By Joanne Churchill
I’ve learned more than I ever wanted to know about mould.
Most of us have had some experience with it- found it creeping around the windows where condensation gathers in winter, or perhaps you’ve had to address more persistent mould issues with better ventilation and dehumidifiers.
I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, an umbrella term used to describe persistent, inexplicable fatigue that lasts longer than six months. There is no NHS treatment or known cause, so I had to go on my own detective health journey, even though by September 2019 I could barely walk and talk and had to employ a carer.
To make a very long and frustrating story short, after listening to a podcast by Dr Neil Nathan a year ago, I decided to take a mould toxin or mycotoxin test. It revealed that I was mould toxic.
Mould toxicity is common, more common than you think. 25% of the population is not genetically able to make antibodies to mould toxins, so they accumulate in the body, producing toxic effects in almost every body system (Nathan, 2018). And symptoms can vary significantly between people, the most common being fatigue, anxiety, headaches, sinusitis, brain fog, dizziness, depression and mood swings, aches and pains, weight gain, excessive thirst and even feelings of electric shocks and vibrations in the body.
People who are mould toxic commonly experience IBS because mould toxins disrupt the microbiome and the gut lining. And more serious toxicity symptoms can mimic conditions like Parkinsons, MS and Alzheimer’s. If you have experienced new or strange symptoms after a known mould exposure, you should be very suspicious.
My house did not look or smell mouldy. My problems were hidden, but with the help of environmental professionals, I am now in the process of home remediation and treatment.
Healing takes time, but hopefully I am on the start of my journey to better health.
Mould Toxicity is a relatively nascent field and the United States is far ahead when it comes to diagnosing and treatment.
The UK does have some practitioners who are ‘mould literate’ but we need more. Considering that 40 to 50% of our buildings are water damaged, I am the tip of the tip of the iceberg.
For more information go to survivingmold.com and Dr Neil Nathan’s website.