Re: Move or remediate...how does one know?

February 22, 2010

I'd recommend getting an air quality/mold inspector (but not one who does

remediation -- search the internet for IAQ experts in your area) in to your home

to see how bad the problem is and what's causing it. I don't know where you're

located, but here in Wisconsin, I'd recommend http://www.iaqdiagnostics.com/ ,

which is the company I had out to inspect my new, non-moldy, home prior to and

after purchase. The gentlemen used an air sampler to collect air in different

parts of the house, then sent the air canisters to a lab to grow and identify

the DNA type and count of the mold samples. This is apparently the " gold

standard " for mold identification. He also did a sample of outdoor air so that

we would know what things were probably just coming in on the air from outdoors,

and what was actually growing in the house. He also used infrared cameras and

moisture meters to look for problems.

I can't say for sure about what to purge and what to keep. I moved last fall

from a moldy home owned by my husband's workplace to a new (to us) one we

purchased. We discarded anything that smelled moldy or musty (some books,

fabric items, stuffed items) or had mold growing on it (a bunch of bookcases and

one dresser), but the mold growth in that house was not strachy -- " toxic mold "

and was mainly confined to the basement, which we'd used mainly for storage. We

wiped all the other furniture off as it was moved (we moved less than

half-a-mile), covered all the mattresses with mold proof zip-around covers, and

we're hoping that by keeping the humidity in the new house low and vacuuming

frequently with a top HEPA vacuum will keep us from getting mold growth here.

Already, my health has started improving and my husband and children, whom we'd

long thought were pretty unaffected by the mold, have also noticed a reduction

in sinus headaches and eczema. We all agree that although we loved the location

of our long-time home, we've made the right choice in getting away from the

mold.

HTH,

February 22, 2010

Peggy, if you say what state your in, several well be able to direct you to the

closest doctors. if you fell better when away from the home you might want to

consider staying somewhere else that allows you to fell better, clean,

non-chemical, motel room. some pitch a tent outside but youd still have in go

inside for things so thats not a great solution.a clean,used RV might be another

idea. it's important not to have any contaminated objects,cloths,ect. from your

house in your space, to fell better.

dont throw away things yet, some have managed to clean things and possable long

term storage may denature some things, make sure they are all very dry before

storage, airtight containers come in handy.

you really dont need to be trying to deal with all that right now.

pictures might be saved if theres no mold growth on them, lightly wipe them down

with dry rag, if there not in picture frames, doing so later on might help you

tolerate them, if they are in picture frames,

use a washrag with hot water, a little ammonia and dawn dish washing soap to

wipe down the frames and glass really good and they might be ok. for now, you

may atleast want to go to a allergest and be tested for mold allergies, and have

a sinus culture done and have your sinuses washed out. hang in there and we

well try to get your questions answered.

>

> Hello...I'm new to this group & mold hypersensitivity, looking for information

& support. I am devastated & depressed, not knowing what to do & how far you

have to go...whether to move, leaving everything behind, or remediate...not

knowing if that will be good enough. How far does it go? How does one know how

much you need to do? I feel I'm running from something that's everywhere. I

feel I'm a burden to my husband, who isn't ill & questions that it has to be so

drastic..I'm more desperate to get well, Do any mold hypersensitive people move

or remediate & go on to live " normal " lives? How does one know what can be

cleaned ( & how?) & what has to be let go of? I have read that papers, pictures

(my kids' pictures?), books, etc can't be saved...what about wood furniture,

etc...how does one know? And if you move, where do you go? What do you take?

How do you know another place is safe from mold? How does one test before

renting/buying? I was told to get my mold plates to " 2 " , which the lab said is

next to impossible. Can one even get it good enough to relieve symptoms? Are

mold plate testings accurate enough to really know? I'm not sure where to turn

& what to do & in the meantime I live in a moldier than I can tolerate home. We

found a roof leak, fixed it (including removing any questionable wood, etc), use

IQ air purifiers, keep humidity <45%, fog monthly...not good enough. I ask for

your help & your experience in this so I see a light at the end of the tunnel &

see relief in sight...don't know how you all have coped with this situation.

Thank you so much for your support. I am grateful to have others who

understand.

>

February 22, 2010

Peggy Im so sorry that your having to go through this but just about everyone

here feels your pain including myself.

I would suggest finding a Dr whose knowledgeable about mold and how to treat it.

My GP wanted to attribute my symptoms to everything else but mold but once I

started showing him documentation that I had read on this great group and asked

him to think outside of the box he finally started to listen to me.

I am now seeing not only GP but an Infectious Disease Dr who have put me on

antifungals and it has helped but it's almost like watching paint dry.

Mold not only takes over your body physically but mentally as well but the one

thing that everyone that I've spoke to here tells me is that I'll get through

this but patients and diligence is a must