Re: was: markinvoch / new: antifungal treatments - Mold rant

[Guest guest]

Hi KC -

What I experienced living with mold for 2 1/2 years was daily. I

moved into an apartment in Saratoga Springs, NY in Sept '99, moved

out in January of '02. Before this experience I knew nothing about

mold.

I slept long hours, when I woke in the morning I felt ninty years

old. I became bloated within the first weeks. Gained 20 pounds almost

right away even though I ate the same. Bags and dark circles formed

under my eyes, had a chronic cough. Most days I suffered with a sort

of mental stupor. My boyfriend and son, (15 at the time) did not seem

to be as affected as I was.

I caught pneumonia in April of '01. After 9/11 I was home everyday

glued to the TV. And caught pneumonia again in Oct '01. At about the

same time I heard my son coughing, I asked him if he had a cold, he

said, no, he said he only coughed when he was home. My son spent the

summers in Los Angeles and complained he only coughed when he was

home, (pretty sad considering the LA smog). I didn't smell the mold

in the house. The smell was present in the main outer hall, the

basement was a dirt floor. Far too late, I began to wonder if the

mold I smelled was making me sick and my son cough. He had no other

complaints. My boyfriend seemed to have no symptoms.

I had three kitty's, all boys. One of them, around November of '00,

my cat Troubadour developed the most horrible and unbelievabe

disease, I still can't believe what happened to him. His mouth was

slowly disintigrating, the vet didn't have a clue as to what was

wrong with him. She never saw anyting like it before. He could not

eat on his own, I hand fed him. It was the saddest thing I've ever

seen. I had to put him to sleep in January of '01. He was thirteen

years. The other two cats had no symptoms.

I didn't connect my cat's illness with mold until sometime later when

I saw a man on a talk show who's nose, hard pallet and surrounding

area had disintigrated from living with mold. He had to wear a facial

prothesis to cover what was missing.

After the second bout of pnemonia I called the Town Dept. of Public

Safety Inspector to come and check for mold, and the real nightmare

began.

His lack of help and the Landlords non-exsistent concern was hell on

wheels. Landlord was ordered to pour concrete in the basement. Also

ordered to clean the heat ducts - that was it! They poured the

concrete and refused to clean the heat ducts by ignoring the order,

dragged their feet.

Served us an eviction notice. Which was illegal and could have been

prosecuted for three times the amount of the rent. I did not sue

them. Did go to an Attorney to see if there was a case on the mold,

hoping they could be made to burn the building down.

The Inspector told me to see his doctor. I did, he said I

was " probably allergic to mold. "

If your living and breathing, yes your probably " allergic " to mold !!

Yes doctor, it's not the mold -it's my reaction to it. His answer to

the problem was to prescribe Advair. He offered that I take a hit of

it in his office, I declined.

It makes no sense to open bronchial passages even more to receive

even more mold, brilliant!! He notated that I declined his treatment.

That report went to the Inspectors office. The overall attitude was

that I was looking for a lawsuit. Too ironic, not knowing a thing

about mold before.

As if, I would knowingly live with mold all that time, get pnemonia

twice, and no documentation of my condition. Perhaps they thought I

was looking for " easy money " . I didn't contact the Inspector with a

lawsuit in mind, (the lack of action and concern - is the very thing

that could have triggered a suit). I was looking for another place,

and the Landlord's ONLY response to the many letters I sent, was to

evict. That was a beautiful thing. Now they can go wherever

trogladites go when they die, and count their money there.

More garbage happened before we moved. Attorneys, going to the Law

Library, calling the State Dept. of Health, etc.

Even though the Landlord and the Safty Inspector dragged their feet

and dismissed mold as a real threat, pointed their fingers at " my

allergic reaction " . Also noted by the State Health Dept. as potential

issues causing " my problem " , was an aquarium, cats, plants and a

dryer that vented into an indoor recepticle. That was the State

Inspector's assessment. The air purifiers I purchased were also

deemed hazardous to my health. Repulsive - money and property are

king.

I found a nice 'clean' town house, larger and more expensive. I moved

again this last June to a smaller less expensive home. In this unreal

universe I think there is mold in the master closet. So, I'll have to

find it and remediate it, if I can. Never knew about mold before that

time. Now I may be facing it again.

I went back to the old place to find out how the current residents

are faring. A man came to the door, said they had been there over a

year and a half and said they are fine. I noticed the mold smell in

the hall was gone. The man also said the New owners of the building

had replaced the entire heating system. That was the good bit to it

all.

The sadest part was the inhuman response. The Inspector was all

politics, he's not a lobbist for landlords, he is a Safty Inspector.

The landlord is essentially responsible for their property and how it

effects their tenants health. These people took on these

responsibilities and balked when push came to shove.

I walked away with a new level of disgust - for people who pretend to

do their jobs.

Thanks for letting me rant,

> > >

> > > Has anyone gotten over a systemic fungal infection without anti-

> > > fungals, by avoidance and other treatments?? Thanks, barb

> > >

> > > > ----- Original Message -----

> > > > Hello Bobbie and Rosie,

> > > >

> > > >> Killing mold is not like taking antibiotics for two weeks.

> Mold

> > is

> > > programmed to decompose things and has a damn strong survival

> rate.

> > > Thus mold / fungal treatment must be done steadily, consitantly

> and

> > > over a long period of time. >

> > > >

> > > > I hope this helps.

> > > > Keep going ! We're all in this together.

> > > >

> > > > Avoidance is key - get away from this stuff immediately !!!

> Mold

> > > kills.

> > > > Angelika

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

Thank you kindly for posting your story. I know at times how

difficult it can be, even after a couple of years. It's very

enlightening and at the same time horrifying with what so many

people have had to go through with their families, including their

animals. I'm very sorry to hear how this has also affected the

animals and I wish for those that are unaware of the circumstances

of mold in our environment, that a high percentage of the time it

affects the animals first. They (vets) have been treating this for

years and never accused them of eating contaminated items and that

it was through inhalation. But vets really didn't care how the

animal got sick, whether through inhalation or ingestion, they

treated them no matter what, and with the proper medications.

I have to agree, many landlords should be held accountable (in most

cases) because they are supposed to supply a healthy, habitable

environment. Just like many of us or most likely all of us, never

dreamed or thought mold could hurt you in any way. We all live and

learn. You had mentioned about a gentlemen that you had seen on TV

that lost his face. That man was Mark Tatum, a dear friend of mine

who lost his fight in February. It still hurts me just to think

about him. I still remember clearly one of his biggest dreams was to

get out and to speak at conferences to help educate the public and

prevent this from happening to anyone else. No one could deny what

mold is capable of doing and the effects it had on his life.

We are making headway and I'm sure many of us will not stop until

this day comes.

KC

> > > >

> > > > Has anyone gotten over a systemic fungal infection without

anti-

> > > > fungals, by avoidance and other treatments?? Thanks, barb

> > > >

> > > > > ----- Original Message -----

> > > > > Hello Bobbie and Rosie,

> > > > >

> > > > >> Killing mold is not like taking antibiotics for two

weeks.

> > Mold

> > > is

> > > > programmed to decompose things and has a damn strong

survival

> > rate.

> > > > Thus mold / fungal treatment must be done steadily,

consitantly

> > and

> > > > over a long period of time. >

> > > > >

> > > > > I hope this helps.

> > > > > Keep going ! We're all in this together.

> > > > >

> > > > > Avoidance is key - get away from this stuff

immediately !!!

> > Mold

> > > > kills.

> > > > > Angelika

> > > >

> > >

> >

>