Mould Problem in Emergency Accommodation

e13

Edit - not a doctor, so please take your son back to the GP ASAP over and above the below discussion.

For your son - if he has hayfever, and is currently only taking piriton, then you need to go back to the GP. I taake Fexofenadine for my hayfever, which is much strong than piriton (chlorphenamine maleate). Other anti-histamines include loratadine and citirizine, which might also be more effective than w

He might be feeling sick if he's producing a lot of mucus - in which case (gross though it is) enouraging him to spit it out might help? I have a steroid nasal spray from the doctors which helps with this.

It really does sound as though you need to go back to the doctor though - he may need to be on a brown inhaler, or his dosage may need changing.

Additionally, regarding the EHCP, I'm fairly sure they aren't limited to one per school, though they can be hard to get. It could be worth pushing for this, though I think it's probably less urgent than getting his asthma back under control.

I think really bleach is what is needed to get rid of the mould - would there be a friend who could come and help, or could you do it a little at a time with all the windows open?

I agree the property doesn't sound fit for purpose. Hope you can get it sorted soon

Person_one

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Obviously asthma and COPD are different but talking generally, some people with lung conditions do better in moist conditions but many do better in dry. In this wet weather I wouldn't think lack of humidity would be a problem, rather the opposite. I think the point of nebulisers is that they deliver medication with less effort rather than because of the moisture involved.

I totally agree that a medical review sounds as if it's needed rather than self help measures which may be counter productive.

Even a saline nebuliser with no medication usually provides some relief from SOB and coughing.

Asthma and COPD are different, but a lot of the treatments are actually the same.

I hope the OP is on the phone to her GP!

bouicca21

I think a dehumidifier would be better (I'm asthmatic too). condensation is likely making the mould worse. And I agree that using bleach or anti fungal stuff on wipes might be better than a spray.

Have you got a steam inhaler? Might be worth trying as it would help shift that mucus. Of course it's cheaper and in my experience more effective to use a bowl and a towel over the head, but a steam inhaler is safer.

[Deleted User]

The coughing is due to the hayfever. Normally the asthma tendency only needs treatment when he has a chest infection.

The humidifier does stop the coughing without a doubt..,I only use it after the other medication has failed (I give medication, wait and if after 20 mins he's still coughing the humidifier comes out again). The GP agreed when I said that in the past the longer acting antihistamines didn't seem to provide as much coverage. The GP seemed reluctant to prescribe steroids but if this persists we will go back next week and I'll ask again.

He got his first night's sleep when I put the humidifier in the bedroom after three weeks of waking several times coughing. I do turn it to low once he stops coughing but there's no doubt there's still moisture in the atmosphere.

I DO have asthma, and I find the atmosphere in the bedroom quite difficult. It definitely doesn't stop my coughing etc lol. But if my boy is sleeping, that's all I need.

I couldn't get any borax so got white vinegar instead. Apparently Bleach only treats fungus on the surface, it doesn't do a thing for fungus underneath ( and as I said, it left me quite unwell for a couple of days) so will try the vinegar.

We will try and reduce use of the humidifier if we can.

I have used a dehumidifier in my old house. Obviously it will help dry out walls etc but won't solve the hayfever problem. And I can't afford one anyway. Don't ask what's happened to my stuff in storage (which included a dehumidifier). I don't think I will ever get it back. No summer clothes arrrgh lol. Fortunately all the kids stuff was brought with us except for a games console. I couldn't fit it in here anyway, particularly with the damp problem meaning things can't go against walls.

I will clean the mould off the walls/ceiling, use the humidifier in the lounge rather than the bedroom (much larger room in lounge but will manage) as lounge is at front of property and no mould problems at all, only at the back. Council from what I gather hasn't solved any of the damp problems in these maisonettes. Thank god I didn't apply for a 3 bed, apparently they are much worse for mould (they are on the next floor up).

Its a bit of a sink estate. Not very popular, has completely been ignored by Decent Homes improvements that have been fitted as standard in other properties. I was very lucky to get this in spite of the way it sounds. Could easily have been a one bed hostel room. At least the cockroaches have completely gone.

My son has ASD I would have more chance of him chopping off an arm than sitting over a bowl with a towel over his head. Besides which I can't see him doing that for hours on end either lol.

xylophone

Would your son benefit from a change of scene? In view of your modest income and his condition, perhaps he would qualify for a grant?

http://www.disability-grants.org/holiday-grants-disabled-children-adults.html

Person_one

deannatrois wrote: »

He feels ill constantly

He's been sleepless coughing all night

If he's coughing when he gets home and the medication doesn't help

He's been sick a few times because of the coughing

I am sitting here with my son coughing constantly in the background

This last week he's always saying he feels ill (sick)

three weeks of waking several times coughing.

OP, I'm sorry, but this child needs to go back to the doctor. Even if it is the hay fever making it worse he may still benefit from some steroid treatment just in the summer months. Please don't underestimate asthma, people still die from attacks, the level of symptoms you're describing need more medical input. Ideally first thing Monday.

Even if the humidifier is providing some short term relief it won't be helping long term if its causing mould. You need a better solution.

elisamoose

EHCP are not limited per school.They are granted on the basis of the health issue affecting the education.In other words if your son is not way behind academically then it will not be granted however ill he is.

[Deleted User]

We'll see how things go with the end of year tests he's just done. The school are telling me he'll never get an EHCP, his literacy is usually ok, in reading he's above average, but maths and writing is way below his age group. But I suspect the school are doing some blocking. They keep saying there's a procedure to follow, long waiting lists (school only has 120 students) but blocking my son from even getting to the first stage by saying he doesn't need an EHCP. Its an Academy, that doesn't help. I think I've already inundated my younger sons social worker with too many emails this week (because he's not been well and has missed yet more school).

Thank god, after coughing constantly this morning, his coughing stopped this afternoon and has hardly appeared since. First time in weeks (of course it would happen the day I really think this is never going to improve lol).

The bedroom IS drying out. I've discovered my older son, has been shutting the bedroom window (not his room). He also has ASD. I'd go into the room in the evening and ask my younger son if he'd shut the window and he'd say yes (god knows why cause it wasn't him) so I was thinking the window was open all day. Its the cold side of the maisonette (at the back, no sun at all) and I'd quite often not check myself. The room would have dried out some, but not very well. The stains have only just turned to mould.

But it looks like my older son HAS been shutting the window way too early. Today its definitely been left open all day long, I've constantly checked, the stains are not as bad. A bit more scrubbing the room will be clear I think. I won't be running the humidifier in the bedroom, if it does need running it'll have to be lounge only as it doesn't have the damp problem. My younger son will have to sleep in there. Not ideal as I said, he doesn't sleep well at the best of times, but all I can do. Can't have mould with his problems. The council are well aware these properties have damp problems, and they don't do much. They knew it had cockroaches and still moved us in lol. I'll keep it down to a dull roar.

Been a bit of a week what with one thing and another.

I am trying to deal with so much, I have to choose my battles I'm afraid.

Did a carers assessment yesterday, only got half way through it, I just rabbited on about all the things that were going wrong lol. Then I had to abruptly leave because there were problems with my younger son.

Stripeybat

Absolutely no useful advice at all, but just wanted to say I hope your son improves very soon. What a horrible situation for you all He must be feeling bad if he's taking Piriton and still can't sleep, bless him - that stuff usually makes people so drowsy. Is there any chance it could actually be making the cough worse? As stupid as it sounds, it can really dry the throat and nose and make any mucus thicker and harder to shift - just my experience, and sorry for the ick factor!

Fingers crossed for some improvement very very soon

[Deleted User]

I appreciate your advice. More steroids might be an answer and I need to clarify with the GP why that wasn't recommended. Although the chances of seeing the same one are remote lol.

I do find the systems we used to rely on (Health, Housing, social care) didn't always work properly but if you tried hard enough you'd get something to happen. Now its really quite scary how little there is available.