Lyme Disease & Mold
Mold Illness & Mycotoxin Illness
Mold can be an extremely debilitating issue for some people, even in those without Lyme.
Mold also tends to be a large limiting factor in people being able to address and treat Lyme Disease.
If you’ve been exposed to mold in the past or currently, see below for symptoms, tests, & what to do about mold illness.
What are the symptoms of mold illness?
The symptoms of mold illness can be present in any or all body systems.
Some of these symptoms include:
Fatigue
Weakness
Gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weight gain)
Pain (joint pain, muscle pain, “ice pick” pain)
Headaches
Brain Fog
Respiratory (cough, shortness of breath, sinus problems)
Nervous System (mood swings, confusion, disorientation, focus/concentration problems, word recollection issues)
Excessive thirst or Increased urination
Static shocks/ numbness/ tingling/ tremors
Muscle cramps, sometimes severe
Increasing chemical and environmental sensitivities
Gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weight gain)
Many of the symptoms of mold illness/CIRS overlap with those of other illnesses, including but not limited to Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses. Learn more below about testing.
How is mold illness diagnosed?
Proper diagnosis of mold illness can be difficult, especially for health care providers who are not familiar with it. Unfortunately, mold illness is often misdiagnosed as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, MS, PTSD, anxiety or depression. Too often, patients are not believed and are told their symptoms aren’t real or that what they are experiencing is all in their head.
Diagnosis can be made empirically based on symptoms alone, but there are valid testing methods that can be used to verify or solidify a mold-related illness diagnosis.
Testing methods include:
HLA DR genetic testing
Organic Acids test to check for the presence of certain toxic metabolites
Mycotoxin urine test to check for the presence of mold toxins
Environmental testing of your home for the presence of mold or other biotoxins
As for environmental testing, it is important to note that the mold and other microbes responsible for causing CIRS are not always visible. Microbial growth can be inside walls or under carpet or other flooring. Special environmental testing can be performed to help identify the source of the microbes.
Test your home for mold
ERMI, standing for Environmental Relative Moldiness Index, is a testing method used to assess mold levels in a building. Unlike traditional spore trap methods, ERMI analyzes settled dust to identify and quantify the presence of 36 specific mold species known to cause problems indoors.
The test involves collecting dust samples which are then sent to a lab for analysis. This method provides a more objective picture of mold compared to visual inspections or spore traps, which can be subjective and influenced by air currents.
ERMI is intended as a screening tool, not a definitive diagnosis of mold problems. However, it can be helpful for people with mold sensitivities or prospective homebuyers.
These tests are helpful for assessing if your home has mold that is contributing to your health issues.
Test your body for mold
To assess mold exposure on your body, a urine mycotoxin test can be ordered at home without a practitioner. This test measures the levels of mycotoxins—harmful compounds produced by mold—in your body. By analyzing urine samples, providers can detect the presence and concentration of these toxins, providing a indication of mold exposure.
This diagnostic tool is particularly useful for individuals experiencing unexplained symptoms, such as GI distress, neurological issues, and respiratory problems, as it helps pinpoint mold as a potential underlying cause. Detection through a mycotoxin urine test allows for timely intervention and treatment.
What Problems Does Mold Illness Create?
Mold illness was virtually unheard-of decades ago, but it is quickly becoming recognized as a leading cause of chronic illness. Exposure to mold, and other microbial toxins, can trigger a chronic inflammatory cycle that the body has a difficult time turning off. This chronic inflammation can wreak havoc on the body causing widespread dysfunction and resulting in a wide array of seemingly unrelated symptoms. This inflammatory cycle has a name: Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or CIRS. CIRS has been implicated as the root cause of many chronic illnesses.
Mold illness is not the same as a mold allergy. Instead, it is an illness that develops after exposure to water-damaged buildings that harbor mold, bacteria, or other microbes, leading to a build-up of toxins in the body that trigger chronic inflammation. While many people who are exposed to these toxins have no problems, about 25% of the population has a genetic susceptibility to developing CIRS. This subset of the population has faulty HLA DR genes. When these genes are faulty, the normal inflammatory response and the ability to clear toxins is faulty, too. This results in a vicious cycle of inflammatory substances entering the body with no effective way of clearing the substances or lowering the inflammatory process.
The HLA DR genes can also be associated with a higher likelihood to develop chronic Lyme disease, likely because of reduced capacity to eliminate toxins and modulate the inflammatory response.
In fact, many chronic Lyme patients also have concurrent mold illness. Recovery and/or remission is dependent on identifying all factors that may be inhibiting healing. If a Lyme patient is not responding to appropriate treatment, mold illness and CIRS should be considered.
Laboratory tests for identifying HLA DR genetic predisposition are available from many commercial laboratories.
How is mold illness treated?
Remediate your environment. Continuous exposure to mold toxins will not let you heal.
Address the mold in the body. Treating mold illness and recovering from its effects is a multi-step process.
It is best to work with a professional. Click here to search for a mold literate professional in your area.
Use Binders
Some individuals are able to address mold simply by using binders like charcoal to bind to mycotoxins in the body. See the study here on Charcoal and mycotoxins. This is not always a solution and some patients will need more anti-fungals in in-depth treatment but its an accessible first step to removing mycotoxins in the body.
Shoemaker Protocol for CIRS/Biotoxins (Mold)
This protocol involves 12 steps survivingmold.com. Think of it like a pool--you want to treat the water but you have to know what's in the water to treat successfully. See photo below for the process. I have included two quotes that convinced me in addition to my physicians referral to the process. The prescription to rid the body of these biotoxins is cholestyramine, or CSM.
Mold Illness: Surviving and Thriving
A Recovery Manual for Patients & Families Impacted By Cirs
Toxic: Heal Your Body
From Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness by Neil Nathan, MD
FAQs about Lyme Disease and Mold
Q1: What is Lyme disease?
A1: Lyme disease is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected black-legged ticks. Learn more about Lyme Disease symptoms here.
Q2: How is Lyme disease related to mold?
A2: While Lyme disease and mold are distinct health concerns, individuals with weakened immune systems due to Lyme disease may be more susceptible to mold exposure. Mold can trigger respiratory issues, gastro issues, and neurological issues, exacerbating symptoms in those already dealing with Lyme.
Q3: What are the symptoms of mold exposure?
A3: Common symptoms of mold exposure include coughing, sneezing, gastro issues, neurological issues, skin irritation, eye irritation, and respiratory problems. For individuals with Lyme disease, mold exposure can worsen fatigue and other systemic symptoms.
Q4: Can mold make Lyme disease worse?
A4: Yes, mold exposure can exacerbate Lyme disease symptoms. Individuals suffering from Lyme disease often experience immune system challenges, making them more vulnerable to the effects of mold and harder to reverse Lyme Disease symptoms.
Q5: How can I prevent mold in my home?
A5: To prevent mold growth, ensure proper ventilation, fix water leaks, and maintain low indoor humidity levels. Regular cleaning and inspection of damp areas, such as basements and bathrooms, are also essential.
Q6: What should I do if I suspect I have Lyme disease?
A6: If you suspect Lyme disease, visit our page Lyme Disease Symptoms to learn more and test your symptoms against a Lyme Disease questionnaire.
Q7: Where can I learn more about Lyme disease and mold?
A7: Start with the many great resources above.
References
(How it works) http://biotoxinjourney.com/mold-testing/
(Guidelines) https://seekinghealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Keith%20Berndtson%20-%20Guidelines%20for%20using%20CSM-W%20(1).pdf
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.