Toxic Mold: If I had only known, but no one told me!!!

by ToxicMoldExposure | July 1, 2008 at 05:19 pm

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If I had only known, but no one told me!!!!

I moved into this little apartment as a young disabled nurse do to a back illness and surgery on March 25, 2005.

Eleven months (Feb 2006) living in this quaint little apartment I had started to experience a dry hacking cough, chest tightness that felt like an elephant was sitting on it, a throat that felt like it was constantly being strangled by someone's hands, not ever letting go. This is my nightmare, my journey.

The investigation medically began, in April of 2006 when I saw my physician, only to learn that he was questioning my experiencing "Sick Building Syndrome".and that was very dangerous for me. My apartment was tested by a professional mycologist, which in turn compiled up a report stating that the molds that were found in my central air/heating system were that of: Aspergillus, Pencillum, Phoma type, and Cladosporium along with old, deteriorating fiberglass duct lining, and yeast. Recently I had became aware that there were additional molds that are airborne (coming out of my central air/heating ducts) in my apartment which are Mucor and Rhizopus.

With the struggles of being a mold victim, my quality of life was stolen from me as it is many many mold victim's across the states. I moved into my apartment that is housed in a building for disabled and elderly persons. I am not that old, though had been disabled due to a back problem. Did I know that a year after moving into my little safe haven, that I would be fighting for every breath that I take, no I did not.

Nineteen months later, I have an oxygen tank to help in aiding me to breath. I take inhalers and nebulizer treatments due to the asthma along with many other medications due to the toxic molds that are in my central air/heating system, and yes professionally confirmed that are making me very ill.

Passing out which led to the diagnosis of slowing of the brain or they call it also, intermittent brain waves due to toxic metabolic encephalopathy or the Central Nervous System. Another words, on my diagnosis it now reads, seizures. Allergic to the toxic molds found in my central air/heating system: aspergillus, pencillium, etc, etc, etc.

Symptoms/Illnesses that I have and continue to experience:

Body Pain
Daily Headaches
pneumonia
Asthma
Raspy Voice
Coughing
Cough Brownish Sputum
Hard to breath
Heaviness/Tightness in Chest
Short and long term memory problems
Unusual weight gain
Chronic Fatigue
Hair thinning
Burning rashes
Unable to concentrate/brain fog
Zoned out feeling: like being drugged
Blurred Vision
Rash on legs, stomach
Burning sensation on skin
Passing out episodes diagnosed as Seizure Disorder
Unable to concentrate
Toxic Encephalopahy
Swollen vocal chords
Exacerbation of Fibromyalgia (some may be diagnosed with Fibro from mold exposure)

There are other symptoms that I do experience, but just thought I would list a few .

I have many other diagnosis since becoming ill from these silent killers. For someone like myself, that has never had any sort of breathing problem in my life of 51 years, being told I could go into shock at any time, being told to also wear a respirator mask, being told my cognitive ability has diminished to the extent that if my back problem got better, I could never go back to working as a nurse.

The simple little cough that I started to experience in Feb. 2006, was no simple little cough. The prognosis is not good, and road to recovery will not be possible, as I too, still live in this toxic mold nightmare that I call home.

My story is far from over, as every day is a different experience with the illnesses I have to endure. I don't know what the outcome will be nor do my physician's at this point. I am a fighter, and know in my heart, that someday I will overcome this journey as I know it today.

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SOLARLIFE

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 11:46 on July 12th, 2008

ToxicMoldExposure, thanks for the courage to write about your experience and showing the material, I think the pictures show the isolation of your central aircondition. The spores can survive to next humidity when airconditions are running again. Do you have a place where you can relax sometimes in good air ? My thoughts are with you to overcome this nightmare.

ToxicMoldExposure

at 12:52 on July 12th, 2008

Solarlife: Thank you so much for your kind words. This is not even half of the story here. I am still in the toxic environment due to circumstances that are not under my control at the present time. I do not run the HVAC in my apartment, and do have as an extra precaution due to floors below and above me running theirs, filters in my ducts. I try to spend as much time outside as possible in this great weather as the outside mold does not bother me. It is the amplified mold indoors. It is not easy trying to stay away from the toxins, as the entire building is a water fountain that breads the mold with the proper food source added. I will add to my story as I go on as this is only a synopsis for what is coming. Thank you once again, Darlene

debbiemincorbin (not verified)

at 10:31 on July 16th, 2008

I can be completely sympathetic to your situation, since I too share the symtoms that you do, due to exposure to toxic mold. I have lived in section 8 housing for about 10 years now with my 11yr old son. I have constantly complained to the landlord about a musty, mold smell whenever my heat or air was running. I have lots of water damage into my apt. over the years from the upstairs apt above me. I started getting symtoms, of aching, migraines, nose bleeds, foggy memory, chronic fatigue, even losing my hair at one time. My doctors could not give my an explanation for what was wrong. Finally a health care provider, diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia. I have been unable to work due to the constant pain that I have. I even had a lymph node removed a couple of years ago that was enlarged to 2" by 3" in my neck. The oncologist was almost sure that I had Lymphoma. The results came back negative for cancer. I still have my lymph nodes swollen in my neck to this day. My son was 10months old when we moved here, and he has learning disabilities, and ADHD. He attends special classes at school, and he cannot remember from one min. to the next what you say to him. The last time that I had any water damage I got in the closet area where my A/C unit is and discovered black mold in the ceiling on the drywall. It has even spread all over between the floor joists. I told my landlord which said that it was dust. I contacted and hired an Enviromentalist to come out and take samples, pic, and etc. The samples came back as Aspergillios Pennicellium, a toxic mold that is able to grow in human tissue. My landlord and HUD still refuse to do anything about this problem. I have talked with several of my neighbors that have the same problem in their apts as well. Although my health and my sons health and vision problems are permanent. I want them to do something about this problem so that other people will not be exposed to the mold and also get sick. I since have been evicted from my apt. and am now fighting this with the legal system. I have thought about having the local news station come out and do a story on this, any insights or suggestions on what I may do? Good luck with your problem as well. My prayers are with you!!

Debbie

ToxicMoldExposure

at 04:41 on July 17th, 2008

Debbie, I am so sorry to hear of what you are also going through. My prayers are with you. I would suggest you asking your attorney about calling in the media, get his take. Sometimes what is said in media can be flipped around to your disadvantage. My self, I think the media approach is a great avenue. I am also dealing with HUD and others as well, but can not discuss on here. If you would like to email me through the back end on here through this site please do, and include your email address. I would like to know some other things but what I ask you I don't think you would want to put everything on here, as the ones your up against will search you out on the internet, as it has happened to me. Take care Debbie, and I look forward to speaking with you. Darlene

GoTimothy (not verified)

at 19:08 on February 19th, 2009

Bought a HUD home in 93, city inspectors pass the house as being habitual. Been sick since moving in.

Neighbors said former owners were sick, moved out, filed insurance claim for major water damage. I

Abandoned house in 2005, now the city is selling the toxic house to someone else for back taxes.

They too will be sick. I filed my own lawsuit against the city, just so they know its toxic, case thrown out

of court, but they are still selling it. Feel like burning house down just so no one else gets sick from it.

Two Mold experts says studs need soda blasting $21,000 to $25,000 just for the inside with no

guarantee plus $40,000 to rebuild. Outside needs to be done too.

Inspectors passed Cider shake roof with regular shingles on top, causing major mold.

Also passed three layers of rotted wood siding under aluminum.

Exterior of neighbors house infested with mold, no city standared.

Want to sue HUD or city willing to pay big retainer.

GoTimothy@aol.com

Timothy Campbell

Donna Gipple (not verified)

at 10:03 on July 24th, 2009

I have been exposed 4 months to cladosporium, peniccillium, and alternaria. Since then I have had constant headaches, constant earaches, and nose pain that has lasted 8 months. Meds don't work. I have suffered 8 months. It is excruciating pain. I have been off work 5 months and have seen specialist after specialist who all say it's not mold and that I am mentally ill. Mold symptoms go away once you leave environment they say. Can anyone tell me what kind of doctor I need to see?