an 8 year health mystery..maybe related to sick building? help?

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone.

This is my first posting - I joined the group yesterday. I'm seeking

help/advice from people on something that I've been dealing with for

8 years. In 1994 I was promoted and relocated from Upstate NY

(Albany) to Middleton, MA. Shortly after arriving (approx 6 months)

I started having problems.. I had such low energy, my sinuses were

constantly being treated for infection, headaches were a daily thing,

and I was just miserable. To keep this brief, I have been to so many

doctors, so many times I couldn't possible count. I've had everything

from MRI's to a CAT Scan of my brain(yes, it's there)to many visits

to the pain clinic in Boston. Not one doctor could explain my

constant symptoms; constant sinus pain, fatigue, muscle tightness,

join pain, excessive low energy and the list goes on. I also went to

counseling to help me deal with all these issue and the fact that no

doctor could come up with a way of treating these symptoms. Needless

to say, it has been 8 years of both emotional and physical hell. I

tried everything - I could fill a book with everything I went

through. Many doctors told me 'it's all in your head'. Three weeks

ago I decided to have nasal surgery because my nose was constantly

stuffed up and breathing was difficult. I was out of work for 2

weeks and feeling very hopefull that finally my health was going to

improve. Then I returned to work on a Monday and by the end of the

day, my nose/sinuses were very painful and I was stuffed up again.

Three days ago I was talking to several co-workers who complained of

having sinus infections and one mentioned to me that a girl who use

to work in this building left 3 years ago because of health

conditions she related to the building. Hearing this was like

winning the lottery..both exciting and scary. In all of the 8 years

of misery, not once did I ever think it was the building. I always

thought it was the New England area. The building opened in 1989 and

is quite large having 8 floors and we had up to 1500 people working

here. After hearing about the girl that left, I started talking to

other people on my floor and of the 6 people I spoke with, all 6 have

sinus problems and headaches. 4 of the 6 claim that they never had

these problems prior to being relocated to the new building. With

all this said (and many many things omitted)..I'm faced with the task

of trying to figure this out. I'm very overwhelmed and don't know

where to begin. I'm sure I have the same fears that most do..that

having worked for the company for 12 years, I will be fired if I

bring attention to this matter. On the other hand, I use to be so

active and an upbeat person and now I feel like I'm 110 years old and

simple chores are very taxing to my health. Basically it's a

nightmare. Can anybody provide me with some ideas on how I can

approach this? What needs to happen (other than me quitting my job).

Over the years, I've kept letters I've written to doctors pleading

with them to help me..and several times kept a journal of how I was

feeling to see if it was something I was doing. I simply cannot

express my thanks for any help provided.

Kindest Regards,