Elisabeth -
Thank you for answering me, and esp. so quickly. I don't know what I am
going to do, at this point. The mattress IS all rubber latex, which I went
to great lengths to find, because I had read how much better it is, rather
than the synthetic version. I did call Hanes to ask about one brand that I
know I reacted to - their Hanes for Her underwear. They told me that it IS
rubber, which comes from the same source as latex rubber. Only thing is, I
don't know if they use any chemicals to process it. If they do, it could be
the chemicals I am sensitive to.

I'm certainly not going to be able to find out all this in a day and a half.

I also know that I have many allergies. I was tested last summer - my
insurance didn't cover all of the testing I wanted to do, but I tested
positive for basically everything except air, and even that is questionable
(just joking). I haven't even tried to keep away from all that I tested
positive for. I have had too much happen in my life since then, and what I
have done, is slowly change my eating habits in a way I can deal with.

Do you know if there is any information out there, on Hanes in particular,
on whether they actually do use any chemicals in addition to the rubber? I
don't have any constant exposure to latex (am home, disabled, and before
that, haven't been out in the work force for many years).

Thanks so much for the info. Now to figure out what to do!

Lyn
=============
>From: "Rowan, Elisabeth" <erowan@...>
>Reply-To: LANTERN@yahoogroups.com
>To: "'LANTERN@yahoogroups.com'" <LANTERN@yahoogroups.com>
>Subject: RE: [LANTERN] Latex Mattresses
>Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 11:51:37 -0500
>
>[Note: I'm not a medical professional; this isn't medical advice, just
>stuff
>I've gleaned by researching this problem with a laywoman's understanding,
>so
>take with a grain of salt. Also, this is for Lyn, but I'm responding to
>the
>whole list, in case anyone else is in a similar situation.]
>
>Lyn--check with the manufacturer (or if you don't have the contact info for
>the manufacturer, try the place from which you purchased the matress) and
>ask them specifically if the mattress contains natural rubber latex. Latex
>can be used as a general term in manufacturing; the allergy is to natural
>rubber latex derived from the rubber tree. Synthetic rubber should be
>okay,
>unless you're actually allergic to the chemicals involved in processing,
>which can be found in either natural or synthetic products.
>
>If you are allergic, it is best to avoid natural rubber latex if at all
>possible. However, some people have been able to tolerate contact with
>natural rubber by encasing the elastic, item, etc. in cloth so it does not
>touch the skin. There are two types of latex allergy, type I and type IV.
>Type I tends to have systemic reactions, including breathing problems,
>wheezing, hives, etc., and can lead to a potentially fatal reaction called
>anaphylactic shock (much like someone who's severely allergic to peanuts or
>beestings). Type IV tends to be contact based--there may be eczema or
>itching, burning, rash, etc. when in contact with the allergen. You can
>have both types, and even if you 'just' react to contact, you MAY, and I
>stress MAY, be at risk of developing the more systemic variety over time,
>so
>it's still a good idea to limit exposure whenever possible. Also,
>allergies
>tend to have a 'load'; that is, the more allergens you're body is exposed
>to, the worse you tend to react. So, if a person's allergic to grass
>pollen, is eating foods he or she is allergic to, and sleeping with animals
>to which he or she is allergic, he or she will probably be quicker to
>react,
>feel generally worse, and may be unable to tell what he or she is reacting
>to--some symptoms may be masked by others. So allergists generally have
>you
>cut down on exposure. [Now that I've left an apartment in a 150-year-old
>house that was giving me fits and bumped my cats and dogs out of the
>bedroom
>entirely, for example, I can tolerate pizza every now and then, even though
>I'm allergic to wheat and milk].
>
>I know that you're already dealing with doctors for the arthritis and
>fibromyalgia, but it really could be in your best interest to find a good
>allergist. There's been recent work in a possible connexion between
>fibromyalgia and allergies (especially food allergies). Also, allergies
>and
>rheumatoid arthritis are both immune system problems--your body begins to
>react to normal things (like your own body or various proteins--whether
>latex, animal, food, etc.) and that makes you feel ill. And fibromyalgia,
>and allergies, I know, tend to worsen with stress. (I'm not sure about
>rheumatoid arthritis; I don't experience with that, but I have both FM and
>lots and lots of allergies, latex just being the crown on top of most
>everything else around me).
>
>Unfortunately, diagnosing latex allergy isn't always simple. Allergy tests
>in general are not extremely accurate, and the ones used for latex allergy
>aren't well codified or proven. Many latex allergy sufferers are diagnosed
>more on history than quantitative tests; For example, I score barely
>positive on scratch tests, with a negative RAST--but I have a long history
>of reacting to gloves, condoms, elastic, etc. And like fibromyalgia, latex
>allergy is controversial, so you sometimes find idiots who want to tell you
>it's all in your head. Check and see if you can find an allergist who has
>experience with latex allergy--not only are you more likely to get someone
>who is informed about this problem, but you're less likely to encounter
>latex in the office itself. Allergy testing can be expensive, especially
>without insurance, but if you're not going for a full battery and just
>looking at latex or certain cross-reactive foods, it isn't as bad. You'll
>probably want to talk to an allergist before you make lots of major changes
>in your life. However, in the meantime, you should tell your other
>doctors,
>dentists, other health care workers that you think you may have a natural
>rubber latex allergy so they can take precautions. Having this allergy
>means walking a very thin line between panicking (and there gets to be a
>point where it seems like you can't enjoy your life because you're avoiding
>everything) and pooh-poohing the problem (and therefore putting yourself at
>risk for a potentially life-threatening reaction). Finding a balanced
>point
>in between can be difficult, but there are more and more people out there
>who can serve as resources, in my own experience, the medical community is
>taking this much more seriously than they once did. Hope that helps!
>
>Lisa Rowan
>erowan@...
>
>
>
>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
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