A Different Type of Sick Building

[Guest guest]

Dalana M. Caren's Story 22 Jan 2000

In September of 98, I moved into a 21-story government subsidized building

for seniors. The apartment that was my placement is on the 20th floor.

I immediately began experiencing symptoms of a dizzy, off-balanced feeling,

headaches which were constant, severe insomnia, profuse nosebleeds, sweating

and a feeling like I was " cooking. " I wasn't able to concentrate, I would

often find myself throughout the day feeling " out-of-it " and not remembering

things. I felt drained, had anxiety attacks and breathlessness. Also, I

felt agitated, restless and my joints

hurt and my eyes were sore.

I would awaken most often around 3 AM very suddenly feeling anxious and like

I had to go out. My chest felt pressured and I would either lay there until

morning with all these things going on, or often I

would just get up and walk the streets where I would feel refreshed, calm

and clear-headed.

At first I attributed these symptoms to stess from a difficult year having

made a major move. But, in November of 98, my sister and her husband sent

me a plane ticket to visit them for a month in Toronto area. While

visiting, I felt good, slept wonderfully, had lots of energy, was

clear-headed, focused, experienced no memory problems and felt normal,

tranquil and very cheerful.

While I returned in December, the nosebleeds and all the previous symptoms

returned immediately. I continued suffering these symptoms until I went

away for 6 weeks in the summer to Vancouver Island to

visit my father. Again, I felt normal with lots of energy and focused in

spite of it being a stressful time with my father being ill and in hospital.

I returned home and once again, all the symptoms started. By this time, I

had become aware of

the potential health effects of microwave towers and telecommunications

installations from a

magazine article. A repairman from the cable provider came because I was

having a lot of interference with my TV.

Then, I became aware that, on the roof top of my building, there are at

least 25

telecomunications towers, transmitters, microwave transmitters and the top

of

the building looks like a porcupine!

I was becoming increasingly distressed now with occasional bouts of rage,

feeling at times like I was going crazy and had lost control of my brain. I

was having daily bouts of crying for no apparent reason and yet as soon as I

would leave the apartment, I felt fine.

It is my opinion and experience that, since Christmas the frequency of use

of these transmitters has increased . It feels like like the walls are

buzzing and I have had very little sleep. I am having to walk the streets at

night and visit other people's homes during the day in order to write

letters or do anything that requires concentration.

Last week, I had 2 visitors on separate days. Within a minute or so after

being in my apartment, both said they felt " blocked in their heads, " began

experiencing headaches. They mentioned they felt agitated and restless and

could hear a buzzing, high pitch vibration and had to leave before a half

hour was up. That certainly confirmed that wasn't " just me. "

Both telephoned me later and said that within 5 minutes of leaving they felt

back to normal.

I would also like to note that my plants are becoming shrivelled looking

and are not growing well. I happened to have a green thumb. I am truly

exhausted of this. I only hope that first of all I can find another place to

live that is affordable because I am on a disability

pension hence being in government housing. I also hope that I can even

" get-it-together " enough to pack up and move.

PS: I am a retired school teacher, a massage therapist and an exceptional

artist. I haven't been able to do any art since I moved in to this place.

Yours Truly,

Dalana M. Caren