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To think our house is making DC sick

234 replies

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:03

Please, need some urgent help.

DC is 4. She used to be lively, happy and full of energy. Since about late October time she started getting colds. We thought the usual, oh it's that time of the year. Except the colds never went away and kept on coming. Since then she's been ill and "congested" every single day. She now looks pale, yes I know it's winter time but she has this weird tint to her that she gets when is run down. She has big black bags under her eyes, her energy is higher but restless and irritable. Again, we thought it could be down to her age and a phase but now I'm not so convinced. As well as permanently being congested and always choking on it, she's become highly wired at night time. She wakes up multiple times during the night sleep talking/walking. The other day she randomly woke up, complained of pain, vomited and then was fine?

The thing is we live with family and can not afford to move out at the moment. The house, to me anyways, seems riddled with black mold. When I bring this to DH or his families attention I get shut down. But there is evidence of black mold, in the corners by windows. On the floor, in the carpets, in the corners of the wall/skirting. At its worst it can go up into the ceiling and this is all just the visible external part of it, god knows what is happening behind the walls. I'm worried her sudden onset of illness and not seeming to get better despite the diet change, heavy vitamins ect is due to black mold poisoning? DH claims it's common from old homes to get this, but surely not every week/month? We clean the mold and it seems to return with about that time frame. If left untreated it can get really bad. The wall paper in the house in many places is peeling/bubbled but again it gets dismissed from just being an old house.

I feel convinced that unless it's a random allergy she has developed it's the house doing this. Her symptoms align with black mold exposure but no one seems to take me seriously. Also there isn't really anything we can do about it being in the financial predicament we are in.

The drs don't seem concerned. They have referred her to an ent and said her to sols look big but that it's "normal for most kids and she will grow into them". This feels more than that, and I'm scared for my child despite being shut down by everyone. Gp won't even do basic allergy/asthma tests on her. I'm at a loss and so so worried. Help!!!

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OneAquaPombear · 14/02/2025 00:14

Can you post some photos please.

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:13

@MoonWoman69

To think our house is making DC sick
OP posts:
everychildmatters · 14/02/2025 00:13

Are you working, OP? I know this is hard. We are 44 and 49 and can't afford to buy, despite both working 😞

MoonWoman69 · 14/02/2025 00:12

If you can, yes post some pictures?

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:12

@MoonWoman69 unfortunately we've been here for 5 years and doubt we will be going anywhere anytime soon unless the cost of living suddenly changed. It seems harder and more impossible to move out.

I really don't get why I don't get taken seriously and these things don't get considered

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MoonWoman69 · 14/02/2025 00:11

And it's not common for old homes at all. It's a damp problem that needs dealing with! Doesn't matter how old a house is, if it's damp, it's damp. It's annoying that your husband and the family are brushing this off as nothing! 🌹

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:10

@everychildmatters definitely can't, otherwise I would get me and her out of here in a heart beat. The house isn't crazy overcrowded for the space. I do know obviously mold with gather where lack of air circulation is and damp, however I really struggle to believe the amount we get is normal? I wonder if I should include pictures so people see what I mean

OP posts:
MoonWoman69 · 14/02/2025 00:09

Black mold will make people ill if exposed to it for long periods. It's very bad for your health. I don't understand why they shut you down when you mention it! They don't seem to be concerned and they really should be!
Do you clean it off with bleach? That does seem to keep it at bay a little longer, but long term, you need to be out of there.
Is there no way to move out? Obviously I don't know your circumstances, is this a long term situation or a stop gap?

everychildmatters · 14/02/2025 00:08

That doesn't sound great 😞 Is the house crowded as that won't be helping things?
Any possibly you could move out at all? A small place to rent?

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