Chrome Free in NYC

So, it has been four years since my diagnosis.  In that time, I have gained a lot.  I have learned more about potassium dichromate that no one should ever learn about. And I have enjoyed having an excuse to not take vitamin supplements the size of my face.  However, there are a few things that I have missed along the way.  These things include:

- Going into a makeup store and not worrying about ingredients.

- Going into a shoe store and just looking at the shoes, not at the materials the shoes are made out of.

- Wearing army green. It is very much in this season and its hard for me.

- Sitting on wooden benches.

- Sitting on leather chairs.

- Sitting in general and not worrying about what I am sitting on.

- Eating Luna bars (not really, but sometimes it was nice to have a meal in a candy tasting bar).

- Floral clothing.

- Having nothing to talk about at a cocktail party.

- Sending my laundry out to get done, because when I do that now I do not trust them to use my detergent and I am allergic to whatever dyed crap they use.

Mostly though, I miss those carefree days of leather sandals and stainless steel earrings. 

Keep praying I don’t need any dental implants.

XOXO

Hi friends!

As you know if you are allergic to potassium dichromate, something on the list of things you are allergic to is “detergent” without much specificity.  Through a trial and error process (WHICH SUCKED!), I have discovered that it is important to buy dye free detergents.  Fragrant free and dye free are ideal, I use ALL Detergent, odor free, dye free, mom approved bullshit.  And no hives usually.  I also have discovered that odor free is less important than dye free. One time I used some crap that was odor free but still blue, it did not go well for me. Also, if you live in NYC as I do, where most of your friends send out their laundry and it looks glorious ‘cause they don’t have to sit at the laundromat with the stinkies, it is still important to do your own laundry.  Maybe I am just not a trusting person, but I do not trust the ladies at Betty’s Laundromat to use my detergent.  Sheets that cause me to break out in hives are NOT worth it. 

XOXOXO

LAUNDRY TIME

    So there are some jobs that have the possibility of exposing us chromite sensitive ladies and gentlemen to that which will make us itch.  The one that makes me sad is.... well none of them.  I am a social worker.  But maybe someone would be upset if they couldn't be a laboratory technologist, especially because that is the vaguest job description almost ever!

    Construction workers

    Leather workers

    Laboratory Technologists

    Printing Machine operators

    Metal plating

    Machine operators

    Photo engraves

Hi! I avoid power bars like Luna and Cliff, and also a lot of vitamin supplements. Chromium is used for dietary supplements because it supposedly speeds up your metabolism, probably because it is poison. I had a Luna bar at work, and had an allergic reaction that wasn't HORRIBLE but I definitely won't eat another one ever. I also have to wash my fruits and vegetables extra well because there is a situation with the peels that maybe the pesticides have chromium? Like apples need to be scrubbed, but usually they are fine.

Hope this helps!

Hi Liebeliebs! First of all, congratulations on the best new converstation starter ever.   If you are stuck at a boring as all fuck cocktail party, you are set.  So that is one thing to look forward to. As for your question about cosmetics, I tend to use Revlon mascara. I love their Grow Lucsious mascara, but most of their mascaras don't have potassium dichromate in them so you can always test a few out to see what is best for you.  As far as eye shaddow, I tend to avoid it. Mostly because even those "all natural eye shaddows" can use Chromium Hydroxide Green becuase technically they are found in volcanic ash.  BUT there is some good news.  The Sephora eye shaddows don't ALWAYS have chromium in them.  You can check their website to see ingredients. For the rest of the cosmetics, it is pretty much a-OK from my experience.  Like, I use a beauty balm as a foundation, and Mac blush, and I've never had a problem.  Same goes for eye liner.  For pencils, you are usually in the clear.  I use Marc Jacobs and Sephora brand and I never have a problem.  It is the cremes, the kind the look like they are in eyeshaddow cases, that will make your eyeballs itch and your eye lids swell up.  Not a cute look from my experience.  I used to use SMASHBOX eyeliner gel.... I did not turn out pretty in the AM.

This is not the end of the world, it is just and adjusment.   Don't forget to avoid powe bars and vitamin supplements.  My blog is green as a litte Fuck You to Potassium Dichromate, I'm not sure if its working.

I miss the carefree days of childhood when I could wear a floral dress, or shirt, or pants, or all three together, and not have a care in the world, because the green stem that inevitably is in the shirt, wouldn't hurt me.  I am having a nostalgic moment.  Maybe, one day, flowers will no longer have green in them, so I will once again be able to wear floral.  A girl can dream right?