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This is my worst nightmare. I just bought a two year old house last Friday and after spending a couple hours in it realized I'm reacting to something inside the house and need some help on what it might be.
After I've spent 15-20 minutes in the house from being outside, I notice my eyes start to get a little puffy. After about an hour, they get really red and itchy and stay that way until I leave. Once I get outside, they feel better almost immediately. It seems like I'm reacting to whatever it is throughout the house, not just in a specific location.
I had about 15 friends over on the night I moved in and only one of them mentioned something about their eyes being itchy, but it could have been from my cats.
I have no idea how I missed this during my walk-throughs and home inspection. The house is in Wisconsin and the previous owners built it new and lived there with their two children, but didn't have any pets. The upstairs is carpeted, downstairs is flooring and synthetic wood. My realtor had the carpets cleaned before I moved in, but the cleaners said they use an all-natural cleaner that is hypoallergenic.
I'm not allergic to anything that I know of, and it is only my eyes that are being irritated. No stuffy nose or sneezing. There may be a little tightness in my chest, but it isn't sever enough for me to say definitively.
I don't even know where to start to try to remedy the problem. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks a bunch.
I was concerned about chinese drywall before I moved in, so I called the builder to find out where they got their drywall from. They said it was from a place in Iowa, so I assumed it wouldn't be an issue.
I've already got an apt. scheduled with an allergist, but I'm not sure I see how they can test for everything possible in the house. Sorry for being negative, I'm just pretty disappointed I can't enjoy my new house.
Try opening the doors and windows for a few days (if possible) and run a fan to air out the place. As aforementioned, it could be the glue used on the carpet. It could be the chemicals on the carpet itself. Maybe the paint that was used. Maybe some kind of polyurethane on the wood cabinets or floor. Maybe the chemicals used to clean the house were harsh, etc.
Also, do you think there is a gas leak? is there a septic and maybe a gas is emitting? Underground/buried oil tank on the premises? Nearby gas station, chemical plant, fertilizer business, new construction -- anything that may have emitted something temporarily in the air?
Good luck and hope things go well with the allergist!
Were the previous owners smokers? If so, the effects from smoke can cling to the walls and ceiling, possibly affecting you, even though you don't smell it.
I hope you get this figured out soon and can enjoy your house.
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