DEAR DR. GOTT: I am allergic to most perfumes. They send me into a coughing and gagging fit that takes at least five minutes outside in fresh air to calm down from. My throat is sore for an entire day, not to mention the labored breathing.
How do I get people to understand without causing them to become upset with me? Yes, they get upset because they are gagging me! I try to avoid perfume when I smell it, before I start having a problem, but this is not always possible. Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.
DEAR READER: You have friends and co-workers who should understand completely and strangers you encounter that you don’t have an ounce of control over. It’s impossible and inappropriate to approach strangers to advise them your respiratory system is negatively affected. That part of life is off-limits. Therefore, let your friends and co-workers know if they haven’t already been informed, and stay away from the offenders.