My garage is killing me

[susandennis]

About 6 or 7 years or so ago, I was down in my storage unit one day. Our garage is two levels. My section is below ground. Down there where the cars park there are little rooms that contain the storage units. People use them for Christmas decorations and suitcases and all kinds of shit. I spent several hours down there one day cleaning out and organizing my stuff. And then I started coughing. I coughed for a week. I finally got better and then the next time I was down there in the storage area, I coughed for two weeks. I quit going down there and the coughing went away.

My friend Tija rents my storage unit now. She keeps her old business record down there.

Today, I got in my car and drove out of the garage like I do every day but I had a coughing fit as I left. I popped a benzonatate (I keep some in my glove compartment for such times. I went swimming and McDonald's then grocery shopping and then stopped at Amazon to drop off a package and came home. I loaded up all the groceries and re arranged the bags in the back of the car and came upstairs. Before I even got to the street level part of the parking garage I had another huge coughing attack. This one lasted 15 minutes and was horrible.

There's clearly something in that garage that my longs really hate. I have an N95 mask from last Summer's fires, I think I'm going to get it out and wear it to my car and back. It sounds ridiculous but the coughing sounds gross and kind of feels like strangling.

At least I don't have o go back there today. Whew. I've now been sitting and breathing and sipping water and am beginning to feel better. This is a not fun development, for sure.

Also not fun, one of my favorite swim suits is coming to EOL (End Of Life). I do not use the highest quality spandex fabric because it's too pricey and I like making suits and having new/different ones. I like finding the cheapest fabric I can and having a lot of suits and rotating them through. I don't expect them to live longer than about six months. But, when I get a favorite, I'm always sad to see it go. I currently have 3 in rotation. I don't even like one of them. I'd be happy to have it go.

I have two really amazing fabrics in house now for swimsuits and a couple of others, too. I was toying with the idea of doing that today but now it's noon and I haven't even put away the groceries yet. I think I'll wait until Monday. (I have tickets to the baseball game tomorrow.)

I think now I am going to put those groceries away, dig out that mask and put it will my swim bag for tomorrow, and then just sit and breathe for a while.

Comments

[siglinde99.livejournal.com]

That cough sounds quite frightening. Do you have issues with dust or mold? I wouldn’t be surprised if the storage area was full of it.

[susandennis]

those are my thoughts about the cause.

[restoman.livejournal.com]

I agree with Siglinde. I have similar problems with dust and mold.

[susandennis]

so what do you do about it?

[restoman.livejournal.com]

what do you do about it?

Well, mostly I cough a lot!

I think what happens is that dust and mold spores get into my sinuses and cause irritation. The irritation produces mucous (the body's way of washing out toxins from the sinuses). The mucous runs down the back of my throat, (post nasal drip) causing coughing, and eventually a sore throat and possibly a secondary infection.

I treat the symptoms as best I can: half a benedryl before bed every night. This helps dry up my sinuses overnight and also makes me sleepy. I stopped using a full benedryl because I read about connections to memory loss from regular use. Lately, because of spring pollen, I have been taking a generic nasal decongestant: Phenylephrine HCI 10mg tablets (one per day) instead because the benedryl wasn't doing enough. If things get bad enough I use Flonase nasal spray or Mucinex.

I should wear a dust mask, but I hate them and prefer to just avoid the worst dusty or moldy situations. It also helps to get others to do your dirty work, like sweeping and vacuuming, etc.

Apparently a big problem for me was dust mite droppings. Dust mites live on shed skin cells in carpets, bedding, pillows etc. I started taking the benedryl because without it, after a night's sleep, I would be all congested. To specifically address the dust mite issue, I double up the pillow cases on each pillow and then add a towel over the pillow for my head. I try to wash bedding frequently and I change the towel even more often. The towel gives me 3 layers of fabric between my face and the pillow itself, which seems to help.

Busy day today! Sorry it took so long to answer this.

[texasts.livejournal.com]

Likely mold... Try the mask though. Sounds like managment is falling down on the job.

[susandennis]

This (the storage closet) area is used daily by dozens and no one has ever had an issue but me. So i'm not inclined to blame 'management' (it's a condo, so management is us).

[texasts.livejournal.com]

All righty then. Your Homeowners coop doesn’t have a managment company or something running things for maintaining common areas and such? That’s what I meant.

I’m rather oversensitive to breathing issues these days.

Anyway just trying to help. *laughs* I’ll just slink back into whatever dark corner of the internet I hang out in now.

[carriea31.livejournal.com]

That is so weird!  I wonder what the heck it is. I hope the mask helps!

[msconduct.livejournal.com]

Hmm, just wondering if when you were cleaning out the storage you were exposed to the general car fumes from the garage? I know my mother doesn't like hanging around in underground car parks as she feels it in her lungs (same with outside tables at cafes that are close to a lot of traffic).