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Help with Mold testing

Daffodil

Senior Member
Messages
5,875
Hi All. I need some help,

My brain fog is severe. In the past, IV antibiotics are the only thing that ever helped but the improvement went away once I stopped the IV.

My gut flora is really messed up but probiotics and antibiotics dont even touch the fog.

I have done years of antibiotics and years of antivirals but the fog has never been helped much.

I am reaching my limit with this after almost 26 yrs. It makes me so depressed and hopeless. My energy is a little better but I cannot think and still feel like my head is swollen. Sometimes it feels throbbing and like it will explode.

I do feel like my nose is blocked in a way but I think it is just trigger points in the neck causing this, or inflammation from the disease. I have no post nasal drip or headaches.

So, I want to explore the mold issue since I am out of avenues to explore.

9 years ago, I had nasal swab by a very good doctor in NYC but it was negative (I dont even know if he tested for mold but I think he did)

I did the Dr. Brewer nasal spray regimen for a couple of months and did feel worse fog and some more fatigue but it is still unclear if it was die off or what. My local doc (not CFS doc) said maybe I am just changing the sinus flora and that is causing the symptoms. Then my specialists wanted me to switch antibiotics which made me sicker so I gave up the nasal thing.

Could someone tell me the best test I can take for this? Could I still have mold in my sinuses causing my problems even if I do not have typical symptoms? Is there a blood test I can send away for? A mail in swab test? What are the best labs for this?

I know all this has been discussed on many threads but my fog is so severe right now, I cannot wade through all the info....

Thanks for reading:)
 
Messages
92
Location
Australia
Hi @Daffodil, I see this is over a month old and no one has replied yet.

There is a simple eye test which you can do online which is a good way to eliminate CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome).

https://www.survivingmold.com/store1/online-screening-test

CIRS is the diagnostic term used for chronic mold illness.

I failed this eye test and so had further more in depth testing done which confirmed I had issues with mold.

The test costs about $15

Cheers,
Cath
 

Daffodil

Senior Member
Messages
5,875
Hi @Daffodil, I see this is over a month old and no one has replied yet.

There is a simple eye test which you can do online which is a good way to eliminate CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome).

https://www.survivingmold.com/store1/online-screening-test

CIRS is the diagnostic term used for chronic mold illness.

I failed this eye test and so had further more in depth testing done which confirmed I had issues with mold.

The test costs about $15

Cheers,
Cath
thanks Cath. I actually came across that eye test online. I did some more reading and found that TGFBeta-1, MMP-9, and VEGF are some of the tests for mold and looking at my old test reports, they were all normal...which explains why my doctor never recommended the mold regimen for me. So I will just do nothing for now and see what my doc says at my next appt.

Which in depth testing did you have done after the eye test, may I ask.?

Thanks!
xo
 
Messages
92
Location
Australia
Which in depth testing did you have done after the eye test, may I ask.?

Which in depth testing did you have done after the eye test said:
Hi @Daffodil, I can’t actually remember what the tests where.

A few different blood tests, one I had to go to a hospital pathology department. Nasal swabs testing for MARCONS which were sent to the US.
I think there was genetic testing?

I was positive for everything to do with mould. Moved house, got rid of all my belongings, took Cholestyramine, VIP.

I am much improved BUT, yes there is always a BUT with this dreaded illness, I still crash and have new symptoms to deal with.

The issues with mould definitely had to be dealt with and am glad I did.

Cheers,
Cath
 

Daffodil

Senior Member
Messages
5,875
@Cath wow well i am glad you dealt with the mold..but does not sound easy. that must have helped significantly. so far. all my testing has been negative but i did make an appt with an ENT for nasal swabbing. I am in Canada so skeptical of how good the testing will be.
xox
 
Messages
92
Location
Australia
@Daffodil, sorry about quoting myself... my brain gets fuddled :)

Yes dealing with mould was a long road but I now pass the VCS test and am doing much better than I was.

Cheers,
Cath