Re: Could it be mold? And yes, don't delay taking action for months.

[Guest guest]

Wow, it sounds like you have been through the proverbial mold wringer and back

again. You definitely have my sympathies.

On the doctor issue, if her health care is government-funded, it could take her

months to get an appointment with the right kind of doctor. (I did work with

some folks once whose children were on a California funded health care plan, and

wonder of wonders, were able to get the proper testing within a few weeks by

going to a doctor who specialized in OSHA issues.) If she has a private health

care plan, she has more options, like an allergist or a toxicologist.

My point on talking to an attorney in the state she lives is not an opinion that

litigation is quick -- lord knows, even a simple car accident takes about a year

in the Court system in California to resolve, and mold isn't simple. What I was

trying to say (before I swallowed my legal dictionary and became opaque) is to

make sure that she talks to someone who can tell her what kind of notice (if

any) she needs to give the landlord on the habitability issue before she moves

out.

Regards,

Cyn

Coulter Mulvihill SBN 171909

Hyde Mulvihill APC

216 W. Foothill Blvd (91016)

PO Box 1007

Monrovia CA 91017-1007

(626) 358-7471 Fax: (626) 358-2894

> > >

> > > Last summer we moved into the apartment we're in. It seems like

> > > we've been sick ever since and we are rarely sick. We started

> out

> > > with:

> > >

> > > 1- Nasal congestion

> > > 2- Thick phlegm

> > > 3- Coughing

> > > 4-Headaches

> > >

> > > My husband, myself, our 5 yr old, and our now 18 month old have

> all

> > > had this. My husband finally had to go to the hospital and they

> told

> > > him he had a respitory infection. Then our boys were so sick, we

> > > finally took them to the ER. The oldest had a respitory

> infection.

> > > The middle one was said to have a sinus infection.

> > >

> > > I'm the only one who hasn't seen a doctor. I was pregnant up

> until

> > > the end of November....my ob/gyn said it was just a cold and

> that I

> > > didn't need to be seen and even if I was seen, I couldn't take

> any

> > > medication other than tylenol.

> > >

> > > I had our baby Nov. 21st (he is 7 wks). He seemed to

> have " caught "

> > > whatever we had shortly after being brought home. We had to take

> him

> > > to the ER last night because his breathing is so labored and he

> is

> > > hardly eating (can't breath with the bottle in his mouth).

> > >

> > > The past week, I've been getting extremely dizzy. The other

> night I

> > > actually fell over because of it...luckily I was not carrying

> the

> > > baby.

> > >

> > > Tonight, our oldest boy was brushing his teeth and his nose

> started

> > > bleeding for no reason whatsoever.

> > >

> > > Does this sound like we could have a mold problem in the

> apartment

> > > (is this the type of mold that causes health problems?)?

> > >

> > > 1- The windows always have water running down them and it

> collects

> > > in the window sill. Regular household mold is always growing in

> the

> > > sills. I clean it with Clorox spray and it's back w/in 2-3 days.

> > > It's not just a spot or two, it covers the entire sill and up

> the

> > > sides. Could the water be leaking into the walls also?

> > >

> > > 2- We have mold growing in some of the cabinets below the sink.

> > >

> > > 3- The wall behind the toilet is puckering out from water damage

> and

> > > it looks like the bathroom walls have been re-done like there

> was

> > > water damage.

> > >

> > > 4- The central air unit is in the boys room...right after we

> moved

> > > in, the relief drain backed up and leaked all over the floor. It

> > > soaked the floor in the closet and about 5 feet into the room

> > > itself. Our landlord came and fixed the leak and said to leave

> the

> > > closet doors open so the floor would dry. There was so much

> water

> > > that when you stepped on the carpet, water would actually squirt

> up

> > > in the air. He didn't do anything to try to get rid of some of

> the

> > > water. Well, ever since then, white mold has been growing on the

> > > surface of the carpet. I've tried to get rid of it and I think I

> > > finally did, but what is underneath the carpet that we can't see?

> > >

> > > Do you think this is why we are all sick?

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

The description of this level of reactivity indicates toxic potential

of such magnitude that possessions should not brought into the new

environment.

This type of advice is rarely taken since it sounds so unbelievable.

It is best to ask a number of people who have been at this level of

illness in order to get a sense of a mold reality that few doctors

comprehend.

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