Mold - rainy days make locations so much worse...

I'm still working on recognizing and respecting my reactions to different locations for mold, but I'm also working on trying to tell myself (and my nervous system) to stay calm as the extreme reactions to some places is rather inconvenient and a little embarrassing.

For the second time in as many weeks I've had a pretty strong reaction to a location that seemed fine to me on a dry day but was quite problematic on a rainy day. Once again, I find that I was taken completely by surprise. I've been worried that I'm reinforcing reactions by looking for them so I've been trying very hard not to do this. In fact almost always when I think a location is suspect I end up feeling fine which is a little weird. I also suppose it makes perfect sense that things would be worse on rainy days and it's kind of handy really as my goal over the coming months is to keep my exposures to a minimum by recognizing the safe and un-safe places in my community and at least avoid dawdling in the places I can't avoid so my body can calm down and I can work on detoxing my way out of all this.

I suppose this is mostly idle chit-chat but it's one of those little setbacks that also seems to be really helpful in the long run and I'm feeling chatty so thanks for indulging me.

Happy puzzling and healing everyone

Sandyfeet,

I’m happy to indulge you. 😊 I have noticed that as well, and I am sure Lapis must be right. Mold is a living organism and responds to changes in its environment and habitat, which means the presence of mold spores, mycotoxins, mVOCs, etc. are not static but fluctuate depending on circumstances.

That doesn’t help us at all. It’s hard enough to figure out what we are actually dealing with and then to realize nothing is static but always changing and fluctuating can be maddening.

My reactions to locations also fluctuate with changes in my own body. If I am herxing or very toxic or have worsened sensitivities, I react in places that previously were not too problematic.

Notime4lyme said...
I know just what you mean. The other day I was in a moldy-smelling building for a long time, and I actually did not have any issues. Either I am getting a lot better, or it was because it was a sunny/dry day. I do notice I have a lot more allergies on days that are rainy. Last fall was very bad.

Yes. I always notice that fall is worse, especially with outdoor mold. I walk outside and can smell the stench. I guess the fungi are there feeding off the decomposing leaves.

Very interesting that some of you like rain. One day last summer I was eating at a restaurant on an outdoor patio when it started to rain. I could smell the rain, and my mouth and face started burning just like it does with mold exposure.

Intrigued, I googled smell of rain and discovered the smell is created by a bacteria in the soil that releases substances in response to rain. There’s a mention of actinomycetes (think CIRS from water damaged buildings).

Smell of Rain
https://m.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/what-are-you-actually-smelling-when-it-rains/70004465

CIRS Actinomycetes (see blue box on 1st page)
https://www.survivingmold.com/docs/understanding_cirs_editv2a.pdf