Babies more sensitive?

[Guest guest]

Well, my husbands latest argument, is he says he talked to his aunt

who is a nurse, and she told him if there was anything going on in the

house that our first sign would be our daughter getting sick. So my

symptoms apparently aren't enough. Our daughter does sound congested a

lot, but otherwise, she seems alert and happy. Any ideas about this, I

figured she would be more sensitive as well, but I still seem the worst.

Although most of my symptoms have not been visible ones, the headaches

have often been very bad, and surely if my daughter had headaches she

would be a lot fussier, right?

[Guest guest]

Baby's immune system is more undeveloped but just because you don't

see any signs in baby, doesn't mean you are not sick from house. For

one thing, the side affects of many medicines can be immune suppression

so if you are on any meds, including just antihistamines, check the

side affects and see if any of them suppress your immune system. If

any drug gives you dry mouth, the mucous membraine of your mouth and gi

tract is compromised and less able to defend you from pathogens you

inhale or eat. My illness flared when I was put on a medication that

gave me dry mouth, AND then also read LATER that many had incurred

compromised immune system so in a house that I had done okay in, EXCEPT

that I had developed allergies, now I became sick in it, and I could

tell because I improved when I left house, and got worse when I came

back. Does baby have any sign of allergies. That is first symptom in

many people with low but constant exposure to mold. There could be a

problem in a room you spend more time in and baby spends less time in,

your master bedroom, your basement, kitchen, laundry room, etc. I

wouldn't go by that.

--- In , " TheBeth " <thebethinator@...>

wrote:

>

> Well, my husbands latest argument, is he says he talked to his aunt

> who is a nurse, and she told him if there was anything going on in the

> house that our first sign would be our daughter getting sick.

[Guest guest]

Well, if her sounding congested most of the time and coughing and

sneezing occasionally throughout the day means allergies, then yes.

The house didn't start bothering me really bad until I caught a cold.

Though it did bother my allergies before. Alergy meds dont work

anymore now. Not on any meds though, just vitamins. What med did you

take? Maybe i can get my huby to take it and then he can get sick from

the house, too, so he'll start to believe me, especially when I tell

him where & when I feel worse and possibly why.

>

> Baby's immune system is more undeveloped but just because you don't

> see any signs in baby, doesn't mean you are not sick from house. For

>

[Guest guest]

Developing allergies seems to be the first step for most people, but

they aren't allergy to one thing, but usually broad spectrum of

allergies. I develope a welt to almost just about everything. Also

blood test of allergies show alot. Anyway, medicine I took was a

medicine Rxed for combination anxiety and insomnia, Remeron. I've

talked to people who have taken it and it doesn't frequently cause

illness, but there is a major warning in the 'pamphlet' that comes with

it with warning in bold print that if patient develops a sore throat

and has flu-like symptoms to go off medicine and call doctor right

away. I didn't do that. At first I thought I DID have the flu and

went to bed taking alot of vit C. When that didn't work and in fact I

got worse, I began to question the flu theory and eventually got around

to reading insert in medicine I had been taking, and stopped taking

it. However doctor would not give me old medicine I used to take that

really helped my sleep, and so I proposed going back on this medicine

only on a much lighter dose and I took it like that for about a year.

I had sore throat during entire period but it was only slightly sore.

Finally I realized I was very ill and I went off medicine a second

time. This time the sore throat didn't disappear and in fact never

disappeared permanently. It comes and goes still today, throat

irritated off and on, frequent coughing. Further reading on

medicine...the pamphlets they include have SO many side affects and so

such long long list of possible symtoms but basically realized it had

side affect of suppressing my immune system. Add to that I wasn't

sleeping well, and you have a good set up for illness. No, I don't

think you should do this to your husband..perhaps joking, but this is

permanent illness, something you don't get over. ANYWAY, you are big

girl and don't need him to AGREE whether you are ill or not. Take

matters into your own hands. This is something we ALL need to do, not

seek approval or acceptance or agreement when we know we are right or

when our own health or health of our child, or any important issue is

at hand. I have done that too and always end up regretting the time

spent trying to get someone else to understand. I've even had some

people PRETEND to understand and realized later just wasted my time.

Can you afford to take a small apartment that you can afford yourself?

Do you have some income of your own? I had an argument with my husband

about taking off in an airplane on a foggy day when air traffic

controllers said which was grounded, that it was okay now but still

looked foggy to me, so I said, fine, go back in plane by yourself. I'm

staying here. You need to stand your ground if your welfare is at

stake.

--- In , " TheBeth " <thebethinator@...>

wrote:

>

> Well, if her sounding congested most of the time and coughing and

> sneezing occasionally

[Guest guest]

I have a little income of my own, not much right now, though, only

like 400 a month, not enough to get an appartment or anything, and I

don't have anyone to stay with here, my only friend who would let me

stay with her, her house bothers me about as bad as my own.

Other friends are mutual friends between me and my husband and they

wouldn't understand, and wouldn't want to get involved.

My only family is several states away. If I leave to there, my husband

will think I'm leaving him rather than the house, and he is a very

good dad & husband. This is why I am trapped. I feel helpless, and

even my own symptoms are so subtle on the outside, I can't help but

fear if my baby does have more going on than we can tell.

Right now, I feel fuzzy header, my tongue feels " hairy " though I just

brushed my teeth, & my eyes are red red, & my nose is bloody, sticky,

& I have a slight, tingly headache. Baby's sleeping.

I do feel so much better when I'm away from the house for a long

period of time. I have been feeling anxiety lately though, along with

everything else.

>

> Developing allergies seems to be the first step for most people, but

> they aren't allergy to one thing, but usually broad spectrum of

> allergies. I develope a welt to almost just about everything. Also

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

The consensus among those medical professionals who are treating us

for our real " illness " and not " craziness " , is that there is a

genetic

component in our reactions to mold, which would explain why our

friends and loved ones, most times, do not have ANY response to the

things that are killing us and making us suffer so intensely.

We can only hope that your daughter is only suffering half as much

as

you are, since her genetic make-up is only coming HALF from you.

I loved your idea of finding a " magic " medicine to turn your husband

into a mold-sufferer, so he would understand what you are

experiencing. I am sure that my future dreams will incorporate your

concept, but, unfortunately, there is no " magic medicine " that can

do

the job.

When you said: " This is why I am trapped " , you awoke me out of my

own

male mind-set. As you are probably aware, by now, we men do what we

want to do (in general), without taking the feelings of others into

consideration. Since you are a woman, the feelings of others,

especially your husband's feelings, are as important to you, as are

your own feelings. I know that I am going to get a lot of negative

feedback, from other board members, for telling you this, but, BETH,

YOU HAVE TO STOP TAKING YOUR HUSBAND'S FEELINGS INTO CONSIDERATION.

I am sure that, for the most part, he is a wonderful husband and

father. But, if you let your feelings for him " immobilize " you, to

the

point where you feel trapped, and unable to take the necessary

action

to save your life, and your daughter's life, you will stay in your

present home beyond the " point of no return " . Eventually, if your

home

does not kill you, it will make you so disabled, that your body, and

your daughter's body, will NOT be able to recover from your present

symptoms, even AFTER you have relocated to other living quarters.

Every one of the posts, on this board, from people describing their

horrible suffering, is written by someone, just like you, who, at

one

time, waited too long to get out of their unhealthy living

conditions.

Even more sadly, some of the posts on this board are written by

people

who are STILL living in unhealthy living conditions, having long

since

lost the full use of their brain, and therefore will NEVER be able

to

think their way to the point of taking action.

Please don't turn yourself into a mental vegetable. Get out NOW,

while

your brain is still working. The first thing you will notice, AFTER

you relocate, is that you are no longer " FEELING TRAPPED " . You will

have the full use of your brain, and you will be able to think

things

through, clearly, and not be intimidated by the ridicule of others.

God bless you Beth.

Joe

..........................................

In her Sickbuildings post, " TheBeth " <thebethinator@...> said:

> My only family is several states away. If I leave to there, my

husband

> will think I'm leaving him rather than the house, and he is a very

> good dad & husband. This is why I am trapped. I feel helpless, and

> even my own symptoms are so subtle on the outside, I can't help but

> fear if my baby does have more going on than we can tell.

> Right now, I feel fuzzy header, my tongue feels " hairy " though I

just

> brushed my teeth, & my eyes are red red, & my nose is bloody,

sticky,

> & I have a slight, tingly headache. Baby's sleeping.

> I do feel so much better when I'm away from the house for a long

> period of time. I have been feeling anxiety lately though, along

with

> everything else.

[Guest guest]

That is a very cynical rationalization indeed!

That is exactly how the various interests who want to deny the

existence of mold illness think.

First thing, regardless of age, some people are more quick to get

sick. Younger people often are less prone to notice when something

less subtle than being hit with a brick happens.

For example, an inflammation that might make it impossible for an

adult to function as a scientist or doctor or a school age kid to do

math or science, which might lead to serious, lifetime illness if not

addressed quickly, might not faze a younger child that much because

they were not depending on that ability yet.

An observant parent would notice.

But one who was not looking or who didn't spend much time with the

child because of job, etc. might not.

On Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 10:23 AM, TheBeth <thebethinator@...> wrote:

> Well, my husbands latest argument, is he says he talked to his aunt

> who is a nurse, and she told him if there was anything going on in the

> house that our first sign would be our daughter getting sick. So my

> symptoms apparently aren't enough. Our daughter does sound congested a

> lot, but otherwise, she seems alert and happy. Any ideas about this, I

> figured she would be more sensitive as well, but I still seem the worst.

> Although most of my symptoms have not been visible ones, the headaches

> have often been very bad, and surely if my daughter had headaches she

> would be a lot fussier, right?

>

>

[Guest guest]

Beth, do you have forced air heating or radiators in the apartment?

--- In , " TheBeth " <thebethinator@...>

wrote:

>

> I have a little income of my own, not much right now, though, only

> like 400 a month, not enough to get an appartment or anything, and I

> don't have anyone to stay with

[Guest guest]

Do you have an garage that you park in, that is above ground and warm?

Some people sleep in their cars just to give themselves a break from

their house for 8 hours or so.

[Guest guest]

Thanks, I just dont have any where i can go right now. especially with

the baby.

>

> Hi Beth,

> The consensus among those medical professionals who are treating us

> for our real " illness " and not " craziness " , is that there is a

> genetic

> component in our reactions to mold, which would explain why our

> friends and loved ones, most times, do not have ANY response to the

> things that are killing us and making us suffer so intensely.

> We can only hope that your daughter is only suffering half as much

> as

> you are, since her genetic make-up is only coming HALF from you.

>

> I loved your idea of finding a " magic " medicine to turn your husband

> into a mold-sufferer, so he would understand what you are

> experiencing. I am sure that my future dreams will incorporate your

> concept, but, unfortunately, there is no " magic medicine " that can

> do

> the job.

>

> When you said: " This is why I am trapped " , you awoke me out of my

> own

> male mind-set. As you are probably aware, by now, we men do what we

> want to do (in general), without taking the feelings of others into

> consideration. Since you are a woman, the feelings of others,

> especially your husband's feelings, are as important to you, as are

> your own feelings. I know that I am going to get a lot of negative

> feedback, from other board members, for telling you this, but, BETH,

> YOU HAVE TO STOP TAKING YOUR HUSBAND'S FEELINGS INTO CONSIDERATION.

>

> I am sure that, for the most part, he is a wonderful husband and

> father. But, if you let your feelings for him " immobilize " you, to

> the

> point where you feel trapped, and unable to take the necessary

> action

> to save your life, and your daughter's life, you will stay in your

> present home beyond the " point of no return " . Eventually, if your

> home

> does not kill you, it will make you so disabled, that your body, and

> your daughter's body, will NOT be able to recover from your present

> symptoms, even AFTER you have relocated to other living quarters.

> Every one of the posts, on this board, from people describing their

> horrible suffering, is written by someone, just like you, who, at

> one

> time, waited too long to get out of their unhealthy living

> conditions.

> Even more sadly, some of the posts on this board are written by

> people

> who are STILL living in unhealthy living conditions, having long

> since

> lost the full use of their brain, and therefore will NEVER be able

> to

> think their way to the point of taking action.

>

> Please don't turn yourself into a mental vegetable. Get out NOW,

> while

> your brain is still working. The first thing you will notice, AFTER

> you relocate, is that you are no longer " FEELING TRAPPED " . You will

> have the full use of your brain, and you will be able to think

> things

> through, clearly, and not be intimidated by the ridicule of others.

> God bless you Beth.

>

> Joe

> .........................................

>

> In her Sickbuildings post, " TheBeth " <thebethinator@> said:

>

> > My only family is several states away. If I leave to there, my

> husband

> > will think I'm leaving him rather than the house, and he is a very

> > good dad & husband. This is why I am trapped. I feel helpless, and

> > even my own symptoms are so subtle on the outside, I can't help but

> > fear if my baby does have more going on than we can tell.

> > Right now, I feel fuzzy header, my tongue feels " hairy " though I

> just

> > brushed my teeth, & my eyes are red red, & my nose is bloody,

> sticky,

> > & I have a slight, tingly headache. Baby's sleeping.

> > I do feel so much better when I'm away from the house for a long

> > period of time. I have been feeling anxiety lately though, along

> with

> > everything else.

>

[Guest guest]

We have central forced air, but thats making it worse, because its

sucking in air from somewhere, it has to be because of the odd smell

and how much worse I feel when we were using it.

> >

> > I have a little income of my own, not much right now, though, only

> > like 400 a month, not enough to get an appartment or anything, and I

> > don't have anyone to stay with

>

[Guest guest]

The garage isn't very warm, but I have thought about doing that, but

also the the baby so young it would be very hard to tend to her in the

car.

>

> Do you have an garage that you park in, that is above ground and warm?

> Some people sleep in their cars just to give themselves a break from

> their house for 8 hours or so.

>

[Guest guest]

If your husband can't seal ducts better, are you handy enough to do

it? All you have to do is get duct tape and seal all the seams.

Another idea that I have done is to use area heaters so that your

forced air system runs at a minimum, hopefully saving you heating

charges too. Other people in this situation have done that. A good

low cost, effective and safe area heater are portable oil radiators.

They are gentle heat that won't catch anything on fire. You can even

leave them on if you leave home. Mine go all winter long, even when I

go to work, because of pets at home. Then let those heat your place

mainly and leave the forced air system for backup only, set at a lower

temperature.

--- In , " TheBeth " <thebethinator@...>

wrote:

>

> We have central forced air, but thats making it worse, because its

> sucking in air from somewhere, it has to be because of the odd smell

> and how much worse I feel when we were using it.

>

[Guest guest]

Beth,

Have you ever heard of or considered a heat recovery ventilator?

Something like this:

http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/Publications/infosource/Pub/hrv/contents.cfm?text=N & print\

view=N

Your existing heating system shouldn't be used until you can clean out

the ducts.

If you temporaily use electric heat and and maybe furnace filters on

fans and HEPA filtration, you could get by until you get the ducts

cleaned. But make sure you keep it warm enough so the pipes dont

freeze..

An HRV warms outdoor air in winter with indoor air, and a similar

thing to cool in summer..

But they dont work to warm without heat.. Electric heat is fine, just

expensive..

Make sure to get one you can easily clean and MAKE SURE THAT THE

WIRING CAN HANDLE IT FIRST..

[Guest guest]

By this I meant the heater... HRVs dont take much electricity..

Electric heaters do.. they take lots of current, that means you need

thick wires.... especially dont run multiple heaters off of the same

plug..

>Make sure to get one you can easily clean and MAKE SURE THAT THE

WIRING CAN HANDLE IT FIRST..

[Guest guest]

Just to be clear, I'm not recommending electric heater. The heat

source is electric but the heat source heats up oil that is inside of

coils and the oil holds the heat very well. They are very cheap to

run. I had a portable baseboard heater that was filled with water but

water doesn't hold the heat as well. Also you had to take the front

grill off to clean the fins, which wasn't hard but an oil heater has

very large fins that are exposed on all sides and are easily cleaned

with a dusting cloth.

All the electric, yes, you almost have to try it out. I turned

everything on that is commonly on and plug the heater in to see how it

does. Anything that heats or cools, uses alot of electricity..at the

time it is on. With the oil filled heaters, thing is they aren't ON

for very much time since the oil holds the heat, so they turn on and

off,keeping the oil,just warm, not hot.

If you put one near every place you are alot, you can reduce your heat

bill. Heat is so safe, a pet can sleep right up against it They are

good for allergy sufferers, since they don't stir up the air and are

easy to keep clean.

--- In , LiveSimply <quackadillian@...>

wrote:

> Make sure to get one you can easily clean and MAKE SURE THAT THE

> WIRING CAN HANDLE IT FIRST..