Spoke too soon

[susandennis]

There is something in the air down in the storage area. And it's still there.

Best I can recall, I did head down there after writing that entry at 8:48. I collected boxes. It took two trips to get all I wanted out into the hallway. So maybe I was in the room with the storage cages for 5 minutes. 3 hours later it hit me. It felt like I needed to get fresh air and there wasn't any. I coughed with every breath for a good 5 minutes. I have no idea what asthma is like but this felt like I always assumed asthma did. Very strange and very not fun.

Good thing I don't need to get into that storage area very often. Ugh.

Comments

[katbyte.livejournal.com]

Get one of those painters masks and wear it in there.

[susandennis]

Yep!

[legalmoose]

I would guess there's some mold down there that you are not normally exposed to, but which is strong enough (still air?) that you're getting zapped by it when you go down there for any period of time.

[susandennis]

I'm sure you are right. I'm such a snob about not ever being affect by stuff like this. Karma's fucking with me. No better offer comes along, I'll get a mask, clear the stuff out and never go back there again.

[kyrielle]

Definitely time to use a mask. Also, bear in mind if it is a mold or something in the dust, it could be in/on the stuff you had stored there - were you working with the boxes you brought out between the time you were there and the time the attack hit? That could have also played into it, if they are affected. If they are plastic, I would scrub them down (while wearing a mask). If they are cardboard or otherwise damageable, I would check them over well and if it doubt, throw them out. (Particularly if you have recurring problems when working with the boxes, even if you haven't been near storage; if they give you no trouble, then presumably I worry too much.)

[susandennis]

doh! The pile of boxes - plastic (and full of dust) and cardboard where right there in the room where I had been for a while! I'll bet you are 100% right! Holey moley. I'm moving the ones I haven't used yet, to the terrace for airing out right now.

[kyrielle]

Airing may help a little. A scrub-down or replacement might be better. If it's dust, for any plastic ones that are washable, a good alternative is to dump them in the shower, turn on the air vent, turn the shower on hot, retreat, close the door, come back 5 minutes later, turn the shower off, leave the air vent on, and retreat again with the door closed. Tacky, but functional.

If it's mold, Lysol is well-advised as part of scrubbing or prior to the shower.

Neither does a bit of good with cardboard boxes. If you don't need them desperately, I'd chuck them (and get others, if you have to). If it's dust, it won't really get any worse. If it's mold, it could get on what is put in them, thus making the whole matter worse. (Not so bad if it's towels or clothes or dishes - all of which can and should be washed after storage, after all. If it is, however, books, or papers, or....)

Of course, with the level my allergies get to, I'm paranoid. But the kind of "can't breathe" experience you are describing is very much a bad sign and you do not want to have a worse attack. In the case of boxes, paranoia is usually pretty cheap.