posted
My daughter has been told she will not get better if she is being exposed to mold. How can we possibly find out if and where our house might have mold, and if it does, is it possible to get rid of it?
My husband took apart our front-loading washing machine, as we read it could be a source, but everything looked good.
is there a way to treat for mold allergies?
Posts: 23 | From Canada | Registered: Oct 2013
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posted
It's not a mold allergy. What has happened is that her HLA (human leukocyte antigen) got wrecked from Lyme. That means she can no longer detox mold.
The best way to go about testing is an ERMI test. Mycometrics has a good one also EMSL labs. EMSL labs uses a vacuum for the dust collection. Mycometrics uses a swiffer. IMO Mycometrics is more accurate.
EMSL will give you a total mold history which can be misleading.
Once you get your test result back you will know if you have a problem or not.
The most common places are crawlspaces, attics that have exhaust fans from bathrooms (they should be vented outside), slabs that aren't sealed, mold in the HVAC system is the most common.
Of course obvious things too, like a basement that has taken in water.
Posts: 845 | From Northeast | Registered: May 2011
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Jamers
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 28016
posted
I have been wondering if this is a problem for me as well. This fall, my "allergies" over the last 2 weeks have made me very ill. Today, we had a mold inspector come and check the house and crawlspace. He did not find any mold except a little under the house. He said that was normal (its not black mold).
He told me to have my HVAC system checked like RC1 mentioned and have the venting ducts in the whole house cleaned. I set that up for tomorrow.
So, I as far as I know, we don't have mold in our house but I get pretty sick feeling if I'm around any mold so who knows.
posted
Jamers, You should get the HLA DR test to see if you have mold illness susceptibility. Only 25% of people have the genes. You can get the test through Labcorp.
There is a Rosetta Stone at the end of the book Surviving Mold, that explains how to decipher the test.
Posts: 845 | From Northeast | Registered: May 2011
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posted
So I guess the HLA DR is a blood test? She was told through ART testing that mold came up.
Posts: 23 | From Canada | Registered: Oct 2013
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desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
You can't say its not a mold allergy - how do you know? !!?
I have both mold/yeast allergies and chronic exposure in my house. Was allergic to yeast and mold long before Lyme and then Lyme and house exposure created a huge issue.
Tested my house and also did a blood test to check for chronic toxic mold exposure igg/igm in my system. Had to tear walls down to get to the hidden mold. It is the hidden stuff that caused my problems.
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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lpkayak
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5230
posted
i learned not to trust the mold inspectors -some are so incompetent and i had 7 who contradicted each other and none of them found the real problem
i was told if you smell the musty smell it is there
i am like a canary-when i get near mold i get very specific resp sx...different from a cold or hayfever allergy
mold only grows in certain conditions so being sure humidity is below 50 is a start...if your humidity is higher than 50 often you should learn more about the conditions mold grows in
-------------------- Lyme? Its complicated. Educate yourself. Posts: 13712 | From new england | Registered: Feb 2004
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posted
Desertwind, You're right it could be an allergy, I am terribly allergic also, but I also can't detox it.
In this forum, mold usually means an inability to detox it.
Posts: 845 | From Northeast | Registered: May 2011
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Yes, some mold inspectors are better than others. I would start with a regular mold inspector and see if they find anything.
But if they don't find anything and you still suspect it, look into getting an inspector who uses an infrared camera. There are also even mold sniffing dogs, but I don't have personal experience with that.
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker has a good book on this.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Yes, some mold inspectors are better than others. I would start with a regular mold inspector and see if they find anything.
But if they don't find anything and you still suspect it, look into getting an inspector who uses an infrared camera. There are also even mold sniffing dogs, but I don't have personal experience with that.
Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker has a good book on this.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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canefan17
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 22149
posted
Move to Colorado
Posts: 5394 | From Houston, Tx | Registered: Aug 2009
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posted
I wouldn't hire a mold inspector unless you have a bad ERMI test. The mold sniffing dog would be a better choice, if it's available.
Posts: 845 | From Northeast | Registered: May 2011
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desertwind
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 25256
posted
I agree about the mold inspectors. I had 2 that said no mold. Guess they were blind because they missed the visible mold in my attic.
I did not believe them. My house is a bank house built in 1760 w/ part of it undergrade and bad draining set up. I got mold /neuro symptoms in certain rooms only. Long story short, one day out of complete desperation I started knocking walls down and proof positive. The back of my dining room wall was loaded w/ black mold. That part of my house was under grade and when it would rain water would actually run down the wall like a waterfall. Bad design and bad materials.
That is just one example of hidden mold that was in my home. Had another mold inspector come out at that point and he found all of the other issues.
I cannot detox well either so it has been and remains a challenge from that perspective.
Posts: 1671 | From Tick Infested New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2010
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