Re mold info posted -starqueen , anyone else!

[crystaly]

Ive just read the posting about black mold. I found it interesting as most of the people on the forum will know ive had multiple problems for the past two years no real dx. Anyway to cut a long story short I moved 3 years ago to a ground floor flat and prior to this had no health problems. I found the posting interesting because we have had ongoing problems with the subfloor in our flat due to main drainage problems the air is often foul smelling once water flows under our subfloor which it does everytime it rains. Our landlord has put a few tons of limestone in the subfloor to minimise the smell but thats all there willing to do now as they said its not really a health problem.  I live in a social housing flat and they have pumped the sub floor out on numerous occassions as the smells been that bad we couldnt breathe. I dont know if theres mold in the subfloor as obviousely I havent been down there but have asked was there any connection when I first became ill and drs just said no! Would something have not shown up in normal blood tests or is it a special toxicology test or something. Grasping at straws again.. Appreciate a bit more info I did read the link suggested . Thanks Crystaly

[PlateletGal]

I honestly don't know if allergists can test you for mold. I know when I was allergy tested twice, mold wasn't there. Maybe because I live in the southwest.. I'm not sure. But I do know that you can order mold testing kits online and find out if your flat is toxic.

Good luck !

[crystaly]

Thanks for that.  I will have a look online. Apparently some molds can attackyour nervous system or so Ive been told this afternoon by a researcher who is part of a new programme which is investigting the ffects mold has on the human body. She said she will get the professor whos doing the research to contact me with a bit more info on the subject. Its worth a try really becuse I totally dismissed the idea of my environment now Im not so sure. I will post any info if its backed up by research. XX Chris

[PlateletGal]

I'm not surprised to hear that, especially after watching an episode once of Extreme Makeover Home Edition. They were building a new home for a woman who lost her husband from black mold exposure. Apparently, he had been working in the basement doing remodeling and was around mold for weeks. He had flu symptoms for weeks and then one night had a seizure & foaming in the mouth and died. I learned right then and there that mold isn't something to mess around with.

Good luck !

[crystaly]

Apologies for spelling your name wrong first time round. Attention span of a fish! That sounds pretty horrendous poor man. Best of it is really I was rehoused on medical grounds because my hubby has health problems ironic isnt it but if I evr get any concrete replys I will post them on the board . Everyones nbeen great on here I thought I was going insane till I found this site I can tell you. Take Care XX Chris

[Demiguise]

Hi chryst. Sorry to here you're having so many problems still.
As I recall, you're in a damp country like UK or? The mold factor is high there. Whether it's black mold that's a problem, can be ck'd out. I'm sure the living condition you just
mentioned is contributing to you feeling bad off/on. I think
your immune system is open for almost anything & you'll have gd-
bad day. A chest x-ray is quick & can show fluid or shadows if
you have infection/fungal/disease. You'd have some symptoms of
breathing problems. Basic CBC/Chempanel blood test w/ an IgE
would show organ functions being compromised & the IgE would
show histamine range off chart if allergies were problem. If
they are, then Dr. can culture from there. The net test only says you've been exposed to aspergillus. There are aspergillus
spores everywhere. An ENT doing a nasal exam would be able to
see if colonized (clustered). I visited a damp home & later got
hdache/sinus infection/tight chest. Culture showed reg-spores.
X-ray showed fluid. Was put on anti-fungal 'Diflucan' + rx
for lungs. Got better. The lime fumes are of concern w/o good
ventalation. Possible air sacs in lungs were damaged causing
lasting fatigue/aches/mis-dx's. You've presented some new
possibilities to consider to discuss w/ Dr. Consider the x-ray.
Yes, Diflucan is for yeast infection but is also antifungal for
other types of fungal growths. Gd-luck.

[crystaly]

Hi Demi you know this board is the best thing Ive ever come across. I can't really get any tests done cos the health service over here is cash strapped but interesting about the diflucan had several lots prescribed. I found the mold story interesting because we do have problems with the subfloor etc. I wish to god I had the money or private insurance to go and get a whole host of tests done but I havent so have to be content with what I can afford when I can if you know what I mean. I,m pushing for a refferal to a rheumi at the moment but its like banging my head on a brick wall. You never know though I might get one if I pester long enough eh!  Hope your not feeling to bad yourself at the moment and thanks yet again for the info and taking time to reply.  Take Care XX Crystaly

[star queen]

There are tests in the US done by allergists that can indicate mold responses.  The person must have a rather concentrated and still active exposure going on to have an accurate test result.  If you wait too long, the mold will not be detectable.  The best thing to do is to get a sample of your mold and have it analyzed to see what kind of mold it is.  There are a bunch of molds that are blue/black in color and are pretty harmless. As you know, it only takes one of the bad ones to have problems. Once identified, the doc can run tests based on the known problems with that mold. Molds of all types thrive in moist areas.  Once the area dries out the mold will die.  Some people who live in high humidity have put roof fans under the houses to dry out the moisture and prevent mold growth under houses and in basements.  There are ceiling fans that have built in fans and heaters to dry out and warm air as that air circulates to keep moisture down. Room and whole house air filters may prove to be helpful in removing mold spores from the air reducing the incidence of growth. Once you have a mold sample (it doesn't have to be large) it will need to go to a lab with a microbiolobist to be identified.  If you can't afford a lab, you can try the local college/university microbiology lab and see if they will do it for free, but they might not give you an "official" report.  If they do find something dangerous, have the professional lab test it again for a backup and official report.  Hope this helps