mold concern

[stacabase]

The past 2 months I have been to the MD twice for the same symptoms; sore throat, cough, chest congestion, head congestion, low grade fever, body aches, and fatigue. She ( both times) told me I had a sinus/respiratory and ear infection and put me on antibiotics both times. Tonight I go home and start cleaning out my closet and there is mold everywhere in one corner of my small, carpeted room. All over all of my shoes, up some of my dresses and now I fear, in the carpet. I am having someone come check it out tomorrow but am I being paranoid about this? I feel like I want to move out of my home and that my recent sickness is infect due to the mold. Is there anyway to really know. Mold terrifies me! Thanks!

[stacabase]

I did have the problem checked out and according to the man, I had a minor mold problem. There was no evidence of mold in the carpet or duct work system of my home. O have since thrown away affected garments, cleaned and purchased HEPA air purifiers for both bedrooms. I have been on amoxicilian and z pack, but my sinus pressure/pain and nasal discharge (yellow) is still present. My MD wants my to try sinus meds then she will refer me to an ENT. What type of medicine is usually prescribed for possible mold allergy/infection?

[David Tinkelman, M.D.]

From your description, this sounds like a lot of mold.  

Mold can cause allergic and/or infectious disease of the throat and lower respiratory tract.  This mold may or may not be the cause of your illness but either way it must be removed.

You should contact your doctor immediately to report this mold and request information on how to have the mold examined in the laboratory (under the microscope and by culture).  Your doctor may want to see you on an urgent basis to examine your lungs and nose and throat.  You should also call the Public Health Dept. of your city and pose the same question to them.  Also ask about the safest way (for you and others) to have the mold removed and by whom – this will almost certainly require a good scrubbing of the closet, removal and discarding of all the items obviously covered with mold and removal of the carpet.  

This should ideally be done not by you, but by a person appropriately garbed and wearing the right type of mask for self-protection.  This should also be someone who can examine the closet to determine what (perhaps water leakage) encouraged the growth of mold, in the first place.  If that is not found, the mold will grow again.

You should keep the closet door closed at all times and do not enter it, so as to avoid further exposure.  You should also check for mold elsewhere in your home.

Do not panic.  Even if you are having a reaction to mold, this is a treatable condition.

Good luck

[JJKVI]

I just had to respond b/c I'm in the same boat. I've been suspicious about my shower for a year. I decided to remodel, ripped it out & there was a leak which resulted in mold, mildew, rot, carpenter ant damage... including in the studs. We've yet to reveal all of the damage as part of the subfloor hasn't been removed. Actually it won't cost that much to repair as we were already doing the expensive part (the tear out & rebuilding of the shower). Trust your gut and get to the bottom of the problem.

And as for your symptoms, yes, if you're allergic, the mold & mildew will cause swelling/inflammation in your nose & lungs & mucus production that creates an environment that viruses & bacteria love. I have been "sick" for a year. While they removed the shower & building materials my throat became sore & I had an asthma attack. I do need sinus surgery on my turbinates & deviated septum which makes my condition worse. But I have no doubt that living in an allergen infested home has contributed to the enlargement of the turbinates & my symptoms in general.Good luck! Abate the mold and don't cut corners doing it!