Should I stay or should I go?

I might be dealing with mold too, see my post.

Did you have C4a tested?

"Just tested positive for two types of toxic mold--one is Penicillum Notatum, and the other is some type of Aspergillus (I think)." - How? Know the type/name of test.

I wish survingmold site had more info.

Some are more susceptible (even after a rain fall) per genes. I think there is a gene test for this - labcorp.

I don't know the answer to your question, Margaret, but I do wish you the best of luck trying to unravel this mystery.

And, at least you get a bump :)

Ok, those are useful responses, though still not sure about the moving conundrum. I am moving out of my house, as I said, just where (?) is the question. Upon reviewing these labs, I'm not even sure if these molds are house molds? I def. don't have "pigeon droppings" in my house, LOL. Penicillum Notatum maybe. If someone could help me with this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Here is page one of test results (followed by page two)
ASPERGILLUS FUMIGATUS IGG
15.6
<46.0 mcg/mL
IB
Antibody levels greater than the reference range indicate that the
patient has been immunologically sensitized to the antigen. The
significance of elevated IgG depends on the nature of the antigen and
the patient's clinical history. The test method was the Phadia
ImmunoCAP.
*This test was developed and its performance characteristics
determined by Viracor-IBT Laboratories. It has not been cleared or
approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
This test performed at:
ViraCor-IBT Laboratories
1001 NW Technology Dr.
Lee's Summit, MO 64086-5603
Director: M Altrich PhD
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis E
SD
Saccharopolyspora rectivir
Not detected
Not detected
Saccharomonospora viridis
Not detected
Not detected
Thermoactinomyces candidus
Not detected
Not detected
Thermoactinomyces sacchari
Not detected
Not detected
Thermoactinomyces vulgaris
Not detected
Not detected
Aspergillus fumigatus
Not detected
Not detected
Aureobasidium pullulans IgG
<2.0
< 13.6 mcg/mL
Alternaria tenuis IgG
3.2
< 13.6 mcg/mL
Cladosporium herbarum IgG
13.0
< 14.7 mcg/mL
Penicillium notatum IgG
19.0
< 17.5 mcg/mL
Phoma spp IgG
4.5
< 6.6 mcg/mL
Trichoderma viride IgG
<2.0
< 13.4 mcg/mL
Mixed Feathers IgG
<2.0
< 5.8 mcg/mL
Pigeon Droppings IgG
12.9
< 12.3 mcg/mL
Aureobasidium pullulans IgG, Alternaria tenuis IgG, Cladosporium
herbarum IgG, Penicillium notatum IgG, Phoma spp IgG, Trichoderma
viride IgG, Mixed Feathers IgG and Pigeon Droppings IgG: This
test(s) was performed using a kit that has not been cleared or
approved by the FDA. The analytical performance characteristics
of this test have been determined by Quest Diagnostics Nichols
Institute, Valencia, CA. This test should not be used for
diagnosis without confirmation by other medically established
means.
This test performed at:
Quest Diagnostics Valencia
Nichols Institute
27027 Tourney Road
Valencia, CA 91355-5386
Director: B Kashlan MD, FCAP
S CHARTARUM (RGm24) IgG
QBA
S chartarum (RGm24) IgG
Pending
PERFORMING SITE:
IB
Viracor-IBT Laboratories, Inc., 1001 NW Technology Drive , Lee's Summit, MO 64086
QBA
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, 1901 Sulphur Spring Road, Baltimore, MD 21227 Laboratory Director: Edgar G. Khalluf, M.D., CLIA: 21D0218877
SD
Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute, Valencia, 27027 Tourney Road , Valen

LIST OF RESULTS PRINTED IN THE OUT OF RANGE COLUMN:
Penicillium notatum IgG
19.0
< 17.5 mcg/m

Pigeon Droppings IgG
12.9
< 12.3 mcg/mL
SD
Aureobasidium pullulans IgG, Alternaria tenuis IgG, Cladosporium
herbarum IgG, Penicillium notatum IgG, Phoma spp IgG, Trichoderma
viride IgG, Mixed Feathers IgG and Pigeon Droppings IgG: This
test(s) was performed using a kit that has not been cleared or
approved by the FDA. The analytical performance characteristics
of this test have been determined by Quest Diagnostics Nichols
Institute, Valencia, CA. This test should not be used for
diagnosis without confirmation by other medically established
means.
This test performed at:
Quest Diagnostics Valencia
Nichols Institute
27027 Tourney Road
Valencia, CA 91355-5386
Director: B Kashlan MD, FCAP
THE ABOVE NORMAL VALUE RANGE(S) MAY NOT APPLY, SINCE
AGE AND/OR SEX WERE NOT PROVIDED ON THE REQUISITION.
No collection date received. We have used the date the specimen was
received by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated as the collection date.
If this is incorrect, please contact us at 1-

I don't see that you are positive for aspergillus - unless I'm reading it wrong.

you have 15.6
range <46.0

Bottom of test - shows what ones you are out of range:

LIST OF RESULTS PRINTED IN THE OUT OF RANGE COLUMN:
Penicillium notatum IgG
19.0
< 17.5 mcg/m

Pigeon Droppings IgG
12.9
< 12.3 mcg/mL

Hi Girlie and Lymie Girl,

You're right Girlie, I think I'm just positive for the Penicillium Notatum.

L. Girl, it wasn't allergy testing; it was a blood test, and I was tested for toxic molds through Quest labs.

I have an appointment with her in a few weeks.

So the question is, where does Pencillium Notatum come from, aside from bread? Did I get it from food, or from a sick house? Do I or don't I need to move asap?

M

Oh hey Kim!

Yes, you're right about flooding etc. And we've had so much rain the last two years, it has been unreal. I'm sure there's some kind of mold contamination in my lungs, so dead decaying leaves aren't helping either (since it hasn't frozen much this winter).

And yes, Arizona has a big problem with mold, though I imagine that's indoor mold. The Phoenix area is heavily polluted as well. New Mexico also has a problem, which is in large part due to poor construction standards (such things are not well regulated in New Mexico; you can build practically anything)! Can you see that I've done my late-night internet stint? NC, however, is really one of the worst states for mold, inside or outside.

I'll have to learn to use chlorox (nasty stuff), and get someone to blow away all the dead leaves from anywhere near the house.

I still think there could be mold in my house (unless, as I said, it's just the rotting food in the kitchen), but I won't know until I test.

How are things going with your LLMD, K?

M

I agree with cr3ativegirl that location makes a difference. I had Lyme for many years but things really went downhill for me when I moved to Seattle. Everything there is constantly wet for 8 months of the year. The building I lived in was 5 years old but they were having to do a massive amount of repairs due to not having weatherproofed it properly.

I moved to Boulder, CO this year into a brand new place and have been doing better. I'm sure it's possible to find a moldy place here with the history of flooding. But I've noticed that even when I forget to eat some fruit and it sits on the counter for a few days it doesn't grow mold immediately like it did in Seattle. The dry air does require an increased skin moisturizer budget though. Something I never needed much of before.

I think that as Lyme patients with suppressed immune systems we only have a small capacity for fighting Lyme and co. Anything that takes away from that reserve could impede the healing process. Environmental allergens and mold probably reduce your body's fighting potential similar to eating a food if it bothers you eg: gluten. At worst the mold toxins could bioaccumulate adding to your body burden.

"The vast majority of mold species require "water activity" levels that are equivalent to material equilibrium moisture contents corresponding to relative humidities of at least 70%."
www.fsec.ucf.edu/en/consumer/buildings/basics/moldgrowth.htm

Someone asked a similar question here:
ask.metafilter.com/81097/Mold-in-the-US