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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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LEWWW · 14/02/2025 01:09

Get the black kilrock mould spray and treat the areas (this stuff does stink so you need to air the rooms out) - you can find it at home bargains, fairly inexpensive but amazing!, regular airing of the rooms with the heating on and you need a dehumidifier, we live in an older house and once we got one we stopped having any mould issues 😊

PandaTime · 14/02/2025 01:07

It's going to keep coming back if the room isn't being ventilated properly. Open the windows to let air through and reduce the humidity in the room with a dehumidifier. Carpets are bad because you can't clean them easily and they hold on to moisture. The house sounds so damp. Turn the heating up! If the family aren't willing to address this then it's never going to go.

PeteReturns · 14/02/2025 01:05

I understand if op isn’t working pregnant with a toddler but her partner should be working every hour he can to get his family out of this situation.
As it’s been going on 5 years and 2 babies later; the most recent turning up like a miracle happened apparently, I very much doubt that is the case.
This is a man issue not a mould issue.

everychildmatters · 14/02/2025 01:02

It's not suitable for anyone, let alone a new baby and a small child. But OP and partner have to step up here - for the sake of their children. It's unfair on them.

oakleaffy · 14/02/2025 01:00

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:21

@Firsthingsfirst it doesn't seem to be furry? Definitely thick. The house does smell stale but they have a lot of animals and it's an "old house" 🙄. Really hard to say. I do notice as well that both me and DH seem to now be suffering with some sort of congestion issues. I really fail to see how people can piece the puzzle together

I bet the windows are never opened either, and they have double glazing?
Black mould like that forms on cold walls -

If there are dogs and cats in the house, there could well be allergens.

It sounds horrible, with the ''stale smell''.... are there animal feces? litter trays?

If they are drying wet laundry there, it will also make it worse.

A dehumidifier could help with the damp, but they do cost money to run.

However, they do make the atmosphere more comfortable.

I'd try to move if possible.

Franjipanl8r · 14/02/2025 00:59

Are you getting enough fresh air into the house? Do the windows have little vents in them? If so those should be open all the time.

proporop · 14/02/2025 00:59

dehumidifier and use white vinegar. repaint with anti mould paint where possible.

Notgivenuphope · 14/02/2025 00:58

SmokeRingsOfMyMind · 14/02/2025 00:29

This doesn't make any sense. Why have you decided to have another child when you live in an overcrowded, mouldy house because you can't afford to house the child you have?

My thoughts exactly. Totally irresponsible

everychildmatters · 14/02/2025 00:57

@PeteReturns The OP isn't working. She hasn't said if her partner is.

TheFatCatsWhiskers1 · 14/02/2025 00:57

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:36

@TheFatCatsWhiskers1 ah I see, would they do this for a toddler? The GP seemed opposed to even test her for dairy intolerance or gluten allergy.

We had one but found it really didn't touch the surface or make any difference.

I don't think they would, mine was only as a last resort to see if I'd be a suitable candidate for immunotherapy.

But even if you knew it was a mould allergy, what could you do about it if you aren't in a position to move? Are you claiming all the benefits you're entitled to?

I used to live in a small rented flat that had mould all over the walls in the bedroom. It didn't matter how much I ventilated the room or cleaned it with mould spray, it kept coming back. They'd painted over wallpaper which was bubbling and coming away. When I gave my notice I refused to scrub it off for when people came for viewings as I wanted them to know what they were potentially going to sign up to, much to the letting agent's annoyance. They didn't manage to let it until after I'd moved out.

sandyhappypeople · 14/02/2025 00:55

What does she sleep on OP? Is it an elevated bed or a floor bed?

Could the mattress have mould in it?

PeteReturns · 14/02/2025 00:55

Have you been living like this for 5 years?
so before you had your dd?
you and dd moved out (to where?) but have moved back in because you are having another baby?
You cannot bring a new born into this environment, it’s not healthy or for your daughter also.
Have you looked into that benefits you would get? Towards housing?
there is no reason 2 working people shouldn’t be able to live independently, even a one bedroom place while kids are small you would get help with rent if low earners.
Does your partner work?
have you been able to save anything while living with family in a health hazard for 5 years?
Does the landlord know you are staying there?

Avatartar · 14/02/2025 00:50

Short term but a dehumidifier, heating up, air the room when dehumidifier is off. You need to reduce the moisture in the air. Bin mouldy carpets or cut moulded areas off. Longer term, move.

everychildmatters · 14/02/2025 00:43

This was just one of the damp rooms in our private rent...landlord did nothing. Ended up having to move.

To think our house is making DC sick
To think our house is making DC sick
To think our house is making DC sick
OneAquaPombear · 14/02/2025 00:40

You said it’s rented. If it’s social housing the landlord has to help you resolve this https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Awaab_Ishak
If it’s a private landlord talk to your council, you can get help from their environmental health and housing teams.

Death of Awaab Ishak - Wikipedia

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Awaab_Ishak

Maray1967 · 14/02/2025 00:37

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:19

@TheFatCatsWhiskers1 I have no idea! I just get fobbed off with the "oh that's old houses for you" remark. It's very frustrating

My house is almost 100 years old. We have never had mould in it. That is awful.

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:36

@TheFatCatsWhiskers1 ah I see, would they do this for a toddler? The GP seemed opposed to even test her for dairy intolerance or gluten allergy.

We had one but found it really didn't touch the surface or make any difference.

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TheFatCatsWhiskers1 · 14/02/2025 00:34

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:22

@TheFatCatsWhiskers1 I do wonder if it's a black mold allergy, how did you go about testing this and finding it out?

I had skin prick testing done at the hospital. I reacted to lots of things but the worst was cladosporium, which can be black or green.

You can get kits that can identify the type of mould it is. Do you have a dehumidifier?

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:34

Also it's not an additional four people...only me and DC are the new tenants.

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NotVeryFunny · 14/02/2025 00:33

This. You need to get your child out of there. Have you actually mentioned the mould to the GP, would be good if you can get them on-side. Speak to CAB and/or shelter. You may be able to access homelessness help on the basis that you are living in "bad housing conditions" (and you don't have any control over improving it as you are not the tenant or owner):

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/legally_homeless

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:33

@ImDoneOnceAndForAll yes. Not a problem. Plenty of bedrooms. As I said before, it's not over crowded. It's an "old house" and that seems to be the mold justification

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Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:32

@SmokeRingsOfMyMind I didn't "decide or plan" to have another and at the time I wasn't living at this house. I moved back in once I found out I was expecting so our family could live under the same roof. I can't go back to where I was now so that is no longer an option. We are stuck here.

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ImDoneOnceAndForAll · 14/02/2025 00:32

Does the landlord know that 4 additional people now live there

Sounds crazy to me

Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:31

@Dolambslikemintsauce yes..as it's rented these are all legal requirements and I assume are up to date

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Concernedmum23 · 14/02/2025 00:30

@everychildmatters that's pretty much the scenario here. It's a rented property but tenants don't want to inconvenience landlord and ask anything of them. So they don't want to bring up the mold situation and again I think as they don't see it as an issue I'm pressing on a dead end

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