Thursday, October 8, 2009
Kind Words & Leslie's Story
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/sickbuildings/message/72659
From Dean's List To Death Bed.. A Students Mold Nightmare Topic List < Prev Topic | Next Topic >
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Re: [sickbuildings] From Dean's List To Death Bed.. A Students Mold Nightmare
Pete,
I just saw your blog and I too had oral surgery in Nov. 2008, I had a tooth
pulled. After the oral surgery I started to notice red dots on my arms and legs.
I was very weak and sick. I could not figure it out. At first I thought it had
something to do the oral surgery. But before the surgery I had been having head
aches and feeling bad....but after the oral surgery is when it hit me. The bumps
turned into lesions which did not itch. Not long after that I noticed a
springtail in my bath water. I would soak in the bath with tree tea oil trying
to heal myself. There would also be black specs in the water. I started saving
them and I called an exterminator. He took a sample back to his office and told
me they were springtails...he came back over to spray and went up underneath the
house and came back and told me I had springtails because they were attracted to
"all the mold underneath the house." From there I called in a licensed state
home inspector to
take samples and we had
Chaetomium Cladosporium Penicillium/AspergillusThe cladosporium isn't so bad but
we had so much of it, the inspector said it's levels were way too high and then
of the Chaetomium and the Penicillium/Aspergillus of course are mycotoxin
producing and our indoor levels were way higher than the outdoor levels. about a
week after moving out and not realizing yet that all of our things were
contaminated...my son turned on a portable heater that had been in the old house
to keep warm. The next morning he woke up and came to me and told me he could
not see out of his left eye. I took him to the eye doctor and they immediately
sent us over to have an MRI done. That day they found eight lesions on his brain
and shortly there after diagnosis him with MS. I quickly realized the extent of
damages not only to our health but also to our personal property. So then I had
to replace our furniture, clothes, books etc...on top of having the expenses
associated with a move
and now new medical bills. Looking back my son had eye problems the entire
time we lived there and one year after living in the moldy property our cat
died.
It is almost Nov. again and I still have some red dots but nothing like what I
had living there. I still feel weak but at least I do have some "ok" days. I am
always short of breath and my teeth are decaying at a rapid rate. I did not know
that the mold could cause tooth decay. I was just at my dentist and she is like
what are you eating? I said nothing....much...really. I weigh 100lbs and I do
not have an appetite. Could you explain the connection between mold and tooth
decay. My son is on medication for MS and is also doing better. He is in college
too. But I wanted to tell that you did a fantastic job on your blog! And to tell
you ....you are NOT crazy. I hope you keep up the good work....but don't stay
out of college too long. Trust me I know its hard to study when you feel so bad.
I had gone back to school myself at age 43 when my son left for college. And I
was about dead trying to finish out the semester and being sick from mold. But
you are very
talented and passionate and you cannot give this the satisfaction of keeping
you from your college classes. One semester off is ok....but get back in there
as soon as possible. Again "thank you" so much for doing what I wish I had had
the energy, knowledge and talent to do. Thank you for helping people sick with
mold poisoning... you did a really good job.
sincerely,
leslie
Monday, October 5, 2009
Fungi a Danger to Cancer Patients (And others)
Watch Out—Fungi a Danger to Cancer Patients (And others)
Monday, October 5, 2009 8:50 AM
From:
"KC" <tigerpaw2c@yahoo.com>
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Watch Out—Fungi a Danger to Cancer Patients
Debra Wood, RN
Oncology Nursing News - New York,n,USA
http://www.oncology nursingnews. com/Watch- OutFungi- a-Danger- to-Cancer- Patients/ article/150938/
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA—Fungus lives among us, typically causing minimal trouble in healthy individuals. But for patients with compromised immune systems, a fungal infection can often prove fatal.
"We're seeing a higher prevalence of fungal infections in our patient population," noted Susan McCollom, RN, ND, CPON, a clinical manager at Children's Medical Center Dallas. Dr McCollom spoke at the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Annual Conference.
Statistically, fungal sepsis has increased 207% in the last 20 years. Fungal infections develop in 19% of people with acute lymphocytic leukemia patients, 47% of those with acute myelogenous leukemia with remission induction therapy, 5% of autograft transplant patients, and 18% to 45% of persons undergoing an unrelated allogeneic transplant. According to Dr McCollom, 30% to 95% of these individuals will die.
Fungal spores float in the air. Once they land, they begin to grow in an environment containing moisture, nutrients, and the right temperature. Controlling moisture is the key to controlling fungal growth, advised Dr McCollom.
People can inhale or ingest the spores. A healthy person's respiratory tract cilia, normal flora, and immune system will prevent the fungus from becoming harmful. But immunocompromised individuals often cannot fight off fungal infections.
Many patients arrive for treatment colonized with fungi, and once their immune system is suppressed by chemotherapy treatment, the fungi flourish. Broadspectrum antibiotics, graft-versus- host disease, intravenous catheters, and environmental contaminants also increase the risk of fungal infections.
Three Main Types of Fungi
Dr McCollom described 3 fungus types— Fusarium, Candida, and Aspergillus—that commonly cause infection in patients.
Fusarium is found on plants and in the soil. Hence, Ms McCollom's hospital does not allow patients to have potted plants. "It's the most emergent opportunistic infection in humans," she reported.
Fusarium is often drug-resistant and can cause superficial and systemic disease, with resultant thrombosis.
"Patients with a malignancy or stem-cell transplant often have a poor outcome [with this fungal infection] because the immune system is so suppressed," Ms McCollom explained. "We use combination therapy, but when [the disease is] invasive, it's typically fatal."
Candida is the most common mycosis worldwide and the fourth most common bloodborne infection. This fungus is found on human skin, in the mucous membranes, and throughout the body, and grows rapidly.
Another common fungus, Aspergillus, is found in soil, building materials, spices, and the hospital environment. Although most people breathe it in daily and it is then dispatched by the immune system, Aspergillus can be very invasive and start to take over in an immunocompromised patient.
Symptoms of fungal infection include wheezing, cough, fever, bloody mucus, and hemorrhage. Infections are diagnosed by x-ray; by computed tomography (CT) scan, which might show a halo shadow around the fungal wall; by bronchial alveolar lavage; and by biopsy.
Treatment
Providers typically begin antifungal treatment on patients with neutropenia who have had a fever for 5 or more days, when a blood culture grows yeast, or when a CT scan indicates something suspicious.
"You want a drug that's fungistatic and fungicidal," counseled Virginia Koepsell, RN, MSN, MBA, CPON, a nursing educator at Children's Medical Center Dallas. (Fungistatic drugs are used to stop fungi growth; fungicides kill fungi.) "The optimal [drug] has wide-spectrum activity, because you often don't know what [the infection] is in the beginning, [and] is effective but has low toxicity and low cost."
The 3 drug classes used to treat fungal infections are azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins, also known as fungins. They are often given in combination, with the different agents using different mechanisms of action to combat the infection. "You can bring down the drug dose to get less toxicity [with combinations] , and it decreases the emergence of drug resistance," said Ms Koepsell.
Azoles inhibit fungal growth by preventing formation of ergosterol, which is vital for cell membrane integrity. An older azole, fluconazole, is fungistatic but will not kill fungi. It is often used to treat Candida albicans.
Voriconazole is a newer drug that inhibits growth and kills the fungus. It's commonly prescribed to treat Fusarium and Aspergillus infections. Voriconazole is nephrotoxic when given intravenously. It is hepatotoxic in the IV and oral formulations; therefore prescribers may need to decrease the dose of cyclosporine or tacrolimus if those drugs are also ordered. A high-fat meal will decrease absorption by 25%. About 30% of patients report visual disturbances within 30 minutes of starting the dose, but these resolve within another 30 minutes.
Polyenes or amphotericin derivatives interact with the cell membrane to kill the fungus. Amphotericin B has been used for more than 50 years, and although very little resistance has developed, the drug has many toxicities. Nurses noticed that when it was given with lipids, patients experienced fewer side effects, and now it is available in 3 lipid formulations: Abelcet, Amphotec, and AmBisome. AmBisome can be given in higher doses than amphotericin B, with fewer toxicities, but it is more expensive. It causes potassium depletion and is not compatible with normal saline. Because of sterility issues, nurses must administer AmBisome within 6 hours of preparation. The patient should receive a bolus of normal saline prior to starting the AmBisome intravenous infusion to salt-load the kidneys and protect the renal tubules.
Echinocandins block synthesis of the fungal cell wall and are used in treating Aspergillus and Candida. One such agent, caspofungin, is not compatible with dextrose.
Providers also may add GM-CSF (granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and interferon in an attempt to enhance the body's immune response, especially when treating overwhelming fungal infections.
"We want to reverse the immunosuppression, " clarified Ms Koepsell. "In order for the patient to get over the infection, we have to boost the white-cell count."
Prevention
Hospitals have taken many measures to decrease the risk of fungal infections, such as installing HEPA filters, controlling clutter, prohibiting flowers and plants, and having nurses educate patients and their families about methods of modifying the home environment.
Patients should avoid dusty areas and construction zones. If they must pass through such an area, they should wear an N95 respirator. They should keep at the home humidity level at 40% to 50%. "Fungal spores are greater in the natural environment than in the hospital, where we have more control," Ms McCollom said. "Controlling the relative humidity will help."
Patients should use air conditioners and dehumidifiers, but not fans. The home should have adequate ventilation and bathrooms and basements should be tiled or concrete, with no carpeting. Patients should not vacuum, dust, or reuse towels.
From the October 2009 Issue of ONN
Monday, October 5, 2009 8:50 AM
From:
"KC" <tigerpaw2c@yahoo.com>
Add sender to Contacts
To:
sickbuildings@yahoogroups.com
Watch Out—Fungi a Danger to Cancer Patients
Debra Wood, RN
Oncology Nursing News - New York,n,USA
http://www.oncology nursingnews. com/Watch- OutFungi- a-Danger- to-Cancer- Patients/ article/150938/
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA—Fungus lives among us, typically causing minimal trouble in healthy individuals. But for patients with compromised immune systems, a fungal infection can often prove fatal.
"We're seeing a higher prevalence of fungal infections in our patient population," noted Susan McCollom, RN, ND, CPON, a clinical manager at Children's Medical Center Dallas. Dr McCollom spoke at the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Annual Conference.
Statistically, fungal sepsis has increased 207% in the last 20 years. Fungal infections develop in 19% of people with acute lymphocytic leukemia patients, 47% of those with acute myelogenous leukemia with remission induction therapy, 5% of autograft transplant patients, and 18% to 45% of persons undergoing an unrelated allogeneic transplant. According to Dr McCollom, 30% to 95% of these individuals will die.
Fungal spores float in the air. Once they land, they begin to grow in an environment containing moisture, nutrients, and the right temperature. Controlling moisture is the key to controlling fungal growth, advised Dr McCollom.
People can inhale or ingest the spores. A healthy person's respiratory tract cilia, normal flora, and immune system will prevent the fungus from becoming harmful. But immunocompromised individuals often cannot fight off fungal infections.
Many patients arrive for treatment colonized with fungi, and once their immune system is suppressed by chemotherapy treatment, the fungi flourish. Broadspectrum antibiotics, graft-versus- host disease, intravenous catheters, and environmental contaminants also increase the risk of fungal infections.
Three Main Types of Fungi
Dr McCollom described 3 fungus types— Fusarium, Candida, and Aspergillus—that commonly cause infection in patients.
Fusarium is found on plants and in the soil. Hence, Ms McCollom's hospital does not allow patients to have potted plants. "It's the most emergent opportunistic infection in humans," she reported.
Fusarium is often drug-resistant and can cause superficial and systemic disease, with resultant thrombosis.
"Patients with a malignancy or stem-cell transplant often have a poor outcome [with this fungal infection] because the immune system is so suppressed," Ms McCollom explained. "We use combination therapy, but when [the disease is] invasive, it's typically fatal."
Candida is the most common mycosis worldwide and the fourth most common bloodborne infection. This fungus is found on human skin, in the mucous membranes, and throughout the body, and grows rapidly.
Another common fungus, Aspergillus, is found in soil, building materials, spices, and the hospital environment. Although most people breathe it in daily and it is then dispatched by the immune system, Aspergillus can be very invasive and start to take over in an immunocompromised patient.
Symptoms of fungal infection include wheezing, cough, fever, bloody mucus, and hemorrhage. Infections are diagnosed by x-ray; by computed tomography (CT) scan, which might show a halo shadow around the fungal wall; by bronchial alveolar lavage; and by biopsy.
Treatment
Providers typically begin antifungal treatment on patients with neutropenia who have had a fever for 5 or more days, when a blood culture grows yeast, or when a CT scan indicates something suspicious.
"You want a drug that's fungistatic and fungicidal," counseled Virginia Koepsell, RN, MSN, MBA, CPON, a nursing educator at Children's Medical Center Dallas. (Fungistatic drugs are used to stop fungi growth; fungicides kill fungi.) "The optimal [drug] has wide-spectrum activity, because you often don't know what [the infection] is in the beginning, [and] is effective but has low toxicity and low cost."
The 3 drug classes used to treat fungal infections are azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins, also known as fungins. They are often given in combination, with the different agents using different mechanisms of action to combat the infection. "You can bring down the drug dose to get less toxicity [with combinations] , and it decreases the emergence of drug resistance," said Ms Koepsell.
Azoles inhibit fungal growth by preventing formation of ergosterol, which is vital for cell membrane integrity. An older azole, fluconazole, is fungistatic but will not kill fungi. It is often used to treat Candida albicans.
Voriconazole is a newer drug that inhibits growth and kills the fungus. It's commonly prescribed to treat Fusarium and Aspergillus infections. Voriconazole is nephrotoxic when given intravenously. It is hepatotoxic in the IV and oral formulations; therefore prescribers may need to decrease the dose of cyclosporine or tacrolimus if those drugs are also ordered. A high-fat meal will decrease absorption by 25%. About 30% of patients report visual disturbances within 30 minutes of starting the dose, but these resolve within another 30 minutes.
Polyenes or amphotericin derivatives interact with the cell membrane to kill the fungus. Amphotericin B has been used for more than 50 years, and although very little resistance has developed, the drug has many toxicities. Nurses noticed that when it was given with lipids, patients experienced fewer side effects, and now it is available in 3 lipid formulations: Abelcet, Amphotec, and AmBisome. AmBisome can be given in higher doses than amphotericin B, with fewer toxicities, but it is more expensive. It causes potassium depletion and is not compatible with normal saline. Because of sterility issues, nurses must administer AmBisome within 6 hours of preparation. The patient should receive a bolus of normal saline prior to starting the AmBisome intravenous infusion to salt-load the kidneys and protect the renal tubules.
Echinocandins block synthesis of the fungal cell wall and are used in treating Aspergillus and Candida. One such agent, caspofungin, is not compatible with dextrose.
Providers also may add GM-CSF (granulocyte- macrophage colony-stimulating factor) and interferon in an attempt to enhance the body's immune response, especially when treating overwhelming fungal infections.
"We want to reverse the immunosuppression, " clarified Ms Koepsell. "In order for the patient to get over the infection, we have to boost the white-cell count."
Prevention
Hospitals have taken many measures to decrease the risk of fungal infections, such as installing HEPA filters, controlling clutter, prohibiting flowers and plants, and having nurses educate patients and their families about methods of modifying the home environment.
Patients should avoid dusty areas and construction zones. If they must pass through such an area, they should wear an N95 respirator. They should keep at the home humidity level at 40% to 50%. "Fungal spores are greater in the natural environment than in the hospital, where we have more control," Ms McCollom said. "Controlling the relative humidity will help."
Patients should use air conditioners and dehumidifiers, but not fans. The home should have adequate ventilation and bathrooms and basements should be tiled or concrete, with no carpeting. Patients should not vacuum, dust, or reuse towels.
From the October 2009 Issue of ONN
Joe Salowitz
"Joe Salowitz" <josephsalowitz@yahoo.com>
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For those who have not yet heard of Dr. Lisa Nagy's personal encounter with mold, a good place to start, is her recent column about how household mold causes marital discord.
Click on this link for part 1:
http://tinyurl. com/ydpczud
Click on this link for part 2:
http://tinyurl. com/ye7n5r3
Add sender to Contacts
To:
"sickbuildings" <sickbuildings@yahoogroups.com>
For those who have not yet heard of Dr. Lisa Nagy's personal encounter with mold, a good place to start, is her recent column about how household mold causes marital discord.
Click on this link for part 1:
http://tinyurl. com/ydpczud
Click on this link for part 2:
http://tinyurl. com/ye7n5r3
Erik Johnson (Reno, NV) wrote
TOXIC MOLD VICTIMS DONATIONAL FUND
PLEASE HELP A TOXIC MOLD, LYME, & TOXIC ROOT CANAL VICTIM GET THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED
Erik Johnson (Reno, NV) wrote
8 hours ago
I remember that the doctor who told the Porath's to run for their lives (Dr Herman) gave them the best advice I'd heard to date.
He made them drop all their clothes in the front yard and change into new ones that were brought in Karen's mothers car... and "Don't bring out so much as a toothbrush".
July 09, 2001 Vol. 56 No. 2 The Fire CureBy Alex Tresniowski
To Rid Themselves of the Toxic Mold That Savaged Their Lives, Steve and Karen Porath Burned Down Their HomeFor Valentine's Day, Steve and Karen Porath both got some-thing they really wanted: the chance to see their dream house burn to the ground. They stood serenely on the front lawn of their rolling five-acre spread in Foresthill, Calif., and watched as flames devoured their three-bedroom ranch-style home, destroying family photos, stuffed animals, even their son's baby book. "It was a relief," says Karen, 34, of the controlled fire the couple arranged in February. "That house almost killed our child."
The scourge that invaded their home and prompted the burning was something straight out of The X-Files: Stachybotrys chartarum, better known as black mold. A toxic fungus that feeds on moisture and thrives in damp areas, black mold can cause rashes, sore throats and severe respiratory ailments. Claims of mold infestation are on the rise, particularly in states hit by heavy rains, such as Texas. And while no national statistics exist, mold out-breaks in flood-prone areas are "a major public health problem," believes Frederick Herman, a California immunologist who has treated hundreds of patients, including the Poraths, suffering from mold-related illnesses. "When people find out a major contaminant has been living in their home, they feel violated."
The Poraths' mold encounter was more like a nightmare—and, they believe, one of the reasons their older son, Mitchell, now 2, was diagnosed with delayed developmental disorder. Steve, a building contractor, and Karen, a former financial coordinator for an AIDS research center, married in 1997 and began searching for a home near Auburn, where Steve, 35, was raised. They found a house just northeast of the city that had been repossessed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and seemed in fine shape. A bid of $120,000 won them the house.
In May 1999, a month after moving in, Karen gave birth to Mitchell, who was declared healthy. But two days after he was brought home, he became violently ill. "He started thrashing like he was in pain," says Karen. The infant developed a severe rash, constant infections and high fevers, which baffled his doctors. Gaunt and dehydrated, Mitchell wouldn't crawl or smile and often vomited up to 70 times a day. When the Poraths, who developed respiratory infections themselves, noticed that Mitchell slept more soundly at his grandmother's nearby home, they had their house tested for contaminants in April 2000. Two weeks later they learned there were high levels of black mold in the house, including in Mitchell's bedroom. "After that," says Karen, "we never went back." At the time, Mitchell was 1 year old and weighed only 10 lbs.
Further inspection revealed that faulty pipes were spewing sewage beneath the home, which, coupled with poor ventilation, created a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and black mold (Stacbybotrys tends to grow on surfaces that absorb water, like carpets and drywall). The Poraths believe the property's managing agents knew about the contamination, but David Piersall, the U.S. Veterans Affairs officer who oversaw the sale, insists "we were not aware of any mold." And Mike Lyon, a broker with the Sacramento Realtors who handled the sale, also denies any knowledge of the mold problem.
There was more bad news for the Poraths: Getting rid of the mold would cost $85,000 and would not be covered by their home insurance. Unable to save their belongings, they enlisted 40 volunteer firefighters to burn down the house, sold the five acres for $149,000 and moved into a two-bedroom apartment in Auburn. Karen, who was pregnant with second son Blake for six months while living in the infested house, says he is healthier than Mitchell but blames his chronic respiratory infections on the black mold. Mitchell, now 21 lbs., still speaks only four words. (Karen quit her job to care for him.) "You can't say for sure that the Stacbybotrys toxin caused his developmental problems," says Dr. Herman. "But we know that high levels of exposure can produce neurological disorders."
The best way to block the spread of mold is to promptly fix leaking pipes and ventilate damp areas (small traces of mold can be cleaned with bleach and water). Such measures, however, won't help the Poraths, who are planning a lawsuit against their Realtors even as they struggle to put their lives back together. "If Steve and I make it through this, we'll have the strongest marriage ever," says Karen. "This has just been hell."
PLEASE HELP A TOXIC MOLD, LYME, & TOXIC ROOT CANAL VICTIM GET THE MEDICAL CARE THEY NEED
Erik Johnson (Reno, NV) wrote
8 hours ago
I remember that the doctor who told the Porath's to run for their lives (Dr Herman) gave them the best advice I'd heard to date.
He made them drop all their clothes in the front yard and change into new ones that were brought in Karen's mothers car... and "Don't bring out so much as a toothbrush".
July 09, 2001 Vol. 56 No. 2 The Fire CureBy Alex Tresniowski
To Rid Themselves of the Toxic Mold That Savaged Their Lives, Steve and Karen Porath Burned Down Their HomeFor Valentine's Day, Steve and Karen Porath both got some-thing they really wanted: the chance to see their dream house burn to the ground. They stood serenely on the front lawn of their rolling five-acre spread in Foresthill, Calif., and watched as flames devoured their three-bedroom ranch-style home, destroying family photos, stuffed animals, even their son's baby book. "It was a relief," says Karen, 34, of the controlled fire the couple arranged in February. "That house almost killed our child."
The scourge that invaded their home and prompted the burning was something straight out of The X-Files: Stachybotrys chartarum, better known as black mold. A toxic fungus that feeds on moisture and thrives in damp areas, black mold can cause rashes, sore throats and severe respiratory ailments. Claims of mold infestation are on the rise, particularly in states hit by heavy rains, such as Texas. And while no national statistics exist, mold out-breaks in flood-prone areas are "a major public health problem," believes Frederick Herman, a California immunologist who has treated hundreds of patients, including the Poraths, suffering from mold-related illnesses. "When people find out a major contaminant has been living in their home, they feel violated."
The Poraths' mold encounter was more like a nightmare—and, they believe, one of the reasons their older son, Mitchell, now 2, was diagnosed with delayed developmental disorder. Steve, a building contractor, and Karen, a former financial coordinator for an AIDS research center, married in 1997 and began searching for a home near Auburn, where Steve, 35, was raised. They found a house just northeast of the city that had been repossessed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and seemed in fine shape. A bid of $120,000 won them the house.
In May 1999, a month after moving in, Karen gave birth to Mitchell, who was declared healthy. But two days after he was brought home, he became violently ill. "He started thrashing like he was in pain," says Karen. The infant developed a severe rash, constant infections and high fevers, which baffled his doctors. Gaunt and dehydrated, Mitchell wouldn't crawl or smile and often vomited up to 70 times a day. When the Poraths, who developed respiratory infections themselves, noticed that Mitchell slept more soundly at his grandmother's nearby home, they had their house tested for contaminants in April 2000. Two weeks later they learned there were high levels of black mold in the house, including in Mitchell's bedroom. "After that," says Karen, "we never went back." At the time, Mitchell was 1 year old and weighed only 10 lbs.
Further inspection revealed that faulty pipes were spewing sewage beneath the home, which, coupled with poor ventilation, created a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and black mold (Stacbybotrys tends to grow on surfaces that absorb water, like carpets and drywall). The Poraths believe the property's managing agents knew about the contamination, but David Piersall, the U.S. Veterans Affairs officer who oversaw the sale, insists "we were not aware of any mold." And Mike Lyon, a broker with the Sacramento Realtors who handled the sale, also denies any knowledge of the mold problem.
There was more bad news for the Poraths: Getting rid of the mold would cost $85,000 and would not be covered by their home insurance. Unable to save their belongings, they enlisted 40 volunteer firefighters to burn down the house, sold the five acres for $149,000 and moved into a two-bedroom apartment in Auburn. Karen, who was pregnant with second son Blake for six months while living in the infested house, says he is healthier than Mitchell but blames his chronic respiratory infections on the black mold. Mitchell, now 21 lbs., still speaks only four words. (Karen quit her job to care for him.) "You can't say for sure that the Stacbybotrys toxin caused his developmental problems," says Dr. Herman. "But we know that high levels of exposure can produce neurological disorders."
The best way to block the spread of mold is to promptly fix leaking pipes and ventilate damp areas (small traces of mold can be cleaned with bleach and water). Such measures, however, won't help the Poraths, who are planning a lawsuit against their Realtors even as they struggle to put their lives back together. "If Steve and I make it through this, we'll have the strongest marriage ever," says Karen. "This has just been hell."
Saturday, October 3, 2009
William Rogers
William Rogers
Sadly, till some of these clinics get a clue as HOW to operate, it will just continue, Yakima Farmworkers Clinic, and their subsidiary HIV clinic NEW HOPE CLINIC)- poor case management, know nothing docs and dentists who can't even DO a root canal and out of frustration end up pulling the tooth. Sadly, they are the only alternatives in town for those who have no dental or inadequate medical and dentla insurance- IE: can;t afford it, or turned down for pre-existent conditions!
Sadly, till some of these clinics get a clue as HOW to operate, it will just continue, Yakima Farmworkers Clinic, and their subsidiary HIV clinic NEW HOPE CLINIC)- poor case management, know nothing docs and dentists who can't even DO a root canal and out of frustration end up pulling the tooth. Sadly, they are the only alternatives in town for those who have no dental or inadequate medical and dentla insurance- IE: can;t afford it, or turned down for pre-existent conditions!
Another Un-Named Tipster Speaks Of The Hard Road Ahead = Crooked Insurance Companies
I read your letter, but you have to hire private testers b/c MOld is not regulated as an offical Toxic Substance- that is our ENTIRE battle- to get regulation. Congress, politicians, and gov't agencies cannot do testing- and Health and Housing in most states can only refer to Mold as "Water Damages" b/c of the F*cked up LACK of any laws to protect us... this it the HUGE problem and it trickles down to the doctors and lawyers... they get intimidated and coached to tell us we are crazy by the insurance companies. If it sounds like a conspiracy... well, it kinda is. It's just like big tobacco- "It can;t hurt you" till 30 years later they admit it. Mold is even harder, since it's organic. Anyhow- just take the personal emails out- I'll write something to replace it and you can put mine or Scott's name on it... we don't care... we hate lawyers and insurance cos. and have gone full circle. They cannot hurt us anymore than they have. Many of the people you'll meet in these groups are in litigation and they can't talk- or it'll hurt their cases. I know this for a fact, b/c a post I wrote in 2004, was used in trial against me in 2007! We were under insurance surveillance for years... and most of that time we had no clue... Now, we have the paper to back it up. We are going to use it at the right time. Just take it easy. Your boldness and "in your face" attitude is great, don't get me wrong. these A**holes are getting away with murder- I know.
But we have to remember that all these lawyers for the insurance company criminal executives, are on FB and watching. When someone makes a lot of noise they evaluate them, on whether they could win at trial... and treat them based on the odds. Not kidding- it's all actuarial BULLsh*t. That are machines, robots, mindless pieces of Sh*t... insurance people- all of them! And the realtors, many remediators, testers, doctors, lawyers- are all getting big fat checks to help them commit their crimes. If you hire a tester, ask "Do you do any defense work for insurance companies? If they do, they might get paid off to tamper with your testing- seriously- happens ALL the time. Test results disappear- the insurance companies, their lawyers, lie, conceal, commit Fraud ALL the time. It would shock you. The pay off witnesses. They do ANYTHING to destroy your case. ANYTHING they can get away with, legal or not. They don't care, they have too much money and lobbyist power - Goliath fights to the death. I hope you have written to your landlord or the former owner of your place? That's important. Failure to warn or disclose. If you don't have testing done and accurate results, you won;t have a case. The tests are the case- as they prove Causation. Without that, they will claim your illnesses are from everything under the sun, except Mold. They will dig up your medical records from childhood, and will get them into court. They do whatever it takes to fight you. I am not exaggerating. Please be careful, if you plan on suing anyone at all ... take it down a notch. You need to watch all that you say and do now. Otherwise they will find a way to make it all your fault- they accuse people of PLANTING mold to make an insurance claim- NO JOKE. They accuse people of failure to contact landlords, even if they have and the landlords are slumlords. If it's not in writing, you're screwed... gotta send a certified letter. Anything you send must be sent certified, receipt req'd, make sure you do that too.
But we have to remember that all these lawyers for the insurance company criminal executives, are on FB and watching. When someone makes a lot of noise they evaluate them, on whether they could win at trial... and treat them based on the odds. Not kidding- it's all actuarial BULLsh*t. That are machines, robots, mindless pieces of Sh*t... insurance people- all of them! And the realtors, many remediators, testers, doctors, lawyers- are all getting big fat checks to help them commit their crimes. If you hire a tester, ask "Do you do any defense work for insurance companies? If they do, they might get paid off to tamper with your testing- seriously- happens ALL the time. Test results disappear- the insurance companies, their lawyers, lie, conceal, commit Fraud ALL the time. It would shock you. The pay off witnesses. They do ANYTHING to destroy your case. ANYTHING they can get away with, legal or not. They don't care, they have too much money and lobbyist power - Goliath fights to the death. I hope you have written to your landlord or the former owner of your place? That's important. Failure to warn or disclose. If you don't have testing done and accurate results, you won;t have a case. The tests are the case- as they prove Causation. Without that, they will claim your illnesses are from everything under the sun, except Mold. They will dig up your medical records from childhood, and will get them into court. They do whatever it takes to fight you. I am not exaggerating. Please be careful, if you plan on suing anyone at all ... take it down a notch. You need to watch all that you say and do now. Otherwise they will find a way to make it all your fault- they accuse people of PLANTING mold to make an insurance claim- NO JOKE. They accuse people of failure to contact landlords, even if they have and the landlords are slumlords. If it's not in writing, you're screwed... gotta send a certified letter. Anything you send must be sent certified, receipt req'd, make sure you do that too.
Anonymous Mold Victim Speaks Of Same Gum & Tooth Issues As I Have
Anonymous Mold Victim Speaks Of Same Gum & Tooth Issues As I Have
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