Harriet's Story - INTRODUCTION

[Guest guest]

Hi. I told you some of my story last week, and just

wanted to say hello in a less hysterical way...and to

thank those of you who contacted me, and to all those

who write encouraging, educational, and downright

funny as hell posts. (, that goes out to you;) ).

My story (and marcie, if it helps i can condense it

and send it to you). I moved into a small room in a 3

bedroom place about 6 years ago in San Francisco, and

already had chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

(or some other pain condition). I was fairly ill when

I moved in...2-3 days a week I was down and out in

bed. but, I could cook and shop for myself etc. Now,

6 years later I am on morhpine for pain, and even that

does not cut through the pain. I am forgetting simple

words, and the sentences that make sense in my head

are different than those that come out of my

mouth...in short, cognitive problems. When I am in

bed now, it is often for weeks, or months, and I

cannot shop for myself. I have ben on disability for

the 6 years, but my health has been getting worse.

I have been asking my landlord for 6 years to clean up

the mess in my room (I told him when I moved in about

my illnesses)...mostly bubbling paint and mold. He

said the only solution was to bleach it, and paint

over it...but that it was harmless regardless. He

knew, because he was the landlord *cough, cough*.

Over the last year my health has been terribl3e, and I

finally got mold tests that and the inspector and my

immunologist said, GET OUT NOW. My landlord said,

`what the hell to mold specialists know? I know more!

A potential lawyer said I need to keep paying rent

here if I want sue for negligence.

It has been so hard to try to leave AND keep this

place (trying to pay twice rent while on disability).

Friends were letting me stay with them, but now

they're gone. It's pretty lonely in a poisonous

room.....yeah, the smart ones have gone of course.

I know my health is the most important thing, but

there's still resistance to leave. And I'm having such

a hard time imagining letting the landlord go without

a scratch on his negligent ass. Crazy.

Thanks to those of you who've been kicking my ass to

go. Keep kicking it!

Marcie, please let me know if my story would help you.

KC, you legend, hope to talk to you soon:)

If anyone knows people with an extra room near SF,

pleeease let me know.

Apart from that, hi, and thanks for having such an

active group to join!!!

Harriet

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