First, thanks to all of you for your contributions to this forum. They are both informative and helpful. I'm sure I will be posting more information about myself in the weeks and months ahead, but I'll begin with this post.
Although I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and CFS, I truly believe that they are default diagnoses or, as I call them, diagnoses of convenience. When the medical world cannot pinpoint the underlying cause or causes of an ailment, what better way to respond to a patient's complaint than to give a "name" to their disease, even if there are no diagnostic tests or markers based on hard science.
In reality, I believe I am suffering from a mold related, mycotoxic/biotoxic disorder, based on the fact that I once lived in a home that had a serious mold problem (documented by a mold inspection) and an allergy test that proved positive for one of those molds, namely penicillium. During my period of exposure (nearly 3 years), I developed nearly 40 distinct symptoms, many of them neurological in nature. Upon removing myself from the source of the mold, some of the symptoms disappeared, some diminished, but some have lingered, especially the usual suspects: generalized pain and relentless fatigue. I find that when I am extremely tired, some of the diminished symptoms (balance, gait, slurred speech, mental fog, etc.) return as strong as ever. Both MS and Lymes were excluded after studying my spinal fluid.
I have consulted a number of specialists in infectious disease, allergy/immunology and neurology. For now, let me just say that anytime I mentioned toxic mold, I was treated with disdain (at best) and even hostility (at worst).
It is worth noting that I have not suffered from a common cold in FIFTEEN years! That sounds like a good thing, but it raises the question: Why not? Prior to that time, I usually had 2 - 3 colds a year. I was a public school teacher who was constantly exposed to students with colds. Now suddenly I find I am immune to colds. Several doctors I've consulted have told me that it's quite common for a person to acquire immunity as he/she gets older. But with there being over two hundred different viruses that can cause a cold, have I really built up an immunity to that extent?
I have no idea if my cold immunity has any association with my other symptoms or my prior diagnoses (official or otherwise), but I wonder if my immune system is out of order to the point where my WBC's are a bit too efficient.
Any thoughts or comments?
Although I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and CFS, I truly believe that they are default diagnoses or, as I call them, diagnoses of convenience. When the medical world cannot pinpoint the underlying cause or causes of an ailment, what better way to respond to a patient's complaint than to give a "name" to their disease, even if there are no diagnostic tests or markers based on hard science.
In reality, I believe I am suffering from a mold related, mycotoxic/biotoxic disorder, based on the fact that I once lived in a home that had a serious mold problem (documented by a mold inspection) and an allergy test that proved positive for one of those molds, namely penicillium. During my period of exposure (nearly 3 years), I developed nearly 40 distinct symptoms, many of them neurological in nature. Upon removing myself from the source of the mold, some of the symptoms disappeared, some diminished, but some have lingered, especially the usual suspects: generalized pain and relentless fatigue. I find that when I am extremely tired, some of the diminished symptoms (balance, gait, slurred speech, mental fog, etc.) return as strong as ever. Both MS and Lymes were excluded after studying my spinal fluid.
I have consulted a number of specialists in infectious disease, allergy/immunology and neurology. For now, let me just say that anytime I mentioned toxic mold, I was treated with disdain (at best) and even hostility (at worst).
It is worth noting that I have not suffered from a common cold in FIFTEEN years! That sounds like a good thing, but it raises the question: Why not? Prior to that time, I usually had 2 - 3 colds a year. I was a public school teacher who was constantly exposed to students with colds. Now suddenly I find I am immune to colds. Several doctors I've consulted have told me that it's quite common for a person to acquire immunity as he/she gets older. But with there being over two hundred different viruses that can cause a cold, have I really built up an immunity to that extent?
I have no idea if my cold immunity has any association with my other symptoms or my prior diagnoses (official or otherwise), but I wonder if my immune system is out of order to the point where my WBC's are a bit too efficient.
Any thoughts or comments?