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Original poster

The mystery of the rooms that make us feel ill.

58 replies

WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 15:43

This is driving me mad so if anyone can shed some light on what's going on I will be forever grateful. Last year so changed the layout of upstairs taking out and putting in partitioning. The DC's new rooms were created by splitting our room and a small room off it.

DD has always been fine but DS was quite unwell from the first night he was in his room - dizziness, joint pain, stomach ache, very lethargic. Took us a bit of time to make the connection but when we did we moved him back out. Aired the room thoroughly as thought it was the chemicals in new carpet. He went back after a few weeks and seemed ok.

A few months go he wasn't very well again. Pale, lacking in energy, saying he hated the world and flying into terrible rages. One night he said he wanted to sleep downstairs again and he hasn't slept back up there since. He's much improved and like his old self again.

We moved my office in there but very soon I found myself feeling unwell in there - burning throat, headaches, feeling anxious, heart rate slightly increases. We thought it might be mould as I've reacted to that in path and have chucked loads out, no difference. Both DS and I found we react in DD's room as well so thought it could be the carpet and have taken it out of DS's old room. Aired for a week, various air filters, ionizers etc running and I went to try it today. 10 mins and I had to come out, my throat is still funny. I'm fine in my room which is the other end of the landing and all of downstairs is fine.

The boiler has been checked as is underneath, no gas leak or CO. It's just me and DS, DH and DD are fine and everyone ls who has visited. Sorry to go on for so long, just wanted to give the whole picture. Does anyone have any ideas what it could be?

OP posts:
noddyholder · 13/05/2012 15:44

Is there any mould?

LadySybilDeChocolate · 13/05/2012 15:45

Sick building syndrome?

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 15:51

We've ripped the rooms to bits looking for mould but just can't find any and am a loss as to where it could be.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 13/05/2012 15:53

We have been renting somewhere which is riddled with mould and has made me feel so ill. We bought a de humidifier and it helps but interestingly in ds room which was the one room without the machine filled with water in 3 hours and so we couldn't see it. maybe try one and see what happens

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 15:57

I have rented somewhere with mould and know how bad it can make you feel, my sympathies. Mould was the first thing we thought of as I'm having a similar reaction as I do with mould.

Our neighbour lent us a dehumidifier and we did collect some water over a few days but not a huge amount. There's a hygrometer in there, humidity around 50%.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2012 15:59

could it be the paint?

startail · 13/05/2012 16:04

Any kind of new foam mattress or sofa.

We strongly suspect that DD1s new foam mattress made her feel strange for several weeks.
She's fine with it now, but it was supplied rolled and wrapped in plastic and couldn't air easily in her bunk.

Also, could you have disturbed any old loft insulation? Is the loft hatch in that room. DH is awful with the old rockwool in our loft.

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 16:04

Woodwork is satin which is our room. The walls in DS 's room are Wilko's emulsion and in DD's Dulux trade. Most of the downstairs has been painted as well and we're ok with that. Also, I was fine at first, it's the last couple of months it has affected me (work finished March last year ).

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2012 16:07

does sound like some sort of mould that is now growing...

Something under the floorboards?

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 16:08

All old foam has been checked in case it's dodgy and there's no bed in there now. There was a hatch to the roof space where an old water tank was but that was boarded over and skimmed. I think we disturbed some old insulation in the section that is now DD's room but would have thought that would have affected us at the time ?

OP posts:
AnAirOfHope · 13/05/2012 16:11

High emf readings maybe?

Are there any electrial wires or cables that have been merged or moved?

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 16:12

DH has been pulling floorboards up that are lose and nothing to be seen so far.

However, the kitchen is underneath and it has a cupboard with the washing machine and tumble dryer which did get mouldy after the vent fell out of the dryer. Could it be that the mould went through the kitchen ceiling into the floor void ?

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'm regaining hope we might solve it.

OP posts:
Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 16:13

We had a rewire last summer ....

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2012 16:13

Floorboards up, get the dehumidfier out again...

AnAirOfHope · 13/05/2012 16:14

Emf - electrial magnetic fields some people are more sesative to it tham others.

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 16:23

Right floorboards are going to come up . DH visibly paled but at the idea of pulling up more than the loose ones but will sort it , though hasn't said when I noted ! Are there mould specialists who you can get to come in and find hidden mould with er mounts detectors ?

Not sure about the wires. I guess it could be something to with it. That section of the house was rewired when the rooms were done then the rest of the house was done last summer.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2012 16:28

Hmm

Wonder if these people can help www.quartec-bio.co.uk/ wonder if you're covered on your buildings insurance?

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 16:41

I think I'm going to get DH to get more of the floorboards up, especially over the dryer cupboard, then if nothing there, we'll ring them.

In our mould hunt I did find a lot on the back of a sofa in the kitchen where condensation had run off a huge single glazed window. New window on order and new sofa came on Friday. Neither DS or I reacted in there though, it's just these two rooms upstairs.

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2012 16:44

Different kind of mould Confused ?

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 16:47

Guess so. Whole thing is driving me mad. We're just getting to the stage where we're nearly finished the house after 10 long years and now this. I sometimes feel we're not meant to live here !

OP posts:
Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 16:52

Thanks or your help RM. We'll get the floorboards up and take it from there. Will update when we find it or when I have given up and stuck house on market...

OP posts:
RandomMess · 13/05/2012 16:57

I really hope you find the answer - what a nightmare!

TheCrackFox · 13/05/2012 17:07

Are you in a terrace house? Because carbon monoxide can seep through walls - maybe your neighbour's boiler is faulty?

MarySA · 13/05/2012 17:11

Good point about the carbon monoxide Crackfox. Also those magnetic fields affect some people. Try moving his bed round 180 degrees.

Original poster
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 13/05/2012 17:23

British Gas have been and it's not Carbon Monoxide or gas. We were wondering if the fumes that vent outside from the boiler could be coming back in but not that either. The whole room affects us both, wherever we are in it and DD's too, though haven't spent much time in there recently.

OP posts: