electrosensitivity -- do electrical fields make you sick??

[nashville_brook]

in one of my recent pain-rants i mentioned something that has been niggling at me for a while -- that i have trouble with electricity. ironically, this came to mind discussing "mysterious and complicated" things that might be causing the festival of pain and fatigue i have. talk about going the long way around a problem. but, the mention of this nutty thing i've noticed prompted some interesting response. seems that Sweden and the UK are recognizing "electrosensitivity" as a *real* health care concern.

here's a link to the Swedish Association for the ElectroSensitive which has lots of amazing information and helpful. See especially this article, To all electrically sensitive in the world: YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

so, i'm putting this info in it's own thread in the hopes of soliciting stories from any DU'ers have noticed trouble with electrical fields or currents.

for myself, i've noticed a number of annoying electrical problems, but i can't say that my chronic pain and fatigue are the result of electrosensitivity. for now i'm content to read and think about this as an interesting aside.

on another note, new DU'er sillgut offered some fantastic advice for the electrosensitive:

...Sounds like your electromagnetic field is strong. Makes me wonder if you might try an alkalizing drink. Mix 4oz club soda, 1 Tbs lemon juice and ½ tsp baking soda in a large glass and drink it, do this twice a day for a few days and see if you get some relief. This working off the idea that lactic acid may play a role in your pain.

i've been drinking four 12-oz glasses of this cocktail everyday since receiving the advice. it's only been a couple of days, so i'm not expecting to see a turnaround in my body chemistry just yet -- but the advice brought up an old theme for me -- ACIDITY.

if you have arthritis you might be familiar with the nutritional value of eating a more alkaline diet. much of my pain mimics arthritis, so i've been aware of the alkaline diet for years. it's a given for me that a low-carb diet makes me feel better but i didn't always know this. i remember being in Wild Oats one day looking all the bottles of glucosamine and chondroitin when a supplement associate asked if i needed any help. i mentioned that i had joint pain and was considering a supplement. he looking in my basket and said i needed to start with examining my eating habits as i had gone to the store to pick up a loaf of bread, some soy milk and fresh cheese -- all acidic foods. i went straight to the book section and bought The Alternative Medicine Series Definitive Guide to Arthritis which has a lengthy discussion of The Arthritis Diet -- which is a high pH approach.

as sillgut suggests, acidity makes you a natural conductor of electricity. so, i'm intrigued with the resonance between the two complaints.

[siligut]

1. I'm not new really, just outed.

Gads, girl, you are amazing. If there is a personality to go with fibro, you have it. Always active, never thinking you’ve done enough. Crikey. Slow down with the drink or you will be holding your breath soon. Serious, 2 Xs/day.
Also, consider the probiotics, (google leaky gut and arthritis) and eliminating nightshade veggies. Shaking my head and grinning, you are funny.

[nashville_brook]

2. tee hee -- i'm "encouragable"

:)

i'm actually substituting my urge to drink coffee, tea, beer or wine. it's easy to do that way and it has the added benefit of being non-caloric, making me feel less hungry... less likely to snack... and snacks usually fall into that dang acidic column.

i'm be traveling the next couple of days and plan to do the major overhaul when i get back.

[siligut]

5. Encouragable? LOL

I think Malic acid therapy probably works off the alkaline theory too. I need a major overhaul too. I think after champagne Sunday, I am going to start a week long cleanse then go from there, too much chocolate and goodies for me this X-mas.

[Warpy]

3. Not me, I don't even notice most shocks

I have to get a real belt from household wiring to notice it.

Cheap jewelry always turned me green right away, so I know the "acid mantle" created by skin is intact.

[nashville_brook]

4. never been able to wear watches -- they stop

and a few years ago i started noticing that i get shocks that other people don't feel. i could put my hand on our old electric stove and get a constant "vrrrrr" that no one else felt. static shocks were a problem. i've fried hard drives, and recently i've noticed that i'm conducting a "current" thru my body from my powerbook. it's so pronounced i can "hear" it if someone lightly touches my ear (i can't "hear" it if i touch my own ear -- it's weird as hell). it's not really a "sound," it's more like a vibration.

weird weird weird!

[melnjones]

6. some days touching anything metal

gives me a good shock. Even non-metal things sometimes. My ph is way too acidic though, which I'm just finding out, so perhaps that's part of my problem. I do get some weird looks though when I yelp everytime I touch something...at least when people can hear the static electricity "crack" they don't think I'm totally nuts. I had better not start causing electronics to die...I can't afford to replace them! :-)

[Lurking Dem]

7. I have found grocery stores are the worst for this.

It gets to the point you see something on the shelf you want and you're afraid to reach for it!

The air is too dry and the wheels of the grocery cart actually create the static. I think if you have really dry skin it makes it worse.