer commuting and have your policy switched to a "pleasure driving" policy. You may also qualify for the pleasure use rate if you live within a certain mileage radius of your job (varies depending on your insurance company). However, if you are no longer commuting to school or work, there is no need to pay the commuter rate anymore so be sure to let them know and you could potentially save hundreds of dollars per year.

4) Consider grocery delivery from Safeway.com, available in many communities nationwide. Where I live, it only costs $6 extra to have your groceries delivered right to your door. This not only saves gas and time, it can also save the headache of feeling woozy or sick while waiting in line at the store or carrying groceries in and out of the car. If you ask me, that's worth an extra $6 any day. Also consider participating in a local produce club like Local Harvest or Terra Organics that provides a box of fresh, seasonal organic produce to your door for as little as $20 per week. This option ensures that you will eat fresh, healthy foods and also provides some much needed variety, flavor and excitement in your diet. The selection varies weekly and takes the guesswork out of that inevitable, daunting question, "What do I feel like eating this week?" It enables you to try new, healthy, whole foods while supporting local farmers and the local economy. It also encourages you to attempt new recipes.

5) Take advantage of free shipping and coupon codes from online retailers. Online shopping also enables you to search for the best deals (which can often be tediously time and energy consuming) without ever leaving the couch in the comfort of your own home. Seize the opportunity to read product reviews from other customers gauging their satisfaction with the product before you purchase--one smart and surefire way to predict whether or not you will be happy with the product. That's one advantage conventional shopping doesn't offer. Most retailers offer a free shipping incentive if you purchase over a certain dollar amount, so make sure you prioritize and group items accordingly in order to qualify for free shipping.

6) Consignment stores offer quality new and gently used clothing, shoes, and accessories at nearly half of department store retail prices. The shopping experience at a consignment store is also much more pleasant and much less tiresome and overwhelming than at a department store or the mall. Think: small, cozy store brimming with unique boutique-like items and personalized attention from the store owner vs. long lines, either pushy or hard-to-find salespeople, and high prices. Many consignment stores will also consider trading items in their store for items you bring in, purchasing items from you outright for cash, or placing items on consignment until they are sold where you will then get anywhere between 40 and 60 percent of the profit.

7) For free or reduced-cost haircuts, manicures, pedicures, and facials, consider going to a local beauty school to reap the talents of beauty-industry newcomers. Don't be afraid, usually trainees are fully supervised by their instructors during the procedures, and if you are not satisfied with their work, someone else will step in and fix it to meet your specifications and you won't be out any money.

8) Save on prescription drugs through participating prescription drug discount programs like the ones offered by Rite Aid and Walgreens pharmacies. This is a great option if you find yourself without insurance or in need of a little extra assistance. Many states also have prescription assistance programs you can enroll in for free if you meet eligibility requirements.

9) Call your local Department of Social and Health Services office to check your eligibility for social programs if you haven't done so already. Even if you don't qualify for direct cash aid, you may still qualify for other valuable programs like food assistance or childcare, especially if you are already on disability. Also, keep in mind that if you owe debt due to medical bills, the state or the hospital itself may offer financial aid programs: sometimes all you have to do is inquire and simply tell them your situation and they will forgive a portion or sometimes even all of the bill without it adversely affecting your credit score.

10) If your physical health has deteriorated significantly and you find yourself struggling with basic tasks at home or in public, you may benefit from having a service dog around. Although they can be very expensive because of their years of extensive training, there are many programs out there offering low-to-no-cost service dogs to eligible candidates.

Verilux UVC Sanitizing Wands May Help People Achieve A Cleaner, Healthier New Year

Being a chemically sensitive individual and a germ-o-phobe certainly don't mix. Most germophobic people rely on stringent chemicals for cleaning. For me, that is simply not an option. I guess I should clarify, I am not a true, extremist germ-o-phobe, more like someone who just likes to keep a clean living space. I regularly attack dust mites by damp dusting and vacuum a few times a week to ensure that dust levels are low. Yet I still seem to suffer from annoying allergies and awaken each morning with a slightly stuffy nose on the good days. Last year I learned that I have a deviated septum (turns out that is a euphemism for a broken nose) that I acquired during my car accident 3 years ago. Since then, it has been hard to breathe easily, especially in other people's homes that may not be as clean or dust-free as mine.

I have been searching for a chemical-free cleaning solution for a long time and stumbled upon the Verilux UVC Sanitizing Wand on a blog. The blogger gave the product a glowing review which I now believe to be true. The wand comes in regular and travel size options, is battery-powered and utilizes the same UVC sanitizing technology that my toothbrush sanitizer does. It is 100% chemical free, odorless, and safe. It can be used to safely and efficiently sterilize any surface from counter tops to mattress tops. The only major drawback to the product is that it can take awhile to sanitize large surfaces like bedding if you are planning on sanitizing every square inch. The best thing about this product is its portability and the fact that you can take it with you when you travel to create a cleaner environment. Remember, killing all bacteria in your home isn't necessary so don't go overboard. However, this product can be particularly helpful during the cold and flu season. Any extra measure to avoid getting sick on top of dysautonomia is a good idea. Opt for the travel-size option since it offers the same technology at half the price and is more portable.