From New Here

[Guest guest]

I just wanted to take a few moments and thank everyone here who has answered

both privately and on this list. I have been to touched and overwhelmed by

the responses of so many who are also going through much of the same thing.

As I am sure you all know, the past two weeks have been quite an eye-opener

for me and just learning of this group has been a lifesaver of sorts. You

guys gave me some excellent suggestions for research and it has truly been the

light at the end of a very long tunnel for me. Everything I have now read

regarding long term mold exposure confirms and finally make some sense of

everything I have been experiencing medically - as well as things I didn't even

begin to put together as related to mold.

Thank god my husband has also taken this very seriously and has had numerous

house environmental specialists in testing our home. We have found that the

roof of the attic over both the house and office seems to be pretty much

100% covered in mold. They have also come with moisture meters and all kinds

of

other testing equipment to try to determine if the mold has spread anywhere

else into the home. At this point, they do not believe it is in or behind

the walls, but who can ever be really sure of that?? (Do those meters actually

work??) The good news is (I think) that since the mold is only covering the

roofing part of the attic (not the floors, walls, and stuff stored) - that

hopefully the mold " problem " is stemmed from lack of proper circulation (there

is no roof " leak " , just poor circulation causing moisture build-up). We have

hired roofing specialists that are experienced in mold remediation to come

and immediately replace the entire roof, also installing adequate ventilation

by way of ridge vents and circulation systems. This should be completed

within the next week. While the roof is off, they claim that they will clean

and

treat all exposed roof rafters, etc. as well for preventative treatment.

My question is what do we do with all the stuff in the attic (which of

course is packed). Some have told us to leave it there. Do NOT bring it down,

through the house, possibly contaminating the house further. They have said

that when the roof is replaced and there is proper ventilation, any possible

fungi that exists should die and then at a later point in time, the stuff can

be sealed in plastic and removed if necessary.

Others have said to remove it all right now...that leaving it there will

cross contaminate the new roof. This is the part that I do not understand. If

what they say is right, that if you take care of the moisture problem and the

mold dies and goes away - how could cross contamination occur?

I feel so blessed in a way...because of the work I have done - helping

orphaned children, much of this focused on uniting them with loving families.

It

is this work and connection that has provided the resource to us for

immediate replacement of the roof. I know it is not the " best " solution - and

the

best would really have been to have all of us physically leave the premises

immediately. But we really have no place to go.

A rather sad twist is that my family does not believe that my house could be

making us this sick. My father makes comments like " well if you just tried

to work a little harder you'd probably be back to normal in no time " . They

act like I had the flu and just never WANTED to get better from it. I don't

get how someone would go from working 20 hours a day, to being a bedridden

non-working " bum " for sheer pleasure, but that's another story entirely.

Anyhow...I was so very relieved that I found this group and know now that I am

not

going crazy and I am not battling this alone. But more than anything

else...you have all given me the hope to know that THE BATTLE ISN'T OVER

YET!!!!

THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!! You don't know how much it means! (Well,

yeah...you probably do).

Jeannene

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