<p>I'm in college and my roommate is very messy. Clothes line the floor, an unfed fish sits in its tank in a corner, dust and dirt and other things I can't really name are everywhere. </p>
<p>The dirt and open windows have caused my asthma to go out of control. I landed in the ER a few days ago because of it. My roomie knows that dust, perfumes, dirt and cold air make me ill yet she continues to do things in the room that will make me ill.</p>
<p>It's a tad bit late to change my roommate, but if I don't do something I might land in the ER for a night again. I've complained about this to the people in charge of dorms about two to three months ago and nothing was done.</p>
<p>I wasn't able to breathe a few days ago because of it and had the most massive asthma attack i've ever had before. Nothing is being done to help me. What should I do before I land up in the ER again?</p>
<p>Common sense says just keep complaining. The squeaky wheel gets the most oil, but this squeaky wheel is having her emails ignored.</p>
<p>Have your ER doctor email the RA, the Dean of Students, etc to notify them your health is in danger and that the college risks being liable for your illness. </p>
<p>Go visit the disabled students office and ask (demand) to start the paperwork for a quick accomodation of your condition–such as a private room. If they don’t respond, talk to your parents about hiring a lawyer.</p>
<p>Sorry But, I’m not feeling any sympathy. I think I was on your side until the cold air and perfume things. Do you not expect your roomate to open the window and wear perfume? Also, aren’t there singles available?</p>
<p>Need to establish the fact that this is a legit problem. I would go talk to an RA first, and see if you can get the issue resolved. I don’t think it would be unreasonable to ask your roommate to stop using perfumes in the room, and to leave the window closed.</p>
<p>Cold air though…? Sounds odd to me, what do you do when you go outside in the winter?</p>
<p>not for freshman. I’ve requested it and my request has not been respected. I’m requesting one for next year and with my doctors note i’m hoping that they’ll give it to me. </p>
<p>I don’t expect her to change her lifestyle for me. I would just prefer that she doesn’t spray down the room with the stuff. Like she stands in the middle of the room and spritzes herself. The main issue is that she does not live in the room at night but only in the day time (I would rather not explain that part lol)</p>
<p>@Hazy, for cold air I have to wrap myself up in sweaters and scarves. It’s one of the triggers for my asthma. It’s a common trigger as well. When i’m at home I have devices to warm up the air in my room so that I can breathe easier. These devices are not allowed on campus. </p>
<p>I am not a disabled student and I don’t count as one at my school, it’s just that my asthma has been going crazy this semester. I put that down when I applied for a room so they gave me a roommate with asthma as well, but the severity of our asthma is different.</p>
<p>Have you tried going that route? Try, or try again! If perfume and cold air lands you in the ER, you cannot be expected to live with a roommate. You probably have a legal claim to a medical single, as well as that warm air device that lets you breath better. (The Americans with Disabilities Act should apply here, even if you don’t think of yourself as having a disability.)</p>
<p>P.S. The right office for you to talk to would be Access Services / the Office of Accessible Education / Office of Disabilities Services or whatever your college calls it, NOT the office that makes regular housing assignments.</p>
<p>thank you so much for your help. I have found out that the housing department can’t do much for me. My parents and I are taking it up with a different department and they are working on it now, hopefully they’ll do something about it. </p>
<p>Cold air is a huge trigger for me so don’t feel bad. I rarely have problems in the summer with my asthma. I know the sole semester I stayed in the dorms I told my roommate out flat that if she is going spray a perfume or something like febreeze to please do some minimally as it can trigger a migraine for me. The perfume was handled by her spraying it in the bathroom after she showered. </p>