no, it doesn't get better. my ICP is lower now at baseline, but my sensitivity to chemicals is the same. well with remission of IIH my reactions aren't as severe, but I still do react, and the smells of things are just as strong and alarming to me. with remission of IIH, I find I can abort a reaction to a chemical with Lasix or with exercise. sometimes it goes away after an hour. even with remission of my IIH, my chemical sensitivity is still so disabling that I'm still on SSDI.

I proved that in me, exposure to these chemicals actually increases my ICP. I believe that chemical sensitivity is simply a variant of IIH. I am hoping to publish a paper on this topic this year.

the part that I still don't understand is how the IIH can be better but the sensitivities remain, as if the ICP damages the cranial nerves permanently to cause this. my vestibular problem and the POTS like thing got better, but the olfactory, auditory, and proximity sensitivity remain the same. I think that maybe depending on how long you are sick before you get yourself into remission, the sensitivity might improve. my son's odor problem seems to be better now, and I know others who have had some improvement. so it may not be impossible but my issue seems entrenched.

my jaw surgeon didn't have experience with IIH, but he had a lot of patients with sensitivities. and he said that I would get better after the jaw surgery (from what he thought were OSA symptoms) but that my sensitivities would not.

I was just talking about this with my mom last night. I was in my bedroom on the phone with her, and my fianc walked in, dinner was cooking- although it smelled good- I cant stand the smell in my house- there is obviously nothing I can do about it- so I retreat to my bedroom for as long as I can in between stirs. and keep my door shut, hoping to minimize the smell getting into my room. I take a shower when Im done cooking so the smell doesn't stay in my hair and on my clothes. Its crazy. My mom pointed that out. I know it is, but I only wish they could understand having to be the one living like that!
I have found that when I am in remission that I am not as sensitive. I still don't like the smells, but they don't give me horrible headaches.

yes, I don't get as sick now from the chemicals as I used to. it seems to be a matter of baseline. if you are starting lower, you are not going to peak as high after you are exposed to a trigger.

Same!! Some of us have posted about this before as sensory /stimulation hypersensitivities.

I am triggered by some food smells/odours, especially coffee, anything greasy.

Much more by chemical smells - anything smokey; speaking of smoke (fireplaces, natural or gas bother me). Lots of cleaning chemicals bother me a lot - bleach, cavicide (at work). I've resorted to baking soda vinegar and lemon now.

All my hypersensitivities have gotten better as Sophiasmom has said as my IIH has improved--less sensitive, less severe spikes, able to recover more quickly when exposed.

The most severe chemical reaction I have had though was to spray paint--shoulda known. I had been doing really well 3rd week of Jan for a few weeks, 3/10 headache days. Decided to spray paint a few picture frames for

yeah, there are a lot of things that you just have to give up or say no to. when my dad comes to visit and wants to do home improvement projects he has trouble wrapping his mind around the fact that there is NO compromise, we will NOT use VOC paint, we will NOT use VOC spackle, we will NOT use model glue or paint even if it is outside. there will be a safe substitute or it will not happen. my carpet looks horrible because I can't replace it and can't afford to replace it with tile.