Mold allergies

This thread has been very helpful for my frame of mind! Since late spring, I've had increasing problems with fatigue, feeling spacy, rough flaky skin on my face, screaming tinnitus, burning teary eyes, faint tingling in my face and mouth, and stomach aches. This weekend I've been especially miserable. I got online to search for some answer out there...frankly I was scared.

At first, I got worried that I might have lupus. It prompted me to go ahead and check the internet for lupus symptoms, and to my relief, I don't seem to have many of the symptoms of lupus either. I do have fibromyalgia, and there are considerable overlaps between fibro, CFS, and lupus.

Years ago, I underwent the cutaneous (skin injection) allergy tests and my reaction to every mold they injected was like a wasp bite the next day! So I'm VERY sensitive to all molds, especially the outdoor varieties.

Unfortunately, I live in the Ozarks, and I have to say that this area is probably the true mold/fungus capital of the world, even worse than the Great Lakes and Midwest. It's humid, warm, and extra lush in vegetation and decaying leaves and wood. I just checked the AAAAI report on allergen counts, and the mold spore count in my area has been HIGH for months!!! All pollen counts have risen and fallen, but the mold has stayed maxed out all summer.

I attended a company barbecue (outdoors with all the mold spores of course) on Friday and ate bread and cheese and sugary cookies - all the stuff mold thrives on. No wonder I feel like **** this weekend! I'm likely a hotbed of mycotoxins!

This thread reminded me to start taking caprylic acid and probiotics again, drinking lots of water, and spraying anti-fungal air spray (like Lysol) into the air intake of my A/C and all over my pillows and bed clothes. It helps! I just tossed out some CoQ10 that proudly says on the label it's made by fermentation with yeast (they actually brag about that???). I also tossed out an Okinawan coral calcium supplement after reading that Okinawan coral often contains lead and mercury - and yeast seems to thrive around toxic metals that would kill off intestinal flora.

Geez, it's a jungle out there and I feel like Adrian Monk - "it just might kill you"!

Thanks, Lindsay. I forgot to mention that I also had a full-blown panic attack just a few days ago and have had several bouts of anxiety (which is just low-grade panic). The story of your friend's poor husband reassured me. I'm sorry you had to go through that! My appetite is also poor. Making myself eat only simple veggies and lean meats.

I'm glad you're feeling better - sending my best wishes that it continues to improve for you!

It's been raining off and on here, the humidity is 100%, and I'm feeling awful. (I'm sure the mold is loving it!) My throat also feels "tight", burning eyes, I'm congested, and there's lots of mucus - no coughing or sneezing, though. I'm taking both benadryl and chlortrimeton, plus some xanax - I'm desperate. Thus, I've felt very sleepy and tired all day as well...slept half the time this weekend.

I see a move in my future. I don't want to go through another year like this.

Post Edited (Verseau) : 8/27/2012 12:43:14 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Lindsay,

I'm sorry you can't get any relief from your symptoms..it's very frustrating to have all of the testing & still no answers!I was having some of the same symptoms for months & i can feel your pain..Have you ever had an endoscopy?They go down into your stomach w/a camera & see if anything's wrong..not sure about the skin stuff but alot of your symptoms sound like you could have a hiatal hernia..i was diagnosed in may w/one & FINALLY i had some answers!It made me sick,nauseous,burning throat,sinus problems,mucus,even asthma symptoms..look it up & if you feel that could be your problem,make an appt with a Gastroenterologist & let him check you out..i had surgery june 27 & i have felt better than i have in a loooonnnggg time,good luck!

Sheila

No,you must have an endoscopy(EGD) to show for sure if you have a HH..i had no idea i had acid reflux<which is caused from a HH..acid reflux can cause an abundance of health problems,some of which you described..it's amazing how the body works..all of these symptoms seem so unrelated & in fact are ALL related..like,i had no idea something from the stomach could cause sinus & respiratory symptoms..and i too had ekg complete blood panel,etc,& i was healthy as a horse on paper!But to have drs. look at you like you're crazy really got to me..& yes, that does cause anxiety, & then you start thinking"maybe i am crazy"..but thank God i found a jam-up dr that took me seriously after 6 mos of pure agony and he gave me my life back! Please don't give up & be pro-active & keep trying til you find the right dr :)

Sheila 

Got a message from my boyfriend this morning... he took a closer look at the air conditioner and he said it's caked with what appears to be mold. It's no wonder he's had so many sore throats and sinus issues.

Feeling better again, aside from a few digestive problems. I think what happens is when I'm having good days I tend to eat more unhealthy things because I have way more of an appetite, and it messes up my system despite taking probiotics every day. Maybe I'll switch brands and see if that helps.

My boyfriend has been complaining more and more of sore throats. He hasn't even been using the A/C but I think it's still in the air. He's always saying he feels like he has a "lump in his throat." I just can't wait until we can find a new place.

Hi Lindsay,

Sorry to hear you're having a setback! Yes, I've found it's important for me to wash off heavy sweating as soon as I come inside - otherwise, I end up with rashes or rough patches, and itching all over. Like you, I assume that it's toxins (incl. mycotoxins) from my whole body getting re-absorbed right at skin level. And of course, when your skin is wet, zillions of mold spores can cling to it and can release their lovely little mycotoxins, just adding to all the toxins you may already have in your sweat. Head for the shower!

I think that anybody with mold sensitivity feels worse when and after it rains. I posted about having increased misery during rainy weather on another board and got a lot of agreement - we are certainly not alone in this! Of course, extra moisture in the air makes mold/fungus thrive everywhere and very soon millions of new mold spores start flying through the air - up your nose, onto the food you eat, all over your skin, everywhere! And you can't even see them.

Could I tell you some tricks that I use re A/C mold? First, if this is a window unit, I make sure the air intake is totally clean. I start by taking off the outside cover, vacuuming the metal grill/radiator thing (condensor?) with a crevice tool, and then spraying (with an ironing spray bottle, for example) a solution of water and chlorine bleach into it to kill the mold (I use a ratio of 1 chlorine bleach to 10 water). Then I use a stiff cleaning brush with long bristles with dish-detergent in water to clean out the dead crud. Of course, it's a good idea to use gloves, eye protection (big glasses, goggles), and a surgical mask, to protect oneself from the debris, etc. Then I open the windows and turn the A/C on "fan" (not cooling) and let it dry itself out.

Once it is dried out, I spray a lot of commercial mold-killing spray, like Lysol or a Walmart disinfectant air spray (check the label for "kills mold/fungus"), into the entire intake area while the A/C fan is running. (Don't use the bleach solution like this!) I also do this with my central A/C intake on a regular basis, spraying into the intake vent and filter while it's running. The commercial air spray not only helps kill mold in the filter, but inside the A/C unit as well, and it blows through the vents all over the house, helping to reduce the mold everywhere. I also spray my pillow cases and sheets, covers, etc., not only to control mold but also dust mites. I would wager that many mold-sensitive people are allergic to dust mites as well.

Hope you and your boyfriend start feeling better very soon. This mold sensitivity is an awfully miserable thing - I suspect that it's a hidden cause of many persistent health problems - which many people never even realize.

V

lindsay0891 said...
Do you think central air is safer than window/wall units?

No, not really. It all depends on the age and upkeep of the unit, window/wall or central. I've had a central A/C that actually held moldy water in its collection pan because the drain hose to the outside was plugged up with algae. But I now have a central A/C that's 12 years old that stays dry and unmoldy inside because I've kept the drain hose cleaned out and free-flowing, and I spray anti-mold air spray into the air intake regularly. Wherever you move, have a heating/cooling repairman inspect the unit inside and make sure the water pan is dry, the condensor coil is clean (the part that looks like a car radiator), and the drain hoses are completely clear of any build-up.

V

Might I venture to say that your moldy 20-year-old A/C is the root of all evil? Even when it's not running, I dare say those mycotoxic mold spores are still sifting out, permeating everything.

Still not feeling well... I'm kind of starting to wonder if it's even mold at all but then again, what else could it be? I've had pretty much every type of blood work possible. Really hoping it's just my body detoxing.

Edit: Went to the doctor for UTI symptoms and was told I had a pretty bad one. I'm hoping that might be what's been causing the stomach problems. I'm also hoping the antibiotics don't interfere with my mold sickness recovery.

Post Edited (lindsay0891) : 9/11/2012 12:37:34 PM (GMT-6)

Just got back from my appointment... the doctor doesn't think it's mold because I don't have many respiratory symptoms. I'm still not sure because I might have ingested it, but she said she'd expect my white blood cell count to be high if that was the case.

I'm being referred to a gastroenterologist and I'm getting a pelvic ultrasound to check for ovarian cysts and things of that nature. Also got blood taken to check for a gluten allergy just as another thing to eliminate. Hopefully they'll find something.