Rambler's Mold Avoidance Experiments

[slayadragon]

Here is a blog by an ME/CFS patient from San Francisco (not me! someone else) who decided to try extreme mold avoidance. So far so good, it seems!

Best, Lisa

*

Here is a quick summary of the symptom changes I experienced in those 2 weeks:
* no insomnia or nocturnal awakenings- slept through night every night (9 pm- 5 or 6 am)
* less brain fog
* clearer vision
* more energy, especially in morning
* less orthostatic intolerance
* almost no tingling in hands and feet
* no all-day tremulous feeling

Some symptoms still persisted:
* My brain wasn't 100%-- I still had problems with concentration
* Continued to feel like I couldn't get a deep breath (i.e. air hunger)
* Still had seemingly random waves of exhaustion (better than all-day exhaustion)
* Didn't feel 100% physically, although I could hike without crashing

http://ramblingsearcher.blogspot.com/

 

[searcher]

I just stumbled upon this post by @slayadragon when I was looking at some analytics on my blog.
I thought I would write a quick update on how mild mold avoidance has helped me 2 1/2 years later in case my experience will help someone considering it. Note: I have done extreme avoidance a few times for a total of a month or so but mostly have focused on living in healthy environments since then. I used to live in a moldy house in San Francisco and now live in a seemingly mold-free house in Hawaii.

* I sleep through the night 90% of the time, although I often wake up earlier than I would prefer.
* My brain fog is much improved, which I partially attribute to the change of environment (San Francisco->Hawaii) and partially to reishi.
* My vision is hardly ever blurry anymore! I can't believe I used to try for years to read while the words were swimming on the page or screen.
* My energy levels still fluctuate, but I can now leave the house without adderall most days, after four years of not being able to leave the house w/o stimulants.
* I still spend most of my time lying down, but I don't notice obvious POTS symptoms when I am standing any more.
* I very rarely have tingling in hands and feet.
* I never have the all-day tremulous feeling, although I do sometimes have it for a few hours.

* My brain is still not 100% due to the same problems with concentration. I can write more though.
* Air hunger is still persisting
* I have fewer random waves of exhaustion, although they still happen when I overdo it.
* I can walk for miles without getting obvious PEM, but can't do much aerobic activity without paying.

 

[Christopher]

You haven't updated your blog in a while. Do you do the shower and change when you come in from outside sort of avoidance?

 

[searcher]

Hi @Christopher- I've been spending a lot of time on HealClick and elsewhere so haven't had a chance to write a proper blog post for awhile. I have experimented with full-scale avoidance, but at this point I just do moderate avoidance. I have an outdoor shower though and do shower if I have been in an obviously bad building.

 

[Gondwanaland]

Air hunger is still persisting

Addressing

• salicylate sensitivity/high uric acid
• ammonia
• thyroid

helped me with this maddening issue.