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Symptoms of Household Mold Exposure

by Joslyn
mold sickness

What are the Symptoms of Household Mold Exposure?

There are a lot of things that make us sick. From the common cold to more serious viruses, every year brings new germs. But what if it isn’t a germ that is making us sick? What if it is something else? What if it is something growing in our homes? When a person feels ill they may not immediately consider the cause to be mold. Mold can and does cause serious health problems in many people. It helps to understand the symptoms of household mold exposure so that you can recognize them should they emerge in you or a member of your family. 

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Exposure to mold has several symptoms including:

  • A skin rash: There are many reasons you may develop a rash, and household mold exposure is one of them. Although you may think that the skin can only become inflamed by direct contact with the mold, this isn’t always the case. You can develop redness in your skin simply from inhaling the fumes from the mold. If you develop a rash on your skin and don’t have an answer as to what caused it, don’t rule out household mold exposure. Head on over to a dermatologist who can help diagnose your condition.

  •  Eye irritation: Eyes are a sensitive organ, and they can easily be affected by mold. Mold can cause both redness and watering of the eyes when exposed. During the spring months, many people associate this with seasonal allergies when in actuality the cause is the mold within their home or office. If your eyes do not clear up when the weather changes, mold could possibly be a culprit.
  • Headaches: Breathing in mold can cause headaches in some people. This is especially true of people who suffer with migraines. They are very sensitive to certain stimulants and mold can be one of them. If you get recurring headaches and can spot a trend (such as your headache lifts when you leave your home in the morning and returns when you get home), mold could be the cause.
  • Feeling tired: When our bodies aren’t feeling well or are fighting something off, fatigue is often a symptom. If you have been exposed to mold, fatigue may show up. While we all get tired from time to time, long term fatigue typically is pointing to something deeper. Feeling tired for several days in a row, even when you are getting adequate sleep can be a symptom of mold exposure.
  • A sore throat: Strep throat or household mold exposure? Experiencing a raw feeling when swallowing, or hoarseness when speaking, are both indicative of mold exposure. Mold spores can become lodged in the throat and irritate the sensitive membranes leaving you with a raw and scratchy throat. If your sore throat doesn’t clear up after a week or two, it may be time to head in for a checkup from your doctor.
  • Shortness of breath: Breathing in mold spores can cause respiratory difficulties in some people. This is especially prevalent in those with allergies as well as in those with weakened immune systems. The very young and very old are also at greater risk for respiratory upset due to household mold exposure. They may even develop asthma or may have asthma and not realize that their asthma attacks are being triggered by the mold in their homes.
  • Runny nose or sinuses: If you are constantly reaching for a tissue to catch your runny nose this can also be a strong symptom of mold exposure. This can be triggered either by an allergy to the mold spores or the membranes of the nose become irritated by the spores. In either case, you may again misdiagnose yourself as having a head cold or seasonal allergies, but if the runny nose persists, consider that the source may indeed be mold. Consider having a visit to your family physician or one who specializes in allergies.
  • Bleeding nose: Although this symptom is rare, it does occur. Some people are more sensitive to certain allergens and those offending irritants cause severe reactions. One of these reactions can be damage to the membranes of the nose resulting in regular bleeding. If this is happening to you, it can be caused by mold within your home.

Do You Suffer From Household Mold Exposure Symptoms?

If you realize that you suffer from several or all of these symptoms on a regular basis, it is advisable that you inspect your home for mold. Household mold exposure is no joke. It can seriously affect your health.

Because the symptoms will likely be worse when you are close the mold itself, it is also wise to track how your symptoms occur. This will help your doctor diagnose the problem. 

 If you leave your home each day to go to work and notice that you feel better during the day, this can be a clear indicator that something in your home is causing your distress. Take note of when your symptoms start and stop each day.

The same can be said if you travel and find yourself in better health after you’ve been gone a day or two. Your home shouldn’t make you sick and finding and treating the mold problem will ensure that doesn’t happen.

Track your symptoms over the period of a week or two. If you notice a pattern, it may be time for a professional mold inspection. The sooner you find and remediate the mold, the less damage it will do to your house and your body. Remember that mold isn’t always visible. Just because you don’t notice any mold in your home doesn’t mean that you don’t have it growing somewhere. Also, don’t make the mistake of assuming because your home is new or in good shape that it doesn’t have mold. If there is or has been a source of moisture, the conditions may have caused mold growth.

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191 comments

Marsha Gray February 26, 2007 - 12:01 am

I constantly smell musty smell around different areas in my manufactured home. The more snow we get the worse it gets. I have headaches, sinus burn and constant nose bleads. Does it sound like I need to call someone for mold. We have also had 2 problems with flooding in both of our bathrooms. My husband says he cant smell anything, but I smell it all over the house.

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Krystal April 19, 2007 - 1:53 pm

Thank you this info helped me alot. My son has been haveing a runny nose for a month now. Many of my friends kids have had these syptoms when they are in our house. My husband will not listen to me that we have a serious mold problem. It needs to be taken care of right away before it causes serious health problems. Is there any way I can proove to my husband that we have a mold problem so he does something about it?

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Gail September 12, 2007 - 10:43 am

Just want to let you know…My boyfreind has been living in this cottage for 11 years..I lived here for 2. He always complains that he’s tired. His eyes are always running. Nose too. I took up the carpet and lo and behold…MOLD. The bathroom must have been leaking around the tub inclosure for years. The wood floor under the old linolium was wet and moldy. As well as the wall in the bathroom.
Now I know why he’s “tired” all the time. needless to say. I have to rip out all the flooring and walls in the living room and the bathroom. and start over. But at least now I know. i CAN’T WAIT TO TELL HIM THAT IT’S NOT IN HIS HEAD!!!

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Joslyn November 9, 2007 - 6:54 am

Krystal –

You could always hire a mold remediator to run some tests for you, or get a “do-it-yourself” kit and save some money!

Remember that a mold remediator’s test are more often correct and recognize more types of mold than the home self kits.

Here are 2 informative posts that will help you to decide which is right for you :

Thank you for your question and Have a Great Day!

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

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Amanda December 31, 2007 - 11:50 am

I think there is mold in the house we are renting. The bathroom and the kitchen are both carpteted and I am having asthma attacks when I am at home. As soon as I leave my house I feel better. My fiance is constantly choked up and even sometimes wheezes too even though he doesn’t have asthma. I see a discoloration around the baseboards in the bathroom and the kitchen but I can’t tell from the pictures on the internet if it is mold. Any advice would be necessary. I am currently doing a mold test that I bought at Lowes.

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Joslyn January 3, 2008 - 6:32 pm

Amanda –

Do-It-Yourself mold tests are definitely the first step. Depending on the results, a professional mold team may be the next decision to make.

The symptoms you describe are also a definite sign that there IS a mold problem.

The discoloration around the baseboards does not necessarily mean that that IS mold, however it could be a water leak or moisture problem — which is the main cause of mold growth.

Also, severe mold remediation cases can be extremely expensive. You should definitely report the suspected problem to your land owner as well as present the results to your home mold test and any other tests you may have done.

I wish you the best Amanda, and if you have any other questions please don’t hesitate to ask!

If anyone else has anything to add or suggest, feel free to comment =).

Suggested Reading :

How to Test for Mold in Your Home
3 Tips for Choosing a Mold Remediator

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

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Amanda January 6, 2008 - 3:51 pm

Thanks so much Joslyn for replying to my comment. Upon further searching we did come across some obvious mold. Also the home test is showing red, whitish, and black spots of what looks like mold. Thanks so much for your advice and comments.

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Joslyn January 6, 2008 - 5:25 pm

You are very welcome Amanda! Glad that we could help =)

Let us know if you have any more questions!

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

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Jeff January 15, 2008 - 6:12 pm

I have been having some episodes that I think are possibly related to mold and I was wondering your thoughts on this. When I drive my truck, it seems that when i get in the truck and start on my drive,that my breathing begins to feel constricted somewhat and i begin to have drainage in my throat and in my chest and my chest gets heavy, like someone is stepping in the middle of it.And also I experience these same symptoms when I am on my riding mower , mowing grass.And when I have these episodes my chest will feel weak for 2 or 3 days and I will have the drainage.But after the 2 or 3 day i feel fine .

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Joslyn January 16, 2008 - 6:52 pm

Jeff –

The symptoms you are describing definitely seem to point towards a sensitivity towards mold and the allergens it produces.

I would advise you to speak with your doctor about your symptoms and maybe he or she will have a solution as to what to do to minimize the affects while you are in your truck as well as mowing.

Thank you so much and I hope that helps. If anyone else has anything to add, don’t hesitate to post a comment! =)

Have a Wonderful Day,

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

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colleen March 17, 2008 - 2:42 am

my family and i moved into a mobile home last march.there seemed to be alot of water leaking under our trailer.my landlord finally fixed the leak bu the trailer is older and i’m sure that there is more water leaking from somewhere.in august my daughters started school.well to tell you the truth they have been out of school sick over 15 days so far and am afriad the school will punish me.My girls and i have athsma symtoms,flu symtoms,headachs everyday and now nausea.we dont have much money.I need help

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Joslyn March 17, 2008 - 11:53 am

Colleen,

It definitely sounds like your home has been infested with mold. The symptoms you are experiencing seem to be mold related and the only thing you can do to eliminate the health risks and keep your children in school is to get out of your home. Especially if you have already talked to your landlord and nothing is being done to get rid of the mold problem.

Yours and your girls’ health is the most important factor here. Do you have any family you could move in with for a short period of time while you look for another home?

I would look into all of your options, the number one thing in your mind being you need to get out of the mold infested trailer.

I wish you the best of luck,

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team

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colleen March 17, 2008 - 1:18 pm

Thank you for your response.We are in quite a bind being sick and all.I was fired from my job and have no family.not a clue as to what will happen next.PLEASE PRAY FOR US!!!
Thank you.

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Nicole May 2, 2008 - 10:11 pm

Hello, I have been reading up on mold and the sythoms associated etc. I now have been diagnosed as having asthma and allergies. I have been living in this house for 2 years and have tried to remember when this all started. I have a hard time catching a deep breath–some days are okay and others terribly scary. Every morning it takes me 15 minutes to clear my sinuses and it is very unplesant. Here about 1 month ago we had major storms and that is when I noticed water leaking that I can tell is going right down the walls. My mom lives above me and smokes so everyone says that her coughing and mucus is from that but I know her coughs and here lately it has been so much worse and diffrent but yet the Dr. says her lungs are “okay”. I asked my doctor what the sythoms are from mold and she said “everything that you are going thru” and it was like a light bulb went off in her head. We are in the process of trying to move out but have to stay here until that happens. When we do move, do you think these breathing problems are permanent or do you think they will go away?

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Tina June 14, 2008 - 10:35 am

My daughter, son-in-law & grandchildren are living in an apartment complex & their neighbors apartment leaks, gets wet every time it rains & their apartment smells badly of mildew. Their child is constantly sick with runny nose & rashes. My children have been exposed to their child while playing outdoors & just recently have had to take my children to our physician for symptoms including runny noses that have been constant. I have noticed sudden headaches with myself & being tired. My fiancee has been having pain in his feet & muscle aches throughout his body. What can I do to find out if these are all symptoms of mold exposure? How do I investigate my neighbors without being mean? Should I contact the landlord to control this? Could you please give me positive & accurate inpute? Thank you so much.

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Joslyn June 24, 2008 - 10:08 am

Nicole’s question was answered personally via email.

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team

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Joslyn June 24, 2008 - 10:16 am

Tina,

You’re in a difficult situation as it is your neighbors apartment and they have the right to deal with the problem as they choose. Have you tried approaching the subject with them? They may have no idea it could be mold exposure and then both of your families can approach the landlord.

All of the symptoms you’re describing are symptoms of mold contamination.

The following posts may help as well :

Symptoms of Mold Exposure and Who is at Risk
Symptoms of Household Mold Exposure

Hope this helps!

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger team

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Kevin July 14, 2008 - 12:29 pm

I am 43, but when I was a child, I was exposed to Black Mold for many years. I had extreme dizziness that would last for weeks. My doctor at the time had literally no clue what was causing the dizziness (of course I do now), he ran hundreds of tests for blood sugar, inner ear, etc.. so I continued to live/sleep in a bedroom that was infested with Black Mold and we didn’t even know it. When we moved out of that house many years later, the dizziness stopped. Here’s my situation though – throughout my adult life, whenever I have had any physically stressful or mentally stressful situation, I believe that I have an outbreak of that old dormant Black Mold allergy. I get dizzy, stuffy head, sinus issues, burning skin in different areas, rashes that last for a couple of weeks. I guess I just wanted to know/see if anyone else may be experiencing the same thing, I have been wondering for years why this is happening and I have been reading a lot about Black Mold exposure and it all makes sense to me now. Thanks!

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Robin August 8, 2008 - 2:04 pm

I was living in a apartment with a terrible leak under the sink that had a bad odor and shower that had bad pipes and water damage and water that was disclolored per Water Company.
I didn’t know it at the time, and 2 weeks after I moved in I broke out in a terrible black rash allover my body.
I looked like I was in terrible ocean water and fungus.

after 10 surgeries on teeth, sinus, eyes and others I finally had to convience my doctors it was mold.

I was the doctor not them, it took them 3 years to believe me.
Don’t let this happen to you, feel free to e-mail me, I have alot of info on this comdition and taking care of my health and not letting anyone else tell me what I see and feel

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Becky Carter August 18, 2008 - 7:53 am

I have been living in a rented flat for the past year and in that time have had a few under groud leaks which has caused alot of damp and mould in my flat. My childrens room has mould behind the fitted wardrobes and smells moldy. My bedroom has mould behind the fitted wardrobes and up the wall it seems to be everywhere. My 7 yr old son has asthma and i am worried this may been putting him at risk. Since moving here i have developed bad headaches and am having to take pain killers everyday doctor is unsure what it is. Do you think it is to do with the mold? What should i do?

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Kadie September 19, 2008 - 3:04 pm

My son has been very sick with runny nose, chest infections, headaches, puffy black eyes and many more side affects, and we have seen many doctors as to why he has these symptons. He had surgery in October to remove his tonsils and adenoids… Well he is no better and some days I think he is worse. Doctor says he does not have allergys. Now after adding up things and really sitting back and thinking back to when this all seemed to start it seems ever sense we started renting our apartment 3.5yrs ago. I really think our apartment has a mold problem.

Our apartment always seems moist and smelly not too musty but not clean smelling. I find I always have to have windows open or its hard to breath. I would like to talk to my landlords… Who’s responsibilty is it to have the apartment cleaned of mold? Mine or the landlord?

I have some of the symptons as well. Headaches, dizzyness, tight chest etc. But it really has been a struggle for my son having a constant runny nose for almost three years.

I think my best bet is to move…but what if my landlord does nothing and someone else moves in and is not aware of the mold…Please advise or and helpful suggestions would be great!

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Linda Micholson October 11, 2008 - 6:26 pm

How can I get my landlord to realise I have a problem with mold in the house.My Dr did test on me and the results are that I’m allergic to one of the two molds they tested for. How do i tell my landlord to let me take up the bad carpet.

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Helen January 16, 2009 - 12:32 am

Hi and thanks for your site. I moved into a rental and within 24 hours felt ill. I had flu like symptoms and felt very weak. I got rashes and was coughing a lot.

I had asked the landlords when I moved in if there were any mold problems and they told “not that we are aware of” After the rains began I felt worse. The more time I spent in the apartment, the weaker I felt. I couldn’t see or smell any mold so I took them at their word. After living there a month and feeling ill, they finally told me that a bedroom wall had been black with mold when they did the remodel. They said they fixed the problem, but after they showed me the area, I can see where water could be getting into the wall.

I have removed myself from there a week ago and noticed a big improvement quickly. Does this sound like mold exposure symptoms and if so, how long does it usually take until a person is back to normal completely?

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Robert January 16, 2009 - 7:12 pm

My girlfriend, our kids and I just moved from a place we were renting. For the past two weeks I’ve felt worse than I’ve ever felt before. Constant nose bleeds, very bad headaches and just an overall blah feeling. I’ve come to the conclusion after reading your blogs that I’ve come into contact with mold. What is the best way to get rid of these symptoms?

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Michelle January 22, 2009 - 6:55 am

There was a water leak in an apartment two floors above ours which was not rectified until early last year. The apartment had this leak for a few years. We only had slight water damage to our carpet and skirting board. The skirting board was replaced after the leak was fixed and a few months ago we ripped out the carpet to find a patch of mould on the underside. The concrete under the carpet had water stains and although we painted the walls, you can still see a slight water mark on one wall.
My concerns stem from the fact that my partner developed a skin rash about a year ago. The Dr believes it to be a food allergy however partner is 37 and has never suffered from any allergy and he has been on numerous diets and cannot find the source of the rash. The rash was controllable until recently. He ends up with large, itchy red welts all over his body and occasionally certain parts of his face will swell. He has also been feeling quite listless of late.
We started dating approx 18 months ago & I began spending a lot of time in the apartment. All most immediately I developed arthritis in my ankles where there is no family history of arthritis. I was one of those people who was in the gym everyday and I am absolutely devastated. In the past year my eyesight has also deteriorated dramatically, I lose my concentration easily and my memory is not what it used to be. I’m only 26 !!
I’ve been doing a fair bit of research but my results are inconclusive. The associated symptoms on websites are mainly breathing related. Also my partner had an allergy test for mould which was negative. Can the test still show up negative if he has been affected by mould?
I don’t know if our aliments are related to mould & my partner thinks I’m crazy but I am at desperation point right now!!
Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

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Lilly Jenifer February 26, 2009 - 11:54 am

Hello All,
I have been living in my house for two years now. In about two months after we moved in, I started getting sick with sinus infections and colds. I thought nothing of it because I’ve always been prone to sinus infections every winter season and since I work with kids, I thought colds come with territory. However, I eventually I started experiencing sore throats in the morning all the time and then a very dry, hacky cough in the evenings. I started a regimen of immune boosters but it didn’t help. I simply thought my allergies were acting up so I bought an air purifier. Which only helped for a while. But my husband started recording my symptoms and it turns out that I was sick at least once a month for a week and in between I would have a constant sore throat. Just last summer, it occurred to me that the problem was not me, but something in the house. Sure enough, we found mold right in the corner of our bedroom where our bed was up against. We’ve been sleeping in a moldy room for 1.5 years! My husband did not have any of the symptoms as I. We switch our rooms around and after a few weeks in the new bed room, I slept better, woke up with no bad taste in my mouth. But a few months later, the symptoms returned but worse. Immediately, I moved all the furniture around and found another mold patch by our bed. That was the final straw for me, we immediately got specialists in the house and they went into the crawl space to find the walls covered with mold. I am glad that we finally found the cause of my sickness. I cannot wait for the clean up to be finished. But meanwhile, I am still sick all the time. How long do would it take for me to get better? Would getting an air purifier speed up the healing process?
Hopefully, once spring rolls around and the house is cleaned, we can open some windows and get some clean air in our house and my lungs!

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V.A. Bowen April 13, 2009 - 4:32 pm

I had lasar eye surgery on March 23, of this year. A week later I came down with a sore throat, ear aches, and my eye was red and swollen. Then it went to my other eye. I started using the meds from my surgery on both eyes, the other eye was not as bad, but the eye first affected was totally red, and irritated. This all started after I had visited a friend who was moving and she gave me some rugs, which I took home and washed, some I left on my front outside porch and they are still there. Her basement smelled bad from mold, she didn’t seem to be aware that that is a problem. Could all of these problems I’ve had with my eyes be from the mold? The doctor thought it was a viral infection. I was only around it for about an hour. My eye is somewhat better, but my sight is stilled blurred in one eye. The doctor seems a little puzzled also.

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Liz April 15, 2009 - 7:11 pm

I have been living in my house for about seven yrs. During heavy rains, my carport floods and the water goes under the house. Last year I had plastic placed under my house and “treated”. I have been having intermittent breathing difficulties for the past three yrs. and it has become more frequent and severe in the last yr. I have not been able to recognize a pattern, but when it does occur, it is like I can’t get a full breath, I constantly yawn, and I have tightness in my chest. My nose is a little runny and I have had two sinus headaches in the past few months (which I have never had before). Also I have had the worst itchy skin. I noticed that other people have said “rashes”; does anyone itch like crazy? Thanks!

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Sequonta Jonese Lovitt Beasley May 11, 2009 - 1:09 am

We moved into our home in March and have an infant son. I am experiencing aches in my joints, headaches, shortness of breath, tiredness, runny nose, and a sinus infection so severe I had to get antibiotics. Our son has had 3 episodes of runny nose and sneezing. The landlords know of the mold and have been promising to fix it since we discovered it two weeks after moving in. Will these symptoms be permanent or will they go away once we move? I am most concerned of my shortness of breath.

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Deborah May 28, 2009 - 10:24 am

I have noticed minor sinus problems and drainage down the back of my throat & a persistant cough (dry & w/phlegm)that started a year ago. My 3 year old has similar problems (began a year ago) & my hubby has reacurring sinus infections. When I leave the house….I feel 98% better. Coughing stops & sinus normal. My doc says allergies to something in the house i.e. dust (we have a big dust problem). She put me on an anti-histamine (my son too) and I’ve been massively dusting every nook & cranny every few days. I feel like I am breathing something in that is irritating my lungs hence the cough. I smell a faint hint of a musty dusty type smell when the house is closed up. My hubby says pollen is the problem. But why would I feel better just going out on the patio? If it were the dust, why haven’t I felt any improvement with the aggressive dusting & drugs? I’ve brought up the household mold theroy and EVERYONE dismisses me, literally! COULD IT BE HOUSEHOLD MOLD? BTW, our sons daily dose of Claritin and Nasonex doesn’t seem to make a difference in his symptoms & he’s been on them a year now. I’ve had bronchitis 3 times the past year which in hind sight all began with sinus pain, post nasal drip, & the stuffy head feeling. No fevers. ANY THOUGHTS? Thank you!

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Lilly Jenifer June 4, 2009 - 9:13 am

Deborah:
That sounds exactly like what I went through. The mold situation in our crawl space was extremely bad and mold remediation happened in April. Since then, our house smells much better, no more musty/moldy smell. I have not been sick since March, what a relief that is. I can’t tell you just how toxic mold can be. The experts stated to us several times that we should not have been living there at all and was surprised that we were not sicker!! Allergy medication did not help because you are always exposed to the allergen. Inhalation of the mold is what is causing the lung/throat irritation. I would suggest getting an expert in there for just a estimation and find the source of the mold. Better start the process now because it can get worse. Good Luck!

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Deborah June 4, 2009 - 10:58 am

Lilly Jenifer,
Thank you! Luckily, there is a company advertising on this website for mold remediation in my area. Thank goodness, becasue if not, I wouldn’t know where to start. I hope it isn’t too expensive becasue I don’t know where the money will come from. Wish us luck and thank you again! Finally someone NOT dismissing me!

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Erin June 23, 2009 - 12:04 am

I am 39 and have always had allergies and asthma. Two years ago my apartment in the basement flooded. The landlord replaced the kitchen and bathroom floors but not the laminate flooring in the living room or bedrooms. When they pulled up the old floors in the kitchen and bathroom the smell of mildew would knock you over! They painted those floors with “Killz” and told me the laminitate floors in the other rooms would just dry up. I got an angry, SERIOUSLY ITCHY red rash on my chest, which started in one spot then spread around to cover my whole chest. Doc prescribed me some steroid cream and it helped a bit but did not get rid of it and I could only use it for a few weeks. He sent me to be allergy tested, and of course it turned out I am allergic to pretty much everything; dust, mould, animals, pork, ham, bacon, chocolate, wheat, soy, lobster, tuna, alfalfa sprouts, countless other foods, silk, etc. Many of them, I was already aware of. I tried cutting stuff out of my diet, saw my doctor a bunch more times, but my rash stuck around. Within 6 months of getting the rash on my chest, the rest of my body started to itch too. If I got what seemed like a normal itch, I would scratch it and little welts would appear everytime I scratched my skin. Scratching only made it worse, like mosquito bites, no relief from scratching. I tried Benadryl cream and pills, Aveeno cream, baking soda baths, etc. but those things would only calm the itching down enough to sleep, and actually, IBU worked better than anything. After spending a few weekends at my parents I started to notice my skin felt better by the time I came back home- that’s how I came to realize it was environmental not food-related and made the connection to mould. I told my landlord I wanted to move to an apartment on the top floor and demanded he provide the movers- which he did :) I have been up here for 6 weeks and my rash is finally gone, though my chest is still slightly itchy. Also the skin on the rest of my body has calmed down too, and I can usually scratch and get relief from scratching instead of getting welts and hives. I can hardly wait to be able to get a back scratch again!!! For the last week I have not needed cream or IBU to sleep though when I wake up in the morning, nice nad toasty warm, my chest itches but it’s so much better now. It seems to be taking a long time to get better from this and I’m wondering how long it will take to finally be free of it completely?? Also, could there be permanant effects?

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Krissy July 14, 2009 - 1:14 pm

We live in northwest washington where it rains a lot and it is constantly moist and humid. We are currently renting an old 70’s trailer. I am always cleaning out the window seals because mold builds up in the corners. I never thought much of it but for the past year I have developed headaches, severe head pressure, dizziness, confusion, chest pain, foggy headed, shortness of breath, night sweats, tiredness, insomnia, and recently have had severe depression and now panic attacks. I have had MRI’s, blood work, CT scans, EKG’s. Everything and the doctors dont know what is wrong. I just dont feel good. Something is wrong, I thought I was going crazy until I found that it could possibly be mold thats causing my problems. Can these symptoms be related to mold exposure???

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Violet October 23, 2009 - 9:45 pm

i wanted to find out what to do 1st. my story goes like this: i bought my 1st home in 2007 and since then have been suffering from “allergies”. i came from an old house in queens ny and moved to suburban area in long island where there’s alot of trees and grass,so natrualy i’ve been saying that all my symptoms have been from seasonal allergies. i developed a weird rash all over my body when i was pregnant with my daughter and after being on steroids and all sorts of cortisone creams, my dermitologist decided to biobsy many different parts of my body and each time came back with a result of a serious allergic reaction to something, but what they couldnt say and was then sent to an allergist. he told me that i was definitly allergic to something and that many tests needed to be done to find out the cause. i know from years ago that i was allergic to mold, mildew, dust and dust mites but never imagined going through this. Since reading this blog, i noticed that not only did it make me aware of the common symptoms that i have with the symptoms of mold exposure but now has me determined to end this crazy investigation. my only concern is that i dont know what step to take next,or how much it would cost to get my house tested and remove it. can anyone give me an idea of what to do or how to go about it?

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Katey November 21, 2009 - 3:04 pm

Hello,

I have been living in a house that I am renting now for about 6months about 3 months ago I discovered that there was the “black” mold all downstairs in my basement. Which there is no door from the upstairs to the downstairs and also vents in the floors. I told my landlord that there was mold in the basement and removed the mold himself, not professionally after I asked him to. The vents and the doorway to the upstairs was not covered the right way so when the were removing the mold all the mold spores came upstairs. I had my air tested and it came back positive for mold in the air. Recently I’ve had constant back pain right over where my lungs are, I’ve had that pain for about 2 months now. My roomate has been constantly sick cold like symptoms and other serious conditions. I’m not sure what my next step should be. How do I know if the mold has not gotten into my furniture and beds? Any advice would be great!

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cory December 15, 2009 - 9:57 pm

We have a leak in our basement and over the past year there has been a slight musty smell in our basement. Today i discovered a couple of patches of mold (about the size of a hand) and black growth in the corner of our windows. I cleaned the windows after spraying with a mildicide but want to tackle the basement. My question is, if something from the basement (like momentos, childhood toys etc.) has no visible mold on it should i be worried about bringing it upstairs to store?I;m scared that if i bring these items upstairs i will be spreading the mold. we will be doing a complete cleanup of the basement, removing all walls to check for any other mold, but i don’t want to throw everything out, especially since the items don’t smell, have never been wet and have no visible mold.

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Daphne December 23, 2009 - 6:04 pm

Hi. I am not sure if my symptoms are mold-related, but I’ve been to every doctor and nothing is wrong with me, except for these crazy symptoms. An endocrinologist finally suggested I see an allergist, but the appointment is not until mid-January 2010.

So let me give you some background.
I have been swelling in my ankles since April 2008. The swelling used to go down, but since August 2009, the swelling never goes down (unless I go home to my parents or stay away from my house for a long period of time) and now I’m experiencing swelling on the tops of my feet, my legs, my arms, my middle, underneath my chin, etc. I have headaches EVERY DAY! I have trouble breathing. I feel like my heart is always racing. Constant allergy-like symptoms (sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, coughs). I’m tired all the time.

I have been living in my house since January 2008. It was built new in 2006 and sat vacant for one year. Today (December 23, 2009), I can walk into my house after being gone (while at work), and come in and it still smells like it’s a new home. Everytime my parents visit, they get congested. Like I said earlier, everytime I visit my parents, I get better. Other than the house idea, I was given a mattress set at the time of moving into my house from friends (I do not know where it came from). I also took my parents old couch from a not-well-ventilated garage apartment.

Other than that…anyone have any ideas of what’s wrong? Bad carpet, mold?

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vickie yencha February 4, 2010 - 4:19 pm

Robin, your blog said to email you as you have a log of info. We have a new home construction gone bad. Inspection showed 3 types of mold, one being black mold. Our daughter is having headaches, red, watery eyes, sinus issues, rashes, and much more. All of our pets are sick and two of our cats are bleeding from nostril. Would appreciate you contacting me via e mail.

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Katharine February 4, 2010 - 9:20 pm

I had a water leak in my apartment and around that time I began experiencing symptoms that I believe are a mold allergy, but would appreciate your honest advice. I feel as though someone is pinching the front of my nose, it feels so inflammed. I have trouble getting a full breath, but I know I don’t have asthma. My symptoms vary. One day I feel decent, the next I can barely get air. Sometimes my chest is tight, sometimes I have acid reflux feelings, sometimes my chest burns, etc. One week I had really had #2 issues and a fever, then back to the pinching nose feeling. Run around to doctors for months and all they can determine is some allergic reaction, but can’t figure out to what. I’ve been through the works – PFT, chest xray, steroids, etc. I would like to think it’s something else, but there are too many bodily issues going on out of the blue. The thing is, when I leave my home, the symptoms don’t go away – sometimes they get worse! I did leave for a couple weeks and was coughing up green SLIME. I don’t know if it was bronchitis/cold because of a weakened immune system because of the steroids or if I was detoxing. I just want to know if it is mold and I get out for good, will my normal function return? I’m an otherwise healthy, athletic 30 year old woman. Please help.

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Lilly Lam February 22, 2010 - 12:28 pm

Katherine:
Even though I did not have the same exact symptoms as you, individual bodies differ in how they react to mold exposure, I do believe you are suffering from mold allergies. My husband never displayed the same sinus/allergy conditions that I had. Safe to say that even though you leave your house, the allergens are still in you system. In fact, when I would go away from my house for a week or so my symptoms got “worse” but I think it was my body’s way of trying really hard to get rid of all the nasty buildup. Once we had the mold eliminated and everything in our house cleaned, I recovered pretty fast. Its been almost a year and I went from monthly sinus infections and daily sore throats to barely getting a cold this whole winter. Trust your immune system, it will recover once you remove yourself from the constant exposure.

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Sean March 15, 2010 - 2:41 pm

We been renting a house for a year and half. When it rains heavy at times our basement leeks. We have 3 kids and we noticed that our daughter has been getting sick a lot. See has complined about headaches and often has diarrhea and vomiting. It only happens to her and no one else in the house. I’m taking her to the doctor this week. What are some of the things that I should tell the doctor. What type of test can they run. Also how should I approach this to my landlord. What type of home test can a get from a store?

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Art B. March 26, 2010 - 12:56 am

There doesn’t seem to be much information about mold and automobiles, and I have the feeling that it might be a bigger problem than is realized. I am going through a difficult time with allergic reactions to what I believe is mold in my car. I think this comes from the fact that I have to park in on the street, which is tree friendly, windy, and near the coast. I often find pollen or sap or dust on my car and I believe it is getting into the outside air vents which are directly under the windshield. I have spoken to a number of mold remediation and none have experience or want to work on car. I’m guessing that the source is limited to the cooling system, and because it is a relatively confined space it might be easier to remove. Does anyone have experience or suggestions on fixing a car with mold. I can’t afford to get a new one and the car is quite a beautiful one in exception mechanical condition. I would hate to lose it but it is getting me sick. Any ideas?

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Person April 14, 2010 - 11:45 pm

Colleen, I hope that you are in a new home now. Bleach everything.

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Mandy April 19, 2010 - 6:38 pm

I just moved into a new house and have been having horrible chest congestion and wheezing every night. And I feel fine when I leave the house…We DID find some mold in the basement in the shower. But is that enough to cause me to be that sick every night? How do we find out if the mold has crept elsewhere into the house? How do I know that it isn’t comething else making me sick?

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Andrea W April 20, 2010 - 1:16 pm

We moved into our current rental house in August of 2009. Things were ok until winter set in, I noticed that in the bathroom we had to keep a towel on the floor around the toilet to soak up the condesation. The house was built in the 70s, so it has the old single paned metal windows. There is mold all over the metal parts of the windows and now there is mold growing up the wall of our bathroom. My kids’ room is on the other side of the bathroom wall and there is mold growing up their wall as well. My daughter, who is 10 months old just recently spent 2 nights in the hospital due to problems breathing, now, less than a month later she is sick again and having more problems breathing. My son is almost 5 and has recently been itchy a lot. I’m concerned that the mold is what is causing our problems. I don’t know what to do next…
Is my landlord responsible for any of this? I’ve been cleaning the mold, but it keeps coming back. What happens if it’s inside the walls? We don’t have the money to move and nowhere to move to. Any suggestions or ideas are greatly appreciated! :)

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Jen April 21, 2010 - 7:01 pm

My daughter has cerebral palsy and we were living in a moldy apartment for 3 years. After many attempts to have them clean it up, I got no where and could not afford a lawyer. My ex-boyfriend was hospitalized last summer for severe chronic sinusitis and my daughter, a few months later went into a coma state for close to five days and hospitalized for severe chronic sinusitis and possible post infectious encephalitis due to the sinusitis. She also had seizures more often than ever while living there. I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue syndrome and Fibromyalgia, I had chronic rashes, hair loss, migraines and skin irritations for no reason, frequent bloody noses and was also diagnosed with chronic sinusitis. My dog was even having massive skin irritations that the vet could not figure out. We finally moved out about four months ago and noticed a tremendous change but not completely, how long does it take for mold toxins to be out of our systems. My daughter still get sinus infections, however they think it never went away completely, and my dog has cleared up about 80%. My migraines, skin irritation and hair loss have stopped but I still notice my daughter and I having fatigue. Is there natural remedies that can help clean our system completely?

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John Lavas April 28, 2010 - 10:48 am

My Doctor told me that there are over 200 health symptoms related to mold exposure. He also quoted the Mayo Clinic’s study that said 94% of chronic sinus infections are due to mold exposure. I had 13 different symptoms. I have found this site very helpful and you can speak to an Environmentalist or Pharmacist directly for free – http://www.immunolytics.com. They have easy to use mold test kits at a fair price, and not just your average over the counter kit you get to speak to someone directly from the laboratory about your results! Check it out for yourself…

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becky May 8, 2010 - 10:23 pm

Our house was just flooded this past weekend and I am already starting to have some problems.Breathing has become very difficult and I am very congestied.The headaches have gotten worst and i am tried all the time.My vison is a little messed up and seem a little lost at times. Could these be due to mold expousre?

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Katharine May 10, 2010 - 10:48 pm

I would like some advice on the detox process. I am out of my damp apartment for good. The first time I left I had violent releases of green slime and mucus. This time, I do not have that, but I have bad headaches, feel the congestion in my head is thinning out, and today I slept 8 hours after throwing up. I would like to know the signs and symptoms of detox from mold and the best things to do for yourself to aid that process. I don’t really believe in the whole ‘cut out all carbs/sweets/major food groups’ but some common sense advice on what to expect and how to handle it is appreciated!

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kate curran May 22, 2010 - 4:26 pm

I am living in a small, one story home. I discovered a leak in our sink and serious mold growth, i mean it looked like moss, behind the waste can next to the sink. I had no clue it was there, until I researched mold and realized that the recent sinus infection I’d endured was from mold. Upon further inspection, mold had grown under the carpet a couple of feet away from the sink, up the drywall, into two layers of wood flooring and slightly into the floor studs. I had no idea. Am I at risk living here for a week or two while it gets fixed?

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Lori Tondini June 23, 2010 - 6:14 pm

If you have fungal colonization in your body you need antifungals to get rid of it. Mycotoxins can damage any part of your body, including major organs and heart. Check out my website for info about my book, “Are You Moldy? The True Story of a Very Moldy Person” which contains 2 interviews from medical mold experts.
Glad to see The Environmental Solution on here! The BEST and SAFEST choice for serious mold issues, and interviewed in my book!

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Lana July 19, 2010 - 11:58 am

We just recently had mold removed from our home, but he musty mildewy odor remains. Do you have any tips on how to rid our home of this smell?

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Lana July 19, 2010 - 11:59 am

We just recently had mold removed from our home but he musty mildewy odor remains. Do you have any tips on how to rid our home of this smell? Also, if the mold is gone why does the odor remain?

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michelle July 21, 2010 - 3:09 pm

We stay in a appartment that has mold all in the house. we have been very sick. headaches/sore throat. wht can we do about this plz. help me

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Kara Morgan August 8, 2010 - 8:33 am

Hi. I’ve been living in my current house for six years. I am now 16 and i have had enough. I have been sneezing and having a runny nose ever since we moved here, but just in my room. My room is connected directly to the bathroom which has poor ventalation. we have seen mold spots on the ceiling. I’m coughing and wheezing, sneezing, my eyes are itchy and my skin itches. Is it possible for a mold problem to go for so long if it is one?

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Katrina Davis September 25, 2010 - 9:48 am

Good morning,

I installed an air conditioner in my room this summmer and I noticed that the upper part of the window is not complety sealed off. There is a nice size gap. We also noticed so mold on that side of the house by the eves when installing. My health has been fine. But aboout three days ago there was a change in the weather and that night it was cold and wet. I woke up that night and I had a headache, shortness of breath, and a chronic cough! I went to the ER and they said I have chronic bronchitis. I have also noticed that my daughter has some cold symtoms as well. My question is mold more active when it is cold and wet? Thanks

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Manhattan Mold Removal October 4, 2010 - 6:35 pm

Toxic molds can even cause death if exposure is high and long enough. It’s pretty nasty stuff. Only professionals with extensive knowledge should mess with it.

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Marvel October 10, 2010 - 9:41 pm

Katharine, there is a way to detox your body to eliminate the toxins caused by mold. There is a web site called http://www.chronicneurotoxins.com. There is a VCS (Visual Contrast Sensitivity) test that you can take for $15 to see if you have toxins. Dr. Shoemaker in Pocomoke City, Md specializes in neurotoxins. If you want to know more contact me at
[email protected]. I have personally had to detox my body.

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Melinda October 19, 2010 - 2:47 am

I think my boyfriend and i might have been exposed! Does this sound like mold exposure? About 3 years ago we rented an old house, with a really nasty basement that was very scary and dark. We lived there for about 10 months. I had 2 strep throat infections while living there, and a yeast infection. I also had some weird body rashes, mostly on my legs/elbows, sometimes around my eyes (these were little red dot looking things that would come and go.) I went to Cabo that Jan. and remember being sick the entire time! The worse sore throat id ever had! nothing helped it. I also had 2 small animals while we lived here, both which mysteriously got sick shortly after moving and died. I also had a pet rabbit that died in that house 5 months after moving in, but thought it was of old age. and we tried keeping 2 corn snakes but those died also. Thought it was just bad luck on our part:( now im beginning to think they all died from mold related problems. Since we’ve moved, we’ve experienced more skin rashes, some hair loss, muscle weakness, nausea (on and off), vision seems to be going bad, tooth and enamel problems. Dizziness, fatigue, heart palpations,shortness of breath, and probably some other things im missing. Doesn’t seem like were getting worse, just developing different symptoms. Been to the doctor several times. My boyfriend was having chest pains and burning sensation in lungs not long ago, he had a lung infection. he took some strong antibiotics and it has gone away, but still has chest pains, the doc has him on fish oils, and antacids.
Just wondering if we could still be experiencing symptoms of toxic mold exposure 3 years later? Does it only happen when your around it? or can it stay with you for a long time after being exposed?? Please help! We’ve started a body cleanse this week to see if it helps!
Can we even get tested for exposure?!
Thanks for your help!
:-/

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L Brown October 19, 2010 - 11:14 am

I believe that my house may have mold growing in it. My 7 yr old son has asthma and many allergies but since we moved in this house last year he has been consistently sick. His throat always hurts, just about everyday, he has had numerous sinus and throat infections in fact he has one right now and is also on 4 allergy medicines but he is not getting better. Since we have moved into this house this is about his 9th time on antibiotics but he never gets completely well. Do you think that I am right? I forgot to mention that he recently had a nosebleed, always complains about a headache, his ears seem to be clogged because he always has the tv blasting, and he occasionally breaks out in red welts.

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brooke October 26, 2010 - 2:43 pm

hello, about 7 months ago i had a panic attack then depression then really bad brain fog and dizzyness and confussion. then eye floaters and tingling skin feelings and numbness in my arms at night. My symptoms started about 2 years after moving into our newly built home. I had an MRI an EKG blood work ect.. they can find nothing wrong. I have spent over 8 thousand dollars trying to figure out whats wrong with me. I feel zoned out and spacy ALL day long. Before this, I was VERY VERY VERY active. I ran 3 miles a day and weight trained alot. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!!

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brooke October 26, 2010 - 2:55 pm

I forgot to say that I also lost 15 pounds when all this started. I now look and feel like a sack of bones.

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Kelly October 26, 2010 - 6:11 pm

I would like to know if there is anything I can do to help get over or detox from a moldy apartment. I’ve been to many doctors and have not had anything wrong come up, but even after moving, I still have constant congestion, mucus, difficulty breathing and gastrointestinal pain. I moved six months ago and this is still not resolved. I am wondering if there is something wrong doctors have not been able to find or if this will have to run its course.

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Ian November 2, 2010 - 10:58 pm

My wife and I moved into an apartment complex towards the end of May. We needed to change the air filter in the furnace room. When we opened the door we found the whole room was covered in mold. We have both been suffering from headaches and flu like symptoms since we moved in. We had a sample tested and we were told it was stachybotrys. After months of arguing with our landlord we gave the management a 30 day notice to have something done. They refused to have it professionally cleaned, and their maintenance team did a very poor job. In the last month since they came in and ripped out dry wall my wife’s health is getting worse. She now has a rash that is spreading and has been diagnosed with asthma. Last night we found more mold, black in color, growing on our bedroom window. We have no idea where to turn to get this resolved and get back to being healthy. If you have any ideas or information we would be very appreciative.

Thank you,
Ian

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Dianna November 12, 2010 - 8:44 pm

I have been renting my house for over 5 years. I have had a mold problem in my basement for at least years. My landlady’s answer to this is spray bleach. Is that my responsibility? This has been on going, and she still continues to raise my rent. I take excellent care of her home. I’ve redone about everything in here. I’m upset that she would lay this on me.

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Mindy November 19, 2010 - 10:13 am

We have mold in every room of the house! Even that cement walls in the basement have it on them. We have been renting this house for 11 yrs. It was like that when we moved in. I have cleaned the walls used bleach and it still comes back. My son now has asthma and allergies. My daughter and husband have both developed allegies. I have sinus issues ALL the time and have had a headache for a month and a half. Dr.s have ran all kinds of tests and they find nothing. Can they test us for mold poisoning?

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Carrie November 24, 2010 - 3:31 am

Hey,
I’ve recently moved into a new apartment and have been feeling pretty nauseous, day after day. A week or so after I moved in, I was informed my shower was leaking into the apartment below me. I didn’t think much of it because maintenance fixed it.
The past month and a half I’ve been feeling nauseous every day. I never throw up but my head feels gross and last night was particularly bad. The strange thing is, I’ve been out of town for two weeks and forgot about how bad I felt. I felt great during the past two weeks, no nausea or anything. Last night (Monday night – I got back Sunday), I felt probably the worst I’ve felt since I moved in. Is it possible I have a mold problem? I can’t smell anything but I think it’s very strange how bad I feel 24 hours after coming back to my apartment.
Anyone have any thoughts? Thanks so much!

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Sara December 12, 2010 - 11:20 am

Hello,

I am renting a home, just moved in last month. The house has this strong smell that I can’t get rid of. The previous renter’s had a mold issue in the bathroom, the landlord’s gutted the entire bathroom and they did a ton of work on the rest of the house. They put in a new furnace, new carpet. The house looks great. But I can’t get rid of this smell, its all over the house. I have tried everything! I have cleaned, scrubbed walls, aired out the house and NOTHING is helping. Also since I have moved into the house I have been sick. I have had severe headaches, nausea, Im tired all the time. I have sinus issues. Could this be related to mold?
The smell is extremely strong in the back bedroom closet where my hot water heater is at. I signed a year lease, but I can’t stand the smell and being sick all the time. Should I get a mold testing kit and get tested for mold allergies? If there is mold present and Im allergic, I should be able to get out of my lease for health reasons, Im hoping? Any advice would be appreciated. The smell is in everything, my bed, my cloths, everything. I can’t stand it! :( I don’t even want to go home or be there. Help please and thank you.

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Mico Semp December 14, 2010 - 10:25 pm

If you have need of relief from allergy related environments; odor detection issues; mildew or mold aliments; viruses; dust; dust mites and are looking for a reliable solution; then consider Decongreeninc. I recommend their professional approach to ecological problems based on user references.

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DOTTIE HARRISON February 4, 2011 - 1:49 pm

I HAVE HAD UPPER RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS,FF OVER 3YRS,WAS MOVED FROM 1 APT TO ANOTHER.I FEEL THE MOLD IS ALSO IN THIS APT.SHOULD I GET THE MOLD TESTED BY AN OUTSIDER OR ASK THE MANAGEMENT OF THE APTS TO CHECK THE MOLD.I AM VERY WEAK FROM COUGHING AND SHORT OF BREATH.

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jessica February 18, 2011 - 10:17 pm

My friend has a mold problem at her place. She and her cat are coming to stay with me. This may be a dumb question but do I have anything to worry about as far as my health and home? She can’t bring the mold with her can she?

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miana March 1, 2011 - 2:58 am

We just moved into an apartment and within the first 6 weeks we had 7 minor floods (only affected one room). I am 6 months pregnant so I was very concerned about mold growing because of these mini floods. I told my landlord who instructed the maintainence man to look for mold. His test consisted of shining a flashlight in about 3-4 places, which left me uneasy. When I asked about the possibility of mold without visual signs he just got defensive and upset that I would even question him. So my question is are there always visual signs or should I have an actual professional come out and check?

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bea March 21, 2011 - 6:11 pm

hi ive been living in a rented flat for 2 years me and my partner have been so many times with these symptoms and now out 1yr old daughter is constantly being ill and the doctors just say that its a virus we have mold on every wall in the bathroom, toliet and our bedroom and our landloards just come in a paint over.
can someone give me some advice and help as i scared for my daughters health.

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Christen March 27, 2011 - 3:38 pm

I broke out all over my body into what looked like eczema a few weeks ago. at first I thought it was the body wash, lotion, and spry I was using from Victoria’s secret I started buying Aveeno products and cortaid creme to treat it because I don’t have health insurance. I sleep on an air mattress and this morning I decided to wash my bedding and I took my matress pad off and found mold on the top o the mattress and underneath the mattress pad. I was so grossed out I could vomit. All that time it was mold making me break out into that rash all over my body. I sprayed bleach water on it and let it dry out. Hopefully that will get rid of it. usually I see mold in my windo seal but seeing it where I spend nearly 8hrs straight is very scary.

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misty austein April 3, 2011 - 3:57 pm

Im not sure where to start but my family and I have been living in this home for almost 6 years now. We noticed some serious plumbing issues in the master bathroom and thought they were simple “leaks”. So we called our home warranty company, several times, to fix the problem but we still have problems. Now there are 3 enormous sinkholes in the backyard right next to the master bathroom. And our shower walls are bowing out along with the floor of the shower which is sorta caving in. Needless to say, we all now share 1 bathroom, the guest bathroom. We all experience very severe symptoms which noone seems to be able to pinpoint. My 4 year old was diagnosed with asthma and even hospitalized recently for pneumonia. I feel horrible all the time, tired, bad headaches, just no energy and now just found out I am about 12 weeks pregnant with my 4th child. I have been very ill since, now gagging all the time and coughing up black phlegm. I dont attribute this to the pregnancy because it is not the norm for mornong sickness. All I do know is that when we are home we are all ill and when we are away, we are fine. Dont know what to do or where to start, please help. Im almost so sick to the point it will be hard for me to muster up enough energy to get anything at all done. Thanks in advance

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Tracy April 5, 2011 - 7:30 pm

I amm 45 yo and have lived in this house for 2 years. We had two water breaks and used our preferred providers per State Farm Insurance. Well I have been sick for a year with IBS, kidney stones, severe fatigue. The Dr.’s could not figure out what was wrong. I see a Holistic Dr. who does the Electric Dermal testing and tells me I have a leak in my home.. showing I have Aspergillis ab’s in my blood. I didn’t believe him. He sent me to enviromental Dr. Found I have Asthma, ab’s to aspergillis, Penicillum, Fursourium and others. I am still struggle with Asthma even though I have been out of the for two months. My insurance company doesn’t know if they will cover it! We talked to a Lawyer and he wants 4500 up front. My daughter is 10 and it is really been hard on us. My sons are at college so they will be home soon. On top of it my husband job is shaky… Can anyone help?

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Carly April 10, 2011 - 9:39 am

I lived in a house severly infested with black mold (cieling, walls, floors, very thick black mold) for about 4 years. i started getting allergy like symptoms and thought nothing more about it. Now it’s to the point I can barely breathe through my nose, im losing my taste and smell. I have been outta the house with mold for almost a year is it possible im still having side effects from my prolonged exsposure?

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Neil April 14, 2011 - 5:19 pm

To miana. Trust me when i say not to trust your landlord in dealing with such issues. I have had major mold issue in my house for the last year, and am havin all of the major issues previously mentioned, I told my landlord of this and after waiting for over a month for even a response from them they responded by sending a painter to come “check it out” for me. After removing several moldy carpets there is no visible mold anywhere but the presence of mold is so tangible i dont go a second of the day without it assulting me in all ways possible. It can be in in the concrete.. walls. carpets your clothes, basicaly anything in your house and u wouldnt see it. U need to get a proper inspection done by a professional mold removal company prefferably one who does not harmful chemicals. I do believe the landlord is liable to do such things, i live in Australia the quote i got was $1300 I am still waiting for the owners to tell me if they are actualy going to get it done, I doubt they will so im making plans to move out and then send letters to the units next door of the situation as im sure it is effecting their homes too.

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karen April 16, 2011 - 2:27 pm

for the past year i’ve been dealing with the worst symptoms of dizziness, feeling spacey, memory issues, hair loss, fatigue etc. it all started at an office that had severe water leaks, and ever sine then (even leaving the office in october) i still barely feel ANY improvement. I would do anything to just get better, have tried all sorts of anti-fungal/no sugar diets, trying to boost my immune system, detoxifying, I just don’t feel any better at all and am losing hope. please let me know if you have any suggestions or if there is ANYTHING that will help – wish you all the best xo

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deborah May 13, 2011 - 4:41 pm

ive just moved into an apt with my daughter and my 1yr old grandbabies i worry about them isnt there something we can do if the apt owners dont do something about the mold other than painting over it? someone please tell me if you know

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terry pedersen May 16, 2011 - 5:16 am

im really concerned with where my daughter and her kids are living they have did mold test and it came out positive her dad did the test and is not doing anything about it my daughter has breathing problems my grandbaby who is 7 yrs old complains of her tummy hurting every day she also has a little boy who is 16 months old and one more due at the end of may. everytime i try to talk to her about what she plans on doing about it she just starts crying her grandfather owns the property but he is so old she dont want to bother him about it. but we have the samples of the mold and there are several diffrent kinds they dont have much money is there anyone who i can contact to get her some kind of help, maybe a lawyer to make this problem get fixed, i dont make a lot of money but i have been at my job for 30 years and maybe someone would be willing to let me make payments or maybe there is some kind of program that can help im very very worried for there health if someone has any suggestions please call me at 619-729-1519 thats my cell you can also contact me at work 858-483-6222 i thank you so much GOD BLESS YOU ask for terry

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Matthew Zulauf May 16, 2011 - 10:15 am

Hi, my family and I have been living in a home that was built in 1967. We have seen signs of different types of mold, and have cleaned the best we can. We are now on vacation and have been away from the house for almost a week. The weird thing is, my children (4 year old and 11 month old) have been having breathing issues and nasal leakage. It almost looks like how smokers get when they quit smoking. Does anyone know if this is a sign that my house is in worse condition than we thought?

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Servpro of Lincoln May 23, 2011 - 9:15 pm

Most molds, and those most commonly found in homes and offices, do not produce toxins and are not considered harmful to humans. Some molds can trigger allergic reactions and asthma symptoms in certain people. Toxic molds are those that secrete a poison call mycotoxins and they exist in far fewer number then ordinary molds.

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Emi June 2, 2011 - 1:16 am

I’m from Sydney Australia, we live in a small cabin made from wood and the roof is tin, we bought the place without seeing it because we needed a place fast and Sydney is very hard to find affordable houses.
I’m 19 and I live with my mother and we have been in the house a year, a few months after moving in I kept getting very sick with flu’s and infection. I even got fungal infections on my skin which I’ve never had.
Over summer there was no mold but It’s just coming into Winter now and there is bad ventilation. There is condensation all over the windows, black mold grows all over the wall and it just appears over night.
It’s so bad, it’s in every room, on every wall.. I’m constantly cleaning it with bleach based cleaner but it just comes back a few days later.
The house is infested. It’s ruining furniture and other items, usually it’s black mold that starts off in small spots then patches, there is green/blue mold and white mold.
I have been feeling tired and depressed and I’m wondering what other health problems are going to occur.
I believe our house is beyond repair and needs to be demolished I just can’t wait to get out.

I just want to ask, what are the long term effects of mold exposure? does anyone know? Am I at risk?
Thanks.

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Ry Guy June 13, 2011 - 12:42 am

Advice needed: we just got done doing a home mold test and there is obvious black mold growth. :( We have been renting the home we are in for 2 and a half years. Our girls (now 6 and 3 years old) have had bronchitis a number of times, and my 6 mo. old son has had some respiratory issues too. But aside from that, I can’t think of any other immediate symptoms… No coughing up black stuff or blood. No asthma. My neuter has Asthma, but he doesn’t ever complain when he comes over. No watering or itchy eyes. No raw throats or anything like that.

The amounts must be low, because you can’t really smell it and no one delved complains of watery or itchy eyes or anything when they come over.

So I’m wondering if the amount is so low that it it’s effect has been so minimal on us, as to barely cause an issue with respiratory infections (bronchitis). But is there anything else that I should be aware of or consider when it comes to looking for symptoms? Any long term health issues? Cognitive or immune issues? Potential for increased autism? Mental health issues?

Also, should I hold my landlord at fault for medical bills or anything like that? Not trying to be a jerk, bit do they have any liability? I obviously will make them pay for treatment.

Lastly, can it really be ‘cleaned up’ or would it be better to just move?

Thank you all for all your help!

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Christen June 13, 2011 - 1:55 am

No you aren’t at risk. I had a mold break out. No one else in my home got it but me. It was growing out of my wall. it was in my mattress. If they aren’t breaking out they aren’t affected too much.

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Rachel July 8, 2011 - 11:17 pm

I have been having most of all the symptoms of mold exposure and I just started on my home kit. I hope it cones our clean. I live in a mobile home for four years now and when hurricane Ike hit we had to replace our roof we had some spots on our ceilings but never did anything about them. I think we might have mold growing on the inside somewhere. Could it be growing on the inside of my walls and up on the ceiling? There are still dark spots in some places. I have not noticed if there getting bigger I don’t think they are. Could my house be condimened for mold?

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jennifer July 11, 2011 - 12:44 am

my grandson is in a state program with his mom and he was dignosed with croup after he coulnt brathe 2 weeks ago he is still coughing till he vomits and flu like symptoms he still cant catch his brath so good there is black mold inthe bsthroom of their room how can i have him tested

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jennifer July 11, 2011 - 12:48 am

he is three and some of my keys are sticking sorry i can spell. What can i do to see if the molds the problem? I can take him to dr but how do you get it proven

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Joanne Whidden July 31, 2011 - 2:39 pm

We have mold in our attic. it is severe but contained in the attic not in the walls or ceiling of the house(florr of aTTIC) HOW CAN YOU REMOVE MOLD FROM THE WOOD IN THE ATTIC OR DOES IT HAVE TO BE REPLACED?

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Jonathan August 9, 2011 - 10:43 am

Joanne, you would be wisest to have the wood entirely replaced. Be sure that the replacement process is very carefully carried out to prevent any cross-contamination. If the attic has a window or roof access, have the wood removed that way or, if you must carry it through your house, be sure that it is wrapped in plastic before you carry it through.

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Lori Tondini August 11, 2011 - 12:06 am

Joanne’
Depends on how contaminated. Sometimes, the wood can be sanded and then treated.
However, you really do not know if anything has gotten between the walls, so it would be a good idea to have the home thoroughly inspected by a licensed inspector just to make sure the contamination is indeed contained to only the attic. Do not attempt to disturb or remove without the necessary safety gear-EPA lists “minimum” as goggles, gloves, and N95 respirator. I would also wear throwaway hazmat suit because clothing can become contaminated, and then when you go into home you carry stuff with you on clothing–not good. EPA guidelines suggest professional remediation in areas that have large amount of mold or gross contamination.

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RaDonna Fox August 11, 2011 - 10:07 am

The bad thing about mold is that the spores end up traveling very efficiently throughout a home. They lay dormant until the proper conditions arise somewhere else. Mold in an attic seems unlikely as mold like black toxic mold needs a water source. I am not saying it is not possible and you MUST hire an inspector in find out, for your health and that of your family. That really bad thing is that if it is a bad mold the whole home contains the spore and mycotoxins. Louis Gosset Jr. just bulldozed his mold infested home to the ground and had it re-built. I would suggest that you do the same if it turns out to be black toxic mold.

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Lori Tondini August 12, 2011 - 9:14 pm

Actually, mold in attic areas is more common than you would think. Roof leaks, condensation, and improper ventilation are all problems that can lead to mold in attics. And attics are a perfect place for mold growth-dark, not too much air flow, dirty..

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Jonathan August 13, 2011 - 1:08 am

I am writing to say I found a solution to your problems. I had the problem myself and worked it out for myself how to eliminate the problem. What toxic Mold causes is leaky gut, what you need to take is: glutamine to repair the small intestine. You also need something with psyllium husk in better a probiotic included. You need an olive oil extract to go into your body. Then you need to cut out all yeast products, grains, alcohol, fruits(not including green apples etc). If you would like more information email me on [email protected]

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J Wilson August 13, 2011 - 6:56 am

Thanks for this post, I am sure I have this problem with mold, I recently went on holiday to my new timeshare and found that after a day my symptoms cleared up but within a few days of being back they came back.

I am very grateful to you for providing this site and will be exploring your site for solutions.

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Andrew August 18, 2011 - 5:18 pm

Hello, my name is Andrew. I am 22 yrs old. Very recently I have come to conclusion that I have mold growing in my apartment bathroom. For about 4 months or so, I have had this black stuff coming from the walls of the shower / tub. I never knew what it was, & never took inititive to do anything about it. I have been living there for aprox 8 months now. For the past month I have been having weird symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headaches, burning skin sensations, fatigue, ferling like I was going to faint, & anxiety & depression. I did not know what was causing me to feel this way, & doctors would all say im fine. I have also had a problem with coughing up thick yellow mucus everyday at the same time constantly, it is very aggraveting and annoying in my daily life. Ive observed that I also started this coughing mucus problem ever since I moved into this apartment. I am guessing that all these symptoms were caused by mold in my bathroom. If any one could give me guidence and advice, please do so..currently I am moving out, and I also noticed that I only feel the bad symptoms when I am in that apartment, but not when I am elsewhere.

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Jonathan August 22, 2011 - 10:01 pm

Andrew, you’re describing classic symptoms of mold exposure and it sounds like you’re doing the right thing – getting out. Do so as quickly as possible and make sure that the place you go is dry and as free of mold as possible (look for any visible signs of mold and water damage).

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tracy hill August 20, 2011 - 11:08 am

My family lives in a 100 + yr old home. We rent! Basement wet all the time. I have dehumidifier running 24/7. A few leaks in roof, every time the land load fixes the leaks he sprays the moldy wood with clorox. Next time it rains same thing. Water leaks and everytime the mold spots come back, even after he changes the sheet rock and sprays the clorox. my 1 yr old has had a cough with bad conjestion for 2months. Do you know of a way I can get a free mold test. The landlord wont pay for it and we just cant afford it. Please help! I dont know where to turn. We live in New York, Long Island.

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Jonathan August 22, 2011 - 9:59 pm

Tracy, if the Landlord is unwilling to pay for a mold test then you are unlikely to get much help for actually resolving the problem. If you’ve got visible mold, you have a mold problem and its only made worse by the fact that you are noticing symptoms that definitely fall into the exposure category. Are you locked into your lease? It sounds like you need to get out – badly. I encourage you and your family to look closely at your options, call on family if need be, and look for a way to get into a safe, dry home where you and your little one can recover. In an environment ripe for mold its only going to get worse with time. Hang in there, Tracy.

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stephanie August 20, 2011 - 5:50 pm

fell so ill from a mold exposure and years later i’m unable to live like a person should. unfortunately my daughter, now 12, fell ill as well. i feel like lessors need to own their properties and own their responsibilities. if i had only known then what i know now…

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patty pineau August 23, 2011 - 9:43 am

your articles are awesome .my story is too sad too long if things dont get better soon will just have to pack up and walk away but i will write a book before all is said and done. thank you . thank you all for now i know i am not going crazy and for sharing your stories good luck to you all.

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Erin September 14, 2011 - 12:50 pm

Our washer flooded, twice, in our house that we’re renting and soaked a part of our living room carpet. we used a shop vac to clean most of it up and had a fan on it to dry. Its a couple weeks later and my 2 month old daughter has been sneezing, coughing, and had nasal congestion for the last week. I thought at first it was the change in weather in good ol’ Illinois but then I started getting migraines, which I’m prone to, the last 4 days and my boyfriend has been extremely exhausted all the time. I suspected mold when I started to smell something musty every once in a while around the living room. We’ve contacted out landlord many times and haven’t gotten anywhere with her. Could this be whats causing our symptoms?

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Robert September 18, 2011 - 7:54 pm

Hello,

I have just moved into a new apartment. According to the landlord, it was completely renovated. From the look of it, it seems to be true: nice hardwood and ceramic floors, new windows, new kitchen and bathroom, new baseboards…. The whole place looks great. But, when i went near the floor heating vent, I could smell a musty smell. I could also smell it coming from the vent in the wall. My breathing has been different, my chest feels tight, but I’m not wheezing. When I leave for work, I feel better almost within an hour. I’ve installed charcoal filters for the floor vents and bought two air purifiers. Is this enough? The landlord said he put a dehumidifier in the basement but cound it be throughout the duct work? Thanks.

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Natalie September 19, 2011 - 11:28 am

I have yearly allergies..inside and outside the home. I can smell mold that others can’t. There is an AC unit on the wall in a storage room that I have to get supplies from. Whether I hold my breath or not, I hurry in, get what I need and race out. It never fails that within days I start sneezing, raw sore throat, cough then or starts to settle on my chest as a secondary infection…twice now since August! I brought this to the proper person and they said to spray or with bleach! I don’t want to do it, should I have someone else do this? Your thoughts

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Jodi September 23, 2011 - 4:55 pm

Can there be a mold problem without visible mold? My basement has been flooded three times in the last couple of months (long story, I’m in a townhouse, water is from next door. I’m a renter). We’ve been drying the carpet with a heavy-duty carpet cleaner and fans. I pulled up some of the carpet after this latest problem and though the padding and the carpet do not appear moldy, the wood strips are black. The concrete floor has been painted so it’s fine. My cat and I do have allergies, so it’s hard to tell if our flare-up in symptoms is from the weather or the carpet…

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Branden October 9, 2011 - 12:48 am

Thanks for the info i was working on this house and today i have a sore throat headache and rash.thanks

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Laurie Baker October 20, 2011 - 7:01 pm

I am a student in Microbiology and this week we were working with molds in the laboratory. I am aware that I have an allergy to molds so I did my best to prevent direct exposure but about half way through the period I developed a black eye on one side. I felt a little dizzy but nothing severe. I have never experienced that before and my instructor had never heard of someone developing a black eye from mold exposure. Could this indicate an underlying issue or is getting a black eye common for people with mold allergies.

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symptoms for headaches October 26, 2011 - 3:12 pm

Cleaning on a regular basis will definitely resolve this mold issues. These things are very little yet can do greater damage. We should never neglect these things.

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Deborah November 15, 2011 - 10:28 am

A couple of years ago our basement flooded and also around the foundation it came thru the ceiling. The last six months I have been terribly sick and it’s getting worse. Also, my husband is starting to get sick. I’m home more than he is. I’m a diabetic and my immune sympton is also lower and I’m highly allergic to penicillin which has mold in it. No matter what time I go to bed I’m totally exhausted when I get up. Until, I got sick I had so much energy and now totally drain. EVERY, morning I wake up to my muscles in my arms, hands and all down my legs cramping and twisting around the bones. I’ve never experiened anything like this in my life. And, when I first get up in the morning I can’t hardly walk or pick up anything. I get shortness of breath and constantly blowing my nose. I can be gone from the house and start to feel better. Than, after about 30 minutes in the house I get deathly sick and start vomiting and then it just goes downhill. Also, I am a very clean housekeeper and it always has a soured smell to me.

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Christine Armstrong November 17, 2011 - 11:36 am

I just have a question… I know for SURE that there is mold in this building we are renting. We’re living in an old town, up on the East coat near canada so it’s cold/ rainy/ winter most of the year. When we moved in the ceiling still hadn’t been fixed and was falling in because of leaking through the roof for years, and they finally patched it up. But the apartment next door also had a hole in the ceiling (worse than ours, we could see into the ceiling.) and you could actually SEE the mold..falling right through the ceiling. There was alot of it. I know people have threatened to call inspectors here and have moved out before their lease, I don’t want to move. But I’ve been having really bad headaches and my husband is still coughign when he usually gets over a cold. We wake up every morning with sore throats, and the heat throughout this building smells terrible. (I know that’s an old buildling thing, so not a big deal.) … I’m just worried about our health. Do you think this could have serious detrimental affects on our health if we live here for another 4 months?

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Jess November 23, 2011 - 5:40 am

Hi

We have recently had a mold problem in our rented house but we had someone to clean all the signs of mold away. But we found more on the back of the wardrobe in my boyfriend’s room and moved upstairs into my room where there are no signs of mold. But being in my room is causing us both to wheeze quite a lot (we’re both asthmatic) and when a friend of ours stayed a few weeks ago, she mentioned she’s come out in an allergic reaction. Is it possible there is mold in the room that we cannot see, as my boyfriend and I actually fare better in his room, a room where we know for certain there is mold. What should we do?

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Brittany November 23, 2011 - 4:41 pm

We have recently found a ton of mold growing in the apartment we just recently started renting out and it started growing as soon as it became cold out. My fiance decided to clean it on his own and now has been feeling really sick. Is from the mold?? He has super soar throat, diarrea, runny nose and he never gets sick. The apartment managrr tried to blame us but the water goes right through the walls nd sweats. I’m not sure what to do or how to get out of there! The only thing they will do is get us a dehumidifier.

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Rebecca Underwood November 26, 2011 - 1:03 pm

So if we get rid if the mold dies the asthma go away.. It scares me to death I’m in steroids can’t breath, headaches, achy, can’t hear out if my right ear.. What’s the easiest way to get it out of our house.. We did a in home test we have 4 molds .. Which most of then said breathing problems.. I’m spending so much money on inhalers .. What do we do with our furniture and pictures how do we get that cleaned??

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Katie November 29, 2011 - 3:02 am

I live in a house with seven other girls..we all have more then half if not all the symptoms of house mold… we had a guy come in and look at the bathroom and all he did was “take out” the mold, and patched the hole up, but of course it came back.. and Im pretty sure its spread through out the house.. who do i call how do i get this out.. some one told me the mold is going to kill me, my parents are freaked out but live three hours away and cant do much i been researching all this mold stuff, and it makes me want to go to the hospital and get test done or something.. we can only get out of the lease if we can prove its effecting our health

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sara December 1, 2011 - 9:29 pm

HI CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP I HAVE FOUND MOLD IN MY BEDROOM IT IS NOW SPREADING EVERYWHERE MY BED MY CLOTHES INSIDE WARDROBES UNDER BEDS CABINETS I HAVE EVEN FOUND SOME IN MY BABIES ROOM NOW MY LANDLORD SAYS ITS BECAUSE OF MY DRYER SHOWERS COOKING ETC BUT I HAVE A EXTRACTOR ABOVE MY COOKING AREA AND 1 IN MY BATHROOM ALSO HAVE WINDOWS OPEN ALL THE TIME I HAVE REALLY STARTED TO BECOME ILL THESE PAST FEW DAYS ITS A GREEN MOLD WITH WHITE ON IS THIS DANGEROUS AND COULD THIS BE WHY IM ILL LANDLORD IS JUST SAYING OPEN WINDOWS AND WIPE IT BUT ITS DESTROYING MY THINGS THANKS IN ADVANCE

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Hollie December 5, 2011 - 3:12 pm

Hi, there was a pipe that busted recently in my house. A few days ago a noticed a musty strange smell and couldn’t figure out what it was. The next day I notice the carpet was damp by my door. I thought there was a spill, so I scrubbed that spot. The next day, the smell was bugging me so much, I had to figure out what it was. So, I started feeling around on the floor and noticed that whole side of my room was damp. We called the landlord and they said they fixed the pipe and the carpet is our responsibility and they aren’t going to do anything about it. I have a runny nose or sometimes stopped up, sore throat, coughing and sneezing. I’m not sure if it sickness from possibly having mold or from the weather change. What do you think?

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Samantha Wetzel December 7, 2011 - 2:11 am

We recently found a massive black mold issue in our bathroom. We rent and the maintenance guys removed the floor and cabinet today. We stayed out of the house during the day and they just put a fan in the room to “dry” it out. I was hoping for a dehumidifier but came home to a fan. This worried me because I know the spores are the main problem health wise and I’m scared the illnesses we have been experiencing all along will only be made worse by this method they used. They also already installed the new floor the same day. Now tonight my daughter who is 2 years old has a mild rash on her neck and cannot sleep at all because she is throwing up so much. It was dinner at first but is now all phlegm. Is this black mold poisoning? Should we see a doctor immediately or am I just paranoid over coincidence?

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Frank December 7, 2011 - 4:00 pm

We rent a house that has had a leaky roof at the skylights for the last six years and the leak has turned black about four years ago. It has rained a lot in the last few months and my wife has had symptoms of a bad cough with a lot of phlegm but no fever or aches or other symptoms for 2 solid months. I went to the doctors after having the same persistant cough for about the same.( Diagnosed with Accute upper respitory infection and prescribed Hydrocodone- Homatropine syrup) Dog now has what sounds like kennel cough but he gets imunizations for that on a regular basis at the vets. Could this be the mold? The leak is about 2′ wide x 1/2 in height! P.S. I also have severe muscle and joint aches within the last year (I am 52 though!)

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leak detection Dublin December 13, 2011 - 8:04 am

We can control mold by using some tips such as clean and repair roof drain regularly, the ground slopes away from the building basis, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation, keep air conditioning drop pans clean and the drain lines clear and flowing properly, reduce the water source in window , walls and pipes.

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Ellen December 20, 2011 - 9:47 pm

Ok, I picked up a car bed from a friend and a piece of it had some green mold/mildew on it so I took it to the do it yourself car wash to wash the mold/mildew off before bringing it home. I covered my face with my sweater as much as I could, but I am just curious if doing that could’ve exposed me to enough mold spores to make me sick. I am kind of a hypochondriac so I wanted to get some advice from some mold experts. I will be cleaning the entire bed down with hot bleach water before assembling it for my son to be safe.

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Jonathan January 2, 2012 - 8:32 pm

Ellen, did the car bed have a mattress that came with it and, if so, was there mold on the mattress? I’m guessing not, but want to be sure. If there was mold in the mattress, I would just toss it immediately. As far as the frame, is the material plastic or wood?

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Will December 20, 2011 - 11:59 pm

Moved to an apartment 11/2010
Shortly after that in Mid December, started to break out in Guttate Psoriasis, Shortly after that I started having bad sinus problems, migraines, vision problems.chronic fatigue. After 3 different Dermatologist and months of treatment nothing was working.Also my internest who did blood work and couldn’t find anything. In June of 2011, my dermatologist sent me to an ENT because my tonsils were slighly inflammed. After a cat scan from the ENT we realized I had a severe sinus infection. At this point I Started many different antibiotics with prednisone. nothing seemed to clear up the infection (or psoriasis). I’m talking over 4 months of different antibiotics. The infection was so bad and resistent that I had to have sinus surgery 9/23/11. I’ve since had two sinus infections since my surgery.
I’m still covered in dermatitis.
Last month I saw an infectious disease Dr., he did blood and stool samples and found everything to be normal. Two weeks ago I spent a few days outside of Indy at a friends, and I noticed my dermatitis started to clear up, also I took a trip to Jamaica in Mid July and all my symptoms cleared up. (I attributed that to the sun and salt water.)Ive been suffering now for over a year with all these health problems.I have an appointment with the Mayo clinic in Feb. I needed a referal from my dermatologistso to get an appt with Mayo,So 4 days ago I called her. I havent seen her in a few months because I’m using all this psoriasis medication thats not working. She called me at home to say, “it Just hit me with all your symptoms, you have mold in your house” I started thinking well the back porch smells like wet leaves. there are also several leaks in the house one from a leaky pipe on the bathroom ceiling and the other comes down the bedroom window. I do see mold on the bathroom ceiling. In the spring we told the lanlord about the leak and the moldy ceiling tile, he said ” let me know when you’re both gone for a weekend and I’ll fix it.”

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Dorie December 29, 2011 - 4:34 pm

I live in an apartment and back in May 2011 we had extensive water damage to our bedroom window. In September the window still hadn’t been repaired and we had more water damage which resulted in black mold.It is now Dec 2011 and mold has been causing serious health issues with my family. The mold is blackish green in color and they finally repaired the window today. I need to know my legal rights in this situation please.

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waynetigges January 3, 2012 - 6:11 am

company claims to offer home appaliance using mold without any side effects is it possible or fake .

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Ellen January 3, 2012 - 2:26 pm

Johnathan, no there was no mattress with it. I just used the one he already has, and it’s plastic.

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David January 5, 2012 - 6:02 pm

5 weeks ago we bought a new car and I started feeling really unwell. Immediately my throat became sore while driving over 30miles. Over a few more days my chest became tight and started to have nasal drip.

I came to the conclusion it was the car as there was a musty smell but didn’t know where to start. We changed the pollen filter, got the ac gas changed, had the interior shampooed, used deodorisers and had engine/exhaust checked for leaks but couldn’t shift the illness and my health was only getting worse.

Only recently we traced the smell to the drivers side door. We removed the door card to find an abundance of mold.. Thank god, now to find away to get into the hard to reach places for complete removal!

Thanks to this site, we eventually were pointed in the right direction!

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Dan L. January 8, 2012 - 1:49 pm

I’m almost certain I have a mold problem in my apartment. I have been sick for five months with the above symptoms. I’m miserable, it makes life and work suck. When I went home to my parents’ house over Christmas (I’m a college student), I got better! Now, I’m back at the apartment and I’m sick again.

The problem is that I’m stuck in a lease for the rest of the year. The landlord won’t do anything (I’m in MI) and I literally can’t afford to break the lease on my measly income ($900 security deposit). What can I even do? I’ve tried Zyrtec and over-the-counter allergy meds and they don’t work, doctors don’t know what to do.

Thanks for your time and help and this article!

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James Howe January 23, 2012 - 11:57 pm

I had been feeling sick for a few weeks. I hadn’t used my humidifier in over 6 months and thought that turning it on would help my nose bleeds. After turning it on I quickly became light headed and short of breath. I took the water canister out and found black mold all throughout the humidifier. Humidifiers are dangerous for mold.

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Breanna January 29, 2012 - 4:37 am

I know I don’t have mold in my house, but i drank out of a park water fountain (i think had mold in it) and I am now suffering with thraot irritation and runny nose. It feels really rusty and I keep looseing my voice every time I start talking again. It feels like crap! Do you think I’m sick from mold?

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Terri February 8, 2012 - 12:26 am

We live in a 2 story house. The 2nd floor is like a basement and is partially underground. We live only on the top floor, the basement is only used for storage. A few months ago we realized that our dishwasher (upstairs) was backing up into the bathtub in the basement. We have a septic tank and we have not been able to figure out why the water is backing up. My husband pumps out the bathtub every week or so to remove the water. We know this is only a temporary fix. My question…my daughter and I have been having recurring upper respiratory infections and headaches for months. Could this dirty water downstairs in our home cause this? The water is not really mold, but just dirty dishwasher water. We are trying to figure out how to fix this, but I am beginning to wonder if all of our health problems stem from this. And if it could cause even worse health problems for us. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Sierra February 15, 2012 - 12:12 am

Hi, we recently moved into a trailer about 3 months ago I did not visually see any mold until yesterday on all of my window seals I cleaned it, disinfected it I’m not sure how long it has been there or if there is any more under thee trailer or in any wood here. I have recently been getting headaches, getting dizzy & feeling nauseated at random times usually at night could this be from mold? Someone please let me know.

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Kirsty Sleeman February 26, 2012 - 9:04 pm

I live in a rented 3 Bedroom place on The Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.I moved in around 12 months ago & started to notice my sinus, hayfever, got worse, & worse. One day last year I found a White mould on all of my clothes & shoes…..( This has happened at least 3-4 time now)…I freaked out & washed all of my clothes, & shoes & took pictures, showed the owner….He told me he would put ventilation in my bathroom .( Which he still hasn’t:()….. After that I noticed I would wake up & my eyes were stinging all the time, my throat, was sore, & my constant horse throat was getting worse..Then about six months ago I got worse….I developed Stomach pains, unusual problems with my bowels, & lots of pain in my stomach & abdomen area.Back
& forwards to Doctors I went had every test under the sun, Utrasounds, Enddospy, Blood tests all came back negative. I was put on trammel, & lots of other drugs….It got a little better, then about 2 months ago
I started getting bad heartburn & now horrible acid reflux symptoms, & terrible problems swallowing food for the past 2 weeks, & these symptoms are getting worse.I get the test results back for the second time in a couple of days….Let’s see what happens. This morning I woke up feeling horrible & I looked on my plastic blinds, & there was Black mould all over them…So I sprayed them with Vinager & brushed it off with a cloth. No wonder I feel so horrible I was sleeping under it all this time. I am currently moving out if this horrible place & just hope &
Pray that all of these horrible symptoms will get better when I move out. I also talked to a lady the other day that told me she lived in the same house & she told me that the mould problem was there when she lived there too..The worst thing for me is I’m finding it so difficult to eat (Swallow food)….So I have lost weight & they are testing me this time for anything from
Cancer to IBS, cause my mystery health problems are stumping all my three doctors so far….Please I need some advice as I am very scared what’s going to happen..What can I do….Worried & So Sick of being sick:(…..

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Angie March 4, 2012 - 2:38 am

My family and I just moved into our house jan 2012. Everyday since a week after we moved in, we have been very tired, our thoarts hurt nonstop. We are always haveing stuffy noses, which then leads to bleeding noses. My mother comes over and she has COPD and has alot of issues breathing as well as my uncle. I goggled this all our we thought sickness issues and mold came up every where. How do u look for mold. The house we lived in had a fire years ago was cleaned all out.

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Jamie March 7, 2012 - 5:32 pm

I bought a home in feb of 2010, right after parking it on the lot, and getting things moved in we found mold in the ceilings, walls, behind bathroom vinyl underneath some of the sticky tile around the door frame to the back door and once it was spotted & i began searching it was found in several places had someone come out and replace walls, wood, tiles of areas SEEN. well shortly after here it comes right back in some places, and I havent the slightest of ideas as to how much is in here that has not been found nor seen. The guys who done the work said the mold inside was black mold, however since we have lived here I suffer from serious headaches, if i go one single day of the week without a headache, it is a shocker, the most are sinus headaches, I can be laying in bed at night watching tv and my eyes will just start pouring water like I am crying, I get bronchitis several times, sinus infections constantly, constant soar / scratchy throat some days not so bad, tired non stop…. My son has been having constant nose bleeds even headaches and he just turned 5. pretty young for headaches i thought. He also keeps a runny nose. I am wondering if we may be suffering from mold exposure and what steps we need to take medically. I know if this is mold doing this to us we got to get out of this home…. any thoughts, suggestions would be very much appreciated.

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Nichole March 24, 2012 - 3:27 am

I have been at my apartment now for about 5 months with my boyfriend. We do not spend much time in the living room because the television is broken, however recently I started using it again because my desk is in there. The day before yesterday I was in for 6 hours and I got a TERRIBLE headache and my throat was horribly sore. Yesterday I was in for about 3 hours and the sore throat/headache came back (it faded a little overnight and when I went to work). We got a cat in January and she has had a lung infection (poor baby!) the entire time… It is now late March. I know there is an issue in the bathroom across the apartment which my landlord ‘fixed’ with bleach (the building was a factory then an office building way back before it was apartments so there are no vents in the bathroom, I assume the building is exempt from the ventillation laws because of this – There is also no vent above the stove) but we have to keep the door closed or else the cat gets in and climbs into the wall. I also have Horrible skin rash on my hands since mid-January, but I am not sure if it is from sensitive skin (which I have always had) or an outside source. Reading several mold sites it sounds like it could be, but how can I be sure? And if it is, is it my responsibility to clean it up or the landlords? And if professional testing IS required, is it my landlords job to pay or my own?

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natalie April 10, 2012 - 4:39 pm

I have been living in a property past year, which had leak and flooding under property causing mould growth and strong musty smell, landlord was putting it down to condensation. Took me this long to find out the problem, as i had to reports done. Had many symptoms vision changes, drooping eyelid, hair loss, blocked sinuses,dizzy,balance problems, abdominal pain list goes on. My son now has asthma. Doctors are not linking this to my situation, very frustrating. We are out of that house now, but feel we are left with these health issues

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Twin Cities janitorial June 10, 2012 - 10:34 pm

I am allergic to most spores, and mold would probably be no exception. Allergic reactions have varying results. A clean home that is mold free will helps you stay healthy as much as possible. Thank you! All this information is really an eye-opener.

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Sandy June 25, 2012 - 4:12 am

Florida is being beat up by rain, looks like water has been getting in our foundation and we are going to have to do some work. Definitely explains why we all have allergy symptoms after every rain storm and why my son wakes up with tons of congestion every day. Ugh.

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jodi stuart September 18, 2012 - 1:52 pm

i have been living in a damp apt. with mold exposure… i am very athletic and in the wellness biz.. therapeutic yoga teacher… my bone density gets worse every year… no one can figure it out.. is it due to the mold ??

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Sue December 5, 2012 - 7:33 pm

My grand daughter over the past 3 months appears to be constantly ill after her weekend visits to her father. I’ve been advised that they have been flooded twice in their basement (this is where she plays)and when I made a visit there the smell was immense but her father couldnt smell it (too close I suppose). Anyway her symtoms are almost the same as strep throat. Our GP has taken a throat swab and I have insisted on her having some allergy tests done. I’m almost certain her condition is being caused by spores and mold.
How can we overcome this….she is due a visit again this coming weekend and I’m really concerned about it. He’s not the sort of person you can talk to and seems to take offence at everything said.

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Cathy Genco January 23, 2013 - 1:03 pm

Leave as soon as you can , mold is deadly.

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amanda February 21, 2013 - 11:42 pm

I moved into my apt almost 4 months ago, since then I have been sick with what I think is head colds, but then since I have started working or leaving my house I feel great, then as soon as I come back home I’m here for a few mins and automatically my heads congested and I have no energy I just want to sleep, I am also pregnant so I also associated that with my tiredness.and unable to get over what I think is head colds, I’ve put plastic over my windows because they were leaking cold air also believed this to be why I was feeling so crappy, well fixing that hasn’t helped either… My eyes feel dry and heavy as they would when ur tired, when I’m not tired.. I don’t know anyone in my complex nor see anyone ever or I would ask if they are having problems, now I’m thinking its a mold issue, I’ve never lived anywhere with mold, but since I’ve lived here I’ve felt so Crappy more than ever have… Something doesn’t seem right, I’m hardly ever sick and I don’t suffer from allergies from weather or things outside never have. What’s your input/thoughts?

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Rachel April 17, 2013 - 9:43 am

Every time my kids come back from their aunts house one of them end up with a fever within a couple of days. One always complains of leg pain with the fever, the other just the fever. They are perfectly healthy at home but every month or month and a half they go stay with their aunt and they come home and get sick right away so it got me thinking…could it be mold spores in their aunts home that build up in their system over the course of the weekend, then the get the symptoms when they get home? I’m at wits end, but the only thing that makes sense and seems to ironic for it to always be when they come home from her house. This is a year round occurance, but a memory recollected as this happened the last time they stayed for a weekend.

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Susan goodnight May 3, 2013 - 9:34 am

hi. I moved into an old country home that my boyfriend had lived in for 9 or 10 years in the bedroom there are no windows there is a hole cut in the wall when air conditioner hangs the other side of the wall is not outside its it inside of a garage I have noticed black mold in looking stuff under the air conditioner on the wall to cut to the chase I’ve had severe headaches that wake me up in the middle of the night sore throats it feel like they’re in my ears too could this be mold problems and how bad will this affect my house

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candice July 18, 2013 - 6:30 am

I’ve been renting mu house for 2 years now 2 months ago my air condictioner was having some problems I’ve been asking my land lord to send someone over to fix it he has not!! My husband tried to fix it him self the landlord told him to … my husband is no handly man at all!! So its broke well the aircondictioner is just pouring out water I’ve had to rip out carpet and my vent in the living room is full of water the dry wall is all wet and molding now … also my kids already have bas allergies and I think the mold is making all of us sick … my daughter is 9 months and has a runny nose fever and is just always always sleepy and crankcy could rhis be the cause of the mold growing ?? If so I’m definitely going to taking my landlord to court!!!

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Linda G. Gavin August 8, 2013 - 11:26 am

917) 995-5701
I just moved to an appartment. The appartment above me have been flooding for the past 4 months. Now my children have been sleeping in the molded infested room. The walls are black and ceiling are black and the floor is unleveled with lots of black hairy mold and nasty. what can I do? do you have any advice for me?

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Jamie February 13, 2014 - 5:59 am

Hello. We moved into our new apartment 4 months ago and since the first week My son started getting cold like symptoms (sneezing, coughing, runny nose ect.) Due to it being cold/flue season – we figured it was none other than just that. Fast forward 1 month – son is still coughing – never went away and still stuffy, now he has intermittent fevers, daily headaches, constant red glossy eyes and keeps complaining of tummy pain. Now into snow weather and 1st grade – we thought it was the flu, until i started to get sick. Constant headaches, eye pain, mood swings, and this cough. fast forward 3 more months. Nothing has changed in either my son or I. This cough is the worst, he has missed so much school, we have a constant burning in the nose – so much so it hurts to breath, but then when we breathe through the mouth – dry itchy cough and we cant breathe. Son is always complaining of intermittent belly pain. Wakes up with sores in the mouth and sore throat. I have constant achy pain in my hips, back neck. Chronic swollen glands.. and now that i am home more (recently lost my job) i find i just want to sleep..like i am so tired. Our building has constant water leaking in the basement – as soon as you walk in there is a constant must/mold smell. In our apartment i am finding that there is constant condensation building up in my sons room – no mold on the walls as i can see or smell in our unit, but clothes and blankets near the floor get stained yellow and are always wet. I am suspecting mold. Heres the thing though, my husband seems just fine – i mean the occasional cough or sniffle -but not chronic like my son and i. I dont have insurance and just dont know what to do. Everyday the cough (which is getting worse – for me every few seconds), the sinus pain, runny nose headaches. Should i be scared or mold, should we leave? call the health department? Any advice will do.

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John C May 16, 2014 - 6:11 am

I did a Petri dish test in the my kitchen after 3 days I have 5 spots of light mold white outside with light green in center. I is LOOKS just like the one on this website, should I be concerned? John

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Nick July 10, 2014 - 10:58 pm

hello, i moved into a house in november and at the end of march i was released from my lease due to me finding black mold in the drop ceiling of the downstairs level. before reporting it to the landlord i did a do-it-yourself mold test and the results were white spores, green spores, and black spores. they popped up rather quickly and it was obvious there was mold as well in the ceiling. well now it’s july and i’m almost convinced i’ve lost 98% of my taste and smell and i can only trace the reason back to possibly being exposed to hazardous mold. is it possible for mold to have this effect on me in the amount of time i’ve given? i’d really like to know because if so i plan on suing the landlord for letting me move into the house in the first place and the medical issue it has caused me. it also gave my girlfriend huge rashes on her arms and the doctor told her it was most likely due to mold exposure. any help would be great thank you very much.

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Krystle July 11, 2014 - 6:29 am

Nick, I am not a doctor, but mold can cause my symptoms to flare up within minutes of being in an infested building (headaches, nausea, crawly skin). So I would think that would be enough time to cause your symptoms. If you are planning to sue your landlord, you may find this article helpful: Toxic Mold Litigation – Who Is Legally Responsible And Do I Have A Case? (https://moldblogger.com/toxic-mold-litigation-who-is-legally-responsible-and-do-i-have-a-case/)

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Linda August 27, 2014 - 5:17 am

My daughter had her air conditioner serviced due to an oder she was smelling. The service person put some bleach in it (a window unit)to clean out any residue. Since then she has gotten a severe hive/itchy rash on her torso and crusty spots on skin under eyes. No problem with breathing but she does have very sensitive shin and allergies. Doctor is puzzled. Any connection?

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john January 19, 2015 - 10:28 pm

I feel sick all the time with runny nose but not want to throw up or run a fever. My nose is running constantly. When i go to work i dont get any better as my nose keeps running. Is this a mold cause that follows me? Thanks

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Stefania February 12, 2015 - 7:23 am

I get courage when I see that other people like me are dealing with similar health problems. I am not so alone.

One year ago I moved in a house at Ghent, Belgium. I already had allergic rhinitis and allergies to dust mites and to pollen.

The problem is that in June 2014 I was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis which was caused by allergic rhinitis (which means it was caused by constant exposure to allergens 24/7). Why now? why not in the previous environment? At September 2014 (5 months earlier) I found out that all my bedroom walls had spots with mold. I don’t know why I didn’t see that before.

I take medication from June 2014 til now, February 2015 (9 months) and I must say that I am much better now.

However, every time that I am absent from the house for weeks, or days or even hours I feel much better. I don’t feel pressure on my sinuses, I don’t have headaches, and I can breath normally. I feel almost 100% healed.
When I come back home problems begin: firstly a terrible smell goes inside my head, my sinuses bother me and I feel pressure in my forehead. As a result I take two antihistamine pills per day instead of one (that is my normal dosage). Until my body get’s used to the house smell it might take days or weeks. On the other hand my boyfriend and my mother cannot smell anything (obviously because they don’t have allergies).
But should I get used to the smell or this environment is potentially toxic and it might provoke worse health issues?
What does this smell means? Could it be from the moldy walls? I’ve read lots of articles that seriously suggest that chronic sinusitis could be developed in a house exposed to mold.
I want to leave the house invoking health issues but I don’t know if I can break the lease without any penalty .

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Anne February 13, 2015 - 11:34 am

I’ve been sick off and on ever since we moved into our current home. During our stay here we have accidentally gotten the bathroom floor wet and it dripped into the ceiling and dripped downstairs on our coffee table. We do tend to get our bathroom floor wet when we shower by accident, also we have had problems with our shower heads growing mold and having to change them out every few months. i’m starting to think I may have mold issues. I stay sick on antibiotics, nasal steroids, and even take a daily allergy pill. However it’s a reoccurring thing that I have a feeling like i’m going to faint then my left nostril gets runny and stays running and wet while the other nostril only get wet and runny from time to time. I also have severe drainage down the back of my throat which leads to a severe sore throat. Some times I get itchy places on my skin, or a mild rash. I will also have weeping eyes and sometimes run a fever. I’ll get it all cleared it (it takes about 3 months and 3 rounds of antibiotics and steroids) but I seem to keep going back though this about every 3 months or so. I can’t seem to get rid of this issue, it’s a living nightmare and extreme cost going to the doctor. Is it possible I may be suffering a mold related illness?The doctors can’t seem to understand whats wrong with me, and they have given up and referred me to a ENT, but I wonder if its not mold related.Can someone please help me figure out if this is mold related or not?

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Grace July 15, 2015 - 11:39 pm

We moved into a new custom built house, by an award winning builder ! The house looked perfect but behind the walls water was leaking the black mold was odorless and invisible. Anyhow, after about sixteen months there, , I started to have itchy dry red eyes, then my skin started to itch burning stinging sensation, by the third year I went downhill fast, dizziness, breathing issues, wheezing, dry heaves, weight loss, neurological problems heart palpitations, blurred vision, flu like feeling general weakness, serious brain fog at this point I was totally DISABLED AND SHOCKED BY IT! went from one doctor to another lost count after 30 finally saw one who looked at all my test and everything diagnosed me with mycotoxins mold poisoning, and I began treatment the good doctor was right we tore open a wall in the bathroom and there was black mold. He directed us to move out asap remediate but never ever return there we sold out house, And our furniture and all of our things had to treated we gave a lot of it away. I was super sick. almost hospitalized I was put on Cholstyramine and charcoal chorella and ton of other stuff to get the mold out. Apparently 25% of people are allergic and the body does not recognize it as toxin so it begin to recirculate in some causes people will have a heart attack, seizures, or go into a come. The last three years were a nightmare it took a very long time to get well. Black mold is very unsafe, dangerous I would never ever dream of having children, babies pet anyone I love or care about ever living around such toxic stuff. My doctor told us that even if your not allergic it is still effecting your immunity and causing reactions in the body, that may have devastating health effects in years to come. I also read in the book that Dr Shoemaker the world expert on mold wrote every single patient he interviewed was going to end their life it was not a question of If but when , The feeling of his patient I can identify with there is so much physical suffering and emotional spin you can take … I too had considered the same death with dignity this was so against my belief system but I had been so worn down by mold poisoning I would of died anyway if I had remained in that house , according to my MD. I thank God everyday I found a MD that could help me although it was a long road ahead He was there all the way with us helping us and advising just like a father would to his children .. we are forever thankful for such a compassionate, caring and knowledgeable doctor if it wasn’t for him I would not be writing this today.

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Rex Murphy July 20, 2015 - 6:13 am

As an indoor air quality specialist, one of the most important things to realize about mold is that mold requires water or moisture to grow. So–if you have mold, you’ve got excess moisture or water coming in. And other than fixing any leaks in the home, the next thing you’ll want to do is get a hygrometer or humidity meter and see what your indoor humidity is. If it’s above 50% and it usually is in these cases, get a portable home dehumidifier and use it to keep the humidity in the 35-40% range. This will make a huge difference.

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Katie July 23, 2015 - 2:56 pm

Hello! My husband and I recently moved into a rental house. The house was built in 1920 and needs some work, but we were up for it. We have been living here for about three weeks now and my husband has been feeling very ill. It starts the moment he enters the house and usually goes away moments after leaving the house. He feels dizzy, lightheaded and has experienced vision problems. He started getting sick in the morning as well. I have noticed some gross smells here and there, but am not experiencing the same symptoms as he. We went to the doctor today and she took blood, but couldn’t really tell us anything. We are having the air tested and should hear back next week. Do you think this could be from mold? His symptoms seem a little different from the symptoms I read about. Thanks!

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BrianReeves July 24, 2015 - 12:42 pm

The symptoms may indicate possible mold, but you did the right thing getting it tested. It is important to know exactly what you are dealing with to proceed.

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maz August 23, 2015 - 8:27 am

I have a musty smell that almost chokes me at times but it isn’t confined to a static place it moves around and leaves the the room smelling ok and it starts somewhere else ….we have a crawl space and I am thinking it may be coming from there …it is really bad by our furnace….and we here something moving underneath where our pc is ….would toads make this smell…I am so tired of having to squirt air freshener around…please help..
My husband and I are both claustrophobic so we can’t look down there…

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Peter September 29, 2015 - 8:03 am

Wow, I have had the same symptoms as Grace which started one week after moving to a new apt. Heart palpitations, chest pain, difficulty breathing, stomach burning, lightheadedness, a host of digestive issues and much more. Had countless tests that have come back normal. Spent thousands on ER visits and doctor and specialist visits. They can’t find anything. I’m starting to believe I have a mold sensitivity triggered by what’s in the apt. However, I’m still experiencing these symptoms even after a month away from that apt. My belongings must have traces of it. I hope I found the cause of all my suffering :(

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clarissa lopez October 26, 2015 - 10:33 pm

My house flooded and within a week or so my skin on my arms are burning and turning red and the skin is very thin. Does this sound like it could be from the flooding or black mold?

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Fran U. November 3, 2015 - 10:22 am

I moved into Chapel Ridge complex in Salina, Ks. Nov. 2007 and finally after becoming so incredibly sick for over a year moved out on June 29th, 2015. I began to experience over the coarse of two years; sinus pressure, sore throats, headaches, hair falling out in chunks, horrible dry skin, lesions on my skin that “looked” like ring worm but tests confirmed that it was not (I didn’t even own a pet), and all the horrid coughing and inability to breath! Then I moved to a private rental in Schilling and for the first three months I felt alive, my pain had almost completely subsided and I was no longer couch ridden, I was on the go constantly! However now Nov. 2015 I have started becoming sick again, all that I had experienced while living in Chapel Ridge. I threw my mattress out -though it was never wet, sometimes my grandchildren would lay their shower towels on the bed after showering so thinking perhaps it was brought over on that I got rid of it, box spring and all but the master bedroom is still horrible with a stench of a very moldy area. I do not understand why there are no laws for this stuff! Chapel Ridge office told me “There are no laws governing mold, so we do not need to rectify this!” She was right, there are none! I have ended up on disability but I am certain now it’s been because of mold not the many things I have been diagnosed for over the years such as; RA, fibromyalgia, COPD!!!!! This stuff can literally kill you and my poor grandchildren, one was diagnosed with asthma and the other severe allergies….. both was because of mold I’m certain of it!!!! Those who are and have been afflicted by this crap, we should ban together and work to change these laws governing mold and mold exposure! Not only for our own well being but also anyone else afflicted by it and our children/grandchildren and all those we care about. This stuff has nearly killed me and there were times I was certain I would die because I felt so badly. I feel like a very moldy person and I’m am beside myself because every doctor I speak with looks at me and says they could test me but the test will not show where the mold is coming from. I do not have several hundred dollars to call in an expert…. CDC should rethink and restudy this stuff! They took off their website all about mold!

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Cosmas November 24, 2015 - 4:21 pm

I found mold in my kitchen and bathroom and was wondering if my symptoms might be related to mold exposure. I’ve been experiencing breathing difficulties and chest tightness, shortness of breath and difficulty taking full deep breaths. Headaches, itchy red watery eyes, and memory problems (forgetfulness, confusion), and feeling like i’m always mildly intoxicated. Has anyone experienced this?

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Christina December 15, 2015 - 9:24 pm

I was exposed to mold, septic leak, and the gas dryer leaking, was not aware until I was in the last couple months of my lease. Since moved, what are the statue of limitations in California? Now am beginning to find out all of my symptoms and health related issues may stem in the three years I lived in the residence are surfacing. Before I vacated the property, I made sure the proper tests were performed in which the Landlord was aware and I took off the rent; however he kept my deposit, I was so exhausted, was in no way to argue keeping the money. How long medically can someone file a law suit for so many vilations while I lived in a home less than five years ago?
If anyone could inform any imput I would greatly appreciate.
Thank you
Christina

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VioClean December 27, 2015 - 4:15 pm

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Marlene February 23, 2016 - 3:07 pm

We lived in our home for 41 years without any mold problems. We put our house up for rent and the house now has mold in the windows and are always wet. I can’t understand what happened but it needs to be taken care of soon. The renters have been in there for the past 7 months. They have a huge fishtank and also put a bathtub with the jets in the basement which they use. Could that be creating moisture?
If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate the help. Thank you.

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krystle February 24, 2016 - 10:22 pm

Mold is often the result of a leak or moisture issue. If you suspect it is a moisture problem, you could have the renters run a dehumidifier in the home to help bring the moisture levels down to a safer level.

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Len Inkster May 13, 2016 - 12:42 pm

If you think you have mould and seriously want to have it tested, DO NOT hire a remediator. That is like asking a Bar Tender if you should buy a Beer.

Get an inspection from an independent Indoor Air Quality Consultant. Many times for a small consultancy, they can identify if you have mould, where it may be coming from and if it’s not too extensive the best ways of eradicating it for yourself.

If it is deemed you do need samples taken, they are not going to scare you into remediation when it’s not necessary. I’ve seen too many “inspectors” who are also remediators talk people into spending thousands of dollars on mould removal when the mould was environmental mould, or where remediation was performed and the cause of the mould still existed.

Don’t pay too much attention to the scare stories for mould. While mould that excrete mycotoxins and aflatoxins can cause allergic reactions to those susceptible or with compromised immune systems, they are very rarely severe. Acute hypochondria is the more usual effect of uninformed mould blogs.

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David Mattson July 3, 2016 - 10:38 pm

I lived in an apartment and never noticed anything wrong in the closet until one day in 2015,I opened the door and it smelled musty and warm. Thought I had dust on clothes that were hanging, tried wiping it away and nothing. looked down at an old computer box and saw that it was a bit wet, felt the floor and it was damp. Moved few things out and behold, both walls were black, about foot and a half up from the floor.Mold was going just about all the way across both walls. I found this out in 2015..though the yawning started in May of 2014.
I never had any problems with breathing or yawning, then all of a sudden I started yawning everyday almost all day long. I had moved out at the end of May 2016 and am still having problems. Though it has subsided a bit, more yawning when I try to sleep. I have seen a doctor about the problem but they have no idea what is causing the problem. Had lots of blood tests done and everything came back fine. Should I seek a specialist? What kind should I look into for this has been annoying and hampers my work. Ideas would be appreciated.

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How To Detect Mold In Household | Khmer Bank July 17, 2016 - 8:44 am

[…] Symptoms of Household Mold Exposure – Mold Blogger – What are the Symptoms of Mold Exposure? When a person feels ill they may not immediately consider the cause to be mold. Mold can and does cause serious health … […]

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Dennis July 27, 2016 - 4:25 am

I have moved back into my basement bedroom after being away for school for two years. Before moving away, I had problems with eczema on my arms and legs. While at school, I never had this issue for the full two years. Once I moved back in, the skin irritation started immediately, I’m always tired, and I wake up stuffed up and with dry itchy eyes. There is very old carpet in the bedroom. There is also an attached bathroom with a shower and a sink. This was only put in 8-10 years ago and renovated 5 years ago. I decided to try sleeping on the couch upstairs, and within 3 nights of sleeping upstairs, all itchiness had completely stopped, and my skin was completely clear again. I’ve been thinking that this is a mold issue for quite sometime now but not sure where to start. I feel like we don’t really have the money for everything being suggested to be done in the thread.

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Tori August 31, 2016 - 7:36 am

My aunt recently had surgery and was recovering at a family members house. She came home on Saturday with my GodBrother and he is severely asthmatic. He began wheezing and hacking right away. The bathrooms in her apartment are hardly ventilated and the walls feel wet even though the bathroom has been open and unused for two weeks, no obvious discoloration are visible. I went to visit Tuesday and after only an hour of being in her house I began feeling lightheaded, nauseated and my throat became dry and scratchy. I got a killer migraine and decided to go home. Also I started sneezing like crazy. I blamed her cats at first, even though I’m not allergic but today my throat feels worse than yesterday! She said that they were up all night coughing and now after doing some research, I’m thinking there may be something in the house besides the cats! Her complex claims that they regularly rest for mold, but I’m thinking we should hire our own company to come take a look! I’m not asthmatic or overly sensitive or anything and I couldn’t stay there for more than an hour without feeling like death slapped me!

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Dr. Moldman September 14, 2016 - 8:58 pm

if you have black mold exposure you should take your stuff to the garbage dump and sleep outside for the next few weeks.

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niko6266 September 18, 2016 - 5:48 am

I have been on a journey for the past year trying to figure out what has been wrong with me. The 3 biggest issues are

1) Waking up after 4 hours of sleep and not being able to sleep again — sleeping pills have helped
2) Intense Digestion issues / Heart palpitations especially with dinner
3) Extreme Fatigue

I initially thought this was a food allergy but went to an allergist and nothing came back with wheat or dairy. I then thought it was possibly my deviated septum…had surgery for that and nothing changed (I still need to get the passageway fixed). Next was Lyme which can be all over the place. After treating that for over 4 months nothing changed. I decided to start looking at mold as being the issue. This was all triggered in July of last year. So I decided to look at the A/C system even after I had people over to clean the system. The evaporator where the air is cooled had dirt build-up and was there for years. I change the filter regularly so this may have been there from the previous owners. I am still awaiting test results to see. We also had a leak from our roof years ago that was directly above the bathroom so there may be mold there as well.

Good Luck to everyone finding their issue.

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REBECCA October 14, 2016 - 3:29 am

I have never had allergies, but since I have lived in my apartment complex, which is only 5 years old, wake EVERY MORNING congested. Then my nose runs more than I thought humanly possible, And lots of sneezing!!!! When I leave, it clears right up. Even if I stay at a hotel in the area that’s over 100 years old, I don’t have the problem! We have a big turnover here, and every time someone moves, they repaint and clean the carpets. Please help me understand what may possibly be going on. No obvious signs of mold, and it is a furnished apt.

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KS October 18, 2016 - 5:09 pm

I was having some strange symptoms.
Gastrointestinal issues, skin rashes on feet, palpitations, congestion, fatigue, sticky eyes, nosebleeds, etc. Had a mold inspection but did not find evidence of any leaks or specific mold areas. but I decided to treat it as if I had mold in case they missed something.
Here is what totally worked for me.

1) installed a PCO air cleaner in my HVAC system. It’s has a UV light and photo catalytic air cleaner. I used APCO Freshaire. Completely worth it! Immediate difference.
2) rented a fogger and bought several gallons of Concrobium. Fogged all bedrooms and bathrooms. Treated all fabric furniture too.
3) cleaned everything…took down and sprayed bleach on blinds, washed curtains, ceiling fans, etc.
4) bought a Conway Mighty air purifier ($250) and run it in bedroom at night. Sometimes I use the built in ionizer but only for a little bit, it’s not supposed to emit much ozone.

Huge difference. Symptoms decreased dramatically. Not one nosebleed, stomach feels great, can breathe easier, more energy. Dog also not getting sick anymore either.

Take this seriously and do something to fix your problems. You can get fungal balls in your body that cause all kinds of problems!
Good luck.

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Lillian de la Rie November 13, 2016 - 3:19 pm

Hiya,

I moved into my student house three months ago. Before this I was running once, sometimes twice a day, and was super healthy. Since moving in, however, I have had bad colds all the time and had tonsillitis that wouldn’t go away for a month. My pillows are wet which sit against my wall and my bedsheets are damp. All of my clothes in my drawers are damp too and recently I have found blue/white mold on most of my shoes and a dress that was hung on a clothing rail up against this same wall. My housemates who all live upstairs have reported their wall being damp too, but no mold and only the occasional cold. I, however, have just come back from hospital. My chest aches, I was uncontrollably shaky, my glands have been swollen for a month and apparently my throat is red, I am constantly nauseous with a sore stomach, go to sleep shivering but wake up sweating, don’t sleep very well but have trouble waking up, my muscles ache all over my body, my feet have been hurting, my head kills, my temples have swollen glands sticking out of them, I had a yeast infection as well as a bladder infection last week ( blood in my urine ). I have been uncontrollably depressed and having panic attacks. Two years ago I had glandular fever so it is definitely not this.

The hospital said it’s tonsillitis again and I should get my tonsils removed. I am now on my second bout of antibiotics. My local gp seems to dismiss my symptoms and says there’s nothing she can do and it is probably the mold. My landlords say there is nothing they can do, and they will ‘get back to me’ and talk down to me like the mold is my fault, blaming it on the fact my heating isn’t on all the time ( we are students and can only afford it in the mornings and for six hours in the evening, which is definitely enough time to heat the whole house up. Could anybody give me any advise on how to force my landlords to act on this, and what my rights are? Thank you!

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krystle November 13, 2016 - 7:01 pm

If it is at all possible to relocate, I would! Your health is so important, and it sounds like there is a mold issue with no resolution in the near future. Here is a place to start in looking into what you can do in your state with your landlord, etc (https://moldblogger.com/mold-101/). Have you tried looking into essential oils to help with your situation? I am NOT a health professional, but I don’t do well on antibiotics so I try to use essential oils to support my immune system before going that route.

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Stephanie December 6, 2016 - 4:20 pm

Just this year we moved into a basement suite and just this summer our spare room flooded a few times. And just over tbe past few months my hubby and i havent been feeling good and we been coughing having sore throats and sore eyes running nose and everything. We seen a doctor and he said it was because of the mold. Landlord came to check and said there wasnt anymold because of him just looking at the walls he didnt do any testing or anything.

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Jim January 5, 2017 - 3:42 am

Hello, My family and I have been in the prefab. double for 7 years , it is in a low lying area with the water table so messed up there is a lake in our front yard when it rains. The crawl space is always damp and musty and then a pipe started leaking and no one knew about it for at least 2 years. Then there was a roof leak that destroyed the family room ceiling . The home owner replaced the ceiling and insulation but failed to make proper repairs to the roof. The water was running towards the wall and down the inside for more than 3 years . There are black and green colored stains on the ceiling in the bathrooms and laundry area and family room . If you bleach and paint them they come back in less than two weeks. My wife spends a lot of time in one area of the house and she has developed a bite looking rash every where and itches like mad, It looks like a group of say 30 small bites in a group but in several areas. first we thought she was having skin issues as she has psoriasis, but then our 18 year old daughter got a small area same rash but it went away in a week or so , then my youngest at age 9 developed same thing and it went away using a steroid itch cream, but both of them leave the house on a regular basis. Then I went under the house to make repairs to the plumbing and sure enough I got it all over my body, My ankles, butt cheeks the back of my thighs sides of my stomach . Its like a group of 30 bites in each area and my goodness it itches so bad I could scratch my skin off. I am positive our home is making us sick. My wife went to the dermatologist an they did a biopsy . Now she needs to do another one . We just recently made the doctor aware that it has spread threw the family, So they say they need another sample, I’m sure its the mold we just need to figure out how to treat it on our skin cause it doesn’t want to go away. I hope for my landlords sake that it is manageable as we have been telling him for many years about the problem. Recently a superior court judge awarded two women that lived together ,that had black mold issues witch caused them health problems 1.2 million in damages. They repeatedly asked the home owner to address issues with mold and he neglected to do anything. FOOD FOR THOUGHT TO TENANTS, I will keep posting as news comes in from lab tests.

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Chad January 9, 2017 - 2:58 am

Please keep us updated.

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Andaman Tour January 28, 2017 - 11:51 am

A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment.
I do believe that you ought to write more on this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people do not discuss these issues.
To the next! Kind regards!!

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Romy January 29, 2017 - 10:01 pm

Hello, i do have an issue where i live now. We had mold growing in the closet on a metal panel where an old a/c unit was, i ask the landlord to remove and repair that wall and find out where the mold was coming from because even the ceiling was mold growing and that my family was getting sick ( my 7 yrs old daughter got asthma unexplained why all of the sudden after getting sick a lot and coughing that no med would cure only inhalers, at the same time my husband who has asthma developed bronchitis and skin irritation like fungus on his neck very itchy that needed antibiotic cream and i got eye irritation that got complicated and got corneal infection) the landlord only patched the wall and did not took care of the problem it keep going on. Al of the sudden one day i had to remove one of my daughters drawers that her bed has and started smelling really bad musty and humidity i lifted her matress reeks all the humidity, now our bed as well behind it all the walls were black with mold and baseboards were rotten falling apart in the living room my daughters desk is green and bookshelf too with mold and the walls all black. I had a mold inspector come and do a test and with a hydrosensor showed me the carpet is wet all around where my furniture is sitting, im still waiting for the results. When I complained to the landlord she now decided to ask us to leave the apartment and basically pretend never happened. How can i prove my daughter had mold exposure and all her health problems started in this house? She has always been healthy until we were here after 9 months all this began. We had to throw out other furniture because it got molded and never knew why and now everything is ruin and cant take it to another place, and our bdds smell so bad that we would have to sleep on the floor until we get new ones. I am demanding the landlord to replace all my furniture, relocation fees paid and respond about my daughters health and hoping my 4 months old didn’t catch anything but he is having lots of skin problems sensitivity. Im about to call the city to shut this place down because i was told my the previous manager and the assistant manager that other units have the same problem and the assistant manager had the audacity of telling me “well other tenants didn’t get sick” which I don’t care i care about my family.
In the mold test would it say if it’s toxic the air here? Please if there is any information you can give me i would really appreciate it.
thank you

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Emma February 8, 2017 - 2:31 pm

Is the a medical test like blood test i can do to know how much mold exposure we had? Especially for my daughter that developed asthma for no reason after being in an apartment with mold?

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Randy Hall March 18, 2017 - 6:54 pm

My wife and I along with our 3 children are renting a house that was built in the fifties. Our 20 month old child has been sick with congestion, sinus and sometimes fever ever since we moved here. When you walk into the house it smells musky and old, could this be a sign of mold or other factor that is making him sick.

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MARTE KUKLINSKI July 18, 2017 - 4:26 pm

I LIVE IN BUCKS COUNTY, PA AND HAD MY NEW HOME AND SHORTLY AFTER IT WAS BUILT. I HAD NORMAL
INSULATION PLACED IN THE CEILING. I HAVE UPGRADED SUMP PUMPS, HAVE AN EJECTOR PUMP REDUCING
DAMAGE FROM THE FLOATING CONCRETE FLOOR AND WITH CINDER BLOCK WALLS. ALL WALLS WERE SEALED
AND MOST OF THE FLOORING WAS RAISED WITH WATER PROOFED MATERIAL AND WATER-PROOF WALLBOARD
USED IN ANY AREA, BATHROOM, AND BOTTOM WALLS IN ORDER TO PREVENT MOLD, TOXIC, AND FUNGI-FREE
BASEMENT. DUE TO MY AND MY SON’S DISABILITIES AND LOW INCOME, MY ELECTRIC COMPANY INSTALLED
EXTRA INSULATION, MECHANICAL PRODUCTS, AND UNFORTUNATELY MADE MY BASEMENT SEALED WITH NO
FREE AIR. THEY USED TOO MUCH CEILING INSULATING THE BASEMENT CAUSING TOO MUCH HUMIDITY AND
OVER MONTHS, GREW MOLD ON CEILING TILES. IN SOME AREAS OF THE BASEMENT THE SUBCONTRACTER
INSTALLED THEIR 6-1/2 THICKNESS INSULATION ON TOP OF MY POLYSTRENE 2″ INSULATION WHICH IS
MOLD RESISTANT BOARD AND WHILE WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED NEVER BUILT UP HUMIDITY CAUSING MOLD,
TOXINS, FUNGI AND NOW MY ENTIRE BASEMENT OF 1,250 SQUARE FOOT NOW HAS TO BE DEMOLISHED
AND REMOVED, REMEDIATED, AND THEN RESTORED COSTING OVER UP TO $100, 000. I AM LOOKING FOR AN
EXPERT KNOWING COSTS TO REMOVE, REMEDIATE, AND RESTORE ALL OF THE BASEMENT WHICH WAS BEING
A AREA FOR SLEEP OVER, PARTIES, AND LIVING SPACE FOR MYSELF, WHILE MY ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR WAS
BEING WORKED ON AT NIGHT BY A FULL-TIME WORKING PERSON, SO HE WORKED FOR OVER 8 HOURS PER
DAY OVER MORE THAN SIX MONTHS. I HAD TO LIVE IN MY BASEMENT FOR OVER SIX MONTHS WHILE THE
CERAMIC TILES WERE PUT IN OVER INSULATED SQUARES SO THAT CERAMIC FLOORING WAS NOT ON THE
ORIGINAL PLYWOOD WHICH WAS NOT ALWAYS LEVEL, AND SO THE INSTALLER HAD TO MAKE SURE THAT
ALL AREAS WERE LEVEL WITH PRODUCT TO MAKE ALL FLOORING WAS LEVEL BEFORE THE PRODUCT TO
INSULATE, AND WAS THE PRODUCT TO KEEP THE TILES WHOLE AND NOT BROKEN DUE TO UNEVEN AREAS.
OVER A YEAR AND 8 MONTHS, THE CEILING TILES BEGAN TO BUCKLE AND FALL ON THE BASEMENT FLOOR.
THE INSTALLERS OF THE INSULATION, IMPROPERLY INSTALLED 6-1/2″ INSULATION AND SOMETIMES PUT
IT ON THE STYRENE MOLD RESISTENT INSULATION, PLEASE LET ME KNOW ANY EXPERT IN WRITING A REPORT
AS TO THE BUILD UP IN HIGH HUMIDITY DUE TO INSTALLING TOO MUCH INSULATION WHICH NOW CREATING
TOXIN ENVIRONMENT AND MY SON AND I ARE SUFFERING TOXIN ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESSES. I NEED HELP
IMMEDIATELY AND I NEED TO CALL AN ATTORNEY WHO IS EXPERT IN THESE MOLD CASES AND THE COSTS
TO ME ARE WELL OVER $2000+ IN AIR FILTRATION INSTRUMENTS, MOLD MASKS, AND OTHER COSTS I.E. MOLD
TESTING AND REPORTING, AND UPCOMING MEDICAL COSTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AT 267-392-5053 BUT
DO NOT MENTION MY NAME AS I DO NOT WANT PERSONS TO SEE IT AND KNOW MY PERSONAL PROBLEMS.
THANK YOU AND I AM USING MY BUSINESS NAME WHEN I WORKED IN CORPORATIONS. PLEASE CALL ME WITH
ATTORNEYS IN S.E. PA OR IN TRENTON, NJ LICENSED IN TOXIC TORT AND PERSONAL INJURY. I AM SUFFERING
MOLD SYMPTOMS AS IS MY ELDEST SON, WHO WHEN HE WAS FOUR YEARS IN A LOW INCOME APARTMENT
HAD TO HAVE BACK SURGERY TO REMOVE MOLD AND THEN AGAIN SURGERY FOR THE HIP WHERE ONLY
OSTEOMYELITIS PSEUDONOMYOUS AERUGINOSA WAS DIAGNOSED, COSTS FOR HOSPITALIZATION, IV A/B
FOR MONTHS, NURSING HOME, AND CONTINUAL TREATMENT IN 2002 AND AGAIN IN 2003, AND IN 2001
AFTER MY BACK SURGERY, I BECAME INFECTED AND MY ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON HAD TO TAKE MY CASE
OUT OF THE RESEARCH PROGRAM I WAS, AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTORS HAD TO TREAT ME DUE
TO INFECTIONS WHILE TAKING CARE OF MY SON IN HIS APARTMENT, AFTER I CAME BACK TO HIS APARTMENT
HE COULD NOT WALK DUE TO THE INFECTION IN HIS THORACIC AREA. I NEED EXPERTS IN SE AREA IN PA
TO COME AS EXPERTS TO WRITE REPORTS REGARDING THE TOXIC CAUSE OF HOW TOXIC ENVIRONMENT
WAS CAUSED.

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Pamela Wayans May 14, 2018 - 4:57 am

I have had ASTHMA my whole life but about 7 years ago my asthma got so bad and was diagnosed of EMPHYSEMA/COPD which was most likely due to the asthma. I was on double antibiotics and steroids, still didn’t feel any better. My lungs were constantly wheezing in all four chambers, i already used Advair, Spiriva, and Albuterol in my nebulizer, they just didn’t do much. April 2016 my sister in-law told us about Rich Herbs Foundation where she ordered herbs that effectively treated her arthritis. We ordered their COPD herbal treatment after reading alot of positive reviews, i am happy to report this COPD herbal treatment reversed my lungs condition. My quality of life has greatly improved and every one of my symptoms including difficulty breathing and wheezing are gone. Their official web page is ww w. richherbsfoundation. c om. I will be 52 soon and have never been healthier!

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Just Me January 11, 2020 - 4:57 pm

Can this mold cause cellulitis? I can think of anywhere else I could have picked it up. I’m a very clean person. It turns out what’s on the other side of our bathroom ceiling is mold. I have no idea what kind. I choose to stay clear of that room all together & bath at my parents extra bathroom. But, prior to this discovery I had an appraiser my lending bank sent. I had no idea until it rained last just what kind of a problem I am stuck with now. There’s been a leak. The owner did the ‘ole bandaid bailing wire gig. So not only do I have cellulitis from this mold. My roofs going to collapse. ANY advice is appreciated.

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Kazimierz Zerdka January 14, 2020 - 9:38 am

You owe your professional achievements to your hard work. And you also want your home to be always warm and friendly to your family. After all, home is a family haven of love. You like to have money, be healthy and happy, and all this means that you should read this report to the end. If you disagree with what you read, give this message to someone else who needs more love than you or throw the card into the nearest basket.
For immediate reakcji
Contact Kazimierz Zerdka
07709814415
All questions should be sent by text, I am not able to make phone calls during other works performed by me. Please, respect this activity.
e-mail: [email protected]

Is black mold on my walls bad? Not every black mold is bad but all molds should be treated as potential health hazards. The only way to tell whether the mold is bad or not is to have it tested by a qualified mycologist (i.e., a person who is qualified to correctly identify yeasts and molds). But regardless of whether the mold is of health concern or not it should be removed for a number of good reasons. First, mold damages any organic material it grows on. Secondly, mold is unsightly and we don’t want to see it growing on the walls of our houses.
Moisture problems in existing basements are very common, but often are not understood or properly treated. In a basement that is seldom used and separate from the living spaces above, this may not present a great problem. However, most basements in UK are connected to the rest of the house through ductwork or other openings. In addition, basements are increasingly used as finished living and bedroom spaces. In these cases, moisture problems are not only annoying and uncomfortable, but can lead to significant health problems. Molds and mildew can grow in damp carpets and beneath wall coverings. Finishing a basement without first dealing with the moisture problems can result in making health conditions worse and lead to significant damage as well. Basement water problems are solvable, but there is a cost to doing it right.
Live in an old house, or buying one? Are you Property Owner? I’ve experienced almost everything that can go wrong with one. I work with early medieval stone cottages and timber frames to Edwardian and Victorian townhouses. Old houses go wonky – usually because of moisture. I are by far and away the leading expert not only in the UK in the causes of moisture problems in houses – how they affect the fabric, and how to diagnose and cure the problem property.
The enemy of old houses is we humans – it’s what we do to them wrong , or fail to understand about them, al all.
Most problems of damp in pre-1920’s buildings have been caused since the war, when cement and gypsum plaster became widely available – these two materials are responsible for over 90% of the damage that we see. They are impervious, they trap moisture and cause rot – they are death to an old house. Add silicone sealants to a timber frame, and you have instant rot of oak which is probably 400 years old. I have seen new timber frames start to rot in 2 or 3 years when incompetent framers seal the panels using silicon instead of oak chips with lime, which can breathe.
Restoring an old home is all about understanding the environment, and how it affects materials it’s built with. By understanding this, it becomes a relatively simple task to sort out and manage problems causing damp.
I travel all over the country. I can examine the entire house and come up with suggestions or solutions for other related problems – I are experienced in all aspects of building conservation.
I costs related to the examination of the facility are usually around £ 800 – £ 1500 + VAT, plus travel and potential accommodation costs. This includes a report that is usually sufficient for most operational purposes. I spend a day with you there, sometimes two or more examining a potential property, explaining any problems found and ways to solve them, estimating the costs of future and costs of services . This gives a clear picture of what you need to budget for if you are buying a property. In some recent cases, this meant that the property was not worth buying. This service is also useful for users who are already, using the property and have noticed moisture problems.
The above described building humidity test is covered by a money back guarantee of up to three months, if the customer is not satisfied with my services.

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