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WHAT’S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN TOXIC MOLD AND LYME DISEASE?

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Posted 6/8/2018 7:37 PM (GMT 0)

Dr. Jay Davidson said...

-Few are enlightened that Lyme disease and mold can go hand in hand. However, the two conditions are so inter-connected, that some consider mold illness to be a co-condition of Lyme.
-Mold toxicity refers to the various molds that can negatively impact human health. Mold is a mildew or fungi that develops in a range of environments, and there are over 150,000 species in the world.
-Only some of the molds that we are exposed to are dangerous. Some of the most significant dangers of mold come from “mycotoxins”. Some research suggests that mycotoxins could be responsible for DNA damage.
-What some experts refer to as “mold illness,” is a multi-faceted condition called Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or CIRS.
-CIRS is a condition that was discovered by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker. According to Shoemaker, 25% of the population could be susceptible to CIRS. Often, Lyme disease can lead to the development of CIRS.
-People with Lyme are more likely to struggle with toxic mold, because their body cannot remove toxins normally. A person with Lyme disease has a damaged immune system, which makes it harder to overcome mold illness. Additionally, the mold illness can stop Lyme treatments from working.
-The first step in treating toxic mold illness is removing the patient from the unhealthy environment. It’s also crucial to clean the environment thoroughly and remove all mycotoxins.
-Bowel movements must be supported when treating for mold illness, as they will help to rid the system of any internal toxins.
-Once the environment has been cleaned, steps can be taken to support the detoxification process. This might include checking for co-existing conditions, and using supplements to aid in the detox.

drjaydavidson.com/toxic-mold-lyme/
Posted 6/8/2018 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
Makes you wonder, right? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg. Seems like almost everyone with lyme eventually circles back to mold. Also, many with lyme (including myself) never saw tick or bite. I often wonder if lyme (or other infections) load the the gun and mold (or other biotoxins) pull the trigger.
Posted 6/8/2018 8:15 PM (GMT 0)

k07 said...
Makes you wonder, right? Which comes first, the chicken or the egg. Seems like almost everyone with lyme eventually circles back to mold. Also, many with lyme (including myself) never saw tick or bite. I often wonder if lyme (or other infections) load the the gun and mold (or other biotoxins) pull the trigger.

It took a while for me to figure it out, but I believe I got down the progression.

I was having infrequent odd symptoms a couple years before the tick bite. We were aware of a little mold here and there in our house, but never really paid it much mind. Stupid, eh.... Then after the tick bite, I started experiencing major symptoms. So, I figured everything was Lyme. But, after 3 months of Lyme treatment, I was way worse. Now that I am treating mold, I have gotten quite a bit better, but still have a ways to go. Not sure my mobility will ever get back to the way it was. But, I have grown a new appreciation of life and will be ok with some permanent damage. It can always be worse.

The Lyme was just the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak. According to my blood work, I have no issues ridding my body of the Lyme associated toxins, but I do have a mutated HLA gene that makes it difficult to rid my body of mold. I also have marcons and e coli in my sinuses. Once I get the mold, marcons, and e coli taken care of, I'm hoping the Lyme will be a somewhat smooth process. We'll see...

So, in my case, it was the mold that loaded the gun and the Lyme that pulled the trigger.
Posted 6/8/2018 8:49 PM (GMT 0)
There seems to be some overlap between the two depending on who you ask. Some say its crucial, others dont address it all.

It seems to be mostly brought up by naturopaths and alternative medicine practitioners. I personally see it as kind of a shot in the dark guess, as theres really not any good ways to test for it. Just like lyme, the only tests available are antibody tests. Certain natoropaths claim they can diagnose it by holding a vial of mold close to your body and "observing your body's involuntary response." This is called muscle testing, which I personally think is a bunch of phooey, and if I ever had a doctor that claimed they could diagnose anything this way, I would immediately walk out of the office and find another doctor.

But I have talked to some people who claim that treating mold was the missing piece of the puzzle that helped them get better. I can also see how it can be abused by some doctors who use it as a convenient excuse as to why you arent getting better on their protocol. I think mostly it's just one of the many rabbit hole pitfalls that a lot of Lyme patients can fall into that can keep them chasing geese and treating one thing after another endlessly with no progress.

Thats not to say its a complete hoax. Even people who arent infected with Lyme can be exposed to black mold and become genuinely sick, but I have heard of people taking mold obsessions too far and going to such length as expensive remodels of their house or even moving.

If there is a connection, I think it has to do with the immune system. After having Lyme for a long time, your body's immune system is impaired and things that you never had problems with before that begin to affect you. This is also true with Epstein Barr and Lyme. I think the quote of Dr Shoemaker that hoagie used above sums it up pretty well. "-Often, Lyme disease can lead to the development of CIRS.
-People with Lyme are more likely to struggle with toxic mold, because their body cannot remove toxins normally. A person with Lyme disease has a damaged immune system, which makes it harder to overcome mold illness. Additionally, the mold illness can stop Lyme treatments from working."
Posted 6/8/2018 9:01 PM (GMT 0)

logmoss82 said...
There seems to be some overlap between the two depending on who you ask. Some say its crucial, others dont address it all.

It seems to be mostly brought up by naturopaths and alternative medicine practitioners. I personally see it as kind of a shot in the dark guess, as theres really not any good ways to test for it. Just like lyme, the only tests available are antibody tests. Certain natoropaths claim they can diagnose it by holding a vial of mold close to your body and "observing your body's involuntary response." This is called muscle testing, which I personally think is a bunch of phooey, and if I ever had a doctor that claimed they could diagnose anything this way, I would immediately walk out of the office and find another doctor.

But I have talked to some people who claim that treating mold was the missing piece of the puzzle that helped them get better. I can also see how it can be abused by some doctors who use it as a convenient excuse as to why you arent getting better on their protocol. I think mostly it's just one of the many rabbit hole pitfalls that a lot of Lyme patients can fall into that can keep them chasing geese and treating one thing after another endlessly with no progress.

Thats not to say its a complete hoax. Even people who arent infected with Lyme can be exposed to black mold and become genuinely sick, but I have heard of people taking mold obsessions too far and going to such length as expensive remodels of their house or even moving.

If there is a connection, I think it has to do with the immune system. After having Lyme for a long time, your body's immune system is impaired and things that you never had problems with before that begin to affect you. This is also true with Epstein Barr and Lyme. I think the quote of Dr Shoemaker that hoagie used above sums it up pretty well. "-Often, Lyme disease can lead to the development of CIRS.
-People with Lyme are more likely to struggle with toxic mold, because their body cannot remove toxins normally. A person with Lyme disease has a damaged immune system, which makes it harder to overcome mold illness. Additionally, the mold illness can stop Lyme treatments from working."

There are a series of specific blood tests, along with the VCS test, and the ERMI test that is enough to diagnose mold biotoxin illness.

https://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/lab-tests

I have known toxic mold exposure, low ADH, high C4a, high MMP-9, a failed HERTSMI-2 test, the HLA gene, and have been responding well to CSM tx so far.

I'd go so far as to say it may be easier to diagnose mold illness than it is Lyme... as long as the treating physician knows what they are looking for.
Posted 6/9/2018 1:41 PM (GMT 0)
My picture is a little less clear than yours, Hoagie. My ERMI on my old house was good, no HLA mold gene (lyme only), somewhat high mmp-9, low adh, low vip, etc.

We did have mold years back in our garage in Seattle, WA which I cleaned myself. I'm sure it hasn't helped and I think most have been exposed to mold in a house at some point. I feel like my issue is more chemical related. I can go into stores and my right side of my face will get numb or I will feel weakness in my left leg.

Mattresses tend to be a big issue for me. They trigger my nervous system and I will get restless leg, vibrations, insomnia, itching. I kinda feel like a canary in a coal mine. It's all very strange and exhausting to figure out. I've also developed many allergies. So I guess it's like MCAS. I had no improvement with antibiotic treatment but herbs do help some.

I am glad to hear mold treatment is helping you. What exactly are you doing? I need to get back on doing some binders. I used to have great success with Modified Citrus Pectin but not noticing anything with it lately. Think it is time to try a new one.
Posted 6/9/2018 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Mold can cause problems for anyone (lyme or no lyme). Mold is a toxin that weakens the immune system making it harder for someone to fight an infection no matter what type of infection it is.

I'm sure mold is not good for children who suffer from asthma, or for people who have breathing problems.

/www.mold-advisor.com/immune-system.html

If I thought my house had mold I would get it tested and then get it cleaned up as long as it wasn't way too expensive!

Just my thinking,
Denise
Posted 6/10/2018 4:55 PM (GMT 0)
I have my suspicions but they are just that. We know there is a correlation but evidence lacks for causation. Mold or not, I believe addressing the fungal aspects of this disease and avoiding re exposure is paramount to successful treatment.
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