tracy

What sort of paint did you use? If it is ordinary paint with chemicals then I would say that this is the reason for your reaction.

If this is the case, then the thing to do is to open all your windows to ventilate the place, then turn your heating right up and leave it for a few days, opening the windows on your return, or better yet, getting someone else to do this.

You can take VitC and bicarb to neutralise the effect immediately.