Hi
@Gingergrrl !
1) Using the Real Time Labs test is part of Dr. Brewer's idea. He thinks that people with CFS who have lived in buildings with a mold issue may have picked up some fungal critters that live in the sinuses and become an internal source of mold toxins.
So he does this test to see if people with CFS are excreting mycotoxins in their urine.The jury is still out on whether it is the most accurate test or not. I believe that it is covered by some insurance policies.
There is also Dr. Shoemaker and his idea. He thinks that people with CFS who have lived in buildings with a mold issue may have collected mold toxins in their bodies in places like fat cells, and are having trouble getting them out. He does a genetic test to find out if a person has one of the inherent susceptibilities to various kinds of biological neurotoxins. Mycotoxins are one kind of biological neurotoxin. If you're susceptible, you have trouble detoxing the toxins.
Then he does a panel of lab tests that check for markers of the inflammatory cascade that happens in a person's body if they are walking around with a lot of stored mold toxins in them.
You can get either doctor's lab tests done by any doctor who is willing to order them for you. Just be sure you get the correct tests done by the correct laboratories. Dr. Shoemaker has a whole list of lab tests on his website:
http://www.survivingmold.com
So I guess it comes down to which doctor's theory grabs you the most. Both of them could be correct. There are quite a few CFS specialists by now who understand Dr. Shoemaker's concept of mold poisoning and all the various treatments for it. There are more CFS specialists all the time who have heard of Dr. Brewer's theory and protocol.
2) Dr. Brewer's protocol is detailed in his two published articles. Dr. Shoemaker's treatment is detailed in his books "Mold Warriors" and "Surviving Mold" and on his websites.
Of the two, Dr. Brewer's is simpler. I've been having good results from it.
But I'm not discounting Dr. Shoemaker's treatment protocol, either. Parts of it have helped me.
Maybe other people will weigh in with their opinions.
Your poor house! And poor you! I can't believe it's had mold show up for the thrid time.
Both doctors ask their patients to get the mold remediated properly before beginning their protocols. Or else the patient could move to a house that doesn't have a significant mold problem. Somehow you just have to get to a better environment before starting all the treatments.
I wish you all the best with this challenge!
Forebearance