I’ve just received a diagnosis after a crazy past 3 days.
I have a new housing estate being built in the field adjacent to my house. The work has been ongoing for a couple of years but started at the furthest end. Last autumn as the work became viewable from our home I noticed I was suffering rhinitis symptoms from the dust settling outside on sills and cars. The work has continued to get steadily closer and although the houses are not going up at our end of the field yet, the area is being heavily used for storage of everything, cement storage cylinders are in place and the diggers are constantly turning over the huge mounds of soil positioned very closely to us.
We began to notice the dust was getting indoors in the early part of the year and in April I began to suffer from shortness of breath for the first time ever. This continued to progress and I started to be aware of the inability to take a deep breath. I would immediately begin a cough and a gag reflex. The cough is dry with nothing coming up. I would then be gasping for breath. I noticed next that just unloading the washing machine or walking up the stairs was leaving me not only struggling to catch my breath but my oxygen saturation levels were dropping way below 94%. Eventually I was waking each morning with low saturation levels and knew I ought to see the Dr.
She was slightly perplexed as my sats were all normal and no sounds from my heart or lungs. We discussed how the symptoms have correlated with the building work getting closer and she prescribed salbutamol and asked me to keep a diary of my peak flow and sats and referred me for a chest x-Ray and would call to see how I was getting along in 3 weeks.
The peak flow measurements were awful. Trying to take a deep breath and blowing out set my coughing off every time. I was unable to take the five normal breaths through the spacer as I couldn’t breathe in and out through the chamber without feeling I was suffocating and the salbutamol made no effect on my breathing or peak flow measurements.
Unexpectedly the GP called me back 6 days later and said she couldn’t get it out her head that it didn’t all add up with asthma and please could I come immediately for urgent blood tests specifically for function of the heart, the presence of D-Dimer indicating a pulmonary embolism and inflammation markers. The results came back as urgent that afternoon and the Dr called to say the D-Dimer was high and to go immediately to the hospital as they suspected I had a blood clot in my lung. The team at the hospital were pretty good, ran the bloods again, gave me a chest x-Ray, an ECG, popped in a cannula and gave me an anti-coagulant injection. I was then sent home as they were unable to get me in for a CT scan with a dye infusion so told me to return the next day.
I did so, had the CT and had to wait for the results. It was a long wait but eventually after a number of hours I was told the CT did not show a PE. Instead it showed rather a lot of nodules in the lower lobes of both lungs. At first we discussed the likelihood of cancer but the Dr called the respiratory team for advice and his registrar took me for a walk with the oximeter on where I had my sats drop to 88% and started coughing and struggling to breathe. The registrar took me straight back and admitted me so that I could see the respiratory team the next day.
After a morning of tests, the consultant was able to state it wasn’t asthma as that was his speciality and none of my test results gave him reason to consider it. The inflammation in my alveoli was therefore Hypersensitive Pneumonitis. We discussed the new allergen and how my symptoms correlated with the encroaching construction work. He said there would be no other explanation and the CT clearly indicated by the mosaic pattern of the areas of inflammation that this was the case. He explained it is incurable unless complete exposure to the allergen is removed and in my situation that would mean selling our home and moving, which for many reasons is not an option.
He said he could help to manage my symptoms but wanted me to have a bronchoscopy to complete the diagnosis. I asked what other diagnosis there could be and he said there wasn’t anything else. So I questioned the need for the bronchoscopy and lung wash and asked what my treatment would be if I didn’t have it and also if I did have it. He admitted he would prescribe a steroid inhaler in both circumstances. My argument was why go through a procedure when the diagnosis would remain the same and the treatment would be the same if I didn’t have it. I suffer from agoraphobia and only leave the house for medical appointments. I’m also a full time carer for my severely autistic 17 year old who is pretty non-communicative and does not adapt well to change. I’d had major surgery in April following an MRI, biopsies and a large benign mass needing to be removed. I was so relieved not to have more appointments and now this. So I have reason for not wanting to go through the procedure.
From my understanding my HP is incurable as I can’t remove the allergen so it will be managed, starting with a low dosage of steroid via an inhaler for three months. There are further options to manage it and reduce symptoms. The building is going to be continuous for at least another couple of years and I believe it is a further month until all construction dust settles. I do know that the dust can contain spores, silica and all sorts of nasty things which can cause lung diseases.
Therefore by taking measures by keeping the surfaces wiped clean every day, adding air purifiers with Hexa filters, wearing a mask if I open the doors, not hanging out washing (which I had stopped already), not opening windows and not going in the garden, plus the medical steroids we hope to get to the point where the allergen is removed and hopefully if there’s no fibrosis, I’d not be able to rectify the damage but my prognosis would not be as short if I can avoid fibrosis.
I’m so sorry this is long but my head is in quite a spin.
I just hoped that someone could perhaps give their opinion on the bronchoscopy as from what I’ve read, it’s too hard to identify the exact allergen and it’s just an aid to diagnosis not diagnostic in itself.
Also any advice on reducing the allergen within our home, whether there are other things we can do or buy to help.
I’m awaiting my case to be discussed by the MDT and so am not having the bronchoscopy if it isn’t going to change the diagnosis.
My husband has contacted the building company to ask if they provide air purifiers in this sort of circumstance but we are happy to buy them if they refuse.
Just please throw any advice or information at me and I will be so grateful. Please also feel free to correct me on any suppositions I’ve made which are incorrect.
If you have stayed with me through this long post, thank you, and please ask any questions.
I am 48, pretty fit and healthy, never smoked/vaped, am not overweight, not anaemic or have any deficiencies.
Thank you.
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HighlandAutumn
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I was admitted to hospital last year with low Sats and breathing difficulties I was in for a month. The doctors were unsure what was wrong and I had a battery of tests, among them was a Bronchoscopy and lung wash. This showed among otherthings that I have PCP
(a virulent type of pneumonia) and was treated for such.
My point being without the bronchoscopy It wouldn’t have been diagnosed and the appropriate treatment given
I hope things improve for you and you have a good outcome
Oh goodness Brian, a month in hospital before you were diagnosed must have been very difficult. I see the need for a bronchoscopy in your case but as they already can see from the CT and tests it is not asthma I have but pneumonitis, and from all I have read on respected medical sites, the bronchoscopy will only add evidence to the diagnosis. It won’t alter the diagnosis. Hence my reticence in having to spend a whole day in hospital for a procedure that isn’t diagnostic nor treatment. If they’d wanted biopsies to check the nodules for malignancies of course I would have done that. I’ve had biopsies before including last year to determine whether my large intramuscular mass was benign or malignant. If malignant it would have been a sarcoma and with a poor prognosis so I feel strongly that I’d always want a diagnosis for anything and I had a gastroscopy in my 20’s to diagnose coeliac disease so I’ve been through an endoscopy before. I feel a little unsure as to what happens next. I was given no indication of when the MDT meeting would take place and if I would receive feedback from it.
Thank you so much for your response and kind wishes. I am so glad your condition was diagnosed and treated from the bronchoscopy.
Welcome to the forum. I'm so sorry you're going through this dreadful ordeal. For what it's worth, I had a bronchoscopy when I was first being diagnosed. It was quick and painless and confirmed that I had haemophilus lurking in my lungs.
We have an estate of new 'homes' being built at the top of our road. The builders, Redrow, seem very keen to get on well with existing residents. If I were you I would contact the person you can find furthest up the pecking order in your building company. Explain your 'problem' and ask what he intends to do about it. If this were America, you would already be reaching for your lawyer. This company is seriously damaging your health and enjoyment of your property. Possibly Cits Advice could help. They used to provide a free session of legal advice. If you contact the company, they can no longer plead ignorance. Good luck.
Thank you Alberta56. It is very true that in America it would be a quick decision to attempt to sue the building company. It is Bloor Homes in my case. They have acknowledged receipt of my husband’s email and have passed it on to the relevant person so we await their response.
I think you'll have to be polite but firm and very persistent. They could possibly find another site for all the building materials, which are causing a lot of the trouble, or they could order the builders to be considerably less slap happy in moving things about. It is too easy for those at the top to ignore what is being done in their name. Best wishes, Chris.
Hi and welcome, you seem very level headed and I agree if a procedure is not needed why do it although they must have a reason for it. But it’s your choice, I am always being told this when in hospital. I have emphysema and was originally told it was my smoking that caused it but since then and after 100’s of tests (as you see I have no issues ) and talking to the respiratory consultant they now think it was 60% smoking and 40% work. This is because I worked as a glass cutter for 40 years and the glass dust (silica) that I breathed in helped damage my lungs . But they are still learning about how certain environments can affect your health. You sound like a sensible person doing what you can to help yourself,I always like to have all the information of what they want todo and what they are or aren’t looking for , I have always said information is the key to anything. Good luck in the future you have a good attitude which will help. Kevin
Thank you for your supportive and kind response. I agree that information provides us with knowledge and we can make educated decisions about our healthcare. I am a very practical person and tend to just deal with matters as and when they crop up without much fuss but I am a straight-talker and don’t want a softly softly response from specialists (and some don’t like being questioned), but I like information, facts and stats. I believe you have to champion your own cause with medical conditions and not fear to ask questions or challenge where necessary.
I will continue to push for whatever I need to.
I’m glad you know that silica played a part in your emphysema and they can no longer blame it completely on your smoking. I hope you are presently well and have symptoms managed.
Hi and thanks . I do try and be kind specially on here because of the subject matter. Not to well at the moment having more bad days than good, I suffer with pain (Abdominal,Back and Chest) with as yet no medical answers and you learn as you go. Doctors don’t like pain scales as a percentage they prefer 0 to 10 . I am currently on 8/10 , but also have FND, GORD COPD (emphysema) and OA of the spine(cervical). I hope you get the answers you need and want and not to many negative ones . Cheers ( although can’t drink at the moment) lol. Kevin
I empathise hugely with your pain Kevin. I had a prolapsed disc in my lumber region in my mid-30’s which caused horrendous sciatica. At the time I was never sent for an MRI and with the flare-ups that came in the ensuing years physios would always pour scorn on the fact a GP had told me it was a bulging disc and the fluid was leaking from the protective layers. It was always a case of being told to strengthen my core, which made things worse. Fast forward to Dec 2022 and I was in regular, high levels of pain and for the first time, bilateral sciatica. I was referred to my medical practice’s musculoskeletal physio. He was lovely, but again told me it was nonsense I’d had a slipped disc and it would all be muscular and soft tissue inflammation. Referrals to MRI only came if I lost feeling in the saddle area or lost control of bladder and bowels. Many more telephone consultations and emergency appointments to see the paramedic nurse practitioner ensued until I’d had more than enough. My GP referred me back to the physio and he reluctantly referred me for an MRI. The MRI was in late August 2023 and I got the results late September ‘23. They’d found a large tumour hidden away in my gluteus and piriformus muscles. It was over 18cm in length and was overall 18.1 x 7.5 x 10.1cm.
The most amazing thing was that it couldn’t be seen nor felt. We had NO idea it was there! I was immediately referred to the sarcoma service, met with the plastic surgeon, had bloods, went in for four biopsies and saw a spinal clinic practitioner by the end of the year. Luckily the biopsy results were benign but it had to come out as it was in a position where it was compressing the sciatic nerve and as it had grown to that size, if it continued to grow, there would obviously be more risk to the bowel and pelvic region.
Incidentally, the MRI showed severe dehydration of my L5 and S1 discs. They were completely flat! I was furious with all the physios I’d seen during years of agonising pain when they all insisted it wasn’t disc-related. Unfortunately nothing can be done about that damage now but I at least know after all these years that it wasn’t soft tissue damage. The GP I’d seen had been correct. It was completely unrelated to the large mass but the mass did explain the bilateral sciatica. Thank goodness I fought for that MRI.
I had surgery April 2024 and it was the most positive experience start to finish. The entire gluteus maximus had to be cut right through as the mass was so deeply entrenched within all the fibres. I sacrificed some muscle in order to remove it fully but it was a success and my recovery was completely straightforward. I knew the risks of infection, bleeding and loss of control of that side’s foot and ankle were all possible, especially if the sciatic nerve was compromised but the drain held barely any blood, I had no infection and I could walk without drop foot. I was elated. My recovery was excellent and within 4 weeks my hubby was sent back to work and I got back to normal life. 3 months on I’m walking and climbing stairs with no pain from the surgery site. I have to deep tissue massage it to try and prevent adhesions from scar tissue which would affect movement over time but even that has gone well I can feel it making a difference.
I am under pain management and the clinicians are amazing. My one was the first person to understand all the issues involved and said all those physios dealt with me incorrectly. They were giving me core strengthening exercises which tense the muscles but I needed to round and give my spine more movement to relax the muscles. After years of pain my body had become ultra-sensitive to protecting itself and so would tense and spasm and doing core strengthening only hindered me further. Just as well I told the physios their exercises made me worse and I would give up on them.
The mass proved to be a giant lipoma and since then I only have sciatica in the one leg from the original damage to my discs, but it is much more manageable. The bilateral sciatica has gone.
It’s so frustrating when we have to fight for answers and sometimes get incorrect answers and seem to be on a merry-go-round to nowhere so I really do empathise with your predicament. I hope you have been referred to pain management clinic. I have to admit I was sceptical at first but my clinician is amazing and she is so supportive I read all the websites she recommended, ordered a book she’d mentioned and was very pro-active. I went from hating physios to becoming the pain clinic’s physio’s teachers pet. 😉
You have a lot of issues and a lot of pain to deal with. Make sure you practice self-compassion. I discovered we give others much compassion but never ourselves. We beat ourselves up for the things we can’t do, often apologising for it, get angry at our bodies for letting us down, etc., but giving ourselves compassion really does help on a psychological and physical level.
I agree, kindness goes a very long way. All the best as you continue to get medical answers and manage your pain levels. I don’t drink either so I’ll clink my mug of Earl grey tea (my evening cuppa) against whatever you prefer, Kevin. All the very best.
reading your post is almost the same journey that I’ve been on except the construction work was happening in our own homes.
Over the years we have updated/renovated a number of properties but I also kept horses & poultry…. So a double whammy.
I had the same discussion about a Bronchiscopy & came to the same conclusion… we wouldn’t find out anything to change the diagnosis/treatment so why take the risk.
I’m now 4 years in from that. We moved house to a newer property with underfloor heating. I have the HEPA filters etc etc but the condition has gradually progressed & I now have Pulmonary Fibrosis.
I’m fortunate to have good medical support & would recommend you get a referral to Pulmonary Rehab which in my experience has been very helpful. Not just the exercise but also the information & knowledge gained.
Keeping as fit as possible is crucial for whatever lies ahead.
It sounds like you are doing everything you can. Wishing you all the best.
Thank you Tawny10. I also kept poultry for 10 years and had no reaction whatsoever to them and it has been quite a few years now since the last of the flock passed. I made the decision not to replace them due to ongoing back pain and the fact I’m not getting any younger!
I feel relieved that you also reached the same conclusion regarding the bronchoscopy as me. I feel I’m currently in a position where I don’t know what is going to happen next. The consultant has written to my GP to get me started on the steroid inhaler and so I guess I will hear from the practice regarding that very soon, but I’m not sure how the respiratory department at the hospital plan to proceed now I’ve refused the bronchoscopy. I’m somewhat in limbo right now.
We do have some carpets but the flooring is a mix of hardwood, tiles and carpet.
The HEPA filters are on our list and I have been researching them. Potentially we will have one running in the bedroom, one in the living room, and one in the kitchen so when the back door is opened it can kick in and purify the dusty air coming in and settling. I’d like this one to be portable too so I can take it to my craft room where I spend a lot of time, but not today as it’s incredibly warm and humid and I can no longer open the windows up there.
Thank you for all your recommendations and I am determined to keep myself as fit and healthy as possible.
I am so sorry you have now progressed to fibrosis but hope you have it well-managed.
Hi and welcome to the site HighlandAutumn. I am so sorry to read of the problems you are having with building works where you live. Close to me there have been hundreds of new houses built over the last couple of years and goodness knows how many people have suffered from this not knowing the causes. Luckily the houses were built very quickly and didn't drag on like yours. I can't advise but it sounds like you are doing everything you can to be sensible. I would do as Alberta suggests and contact the company to see if there is anything that can be done to help. I wish you well and hope that you can find some help to deal with this x
Thanks Izb1. We definitely will be pushing for information from Bloor Homes and will be somewhat of a thorn in their sides for as long as is needed. There are so many new estates going up everywhere it seems and so I have wondered just how many people are being made ill by it. I’m never afraid to speak up especially as others may gain from the company acknowledging the issue, which I believe amounts to a form of air pollution.
Welcome. Their are lots of friends on here you can talk to. I am so sorry to read of your predicament. How unfortunate that construction work is being done so close to your home. I hope you can get sorted with your health issue soon.
Thank you Collie4, I can see just how many wonderful people ready to respond, welcome and offer support to me there are on this forum. I am so glad I decided to look for one. You’re all a truly reassuring bunch.
Hi HighlandAutumn, I have HP, unfortunately after about 6 years fibrosis was also added to the diagnosis.
You sound as if you are doing all the right things. Wondered if you had carpets in your home? I had the majority of our carpets replaced with hardwood flooring. Keep physically active I found pulmonary rehabilitation beneficial , I know you said you are agoraphobic so maybe look at online courses? Really important if you get a chest infection get it treated pronto! Don’t wait for your body to fight the infection. Hepa filter air purifiers are on in my living space and bedroom. Take care.
I’m sorry you developed fibrosis. May I ask how long you had HP before the fibrosis occurred?
I’m going to look for online pulmonary courses next. I have heard singing and breathing exercises are very beneficial so hope to find some courses and tutorials accessible online. Thank you for the suggestion.
And I will heed your warning and never sit on a chest information but go straight to the GP.
Yes, the HEPA filters are being researched right now. Any recommendations from anyone?
hi and welcome. I empathise with your situation. Our son was having building work done on his house and it g by evident that the dust was affecting me I wore a mask and we resorted to taking the three year old back to our house on our childcare days until all the drilling etc had stopped xx also took my reliever inhaler which I don’t normally need xx
It just goes to show doesn’t it. We had two extensions on our previous property but I never reacted badly to any of the building work, just the attitude sometimes of the builder!
It was a good call to have your grandchild back to your house on your days and not remain in your son’s home. I hope no one else was affected by the work and that you have had a symptom reduction since. Did you have a HEPA mask or anything along those lines or just a standard face mask? I have been looking at ones with HEPA filters and though not cheap, I would definitely buy one for when I have to nip outside if they are recommended.
I’m so sorry you’re going through this as I can understand how traumatic this is for you.
My husband was diagnosed with HP last year after a high resolution CT scan and multi disciplinary team meeting. Sorry I can’t advise on a bronchoscopy as Peter was never offered one. In his case we worked out that his allergen is feathers (from duvet, pillows, cushions) so set about eradicating them from the house, doing a deep clean and buying a large air purifier. As others have said, he found the pulmonary rehab course very beneficial. He had a course of steroids and now just takes a preventer inhaler.
As Alberta said, I would reach out to the construction company and ask for a meeting. Work out what you want them to do and ask for it. If they aren’t very helpful you may have to use the media to put pressure on them!
Obviously I don’t know your situation but could you consider renting your house out and rent something elsewhere until the building work is completed? Or is there anyone you could stay with? I know this sounds extreme but it is a serious situation.
Thanks for your kind message and I’m so sorry your husband has been diagnosed. It is interesting that they were happy to give the full diagnosis without a bronchoscopy.
Unfortunately, no I could not rent or move out. Firstly I believe it would be nigh impossible to find someone willing to live so close to a very busy building site but most importantly, my son cannnot cope with change and he has his security and all he needs here. It really is our dream home, adapted to suit our lifestyle and needs. Of course it was considered but the house would surely depreciate in value if marketed now and ill health or not we simply can’t sell, rent or move out. The seriousness of the situation is not lost on me; to the contrary it I really can’t stop avoiding exposure to this dust.
Hi highlandAutumn I am so sorry you’re having such a tough time. It certainly puts my complaints in perspective. I’m sorry I have no help for you or no words of wisdom but I do hope circumstances improve. Sending hugs your way🤗🤗
Hi and thank you. Everyone copes with their own health issues and they’re troublesome and worrying for them and so yours shouldn’t be discounted in any way. I use mindfulness and self-compassion as tools to contain my stress levels at a manageable level
Many thanks for your kind words. Sending lots of hugs back.
Very warm welcome I honestly can't believe what you have gone through this is awful 💔. I can't relate as I only have asthma and heart problems. Wish you all the best and hope the construction company can help you. X
Thanks hun x my heart problem is currently stable but my asthma has been the worst it's ever been I had an asthma attack couple months ago and I have been on so many different inhalers and needed an urgent asthma review but I got a chest infection so couldn't go. X
Surely this is unacceptable. The building company should not be allowing dust from their works to spread like this. Surely you need to complain to them and then, if necessary something like H&S executive and the local council who presumably granted planning permission .
We’re working on it Difficul. It really is a nightmare but our council can inspect the site to see what measures are in place to prevent air pollution but other than the occasional road sweeper, we don’t see anything, nor any workers wearing masks. I know it’s hot right now but even in the winter the most you see if a high-vis jacket or tabard. I have no clue what other things they ought to be doing and whether it applies only to the area where the properties are actually going up or the whole field. The complaint has gone in to the building company. We’ve been trying to look up how we stand legally but there’s very scant information unless you’re a construction worker.
I’ve been trying to work out how to add photos to actually show things as they are but I can only add one per post? Am I missing something or is that correct?
This shows their ‘storage area’ up our end of the field, which means constant activity with heavy machinery dropping off or collecting to use. So this is obviously going to be the last part of the field to be built upon.
This photo looks down towards the development. You can see houses quite a way down and it has taken about 2 years to get to this point (it was an enormous field). The huge soil piles have been there even longer from when they were still doing exploratory digs before they got started. Every now and again diggers will come and turn the soil over. The digger drivers often seem to be just playing about and carve initials into the sides. Obviously the dry dust blows straight across to us and when it’s been disturbed by the diggers I have no idea how much other irritants are being disturbed such as spores, silica and goodness knows what else.
Both this and the previous photo are taken from my craft room. It’s triple aspect and such a wonderful space where I love to create. Of course with our current humid weather it’s pretty impossible to be up there without a breeze and I can’t have the windows open…so I’m not happy as I’m in the middle of some projects for gifts.
This is the view one floor down from my study of the digger turning over the soil. There might be good reason for it but it doesn’t do me any favours. Also in the background you can see a huge pile of rocks excavated and they have a big rock crushing machine which generates a lot of dust as does the dumping of aggregate on a regular basis.
I am sorry you are going through this . Can’t offer experience of your condition but
1. Every construction site should have (a) risk assessments including pollutants (b) regulations re dust and means of damping down dust
2. Your local authority should have an Environmental Standards Officer who should investigate claims of severe air pollution
3. It might be worth photographing evidence of dust on window cills externally and internally - on other surfaces ie in bedrooms if windows are open. Also you can buy air quality monitors on Amazon - check for what exactly they measure- there might be one that could measure dust particles.
You could also Hoover particles into a hep filter to get dust contents analyzed.
4 and f inally I wonder if other Neighbours are complaining of excess dust - a group of you going to the Health and safety officer for the builder/developer and the officer at the local council would carry more weight.
5. If you manage to bring about improvement in working practices that would benefit everyone. Last ditch option is local press - this might be a concern they would wish to publicize.
Thank you so much Helen. Our next door neighbours have also noticed the dust getting inside but they do have their windows and doors open a lot, whereas we currently aren’t as we’re trying to keep it out. No one else has become affected by the dust just complaints of needing to wash the cars all the time and keep on top of the build up on external sills, etc.
My husband has taken some photos but doing lots to build up a portfolio of evidence is a great idea, thank you.
Last photo but this also taken from the study shows the proximity to our garden. We have spent the past couple of years planting trees and allowing our shrubs to grow taller than the wall behind them so that they will provide screening from the new houses which will eventually be there. But due to the dust and how it has made me so unwell, I can’t dry washing on the line nor sit in my very private little reading nook my hubby made for me last year. We prepared for the noise and the fact there would be a need for privacy from the new housing, but never in a million years believed it could make someone so unwell. And I still think there’s another couple of years to complete the build and a 6 month settle period once all machinery has left the site, for the dust to settle.
So much love, money, time, effort and hard work has gone into making this a wonderful home and a forever home for our youngest son to remain in when we are no longer here. We have a plan of action when that happens and his three adult siblings, two of whom have left home, will take on his care as I never want him placed in an institutional setting. He has autism and communication, interaction and sensory issues but he isn’t mentally unwell, he’s a real fountain of knowledge and knows an awful lot, he just can’t take care of himself as he doesn’t feel hunger, thirst and can’t communicate pain or illness. Anyway, that’s irrelevant but it’s why we can’t just up and move.
And let’s be honest, who on earth would buy it right now anyway?!
Thanks for listening everyone, it’s meant a great deal.
Hi Highland Autumn, just wondering if you have any neighbours in your vicinity that are also suffering from the construction dust, as a group of you might have more weight in discussions with the building company, or contacting the council?
Hi Shirazmataz, thank you for your suggestion. Our next door neighbour is definitely noticing the dust in their home, but they do like to have their French doors and windows open, and our garden and trees definitely seem to shelter them a little. Otherwise the other neighbours are cleaning cars and exterior sills more often but not so much indoors.
It’s a bit of a peculiar layout on our estate as it’s not just a road with houses in a row on both sides. Instead there are individual drives which serve 2-3 houses so it gives a sort of tucked away feeling with each little driveway private between the houses it serves and not council-owned. So 6 houses away per se probably aren’t getting anything like the amount of dust we get and they won’t even have a view of the development.
That said, although no one we’ve spoken to have had health issues I’m confident our next door neighbours would definitely add weight to our complaint.
Oh Laurie, thank you. Honestly the kindness I’ve received from you all has really touched me. Thank you for your anger for the situation. In a world where so many people decide to ‘sit on the fence’ you are all so supportive and pro-active. We will be implementing all the suggestions you have all made.
This has all escalated since Monday when I went from being treated for asthma, to a pulmonary embolism, to potential cancer, to HP. I only got home from the hospital late on Wednesday so Thursday I literally hibernated, rested and researched and sent my hubby back to work, and then yesterday started to look into legislation, etc. My husband contacted the building company on Thursday and we will be putting together as much evidence as we can collate for the local council ready for Monday, so it’s been something of a manic, totally unexpected ride since Monday. A peculiar discombobulated feeling as I lost three days to the hospital visits and being admitted for further tests and so the weekend has crept up and I feel it was a 2-day week as I seem to lose track of space and time in hospital. So I’m just trying to get my breath back (literally and figuratively) and the fight back will begin in earnest next week. I’m not one to let go when I get the bit between my teeth so we won’t be taking this sitting down.
Again, thank you for your much-appreciated support.
Great to hear back from you, and to hear the fight in your message 💪🏻
I don’t know where you live, but our local BBC news are always saying “do you think there is something we should be covering?” I think there is!!
Please, please let us know how you are doing, or if you need anything, even if you just want to rant! We’re all good listeners! I wonder if there are any legal types amongst us?!
i was working next to a demolition site and the room we we were working in had work benches along sides . it was a laboratory . and the dust was visible ach day , we had to protect the microscopes . this site was only about 12-15 ft away from windows , much nearer than at your site .
but the staff had to put up with it . I developed a lung abscess in my lung and was sseriously ill in hospital. the site of the abscees was consistent with being caused by particulate matter but was told i couldnt clainm as it was all hospit al property where i was working,
I was about 50 when that happened and fit as i had sailed a racing dinghy regularly for many years. i am 87 now cannot breathe properly.but have to use inhalers and ther medications
since then have had 2 cases of clots in te lung -ie PE.s and other visits to hospital.
get advice where you can
be very aware of what can happen, and do take avoiding actions if possible
Thank you for that Jaybird. I’m so sorry to hear what you’ve been through. I am definitely researching plenty and am well aware of the risks involved. I will do everything possible to reduce my exposure to the construction dust.
I hope your medications give you some relief. It’s terrible you were made so ill in the workplace.
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Hi all I'm newbie. Anyone here have lung damage due to Amiodarone treatment?
Adult Whooping Cough longer term and associated symptoms.
Home test kits dust mites/pet dander
Regular seasonal flare-ups
