YOU FOUND MOLD…… NOW WHAT?!?!
Finding mold in your home can be daunting. I got you!! Holy crap, have I learned the hard way. Here are my suggestions:
Hire a Professional Mold Inspector:
A quality, thorough mold inspection should include different methods of sampling, inspecting the home visually, doing a humidity and thermal imaging check, and the inspector should ask about your health issues. The International Society of Environmentally Acquired Illness is a good source for finding an indoor environmental professional. www.iseai.org
Find a Certified Mold Remediator:
Mold remediations often fail because most remediation companies only address the areas with visible mold growth. Or they remediate improperly. If you hire a mold inspector (and you should!) he/she should be able to recommend a certified mold remediator in your area.
You can also use this site to verify or locate a professional. www.normipro.com
National Organization of Remediators and Mold Inspectors is a cooperative group of certified professionals.
If you find someone based on a reference or google search, click here for questions to ask before you hire them for remediation (even if they claim to be certified!) Twice I’ve used ‘certified’ remediators and they remediated improperly. Asking these questions could save you not only thousands of dollars but potentially dangerous ongoing exposure post-remediation.
If You Suspect Mold is Making You Sick:
1 in 4 people have the HLA-DR gene and do not produce the antibodies needed to remove airborne mycotoxins from water-damage mold. This genetic predisposition will often lead to biotoxin illness* and is often found in the majority of those with a chronic illness (such as Lyme disease or mold illness) resulting in the increased need for detoxification support.
*Biotoxin illness — sometimes referred to as mold illness — is not an allergy. While it shares some symptoms with an allergic reaction, a biotoxin illness is an inflammatory reaction triggered by the immune system. It is also known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome or CIRS.
Common symptoms include:
- Sinus issues/Chronic burning in the throat and nasal passages
- Coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath
- Irregular heartbeat
- Loss of balance
- Depression/Anxiety/Mood swings
- Headache/ Dizziness
- Eye irritation
- Fatigue/Muscle weakness
- Hearing/vision changes
- Heightened sensitivity to chemicals and foods; noise, touch, smell, and light
- Joint pain and/or muscle pain
- Skin rashes
- Sleep problems
Find a medical professional who specializes in environmentally acquired illness (EAI).
Take a VCS test: Visual Contrast Sensitivity – a visual test for neurologic function. Mycotoxins from water damage mold break the blood-brain barrier and have neurological effects. This simple test can be an early indicator of a potential mold illness.
More Resources:
www.betterhealthguy.com Scott Forsgren
www.drcrista.com Dr. Jill Crista – mold illness survivor with many resources/product discounts
www.jillcarnahan.com – Search the archive articles on Mold Exposure
www.moldymovie.com Dave Asprey’s movie
www.moldfreeliving.com Great products available
Trust me when I say — as would many others who have been through this nightmare — spend the money upfront to handle the mold remediation. While it seems expensive now, it could save you thousands of dollars and lots of heartache to make sure it’s done properly the first time!