Re: cross contamination

[Guest guest]

--- Do I need to do what did and leave everything behind? At

this point I'd do just about anything

> if only I could reclaim my health.

Signed: " Get Rid of Mold "

That's the choice that everyone has to make.

And it all depends upon your own level of illness and self-

determined " comfort " level.

Some may choose to put up with that computer which is slamming them,

because they need it! Or that antique coffee table that is your

only remembrance of your grandparents...

The best way to go is to find a safe enviroment in which to " start

over " . Test it first with NOTHING from your old life to make sure

it really is safe. If you are unsure, rent a car and drive out to

the desert or wherever you have identified a place that you feel

better than anywhere else to use as a baseline for " as good as it

gets " .

Every " hit " you take from AGAIG is a step backwards into illness and

it is all under your control - albeit difficult.

Bring only one item into your safe zone at a time.

Remediate it as best you can so that at the very least, it will be

adsorbed mycotoxins and NOT spore cross contamination which is

slamming you. In this way, whatever " puts you over the power curve "

can be removed - but remember this!

Your reactivity is the sum total of the degree of exposure

multiplied by the duration of the INTENSITY of the inflammatory

response.

Even a low level response will wear you down if it is of sufficient

duration.

And once re-upregulated by bringing in enough " low-level "

possessions, the last object that put you over will not be enough if

your response was " amped up " and you will have to remove more to

reduce exposure sufficiently to get your reaction to settle to the

level it was prior to being re-upregulated.

So re-introduction of possessions is so very time consuming and

difficult that I just chose to leave almost everything in storage

until they died down.

This took five years - and was well worth it.

Except for just a few things that I brought in knowing that I could

use them for a short period and then stay away, I just decided that

my comfort level was worth more than having access to my stuff.

Until you have gone to the full extent of isolating yourself from

all exposures, you will not know how good you are capable of feeling

and cannot make an educated choice about choosing the level of

exposures you wish to tolerate.

-

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks so much for taking the time to give such a good reply. I'll

need some time to think about it and figure out what I could do. So

far, where I live may be more " safe " than any other options I've been

able to dream up, but I'm still thinking and searching out other

options.

I saw Dr. Shoemaker in late May and I'm supposed to have a phone

conference with him next week, we're about to begin additional

treatment now that he has my test results. I think I'm still in a

pretty acute phase and I don't know how well I might get with

treatment. I'm also just in the beginning phases of learning what I

react to. Is there any way to test my home to see if things in it are

a problem? Is my laptop a goner because I took it to work a couple of

times? Your comment about the binoculars that you washed and KNEW

that they still bothered you is a pretty potent statement. It made me

sit up and take notice.

Does anyone know more about why Dr. Joe Klein had to move 3 or 4

times and give up a number of cars? What happened that cross

contaminated his houses and cars?

If I have to give up my car and all of my posessions I would, but I'm

not sure if it's necessary since work is where I was made sick. I'm

not sure how to figure out what is worth giving up and what isn't.

When people have stored things for five years, then after the five

years does the stuff not bother them?

Thanks to all who have " gone before " . I have already gained

immeasurably from the wisdom of those people. I got out " sooner "

rather than " later " from reading the stories of others who were

damaged by moldy buildings. Only time will tell if it spared me at

least a bit of damage.

Signed: " Get Rid of Mold "

[Guest guest]

What do people do about pets??

>

> That's the choice that everyone has to make.

> And it all depends upon your own level of illness and self-

> determined " comfort " level.

[Guest guest]

<barb1283@y...> wrote:

> What do people do about pets??

If pets stay out of contaminated areas, they're no problem at all to a

mold responder.

Amazingly enough, it was the SEVERITY of my hyperreactivity that

reached a stage in which I could point at specific molds and discount

other benign molds which allowed me a greater freedom than being at

the interim lesser " generalized " " Universal Responder " state.

It allowed be to start avoiding those particular toxin formers alone

and forgetting about the rest.

I don't even worry about going into moldy basements anymore,

just so long as I don't perceive the " hit " which I associate with

Trichothecenes.

Did you see my story about the doctor telling me to get rid of my cat

in Mold Warriors?

I still have the cat.

-

[Guest guest]

> After I was exposed to the Stachybotrys, my 42 lb. healthy

cat: " Spanky " , got sick with an upper respiratory ailment and died

quickly. He was only an indoor cat and would love on me after I came

home from work. I know he died from the same thing I have and it

really is sad. I did not know " mold " could make a person or animal

that sick.

> Marcie

Poor Spanky. I'm sorry to hear this.

The doctor refused to listen to my mold story and said that he had

seen people with severe allergies and it " is always the cat " .

Told me to get rid of it without even testing.

I asked why I was only allergic to my cat when I was in moldy place

and it just made him angry. He said " Lose the cat. Get a dog if you

must have a pet, but I'm telling you the cat is the cause and that's

all I have to say " .

I wonder how many other cats received the blame for this?

I have already found a few, and they did not survive.

Now, when we are in a mold exposure, my cat jumps up on me - looks

me in the face and simply SCREAMS as if to say " You fool. Why are we

still here? "

My pal was suffering too, and the doctors tried to blame her as

being the cause.

Even to the point of telling me to betray my little fuzzy friend.

One of the very few friends who was with me every step of the way

going through the depths of mold Hell.

And people wonder why I speak with such anger!

-

[Guest guest]

Hi Angelika,

Did you leave all of your belongings behind and start fresh where you

are now? Did you sell your car?

Tamara

> As long as I stay away from original site of contamination (my old

> apartment) and anything to do with it, I am feeling better.

> I took a walk in the forest today (lots of mold there) - no

problem.

> The rental car air conditioner doesn't give me problems like my car

> did.

> Angelika

[Guest guest]

What if cat lived in moldy place with you? Do you shave his fur and

move him with you? I read your story but have forgotten about cat

part. It doesn't surprise me though. My allergist told me to get rid

of my cat also even though of all the things I responded to cat was

only minor irritant. I reacted more to grass trees, etc, things that

are everywhere.

> If pets stay out of contaminated areas, they're no problem at all to

a

> mold responder.

>

[Guest guest]

Re: Cat to blame

Well I tested mildly allergic to cat but very allergic to dog, also

grass, trees and just about everything else. So much for cat usually

to blame. Oddly enough, I had no reaction to mold. He said oh my,

you are allergic to just about everything, with the exception of

mold. See I think I have mold infection not allergy so in a little

different spot except that I am also probably reacting to mycotoxins

as everyone else. Even though I test so allergic to so many things, I

hardly EVER sneeze. My symptoms are so ooooodddd really!!!

>>

> Poor Spanky. I'm sorry to hear this.

> The doctor refused to listen to my mold story and said that he had

> seen people with severe allergies and it " is always the cat " .

>

[Guest guest]

Hmm... that labeling sounds pretty bad. I recently called the people

that make Soy Dream asked them why they don't label their product

gluten free... there's nothing with gluten in the ingredients. They

said they are safeguarding their customers because it is processed on

the same machinery as gluten containing beverages. However they said

that they do clean all the equipment plus they do false runs to clear

any residue. Despite all of that I think I do get a very mild

reaction from their products and it is really surprising to me.

Pretty depressing too. I'm waiting for that pill!

Naren

On 7/17/06, Cory <cory66katt@...> wrote:

> Question for you guys: what do you think of things that say " good

> manufactoring practices used to keep ingredients separate in a

> facility that processes wheat etc. " ? A lot of whole foods stuff says

> that and I think good of them in general...

>

> Also what is up with this, I dont know if they say it in CA, but I'm

> in MA right now and I was looking at (amy's or Annie's can't remember

> which) salad dressing, it says GLUTEN FREE on the label, but after the

> list of ingredients, it says " processed in a plant that processes

> wheat " ! how can they claim to be GF then????

>

> Thanks for any input!

>

> Cory

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That must be Amy’s. I’ve

never had a problem with Annie’s. I have been glutened by Amy’s “made

in a facility”… stuff.

My advice is to CALL, and speak to a live

person.

I visited a mill yesterday that my dad

told me (he had visited them) had dedicated facilities. (They mill both corn

& wheat). I was looking forward to purchasing some of their polenta after

the tour. But during the tour, I noticed that their corn mill was right next to their wheat mill, and made out of wood!!!

I had a long chat with the folks who work there

about replacing the wooden equipment, and from now on covering it tightly in

plastic so it could be gluten free. I don’t know how much good that will

do, but I know that that is a “shared facility”.

On the flip side, Sojo Foods, who uses a

shared facility, uses all stainless steel equipment to make all their foods,

and know all the proper hygiene for celiacs.

That’s why I suggest calling..

My two cents…

Lil

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Cory

Sent: Monday, July 17, 2006 9:20

AM

Subject: [ ] cross

contamination

Question for you guys: what do you think of things

that say " good

manufactoring practices used to keep ingredients separate in a

facility that processes wheat etc. " ? A lot of whole foods stuff says

that and I think good of them in general...

Also what is up with this, I dont know if they say it in CA, but I'm

in MA right now and I was looking at (amy's or Annie's can't remember

which) salad dressing, it says GLUTEN FREE on the label, but after the

list of ingredients, it says " processed in a plant that processes

wheat " ! how can they claim to be GF then????

Thanks for any input!

Cory

[Guest guest]

Lil, where are these two mills?

H.

In a message dated 7/17/06 11:18:37 PM, lillythdenaghykeogh@... writes:

.. . . I visited a mill yesterday that my dad told me . . . had dedicated facilities.  (They mill both corn & wheat).  I was looking forward to purchasing some of their polenta after the tour.   But . . . their corn mill was right next to their wheat mill, and made out of wood!!!

.. ;. . On the flip side, Sojo Foods, who uses a shared facility, uses all stainless steel equipment to make all their foods, and know all the proper hygiene for celiacs. . . .

Lil

[Guest guest]

The mill I visited is in Napa County, just south of St. Helena. It's the old

Grist Bale Mill.

The other facilty I spoke of (Sojo Foods) is not a mill.

-------------- Original message ----------------------

From: flatcat9@...

> Lil, where are these two mills?

> H.

>

> In a message dated 7/17/06 11:18:37 PM, lillythdenaghykeogh@...

> writes:

>

> >

> > . . . I visited a mill yesterday that my dad told me . . . had dedicated

> > facilities. (They mill both corn & wheat). I was looking forward to

> > purchasing some of their polenta after the tour. But . . . their corn

mill

> was

> > right next to their wheat mill, and made out of wood!!!

> >

> > . ;. . On the flip side, Sojo Foods, who uses a shared facility, uses all

> > stainless steel equipment to make all their foods, and know all the proper

> > hygiene for celiacs. . . .

> >

> > Lil

> >

>

>

Lil, where are these two mills?

H.

In a message dated 7/17/06 11:18:37 PM, lillythdenaghykeogh@... writes:

.. . . I visited a mill yesterday that my dad told me . . . had dedicated facilities.  (They mill both corn & wheat).  I was looking forward to purchasing some of their polenta after the tour.   But . . . their corn mill was right next to their wheat mill, and made out of wood!!!

.. ;. . On the flip side, Sojo Foods, who uses a shared facility, uses all stainless steel equipment to make all their foods, and know all the proper hygiene for celiacs. . . .

Lil

[Guest guest]

Thanks, I think it was Amy's, too bad the names are so close! I think its

Annie's stuff I've bought before and never had a problem with, now I will

look more closely at Amy's! Does anyone know if there are actual laws

around labeling a product GF? If there are, we should report products that

call themselves GF and are not! I've only been doing this for a few months,

I assume the longer I do this, the better I'll get at keeping totally GF.

Sometimes I just dont think, like I bought strawberry Mochi's from Trader

Joe's (sooooooooooo good) and read the label carefully. The next time I

went I bought both strawberry AND chocolate and didn't bother reading the

label again! I bit into the chocolate and tasted what seemed to be cookie

dough like, I spit it out and read the label, yup, wheat in the chocolate!

Live and learn :-)

Cory

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[Guest guest]

My books? no not my books? my photo albums, and some very special to me books

are in a book shelf right under the ceiling where the mold " may " be. this is

not good. what do we do in this case? my couches - no problem - they are ugly

and can go anyway.

nne

[] cross contamination

For you newbies: We cross contaminated our new condo, and ended up

throwing all furniture, clothes books etc. away. Anything that could

not be washed. Then we had remediation work done on our condo. Dr.

Shoemaker states in his book Mold Warriors that you can never

completley rid your environment of mycotoxins once they have pervaded.

Good luck to all. LL

[Guest guest]

>

> My books? no not my books? my photo albums, and some very special

to me books are in a book shelf right under the ceiling where the mold

" may " be. this is not good. what do we do in this case? my couches

- no problem - they are ugly and can go anyway.

>

>

> nne

Sorry Roseanne but yes, your books-paper and mold are like magnets. I

threw out every single thing I had in my basement-things that I'd

saved for 30 years. It was so traumatic that by the end of the day I

left my Mom downstairs to supervise the guys doing the work and went

upstairs to bed. I just couldn't look at my stuff going out the door

anymore. And I LOVE my books! In fact the stuff that was really really

precious to me got wrapped up in boxes filled with baking soda (to

absorb the smell) and got sent to my Mom's attic. But mostly

everything got sent to the curb (where,this being Queens, promptly got

picked up by passing cars and people! I was glad to give my books and

stuff new homes!)

You have to be ruthless because if you bring any mold with you to the

next apartment you WILL smell it, it will affect you and you will not

know what is going on. I stupidly put ONE small fan in my upstairs

closet and for months the mold drove me crazy till I realized it was

coming from that plastic fan. I threw it out and immediately felt better.

Good luck moving! Surella

[Guest guest]

It would be best to scan them onto disks and at the very least seal the

originals in heavy zip lock bags and store them somewhere else. There may be

some better ideas but this is what I did. It took lots of time of course but the

cross contamination this is as real as it gets.

nne <roe0325@...> wrote: My books? no not my books? my photo

albums, and some very special to me books are in a book shelf right under the

ceiling where the mold " may " be. this is not good. what do we do in this case?

my couches - no problem - they are ugly and can go anyway.

nne

[Guest guest]

-I was told by one mold co. that you can save what you can't part

with by putting items in plastic closable containers. I keep

important papers in zip lock bags. Some suggest only opening the

containers outside. Yes, It makes me sick that I had to throw my

books away and I had alot. Good luck always, LL

-- In , nne <roe0325@...> wrote:

>

> My books? no not my books? my photo albums, and some very

special to me books are in a book shelf right under the ceiling where

the mold " may " be. this is not good. what do we do in this case?

my couches - no problem - they are ugly and can go anyway.

>

>

> nne

>

>

[Guest guest]

Cross contamination is very serious. I know becuase it made my family very ill.

The best advice I was given, when in doubt, THROW IT OUT!!! My family is now

regreting we didn't get the info sooner. I don't mean to sound calous but

books or health. I've lost everything and I sure as hell am mad about it but

its not worth dying for!!!!

[Guest guest]

Are Dr. Shoemaker''s views on this, widely held? If this is so, what are the

best standards one can hope for?

Thanks,

Sam

Laurie Lowery <lannl4@...> wrote:

Dr. Shoemaker states in his book Mold Warriors that you can never

completley rid your environment of mycotoxins once they have pervaded.

Good luck to all. LL

---------------------------------

You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total

Access, No Cost.

[Guest guest]

I didn't mind at all throwing my husband's old college textbooks away.

But we're still able to live without all our boxes filled with memories.

[Guest guest]

i like the idea of putting my photo albums at least in some kind of zip lock

bags. and i guess tossing the books or offering them up to a second hand book

store and at least telling him the story.

nne

Re: [] cross contamination

It would be best to scan them onto disks and at the very least seal the

originals in heavy zip lock bags and store them somewhere else. There may be

some better ideas but this is what I did. It took lots of time of course but the

cross contamination this is as real as it gets.

nne <roe0325 (DOT) com> wrote: My books? no not my books? my photo albums,

and some very special to me books are in a book shelf right under the ceiling

where the mold " may " be. this is not good. what do we do in this case? my

couches - no problem - they are ugly and can go anyway.

nne

[Guest guest]

cant we freeze the heck out of the mold in the books???? guess you must have

thought about that

nne

Re: [] cross contamination

Cross contamination is very serious. I know becuase it made my family very ill.

The best advice I was given, when in doubt, THROW IT OUT!!! My family is now

regreting we didn't get the info sooner. I don't mean to sound calous but books

or health. I've lost everything and I sure as hell am mad about it but its not

worth dying for!!!!

[Guest guest]

-Hello to all, As far as my own personal experience goes-we cross

contaminated our new home before we knew that our old mold home we

were renting was what was making us so sick. We slowly began getting

rid of any porous possesions,ie. blankets, towels, sheets, clothes

fabric furniture. We kept our bed and had the mattress cleaned by

our mold remediator and then I covered it with a allergy prevention

mattress cover. I put all my clothes in plastic containers to store

in the garage in hopes that washing them would rid them of the

problem. One of my symptoms wash rash all over my body-especially

face neck and back. This rash began to go away when I stopped wearing

my old clothes but began to come back when I washed and tried to wear

some of my contaminated clothes. I will choose to wear certain

things I don't want to get rid of-but just not everytday. I got rid

of all my coats and jackets, including suede and leather. I was so

sick it wasn't worth it to me. LL

-- In , Sam <yaddayadda53@...> wrote:

>

> Are Dr. Shoemaker''s views on this, widely held? If this is so,

what are the best standards one can hope for?

>

> Thanks,

> Sam

[Guest guest]

Sunlight (direct) will kill some molds. I have put a few books in the window in

intense direct sunlight and it helped a little.

Alice

United States Vet <unitedstatesvet@...> wrote:

It would be best to scan them onto disks and at the very least seal the

originals in heavy zip lock bags and store them somewhere else. There may be

some better ideas but this is what I did. It took lots of time of course but the

cross contamination this is as real as it gets.

nne wrote: My books? no not my books? my photo albums, and some very special

to me books are in a book shelf right under the ceiling where the mold " may " be.

this is not good. what do we do in this case? my couches - no problem - they are

ugly and can go anyway.

nne

------------------------------------

FAIR USE NOTICE:

[Guest guest]

Sam, so much of dealing with this mold issue is like shooting in the

dark. Most of us are just regular, laypeople trying to figure it out

on our own through communication on sites like this and personal

research and what seems to work that we experiment with. I'm not

sure how my remediator treated my mattress. I believe he sprayed it

with anti mold formula. The mattress cover is not plastic but is one

made of fabric specific for anti allery/dust mites. It seems to be

working as my rash has for the most part cleared up. I also use a

air filter next to my bed. LL-

-- In , Sam <yaddayadda53@...> wrote:

>

> Laurie,

>

> Thanks for sharing what you had to go through. You mentioned the

your mattress was cleaned by the remediator? What did they do to it?

Has it been alright for you to sleep on it with the allergy

prevention mattress cover? Was it a plastic cover? I know they are

usually made to keep in the dust mites. I didn't realize it would

also keep in any mycotoxins or mold spores.

>

> Thanks again,

> Sam

>

> Laurie Lowery <lannl4@...> wrote:

> We kept our bed and had the mattress cleaned by

> our mold remediator and then I covered it with a allergy prevention

> mattress cover.

>

> ---------------------------------

> You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of

Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost.

>

>