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Symptoms of Mold Exposure & Who is Most At Risk

by Joslyn
green molds on log

Mold affects different types of people in many different ways. Every person comes into contact with some type of mold spore daily, however a majority of people don’t suffer severe side affects. Mold symptoms generally resemble hay fever – rash, fatigue, as well as severe to mild headaches have been reported. Generally speaking, and according to Vicki Lankarge, there are 5 main symptoms that anyone who comes into contact with mold may experience:

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5 Symptoms of Exposure to Mold

  • Nasal and Sinus Congestion
  • Coughing
  • Wheezing or difficulty breathing
  • Skin and/or eye irritation
  • Upper respiratory infection including sinus

Mycotoxins

If everyone comes into contact with mold spores daily, why does it only affect some people? In most cases, its not that mold isn’t affecting that individual, its that the mold the individual is taking in, does not carry mycotoxins. Mycotoxins are what cause these symptoms and what are so poisonous to humans.

Who is Most at Risk for Symptoms of Mold Exposure?

Because mold can harm anyone no matter how healthy they are, this is a harder question to answer. According to Vicki Lankarge, there are three ‘types’ of people that are more susceptible to mold exposure problems:

  • Individuals with a respiratory disorder such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Individuals who have an immune system already weakened by cancer or HIV
  • Individuals that are either very old, or very young

Remember, these problems are not limited to these people, because anyone who comes in contact with mold can be harmfully affected.

Do You have Children, specifically Babies?

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Young children, especially babies are more susceptible to severe mold problems. Their immune systems are still developing and especially in babies, their lungs are still growing stronger. According to Lankarge, there have been 45 cases since the incident in Ohio. 16 of these infants have died. When, small infants breathe in the mycotoxins, the blood vessels in their lungs are weakened. Repeated exposure to these mycotoxins, causes severe pulmonary hemorrhaging, or bleeding in the lungs.

Further Recommended Reading :

Joslyn from the MoldBlogger Team

Source: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Mold (And What to Do About It) by Vicki Lankarge, Pages 28-31.

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69 comments

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ann munson October 13, 2008 - 2:20 pm

I work for a mold remediation company and I can tell you that if the guys come back from a job and walk through the office, my eyes immediately start itching, my face stings and I get a sore throat. Seriously. Once when I worked back in the warehouse for a week, my chest felt really heavy and I had a headache that nothing would take away. I can’t even imagine living with mold in my home … and will tell anyone who has it to get it removed as fast as you can.

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Janet November 25, 2008 - 8:37 pm

Profession:
Office worker

About Me:
Married with 3 children

Best Recommended Resource and Why
http://www.biosignlabs.com

Was very ill for a about a year….had the same symptoms as the flu at first but steadily got worse and started to lose my hair…..had read about mold sickness but my doctor just said I was run down and wouldn’t test for it. I called Biosign Labs, who test for mold allergens and the results showed extensive mold exposure. Armed with the lab results, I took it to my doctor who could then prescribe me the proper course of medication to help my recover.

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Linda February 26, 2009 - 4:17 pm

My husband has had a sore raspy throat for about 6 months now. Doctors told him that it was acid reflux, and he has been on expensive medication all this time. We have a little mold around our window but I try to clean it off often. Who knows what is lurking behind the old walls. He has been to two specialist and an allergist. When we go on vacations it seems to go away. Could it be mold? This house is 60 or 70 years old. The climate here is damp and rainy. PLEASE CAN YOU HELP!

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Veronica March 26, 2009 - 6:06 pm

Please let the poster who works for the mold remediation company know that the workers are not following rules if they walk through her office in mold-infected clothes. All HAZMAT suits from jobs should be properly bagged and disposed of, even before they get in their trucks, otherwise they are spreading toxic spores, endangering the poster and taking spores home to their families. Someone is not following rules. If they don’t comply, she should contact OHSA. Her life may be at risk.

AS for who gets sick from mold: anyone. I did not (and still don’t) have asthma, nor was I allergic to mold. In concentrated indoor areas, ANYONE can inhale spores, which can set up home in your lungs and spread throughout the blood system, infecting every organ, including the brain. Been there, almost died from that. Sadly, there are few doctors who know how to treat mold. I would have been better off seeing a vet, as they know about moldy hay and “Farmer’s Lung”. I saw 22 doctors before I finally found someone to help me before it turned into cancer (it was close). Someday I may even be able to work again. And someday, our government will finally fess up to the dangers of mold (think lead paint and asbestos)so those of us downed by it can collect disability while we’re fighting for our lives.

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katrina anderson April 27, 2009 - 5:03 pm

we have been living in our house now for 9 years… i just recently discovered we have a extreme mould problem growing behind wallpaper where the gib board is sodden and badly needs replacing.. now my question is “my three youngest children seem to be always suffering with vomiting and diaorreah bugs.. would this be the mould affecting there amune systems and making them continuously sick.. i am concerned about this.. please help..

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laura June 11, 2009 - 8:43 pm

I’m looking for information on curing toxic mold poison to my body when I was expose to alot of toxic mold. I can only eat 6 different foods right now due to the allergic reaction to molds in food now. I know their is other people like me I need help on a cure. thanks

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kathy balman December 4, 2009 - 1:57 pm

I am considering getting the mold blood test done from biosign labs. Anyone else ever had this done? I have been very sick especially last three months. Going in for sinus surgery on 17th of Dec I have a feeling though all my problems are from mold exposure from our house (which we have moved out of recently). Thanks

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Melissa March 11, 2010 - 8:45 pm

Hello,
I scheduled a blood test with Biosign Labs and am now secon-guessing my decision. Does anyone know about their credibility? This isn’t a scam is it?
please reply

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Kendra April 1, 2010 - 9:04 pm

What about recovery? All over the internet I see instances of mold exposure and health problems. HOW does one recover?

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Nancy April 18, 2011 - 11:53 am

Melissa,

They are a real company, we had are testing done with them last year..the results were positive as we expected.

We needed those results to prove our lawsuit.

Nancy

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Cherri June 15, 2011 - 4:09 pm

My mom lived with me and my family till she was old enough to move into senior living center in are town. She moved in, in March 2006 by February 2007she went to the Hospital complaining she felt sick. She came out having to use Oxygen for the rest of her life. Could get around at first ok but the longer she has lived there the sicker and sicker she has become. Before she moved into this place she was very active volunteering at are local Hospital, walking there everyday volunteering for 4 or 5 hours and walking back home about 2 miles each way. The senior complex is being remolded my mother had hot water heating pipes removed and behind them was all kinds of black mold. Management is acting like it’s no big deal!!

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Vanessa July 13, 2011 - 5:26 am

We’ve been renting a garden flat for about 4 and a half months. From day 1 I could smell mold in my bedroom. The owner insisted it was the carpets. One day I decided to change the room around, and so I moved the beds out and I saw that 3 of the 4 walls in the room are covered in black mold. This is the same room that my 3 kids sleep in.
I am angry with the owner for not informing us about this problem, and I’m not sure what to do. Do we pack up and leave?

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Rachael August 9, 2011 - 3:17 am

My 5 yr old and 2 yr old twins are always getting vomiting bugs. Could black mould in the creases of the splash back of the kitchen bench be causing this? I’m desperate for answers!

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Jonathan August 9, 2011 - 10:31 am

Rachael, have you had your home tested for mold? Do you notice any improvements when you are _not_ at home?

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Karen August 9, 2011 - 8:14 pm

My heart goes out to anyone who is living with a mold type illness. My husband and I are in the middle of our own mold nightmare right now. We are being treated by Dr. Richie Shoemaker, author of “Mold Warriors”. He is located in Pokomoke, Maryland if you need his help.

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neysa September 11, 2011 - 6:26 am

We recently purchased a house built in 1953 that is not wet at all. We run a dehumidifier in the basement all the time. We had a home inspection before purchasing the house, and nothing was said about mold at all. However, upon further inspection by my husband and I, we noticed what looks like pennicillum mold growing on the plaster ceiling in the living room and master bedroom. We have drop ceilings in both rooms and regular plaster ceiling under that, where the mold is growing. There is no obvious water damage or moisture. Is this dangerous? Should I just clean the 2 areas with a bleach solution, or call a professional? HELP!!

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Terri October 28, 2011 - 2:16 pm

Lord have mercy. Everyone here seems to be pretty freaked out by mold.
#1. Mold ONLY grows on Organic materials, where it breaks down the composition of the host (feeds off it), with that in mind….how in the world could it possibly grow in your body????? C’mon.
#2. Mildew is the ONLY fungal that can possibly grow within a humans lungs.

Keep in mind…these points are based on my personal research. I have worked as an office manager for a remediation company where I am very well versed in the field (hands on), also. I study everything I can on mold so that when I speak to customers I can “know” what I am speaking on.

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hay fever symptoms November 29, 2011 - 8:58 am

Great post. I was checking constantly this weblog and I’m inspired! Very useful info particularly the remaining part :) I maintain such info a lot. I was looking for this particular information for a very long time. Thanks and best of luck.

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Sarah February 18, 2012 - 7:39 am

I’m interested in using Biosign Labs, but money is very tight right now. Can any of you who have used it give me an idea of the cost?? I’m assuming it is not covered by insurance?? Thanks so much.

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Kari October 6, 2012 - 9:07 am

My 20 month old suffers from bad colds an respitory illnesses could this be caused by mold he has been sick since he was born

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upset parent October 26, 2012 - 9:07 pm

So i am absolutely disgusted and upset. My 8 month infant has been sick for roughly 2 weeks and has been put on various antibotics for his cough and being sick. Tonight I notice a weird smell coming from my “Fisher Price Rock and Play Sleeper” and start to pull it apart and notice there is MOLD from the bottom to the top on the nonwashable part of the sleeper and all over the back part of the washable part. So I googled it and found that this has been a problem that fisher price is aware of. I have been a longtime buyer of fisher price products but this has been the most hardcore blow in child safety I have ever encountered.

SHAME ON YOU!

Disgusted & Upset Parent

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Jeannette November 1, 2012 - 11:10 am

Another place where you can be treated from fungi mycotoxins is The Mold Treatment Center of America in Alpharetta Georgia.EHAP does blood and urine analysis.

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theresa December 1, 2012 - 2:08 am

can mold be harmful to cats

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Isabel January 30, 2013 - 9:03 pm

In 2011 I was living in my grandmothers basement for over a year & 8 months . As i was living down there i could tell something was wrong. Knowing that there was mold but not knowing the severity of it.It is now 2013 & although i moved upstairs & no longer live in the basement, I am still very sick. Iv gone to my doctors more then enough times that they actually suggested i get a job there one day. Iv spoken to many different nurses & one of them told me that as long as i stay away from it, that it should clear up. Mind you as a young child suffereing from weak immune system & bad asthma & being pron to the mold for a long period of time youd think that itd be something to look into . Iv done my research on it & im suffering from alot of the side effects Im not the same girl i used to be im not energetic like i once was now all i can do without feeling sick is lay in bed, iv also made a page on all the research that iv done, If any one can please help me seek the right care id be honored.. Feel free to check out my Website if your looking for more insite on mold exposure and how dangerous it really is.

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Lola February 21, 2013 - 3:59 am

A neighbour’s lady was not well last year, she needed her brother’s blood and the whole ordeal weakened her greatly. She was ok for a few days and then her condition worsened greatly. She had pressure in her head which had to be released. When the doctors did they found out she had a fungus growin in her brains. The next day she fell into a coma and then died 2 days later.
This could well have been caused by the moldy apartment they lived in, but the landlady never cared to get it fixed. I read about the harm it can cause. If the body is weakened those mold spores can be inhaled and the blood stream can transport them to the brain. Her brain was literally molding away. Scary thought! I think mold should never be handled as if it’s nothing. It CAN definately cause harm and should be taken care off in any case.
The house I live in has mold aswell in some of the bedrooms. The first reaction from my landlady is quite typical for houseowners “Oh you air the room wrong or not enough!” Plus then she said mold would only be dangerous if the whole wall was full, but not a bit. I don’t think so, no matter if little or a lot, it IS unhealthy in any way. I hate these responses when they try to play it down or if you get them to do something they wanna get away with it as cheap as possible. Health should be worth an effort and then the place would be worth it’s quite pricy rent!

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Karen Conklin April 29, 2013 - 7:46 pm

I have three young kids, 3, 4 &7 yrs old.they seem to be getting sick often, have had a cOugh for over a week.doctors say it’s just a virtual, ccan mold be reason for mY son vomiting at night,for all three of mY kids coughing, running nose, my one son gets rashes like breaks out In hives out of nowhere, this is scary.please let me know what I should do,should I get out?

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Tabitha June 6, 2013 - 8:28 pm

I work at a restaurant and all the employees seem to always be sick. The other cook and I are regularly coughing, sneezing and have running noses. I know we have mold that’s been covered up with paint from one inspection to the next. Is this getting us sick? I’m now hurting in my muscles and really weak. I don’t know whats wrong with me and i don’t have medical coverage please tell me what u think.

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BrianReeves June 9, 2013 - 9:31 am

Tabitha I’m sorry about your situation. Do you have any idea what is causing the mold? I would recommend you look into these articles:

https://moldblogger.com/10-health-risks-of-toxic-mold/

https://moldblogger.com/toxic-mold-litigation-who-is-legally-responsible-and-do-i-have-a-case/

and this book:

Are You Moldy? by Lori Tondini (I haven’t read it all the way through yet, but my wife has, and recommends it)

I recommend you post your situation to the questions page https://moldblogger.com/questions/ask/ so more people can see and respond to you.

I wish you all the best!

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H-Hebert Hayes July 3, 2013 - 10:53 am

My sister and I have been upset all week,her 1 month old grandson has been in the hospital,running very high fever,they found 3 spots on his brain and we were told he had spinal meningitis,they just put him in a self induced coma because he started having seizure’s and now they are saying he doesn’t have meningitis he has spots on his brain and the spots are mold,they are flying him to New Orleans,la while in the self induced coma and all we can do is pray,prayers for little 1mth old Zachary are needed and would be much appreciated.To those people who have left comments on this page,(and there are some) that say “mold cannot grow on your body”they have a opinion that people are stupid thinking that,I am here to tell you this nightmare we are in is very real,please take this serious.

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help please January 22, 2014 - 10:13 am

My son is almost 8 months old. He got bronchitis very bad after we moved into this house. Ever since.. hes constantky had breathing issuea and coughing like theres flem in is throat. We suspect mold. This is a very old house. Now he has a cold… so hes basixally been sick for 5 months. And docs dont help. Coukd it be mold

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Rebecca July 25, 2014 - 12:21 am

After reading this I really need some help, just recently I have been having headaches feeling aches and pains and having breathing difficulty. I have only just noticed black mold spores growing on my bathroom

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Rebecca July 25, 2014 - 12:25 am

k After reading this I really need some help, just recently I have been having headaches feeling aches and pains and having breathing difficulty. I have only just noticed black mold spores growing on my bathroom side panel and on the corner of the bath tiles, the bathroom smells of mold very bad, the living room carpet is going black around the edges to. I’m very worried about my 4 year old daughters health :( she has always had a bad immune system after an operation, is this why she is getting bad colds again? Should I leave the property? Thanks in advance x

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BrianReeves July 25, 2014 - 7:04 am

Yes, I would have the home tested for mold and leave as quickly as possible. Health is so important.

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Louise August 7, 2014 - 1:42 am

I use lots clove leaf oil with Tea tree or lemon Eucalyptus in a diffuser after a really bad dose of a mould instigated sinus infection in 2012. Our climate in the Blue Mountains of Australia is usually cold and damp for a large part of the year. Gas heating possibly contributes to it. A wood fire may dry out walls better. I also used clove oil in water to clean our basement ceiling and repainted it with anti mould paint.There is rising damp in the walls downstairs and we only use the area in summer as we can then open doors. My family and i also have probiotics, zinc, lots of garlic in our diet. These provide extra nutrition/resistance against mould. Clothes contain spores as well and I always notice it when someone has them in a jacket /sweater, or going into a house with mould. Sun can kill mould spores on clothes. Hope this helps.

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amy dhabolt August 19, 2014 - 11:46 pm

if im buying a house on contract and my house is full of mold and theirs to much damage done.and my family and i are in danger living their much longer,i dont have any extra income to fix the problem,what can i do?do i have rights i only owe 12,000 ish left on it.is their anyone who can help people in my situation or not

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Dante D Watson October 4, 2014 - 2:25 pm

My name is Dante D Watson. I am a Pharmacist, Certified Homeopath, Naturopath, Orthomolecular Nutritionist and Bach Flower Practitioner. I have a great deal of experience treating adults as well as children with Cancer ( Oncology ). I received my Pharmacy degree 1992. I worked in the Hospital General of Alicante and later moved to the United States of America where I worked in Walgreens Pharmacy in Las Vegas, NV. I gained a great deal of knowledge and insight studying homeopathy courses from CEDH in Barcelona, Spain (Center to Learn and Develop Homeopathy) and later Naturopathy and Acupuncture degrees in Estena in Mallorca, Spain (School of Natural Therapies)

HIV/AIDS cure also available with roots and herbs

Contact me via Email: [email protected]

Dante D Watson

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John October 7, 2014 - 5:00 pm

I am (or was) an Olympic track athlete, got exposed to toxic mold in my house (was the only one sick of 3 people living there). Started with flu like symptoms, then got worse with extreme fatigue, anxiety (in the gut), memory loss, food allergy, rash. Had good financial support and I want to share with you my recovery. Overall I met with 14 doctors (in 3 countries) and about 8 people with experience in this field. I’m fully recovered after about one year treatment. For someone reading this you need to know you will fully recover in 1-2 years. This is not going to kill you, just make you ill.

1. Get out of the building to be able to start your recovery. No need trying to recover if you are still in the house.

2. You need to put all your clothes and furniture made of fabric and leather to an ozon chamber (if you have that in your area) and wash it to get the mold out of it. The next best thing would be to wash the clothes in a bathtub with Rodalon. All things made out of wood, glass and such, can be cleand with a spray called oxivir. This sounds crazy but if you had this mold toxcicity you will be super sensitive to it at least while you have not fully recovered.

3. Diet matters, but it is just one of the very small things compared to the two above. Be careful if your ill and desperate, because a lot of people will use that to “help” you with some food programs and oils and stuff like that. You have to avoid peanuts, caffeine, beer and the food that are giving you rashes and other symptoms (if food allergy is one of the reactions) and avoid over eating. Please don’t fall for someone that is telling you to go on some secret dieting program they are selling you.

3. Medication. There are medications that help. Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker recommends binders, and he is by far the nr. 1 Dr. in the world in this strange field. He has found out that the mold is often in the sinuses, and the gut after you leave the “sick building”, and you need to help the body get rid of it by using drug called Questran (my dose was 16g per day, split in 4 x 4g). Chlorella is recommended. Bentonite is recommended. Pink bismuth (pepto bismol) is recommended. Interface plus is recommended. However, the medicine and the diet is just helping to speed up the recovery. The body will “cure” itself if you follow point 1 and 2 above. I tried 5 different kinds of antibiotics, and steroids (predison) and it did nothing for me. However, the Questran drug helped me a bit. I used symbicort turbohaler to work on breathing problems for the last 3 months of the recovery, and that helped. Also Avamys nasal spray for the last 3 months, to finally kill the sinus infection or the mold that was there.

4. Before you start this process, be sure that mold is really causing your illness but not the Lyme disease or something else. Get a mold expert to look at the house, because most of the time you do not see the mold, in my case it was in the shower wall, no way to find it until the humidity was measured in that wall and then broken down after I had been sick in bed for 3 months in the house. New study had found that over 90% of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia had a lot of mold measured in their urine..this is what Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker was talking about in a recent interview (http://www.voiceamerica.com/episode/79893/mold-toxicity-new-understand-and-treatment-for-a-surprising-common-and-serious-illness).

5. Although you are very ill, people will just show this illness an understanding to a certain degree, and no matter how much they care for you, after weeks/months of this sickness, moving, financial stress, time off work, dr visits and so on, this is likely to cause a big problem in your marriage/relationship. You will recover, so don’t make any big decisions during this illness. Best of luck

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rebecca October 25, 2014 - 6:40 pm

Okay my daughter is 48 days old I live in a government owned apartment she has been hospitalized twice for the same reason and they found fluid in her lungs. Well recently my neighbor above me had a water leak and of course I got all the water so my apartment was flooded for days and the maintance man had removed an air vent and I found black mold in it of course they told me to use bleach and it would get rid of it I’m just wondering could that be why my kid is sick with fever and stuff on her lungs….

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Jamey November 12, 2014 - 4:08 am

my family and I moved into this house end of august this year, I started getting sick few weeks later. I have been to doctors, and emergency room all within a month and a half.All 3 times is due to struggling to breathe. Since I am the only one home 24/7 I am just wondering if it could possibly be this house!

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Amanda Bensalah December 21, 2014 - 1:56 pm

Me and my 2kids lived in a basement apartments in new york for a year.when we removed this plastic and cabinets from the walls, the walls were fully covered in black mold.it was so large of areas that qe cut the walls out.when we moved, I pulled my bed away from the wall and it was growing thhere too.I cant believe I had my head sleeping there that whole time.now that we moved for over a year, we have a bad cough that still hasnt gone away in years, fatigue, im loosing my hair, vomitting often, never can breath from our noses, muscle pains, brain fog and I feel my memory is getting bad, im weak.I forgot what it feels like to be normal.I cant lay down or I get a cough attack for hours.so I sleep sitting up.itchy eyes.migraines.doctors said my lungs are clear.given us sinus infection , whooping cough, ear ache antibiotics, asthma pump, codiene, acid reflex and gerd medicine, allergy meds, sinus pump, theyve tried all of it.I keep telling them that its not a cold.they wont listen.a cold dont last years..finally friday they sent me a referral to a lung specialist.I hope he will listen.I have bary anyenergy left

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lisa December 31, 2014 - 7:38 pm

Amanda, please see an infectious disease Dr. I am in the middle of this too. My daughter was “diagnosed” by a contractor friend of mine, not her own drs. They treated her for everything under the sun and she wasnt getting better. I feel for you as even searching for a Dr has been grueling. If I can help in any way, I would be happy to give you my email.

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lisa December 31, 2014 - 7:52 pm

John, what is the pepto for? I have started the bentonite.

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kady January 10, 2015 - 8:17 pm

I have 3 kids with vomiting for the last two weeks. I saw all the others but saw no answers… Why are they puking at night so much?

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Jennie January 12, 2015 - 9:56 am

This may sound stupid but I have just spent 4 hours in a converted garage/office which had a horrible damp smell. I was supposed to be starting a job there but after a few hours I started to feel ill, felt like my chest was getting tight and like my nasal passages were affected and had a nasty taste in my mouth. I told the job that I could not work in that environment and left. But now I am worried I have inhaled mould spores, brought them home on my clothes and am panicking after what I have read on here! I think I am particularly sensitive to smells and although I do have hayfever, I am not asthmatic and not prone to colds, coughs, etc. I feel like my nose and throat have been affected but am hoping it will wear off – am I being a bit paranoid? Can a few hours really have such a bad effect? any reassurance/advice would be appreciated.

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Dave January 30, 2015 - 9:52 am

I have been told by the landlord that because there are 3 couples living in a 3 bedroom house, that could be the reason we have mold growing on our walls in the bedrooms,living room and kitchen.That can’t be right

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krystle February 2, 2015 - 12:46 pm

I would think that the mold issue would have to be from a leak or moisture issue. More people using a shower, for example, may cause more moisture which can fuel or promote mold growth, but if you are properly ventiliating the home it shouldn’t be an issue. I have used a dehumidifier before, while living in wet climates with inadequate ventilation.

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Amanda Edwards February 8, 2015 - 12:05 pm

Yes I have an 11month old son who has been sick since he was a month old we have noticed alittle black mild in our shower but didn’t think anything of it we’ll now it’s in both bathrooms and in two of our rooms my son has been diagnosed w/failure to thrive,asthma, Gurd and the drs can’t figure out why he only weighs 14.12lbs and 26inches long could this b from mold?????

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Julie Wicher April 8, 2015 - 7:42 pm

Please help! I can no longer breathe at my mom’shouse (she lives in Horseheads, ny and I live in Charlotte, nc). There are several signs that point to black mold in her house, and I do not have the heart to tell her that we will not be back for quite some time. And Brayden’s birthday is this summer!

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christina April 28, 2015 - 3:59 am

My mom has been sick for about 4 months she used to live in a under ground house she had to move because of the mold and she wasn’t sick any more now my step dad has a friend that has mold in his house and he’s just about at my mom’s house every day can she be Getting sick because she can smell the mold on his colthes

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Fran May 12, 2015 - 4:52 am

Re the derisive & ignorant (in the literal sense of the word – LACKING KNOWLEDGE) by “Terri” who doesn’t know the taxonomic difference between mold & mildew and is CERTAINLY unaware that many people DIE of systemic mycoses caused by anything from Aspergillus fumigatus to various types of Cladosporium.

I’m sure all of them would be relieved to know that what they died of “isn’t possible” – at least according to your extensive “personal research”, which apparently doesn’t include any of the thousands of scientific journals, websites, or even Wikipedia articles that explain illnesses like Aspergillosis (pulmonary as well as systemic), Blastomycosis, Histoblastomycosis, Phaeohyphomycosis subcutaneous, parasinal and systemic) and many more.

Do you know what an Aspergilloma even is?
Are you aware that some molds will take up residence in the lungs, intestine, esophagus and even brain as well as the skin (demitaceous molds cause cutaneous as well as subcutaneous lesions that can cause sepsis, albeit usually – but not always – in immunocompromised people.)

So you work for a mold remediation company. I hope they’re not like the well recommended one I hired whose personnel knew NOTHING about mycology or mycoses (diseases caused by fungi).

I suggest you learn to keep your opinions to yourself unless you know what you’re talking about.You may want to augment your supposedly extensive “personal research” with some ACTUAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH.

A good place to start would be the University of Adelaide’s EXCELLENT site that links to a plethora of vetted scientific articles and textbooks in molecular and cellular biology, dermatology, and of course mycology to name just a few of the fields that deal with mold growing in or on people – and the medical treatment protocols that can be used for them. You may find some of the photos enlightening though potentially disturbing.

Another good one emanates from the U.K. and deals solely with various types of Aspergillis.

Even Wikipedia has many entries on such illnesses and specific pathogenic molds.

I’m constantly AMAZED at the shocking paucity of actual scientific knowledge “mold remediators” possess. It’s like a doctor I met who arrogantly sneered, “That’s not even possible!” when I asked what he knew about systemic mycotic infections. I informed him that he’d just written off an entire field of scientific research and medical practice.

I DO NOT mean to stir up or advocate for paranoia or hypochondria. I just REALLY HATE the kind of misinformation so-called “experts” who are a little light on any real “expertise” propagate.

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Sherrie August 5, 2015 - 1:35 pm

Well said Fran…. I was thinking the same thing about Terry. Lord Bless you Fran!!

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Cat October 28, 2015 - 1:09 am

OMG! I never read about this and my life has been unravelled by being subjected to mold, ever since govt. Housing at three different places. This time two day notice had to leave immediately cause three walls and ceiling in bathroom removed and all the tiles because of black mold, they didn’t give me a place to live at first, then few days later temporary apt upstairs for a month, yesterday moved back in, and in there altogether 12 hours and all the symptoms come back stronger, same symtoms that have been stated in this blog I’ve had or have ,coughing and vomit are the worst symtoms, and one night, last night also the sore raspy throat and flem etc.
When they did the repairs, they help didn’t close bathroom door nor cover it with plastic. They had to take out some of bedroom wall as well. They threw long three foot wide plastic over my furniture, but I hate say how it may had been removed by only custodians,The super fine powder is all embedded in my stuff the leather couch looks ten years older in one months time. I sat on a dining chair and skin itching from touching the arms of the chair and even through my pants itching, eyes everything, etc symptoms. I had bought new for first time ever! Now ruined again! And no insurance! When I read this blog I couldn’t believe that all these things I have suffered for so long now are exactly the same symtoms that are this mold issue. I’ve was just at a doctor a month ago about nasal problems and not being able to breathe thu my nose, plus I’m always short of breath and have chronic fatigue and fibro myalgia etc. OMG the govt. Has allowed housing to do this to me since “98” and yes if I leave for any period of time I seem to improve in health. Even my skin and scalp are a mess from this stuff. Why haven’t doctors figured it out???? Or………? I left 12 hours ago and out at four am to stay away so I can breathe, and they housing telling me today there’s no problem! The superfine dust powder is everywhere even in the fridge when I went to put groceries back. Everything’s contaminated. And it all needs cleaning and the dust is micro fine, Windows open wide didn’t make a difference and at same time running the air conditioner in Fifty degree weather th try and clear the air. And this will be the third time I will have to lose all my belongings because of all (3) Govt.housing places I haved lived in since (98) and this mold housing issue, it is neglect at all of them and they are never held responsible to be able to destroy someone’s health and property. OMG ! Thankyou all you people for your input to enlighten me! OMG!!!!!

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Stephanie November 17, 2015 - 2:45 pm

I have two very young children and I am currently living with my parents while in college again. We recently discovered that behind our shower wall we have lots of thick black mold, my father is removing it so he can redo the bathroom and now im worried about him disturbing the mold there for spreading mold into the air. I am very concerned for my children, they have not had any sickness or had any other symptoms but I don`t no if I should stay or leave?

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Annalevis June 24, 2016 - 4:30 am

Mold has a lot of side effects if it is not removed on time it will increase diseases and health problems for you and your family. There are different types of molds which causes cancer and other major problems. So many people suffer from these diseases so a proper maintenance must be needed to safe yourself from these dangerous diseases which cause by mold.

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Edward July 30, 2016 - 2:42 pm

i had mould for all 4-5 years of living in counsil property.i had 2 kids.now 3.so just one way-its local advertizer.they start to move.inspectors can be 2 times a day after you get connect with local advertizer.i did it twise.first time some body told me to do that.they move my to scar flat.for 7 weeks.but they did just afected places.but promised all flat be dan.so i found solisiter.3 years never sow him.got 8000 compensation.but still in this flat.boys are very sick.scean is bad.smallest 8 months.nearly daied.from some bacteria.but there is so many dust after they did work.never clean.counsil renting flats wich is not habital for peoples.same rent to pay like new houses.i have 1930is.so old is the house im stay.

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Cameron September 3, 2016 - 6:46 pm

I’m so concerned for my grandchildren ages 1and 3, they seem to get sick whenever they come back from their fathers trailer. He lives with his parents in an old run down abandoned trailer that was given to them. Instead of removing the mold like they should have done they instead choose to just cover it up with sheet rock. So this entire trailer has some type of mold in the walls. I honestly don’t know what to do because my daughter is in the middle of a court battle for custody and I worry the court won’t take my concern seriously. I want my grand babies out of that mold infested house before its to late. We live in NY, do we have any options?

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shennon wells October 30, 2016 - 11:36 pm

hello, I’m working for a company that has its employees collecting and hanging cannabis plants in a huge barn in applegate Oregon. the owner of this property has grown 10.000 cannabis plants and in my opinion hasn’t harvested them in time before the rains came. Since the rains are here the Buds (flowers) have started Molding because of their makeup they hold water, We have one room in the barn that has approx. 10,000 hanging branches that are full of these buds (flowers) that have now been consumed with mold, when my co workers go into this area we are wearing 99 cent mask and some end up coming out vomiting, coughing and choking is this because of the mold??? Are we in real danger by going into these mold filled rooms?? is cannabis mold or plant mold dangerous??? Please if you could let me know asap, I awaite your reply

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Laura January 19, 2017 - 8:50 pm

My house has tested positive for Stachybotrys and Cladosporium (as of March 2016). My basement has a dirt floor with sitting water and rotting wood throughout. The mold and smell is visible in the basement and our living areas (upstairs) Me, my 9 yo daughter and 5 yo son have been sick with chronic rhinitis and various other related illness for as long as I can remember..my son suffers the most.. We live on Zyrtec-which isn’t enough anymore.
I know remediation/replacing everything is needed. Tho, I don’t have the funds to do this. Nor do I have family near by to stay with.
My husband is aware of all of this and has the means to change /help us; but he’s content at having us live here while he takes his time. Months and years pass…
Does anyone know of any assistance I might qualify for or help!?

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elaine May 4, 2017 - 5:56 am

I been reading everyone’s post,I had my baby four months ago and my baby has been sick since he was four weeks old and has not got better he has been in and out of doctors office in and out of er he ended up in the nicu and now.My other four kids are getting his systems I went in my basement a few days ago and everything from.Clothes shoes etc in boxes filed with mold white black and green and I cleaned up and I think I made it worse my kids are coughing so bad I told my landlord and she says that she will send someone to clean it just use soap AND water I cleaned and took everything outside I don’t have anything anymore its all destroyed when I told her there was a leak down there and she always said there is a drain down there making excuses for everything so she don’t have to pay for anything what do I do

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elaine May 4, 2017 - 5:58 am

Can my kids be tested and bye who there doctor or a company that cleans the mold

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Mia Dexton August 18, 2017 - 6:28 am

That point about how mold can harm anyone no matter how healthy they are is a great thing to keep in mind. My friend kind of has that mindset of nothing can affect him because of his healthy lifestyle. However, things like mold silent patient attackers, and it just seems like a good idea to be aware of the signs it’s in your home.

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Deidra Wolfe March 22, 2018 - 7:21 pm

My name is Deidra Wolfe. Last year my husbands Call center closed and Suddenlink gave us an option to relocate to Tyler, Tx. Within a very short couple weeks we had to come down here and find housing so that our family wouldn’t be separated. On the last day to find something a very persistent woman encouraged me to look at this house. It wasn’t up to our expectations however we were desperate and with not wanting our family separated we made the decision to buy it. She assured me the house was as safe. We are a family of six. I told her that my husband had asthma and that I had an 18 month old baby at the time. There was evidence of animals being in there. She tells me that she will have it all painted and I had the carpets cleaned. So we get down here in June. We had a rough couple of months but once our home in WV sold we felt like things were looking up. We came here to create a better quality of life for our children. After a few months of living in this house we started noticing headaches. We rarely ever got them before. I missed work off and on for either me having cold like symptoms or someone else in the family. I went to see a lawyer in August and was in the process of having our contract rescinded, due to problems with the house not being disclosed.
Then the worst thing imaginable happened. On January 27, 2018 I woke up to find my son Alexander was dead. The day before was like any other day. We ran errands, had lunch, went down for a nap. When he woke up from his nap he had a low grade fever. At 22 months this is not uncommon. So I called his dad to bring home some Tylenol. I gave him a dose at 5 and then again at 9. He ate and drank normal all day. He was cognitive and showed no signs of anything being more serious. When I took his temp again at 9 it was 101 so I put him in a tepid bath. I sang him my momma song and put him to bed. That was the last time we saw him alive.
I spoke to the M.E. On Monday and she said there was no apparent reason as to why Alex had died and that I would have to wait on his toxicology report. As a parent/human/analytic individual I racked my brain about everything. Everywhere we went, anything he said, I mean fine tooth comb. I have videos of the evening before and we have watched them many times looking for some inclination as to why. They told me it would takes weeks on the autopsy to be completed. It did not. There conclusion was that Alex died from a probable upper respiratory infection with fever. You can imagine my shock. I told the medical examiner “ so you’re telling me he died from a cold?” As far as they know the answer was yes. But if they didn’t know what they were looking for they wouldn’t have found anything else. All of his cultures came back negative for any bacterium or virus or flu.
So I get to searching for what would cause a URI but not exhibit symptoms? I found an article about mold and how in underdeveloped immune systems that mold can set up and hide out basically because the body doesn’t know it’s a foreign invader or too much. I continue forward in my research with this theory. I found a company out of Dallas to come test our home. What they found was astronomical amounts of penicillium aspergillius, as well several other high amounts of various mold. I had us all tested. They found aspergillius in my lungs and I go to see a pulmonary specialist in April. Alex and I were at home the majority of the time, more than anyone else and Alex the most. Everyone else has tested negative thus far. We packed our things that weekend and got out.
Here is where you come in and why I am contacting you. My research has left me puzzled and at a loss in so so many ways. I’ve hired a personal injury lawyer and am pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against the people that sold us the house. They covered the mold up with paint and hid it from us. They let a leaking roof go without any attempt to fix it, leaving us with a mold laden house. I need direction. Expert witnesses on mold exposure or even anyone or research paper in the scientific community that agrees that exposure to these high levels of toxic mold could result in an upper respiratory infection and could lead to death in a child.
I truly believe that mold is what led to Alexander’s death. I just need other people with more initials behind their name to say it with me. If there is anyone you know or any direction you could give me, I would greatly appreciate it.

We had a perfectly healthy vibrant little boy that was stolen from us way to soon.

Thank you for any help,
Deidra Wolfe
10511 Lakeshore Dr.
Tyler, Tx 75707
304-917-9664

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Patricia Siple June 18, 2019 - 9:39 am

Great Plains Laboratory in Kansas only lab to properly test for mold thru urine test
Tell them Patricia sent you been thru ever Dr you can imagine they have NO CLUE how to treat mold
Never been so sick from living in moldy home
Doing infared sauna with charcoal as my binder helps mop up mold
Major Diet Change and Supplements still no big difference out of place since 3/1/19 after leaving hospital 5 th time

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Marilyn Sakkis September 11, 2020 - 4:04 pm

13 years ago I was so very sick with black mold in my lungs…I was a school teacher at the time and wet books were brought in……fellow workers would walk in and comment about the smell….a few months later I started getting horrible flu like symptoms and a horrible cough.
.
I went to my nutritionist, Abey in Tampa. She diagnoses patients by using kinesiology muscle testing.
Abby was amazing . She tested my body and found the mold. Treatment was lots of oregano oil, Silver and several other supplements that I already took.
She also suggested that I purchase a slim-line ordorox machine. It is very expensive so I rented for a while and then bought it.

Now, years later I’m feeling like I have mold again….ots of allergies, flu like symptoms, etc.
I live at my boyfriends house now and it’s very old…..so glad I have read all the remarks about testing sites.
Abbey passed away 2 yes ago so there is no one in Tampa that practices kinesiology like she did…any suggestions are appreciated.

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