Help!!! Schools....

[Guest guest]

Here is the scoop. I am a teacher, coach, former pro athlete who

reentered the ranks as an age grouper because I have a son 10.

I am sending you " my story " . I know this is going to get ugly but the

number of very sick people I work with and the students I teach is

UNREAL.

Watch out Brokivitch! Seriously, your web site may have saved

my life. I hope to do the same to some degree for a colleague who now

has thyroid cancer that I believe is related to the sick building.

My time line is 3 days before d-day with workman's comp. I'm on an

all nighter cuz I have to get my ducks in a row. I will go up against

all you have and more. My quest is education and ammo to be sure I

proceed correctly.

I have a great chance to open Pandora box and I will because it's the

MORAL thing to do. But I am now in your situation. The doctor who was

my advocate has not returned my calls for 4 days. My next step was to

see the best pulmonary people in Hershey PA. Referrals were to be set

up...NOTHING. She knew it might get to this level in December.

At any rate, I am going for additional mold testing at another MD who

specializes in a more holistic approach. I have candida…know what

that is??? Email me I will educate you!

He may be my health professional that WILL write the letter I need.

WHO knows?

Thank goodness I have a running partner who is the top gun for Erie

insure workman's comp… he OPENED my eyes wide.

Okay enough. It's an all nighter to meet deadlines for my protection.

Here is where I am in the process.

I filed on 2/8. I go to meet their doc on Friday 2/22 for the

decision whether it's occupational or not. Denial of my claim here

could send it to disability. Denial here tells me that now the

lawyers come out. In the mean time I cannot…will not go into that blg

without evidence saying what stage my medical condition is in.

Asthma, allergy or disease. Two can be addressed. Disease says

permanent damage. I am a single parent and I want to see my son's

25th birthday not fear my premature death because of a contamination

I DID NOT CAUSE!!!!

I am temporary legal counsel to help me proceed. This local name was

given to me by our teacher's union rep. I am not hiring anyone yet

because I do not know what my needs are. I am not about $$$$ I am

about justice and truth and my cause is some greedy lawyers dream.

Forget that…. I will proceed carefully. In the meantime I need

answers about which direction to go to protect my health and well

being to fight this fight.

Thank you for your story. Hope this helps us all!

February 8, 2002

I am writing to inform you about the events that have led to my

filing a workman's compensation claim on 2/7/02.

In late July of 2001, during some of my training sessions for

triathlon events, I began to notice a shortness of breath. At that

time I dismissed it, thinking it was because of the humidity. As I

began the fall season of cross-country in early August, I once again

took notice that my breathing wasn't right. A couple of weeks later I

met with the ****in **** for a run. This husband and wife team and I

have spent considerable hours training since 1985. I hadn't met up

with them as much recently because I was involved with triathlons and

they were more involved with golf. Yet, we never lost touch and still

ran together when time allowed. With my last short race competition

scheduled for September of 2001, I met them to run three miles after

work. From the start of the run, I felt as though I was going to keel

over. Because their golf pursuits had not kept them in racing

condition, they were out of shape, but I was in racing condition and

was falling behind thinking, " Why can't I breathe? " I slowed down,

fell behind and even walked a bit. After about a mile and a half,

****stopped with me and Steve went on ahead. Upset, ** and I walked

back to her house.

On September 10, I had a doctor appointment and subsequently began my

quest for answers. Dr.***sent me for a chest x-ray at Several weeks

after that she sent me back to for a pulmonary test. Respiratory

therapists performed this test. Weeks after that, I returned to the

doctor for a follow up. My test showed up positive. It confirmed what

I knew already, I just couldn't figure why all of a sudden had I

developed this breathing difficulty at age 42 , having no prior

history of breathing difficulties. I was in excellent condition

because I was in my second year of intense triathlon training. In

November 2000, I went to Florida and completed an Ironman hoping to

earn a spot for Hawaii the next year. I placed 4th in my age group

but needed 3rd to go the Hawaii. This began my second year of

training for Hawaii in the fall of 2001.

At that point, the doctor prescribed Abuterol, to be used prior to

exercise. Because I was in good shape, I felt my ability to breathe

normally was fine until I elevated my heart rate. The inhaler worked

okay but I wasn't sold on what my body was communicating and since

this was a new routine, I wasn't using it as regularly. I had a

follow up in October and was told to continue with this routine, but

I felt that is was not getting to the source of the problem. In early

November the doctor suggested a second test and sent me for an

acetocholine pulmonary test. This test was performed at Holy Spirit

on November 15, 2001. This test confirmed the results of the first

test. A few weeks later I went back to the doctor to discuss my

options. I told her I was thinking of addressing this with the school

district but would bide my time because the union was already

addressing similar issues. She agreed and we decided to try a

different inhaler. It was Serevent. Two puffs in the a.m. and two in

the p.m. I also reduced my training as a part of the rehabilitative

process. Unfortunately, this reduction in training seems to have

played a role my inability to breathe. I did take notice, however,

that on the weekends I had less difficulty breathing during exercise

than I did when I exercised after school. I also began to notice an

increase in the frequency of headaches.

In between my trips to the doctor, I began my own research at school

asking other personnel if they noticed any illness changes since the

asbestos removal. Others stated that they have noticed considerable

changes in their health since returning to school. Allergy testing

has confirmed that I am allergic to mold. It is no secret our school

has a mold problem: if you can see it on the ceiling tiles above our

heads, imagine what it is like where we cannot see it. The cleaning

service has also begun a process of using a blower to remove dust

rather than a vacuum.

As the various test results became known, I consulted with our school

nurse for options regarding my situation. We found no workable

conclusions or solutions. I also inquired to our building

representative regarding contract options. It was then that we

discussed the recent health survey initiated by the union to alert

the district about the growing concerns of our faculty regarding

molds and air quality. The union requested an expert be brought in to

test the air and other aspects of our physical structure. I was told

a meeting was already set with the administration to physically walk

though our building to determine if this was necessary. Again, I

allowed the bureaucracy to follow its procedure hoping for answers

shortly. That was over 10 weeks ago.

I did not use the inhaler this past weekend as I usually try to do. I

went running with (a colleague) and his student teacher in on Sunday

2/3/02 and found that I could hardly breathe. The pace was not fast

and it made no sense why I seemed to be getting worse! It seems that

since my level of conditioning has decreased, so has my ability to

breathe or do any exercise or physical labor without problems.

Without the use of this inhaler, I am unable to complete any form of

exercise without shortness of breath and wheezing. I am not in the

same condition as I was in the fall and I can't overcome what I once

could. I even notice this shallow breathing and wheezing when I get

up in the morning, not just at times of exercise. I can't entertain

the idea of resuming my training because I can't breathe. Not only

has my physical health been affected but, because I am unable to

maintain even a minimum training level, my mental health has been

affected. I filed my workmen's compensation claim on Thursday 2/7/02.

Interesting