Re: I'm getting better!

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better. Could you possibly share

with me how long it has been since you started the meds. My kids are going

to see the Dr. in a couple of weeks and was curious how long it took you to

see a difference.

Thanx,

[] I'm getting better!

> Hello Everyone,

>

> I'm so excited. I thought you could appreciate my delight and it

> would give you hope. I'm a new patient of Dr. Shoemaker's and the meds

> are helping and I'm beginning to feel significantly improved. It's too

> early to know how close to " normal " I'll make it; I think only time

> will tell. But it's very reassuring to see glimmers of my old self

> again!

>

> Signed: Get Rid of Mold

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm glad to hear that your kids are going to see him. I hope he gets

them well. He does a LOT of tests, about 34 or so. I'm beginning to

understand a bit better how important his tests are. It seems as

though different people react to the toxins differently. I think if

he treated people very much before he got the test results he

wouldn't really be certain what would be the best course. So unless

it is clear to him what your kids need when he sees them, there could

be a significant wait for the results and a conference with him. I

think you should figure that process could take at least five weeks!

It's VERY hard to wait for the results when the stakes feel so high

and you want so much to get well.

Have you read Mold Warriors? I'd try to get a good grounding in it,

if I were you. It makes even more sense when you have the test

results and can go back through it again. In some areas I'm normal

and don't need to be treated. In other areas he says I'm " abnormal "

and need treatment.

I had taken Cholestyramine before I saw him and then had stopped

taking it. He had me start taking it again while I waited for the

test results. It had helped me some in the start when I took it. Both

times I went on it were hard for a while, maybe a week or a week and

a half, but then it gets better. After we had my phone conference

with the test results, then he could really start other treatments.

That was only at the end of June. I tried the first med he wanted me

to take and got side effects and had to stop; then he sent me on to

try the next med. Within two days I started to feel significant

improvement, and then more now two weeks later. So, the answer is

that it has been a couple of months since I've seen him, and I had

done some treatment before I saw him. I'm far from well, but

delighted to be improving.

I'm off to the lab to get some more blood drawn for him now...

I hope this helps a litte,

Tamara

> Hello,

> I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better. Could you

possibly share with me how long it has been since you started the

meds. My kids are going to see the Dr. in a couple of weeks and was

curious how long it took you to see a difference.

> Thanx,

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Tamara,

Could you elaborate on some of the other treatments Dr.Shoemaker uses

besides the CSM? Who prescribed the CSM the first time you used it?

Thanks,

Fletch

[Guest guest]

Wheee ! I am so happy for you !

What protocols does he have you on?

Angelika

[] I'm getting better!

> Hello Everyone,

>

> I'm so excited. I thought you could appreciate my delight and it

> would give you hope. I'm a new patient of Dr. Shoemaker's and the meds

> are helping and I'm beginning to feel significantly improved. It's too

> early to know how close to " normal " I'll make it; I think only time

> will tell. But it's very reassuring to see glimmers of my old self

> again!

>

> Signed: Get Rid of Mold

>

>

>

>

> FAIR USE NOTICE:

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Fletch & Angelika,

A number of local doctors prescribed CSM for me originally. Actos,

along with CSM, is what is currently having a positive effect on me. I

think Dr. Shoemaker uses many different drugs, taylored to the needs of

each patient. I will likely take many other drugs before I am,

hopefully, (only time will tell) well.

My local doctor has read Mold Warriors and is very supportive, in fact

we did the phone consult to go over my test results together with Dr.

Shoemaker. However, it seems to me that if you can, you should go

directly to Dr. Shoemaker for treatment. He knows a lot. He's obviously

worked hard, by writing Mold Warriors, to try to get his knowledge out

to us, but I think there is more going on in his head than has been

published!

I hear that when local docs attempt to get Dr. Shoemaker's testing

done, at this point they are running into difficulties. I hope that

changes in time. I also get the impression that local docs don't want

to do all the tests. Dr. Shoemaker actually says it himself in Mold

Warriors on pages 537 & 538, " Over the years, the most common errors in

failure to diagnose have been the attempt to, 'save on a few tests,' by

not looking at all the Biotoxin Pathway. Sure, the tests are

technically demanding. Sure, the tests must be done right to yield

reliable information. But you already knew that healing these complex

illnesses was complicated before you read this far. "

Here's to Health,

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

[Guest guest]

I am so happy to hear that you have seen Dr. S and are beginning to feel

better. I was very sick when I first saw him but within days was seeing an

improvement! The most noticeable was my mental clarity, the horrible brain fog

was gone! In just a week of taking the CSM I felt like I was coming out from

living in a cave!!!! I've been a patient for a yr. & a half and am doing

soooooooooo much better!!! Symptom free except for some AM stiffness( & that's

getting better), short term memory is not the best and tiredness if I do too

much.

Sue

I'm so excited. I thought you could appreciate my delight and it

would give you hope. I'm a new patient of Dr. Shoemaker's and the meds

are helping and I'm beginning to feel significantly improved. It's too

early to know how close to " normal " I'll make it; I think only time

will tell. But it's very reassuring to see glimmers of my old self

again!

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

[Guest guest]

Sue,

Thanks, isn't it a relief when you can begin to think again? I didn't

realize how much we take the ability to THINK for granted. It seems

like such a simple thing, until it's messed with. Has he ever had you

take Actos? The CSM definitely has helped, but my recent gains have

been from Actos.

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

>

> I am so happy to hear that you have seen Dr. S and are beginning to

feel better. I was very sick when I first saw him but within days was

seeing an improvement! The most noticeable was my mental clarity,

the horrible brain fog was gone! In just a week of taking the CSM I

felt like I was coming out from living in a cave!!!! I've been a

patient for a yr. & a half and am doing soooooooooo much better!!!

Symptom free except for some AM stiffness( & that's getting better),

short term memory is not the best and tiredness if I do too much.

>

> Sue

[Guest guest]

Hi Serena,

It's good to hear from you and I'm hoping you'll start feeling better

real soon here too. Just REMEMBER to look forward to feeling better,

that is if you can (grin).

That sounds like progress if you're beginning to locate mold hits. I

think I'm just barely beginning to learn some of that myself, but I

have a long ways to go. I've been messing with papers, out of

necessity from time to time, and some of them are from my employer

and workplace. I've begun to realize that they seem to make my lungs

hurt. I think that must be the kind of thing that has been

talking about.

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

> Glad to hear you're feeling better! And thanks for saying so. It's

not always easy to remember that things can get better. Er...it's not

always easy to remember anything at all, come to think of it. But I'm

looking forward to it!

>

> Things are going much more slowly for me. But I figure, if I'm

still at a point where even 1 skipped dose of CSM is noticeable to

me, then I must still be carrying a load of toxins that are just

barely on the edge of retreating into the manageable zone. I did much

more this week than I have done in quite a while, located a couple of

specific places where I get mold hits, and I'm really feeling it.

>

> Serena

[Guest guest]

--- In , " ridofmold " <getridofmold@m...>

wrote:

> Sue,

>

> Thanks, isn't it a relief when you can begin to think again? I

It sounds like you have to take this medicine for a long time. Any

mcser's taking it? I never had trouble with my thinking. It is

funny

how we are all so different in some ways. Also my hair is very

think,

whereas some lose their hair. I lived in 3 toxic homes. Glad the

medicine is working for some. Keep us updated.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

So you've never had any of the cognitive symptoms huh, such as:

cognitive impairment, recent memory, assimilation of new knowledge,

abstract handling of numbers, word finding in conversation, confusion,

difficulty sustaining concentration, disorientation, or " brain fog " ?

You're lucky you escaped these. It is very interesting how the disease

seems to play itself out differently in different bodies.

I have had MCS issues. Apparently, Actos sometimes helps with MCS. I

don't know yet if it's going to help me or not. I haven't yet been

brave enough to test it out. I want to give it more of a chance to work

before I test it. I have thick hair too, so I haven't had those types

of problems either.

Dr. Shoemaker talked about people being " primed " by exposure to toxic

mold, so then subsequently they need only to be exposed to small

amounts of mold that are present in the environment and they react. So

it sounds like even after people have removed the toxins from their

bodies they may want to take Welchol or Cholestyramine to protect them

from any accidental small exposure to mold.

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

> It sounds like you have to take this medicine for a long time. Any

> mcser's taking it? I never had trouble with my thinking. It is

> funny how we are all so different in some ways. Also my hair is very

> think, whereas some lose their hair. I lived in 3 toxic homes. Glad

the medicine is working for some. Keep us updated.

[Guest guest]

,

Why don't you consider asking your daughter's school to provide her

with " Specially Designed Instruction " through Special Education due to

a Health Impairment? Seems like it would be a reasonable thing to do

until she can recover.

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

said: " My daughter (10) will have a much better life if she can

get her mind to work again. It is just awful, to sit and watch her

daily struggle just to think of things her 6 year old brother knows

better than her. Her self esteem is gone... I hope her struggles will

be less like the experiences I have heard here. How wonderful if she

could just remember what 3+5 is without having to count it on her

fingers. How to spell her name without having to stop and think. "

[Guest guest]

Great, I'm glad to hear that things are moving in the right direction

and that Bianca has some relief!

A Special Education Program may give Bianca more academic rights and

protections than a 504 plan, so I'm glad to hear you're moving in

that direction. Make sure to ask for help in reading, math and

written language if you think she is delayed in all three areas and

it would help her. A designation as Health Impaired may give her the

right to more assistance than a Learning Disabled designation. You

may want to ask which disability category would be in Bianca's best

interest. You might want to ask them to explain the advantages and

disadvantages of both categories in detail.

Good Luck to all three of you,

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

> Thank you for your suggestion. The school had started this 2 years

ago. But, not with the support team I wished for. Then this year we

had that mold episode in her portable, and told them that if they

would listen to me and let me help I would not sue them. (in so many

words, not quit that bluntly) So they did. We have now had the main

school tested for both of my children, and it is clear of mold. Then

after 2 years of trying to get them to start a 504, out of the blue

they called me, asked me to come in as they were starting one for her

for this coming year. Now all we need is a letter from Dr. S, stating

she and her brother have these problems and they will start her in

their program for children with disabilities, but they are going to

use a different term for her. This will allow the school to bring in

outside tutors for her. They also put in her 504 that for the

remainder of her life in schools she needs to attend a mold free

environment, and if that is not possible, the school district is to

provide her and her brother in home tutors for the duration or their

education. For all of this I am very very happy. But, Bianca is

more relieved than any of us could ever be. When she heard what they

had done so far, she broke down crying with relief. She was scared

everyday while attending school, that mold would make her sick

again. Which, it did for a few months. But, along with the school

district we fixed it. Portables will no longer be used in our

district, and I am working with the district to set up protocols with

in each of the schools. So, life for us at this moment is great as

far as school goes. I wish everyone else had the good fortune that

we have had here. The fight is hard with districts. We just had the

blatant proof, right in their faces proof, that mold can cause my

children to become so sick that it disables them. They got to see it

first hand. Thank you again for you suggestion. I wish I would have

known about this group when all this first started, it could have

been a savior for us. But, atleast we have all of you now, and you

have us too.

>

[Guest guest]

Nice to hear some more positive feedback regarding Dr. Shoemaker.

Hope you continue to improve!

Would you care to share info regarding the costs for testing/visits,

etc.?

Thanks,

Jules

[Guest guest]

Hi Jules,

I was curious before I went how much all of those labs would end up

costing. I asked my local doctor how much he thought they would cost

and he had no idea either. Fortunately, Dr. Shoemaker and the labs

are covered by my insurance so that should help me a lot. I'm still

waiting to hear how much I'll have to pay for the labs. According to

my insurance company, before I went, I definitely shouldn't have to

pay anymore than $400. for the labs. I think it will likely end up

being less than that. However, so far, the labs have billed about

$5,300. for 34 lab tests. If I could afford it I would think it would

be worth it in order to get well. I can't afford it, so I'm very glad

the insurance will take care of most of it.

You can contact his office for a new patient packet to find out his

various charges for office visits etc.

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

> Nice to hear some more positive feedback regarding Dr. Shoemaker.

> Hope you continue to improve!

>

> Would you care to share info regarding the costs for

testing/visits,

> etc.?

>

> Thanks,

> Jules

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the info. It's definitely worth every penny if

it makes you feel better. I'm absolutely considering it. I have to

also allow for airfare/hotel costs coming from California, so it

would be very costly. Hoping my HMO will treat me using Dr. S's

protocol, but not holding my breath either....

I'm currently reading " Mold Warriors " and remembering back to 1988

or so when I became ill at one point, nothing definitive, just not

feeling " right " , and doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong, so

I remained undiagnosed. Tired, aching joints, etc. It eventually

cleared up on it's own.

Prior to that episode, I had been out hiking and sat on an old log,

and was bitten by a tick. Ended up with a big red area around the

bite on my leg. They tested me for Lyme's at the time, which was

negative, but now I'm wondering if my symptoms had more to do with

the toxins. Dr. S presents a very interesting way to look at hea.

I was feeling VERY healthy prior to working in a sick building(2001-

2003), and a sick house to top it off (2002-2004). Would love to

feel healthy again some day....It's worth a lot! Everything, really.

Thanks again,

Jules

> > Nice to hear some more positive feedback regarding Dr.

Shoemaker.

> > Hope you continue to improve!

> >

> > Would you care to share info regarding the costs for

> testing/visits,

> > etc.?

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Jules

[Guest guest]

--- In , " ridofmold " <getridofmold@m...>

wrote:

> Hi Jules,

>

> I was curious before I went how much all of those labs would end up

> costing. I asked my local doctor how much he thought they would cost

> and he had no idea either. Fortunately, Dr. Shoemaker and the labs

> are covered by my insurance so that should help me a lot. I'm still

> waiting to hear how much I'll have to pay for the labs. According to

> my insurance company, before I went, I definitely shouldn't have to

> pay anymore than $400. for the labs. I think it will likely end up

> being less than that. However, so far, the labs have billed about

> $5,300. for 34 lab tests. If I could afford it I would think it

Are you saying it costs about $5,000. Guess I will die from this

then. Sometimes I just feel like having myself put down like they do

do animals.

[Guest guest]

The lab testing so far has been billed at about $5,300. but it looks

like the insurance company will pay much less than that for the lab

tests in the end. The costs for Dr. Shoemaker are separate from that;

you'll have to contact his office for information on that. He takes

Medicare patients, if that helps at all.

> Are you saying it costs about $5,000. Guess I will die from this

> then. Sometimes I just feel like having myself put down like they

do animals.

[Guest guest]

--- In , " ridofmold " <getridofmold@m...>

wrote:

> The lab testing so far has been billed at about $5,300. but it looks

> like the insurance company will pay much less than that for the lab

> tests in the end. The costs for Dr. Shoemaker are separate from

that;

> you'll have to contact his office for information on that. He takes

> Medicare patients, if that helps at all.

Medicare, no it doesn't help me. Since I have been dealing with this

since 1998, I am sure it is bad. Too bad after waiting 8 months to

see Dr. Johanning he resigned a couple of weeks after my wasted

visit. I had the best insurance then. I was told at that time I

had systematic fungal disease but I was left for dead. Very sick of

this crap. .

[Guest guest]

I'm very sorry. I bet you REALLY ARE sick of this crap. I am too.

>

> Medicare, no it doesn't help me. Since I have been dealing with this

> since 1998, I am sure it is bad. Too bad after waiting 8 months to

> see Dr. Johanning he resigned a couple of weeks after my wasted

> visit. I had the best insurance then. I was told at that time I

> had systematic fungal disease but I was left for dead. Very sick of

> this crap. .

[Guest guest]

Hi Jules,

I hope you can go and I hope he can help you get better. Yep, I

agree, I've begun to think that our health is the single most

important thing in a person's life. Without it nothing else seems to

make a lot of difference.

Get Rid of Mold

> Thanks so much for the info. It's definitely worth every penny if

> it makes you feel better. I'm absolutely considering it. I have

to also allow for airfare/hotel costs coming from California, so it

> would be very costly. Hoping my HMO will treat me using Dr. S's

> protocol, but not holding my breath either....

> I was feeling VERY healthy prior to working in a sick building(2001-

> 2003), and a sick house to top it off (2002-2004). Would love to

> feel healthy again some day....It's worth a lot! Everything,

really.

>

> Thanks again,

> Jules

>

[Guest guest]

Can anyone who has been to Dr Shoemaker tell me the breakdown of lab fees by

lab? ie How much for the Quest tests, how much for the other labs he uses? I

ask because my insurance only covers Quest, so I'm trying to figure out how

much the rest of it will cost me out-of-pocket. Is there anyplace on his

website that will tell how much each lab test costs?? Thanks!

From: " ridofmold " <getridofmold@...>

The lab testing so far has been billed at about $5,300. but it looks

like the insurance company will pay much less than that for the lab

tests in the end. The costs for Dr. Shoemaker are separate from that;

you'll have to contact his office for information on that. He takes

Medicare patients, if that helps at all.

[Guest guest]

,

This is what I know so far:

Quest $2,595.70

LabCorp $2,469.00

Specialty

Labs $223.20

TOTAL $5,287.90

Signed: Get Rid of Mold

--- In , " julie genser " <j_genser@h...>

wrote:

> Can anyone who has been to Dr Shoemaker tell me the breakdown of

lab fees by lab? ie How much for the Quest tests, how much for the

other labs he uses? I ask because my insurance only covers Quest, so

I'm trying to figure out how much the rest of it will cost me out-of-

pocket. Is there anyplace on his website that will tell how much each

lab test costs?? Thanks!