toxic moldPatients are extremely surprised when I tell them that their illness is due to toxic mold. My practice is located in the dry southwest, where mold is not something most people ever think about. As I will explain, for certain people it doesn’t take much mold to make them very sick.

The common symptoms of toxic mold illness are:

1. General symptoms: fatigue and weakness
2. Musculoskeletal: muscle aches, cramping (claw-like cramping in hands and feet), joint pain
3. Respiratory: cough, shortness of breath, chronic sinus issues, asthma
4. Eyes: redness, blurred vision, tearing, sensitivity to bright lights
5. Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain or cramping, nausea, diarrhea
6. Central nervous system: memory loss, difficulty with word finding, confusion, disorientation, difficulty concentrating, learning difficulties, mood swings
7. Neurological: headache, numbness, tingling, lightheadedness, vertigo, metallic taste, temperature dysregulation, tremor
8. Unusual symptoms: increased thirst, frequent urination, appetite swings, frequent electric shock [1. Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2006). Sick building syndrome (SBS) and exposure to water-damaged buildings: Time series study, clinical trial and mechanisms. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 28(5), 573-588. ]

If a patient has symptoms in four of the eight categories, toxic mold illness needs to be considered. The other condition that has a similar set of symptoms is chronic lyme disease. These two conditions are connected, in that they make people sick from the toxins they produce, and the inability of the person to get rid of those toxins.

With toxic mold illness, the mold itself is not the problem. It’s the toxins the mold makes that makes a person sick. In chronic lyme disease, it’s not the bacteria itself that makes a person sick, it’s the toxins that the bacteria makes that make a person sick.

If that isn’t mysterious enough, most people who are exposed to toxic mold will not develop toxic mold illness. I’ve seen it many times. A building has toxic mold but only one person is sick. The reason is that most people can detoxify these toxins. Thankfully Ritchie Shoemaker, MD made it possible for us to identify the people who have the genetic weakness for these toxins.

Dr. Shoemaker called these kinds of illness, “Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS).” Simply put, a person with the bad genetics can develop CIRS with any toxin they can’t detoxify. Lyme and toxic mold are the most common culprits of CIRS.

Common misdiagnoses of CIRS are:

  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Depression
  • Stress
  • Allergies
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • ADD
  • PTSD [2. Shoemaker, R.C. (2014, December). What is CIRS, lab testing and treatment protocol ]

Diagnosing toxic mold illness

Most of the time when I tell patients they’re sick from mold, they have no idea that they are living/schooling/working in a building with mold. This is why testing is so important to figuring out toxic mold illness. Testing for toxic mold consists of several elements:

  • There are a number of blood tests that will show if the body is reacting to a biotoxin consistent with CIRS.
  • Genetic testing will show whether or not a person has the bad genetics.
  • Visual Contrast Sensitivity Testing (VCSTest.com) is a simple test that you can do at home. According to Dr. Shoemaker this test will catch 92% of people with CIRS.
  • EPA-approved ERMI test will show where the mold problem is in a building.
  • Mycotoxin testing will show whether a person has mold toxins in his/her body.

What to do if you suspect toxic mold illness

Getting tested is the only way to figure out if the symptoms you are having is from mold or not. Working with a doctor who understands CIRS and how to test for it is key. Not all doctors know what to do to test for this.

If you have any comments or questions feel free to reach out.

Darrell Kilcup, DC, CFMP

Hi there! I’m Dr. Kilcup. You know that health problem you’ve been dealing with – the one that doctors can’t seem to solve, that’s stealing way too much of your time, energy and joy? I can help you get to the bottom that. I am passionate about using the best of science and nutrition to find and fix root causes of health issues. Start your journey towards healing and relief today.

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I have been using the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the last few weeks and It has helped me so much. I struggle quite a bit with work related stress. When I'm in the chamber I feel completely relaxed, so much so that I can bring my laptop inside and work without stressing. The calmness I feel in the chamber lasts for the remainder of the day as well. I have found too, the more consistent I am with sessions throughout the week the better I feel. The office staff seems well trained in running the tanks too, so I feel safe. I see Dr. Kilcup as well for my brain and gut health. Until now, I don't think I've ever known what "normal" or "healthy" feels like. Thank you all, sincerely!
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Mike Kutz
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Dr. Kilcup is a pleasure to work with. His office is beautiful! I can’t wait to try his hyperbaric chambers!
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Sarina Gomez
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Darrell is highly knowledgeable and really gets to the root of the problem. Unlike a lot of doctors, Darrell doesn't just throw prescriptions at issues. He will test and test - digging for the cause and then working on fixing the issue. He and his staff are professional, courteous, and a joy to be around.
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Kevin Miller
1 year ago
I am very grateful to have found Dr. Kilcup and be his patient for the last couple of years. He has helped me restore my health back after being exposed to toxic mold for years. He helped identify and treat all of my symptoms I was experiencing and address the root problem. I was looking for the right person who could help me heal with natural therapies and supplements and Dr. Kilcup was the perfect fit. Every appointment and session was necessary and one step towards all the progress I made. Dr. Kilcup is a great functional medicine doctor who was also an advocate for my own health and well-being. I never received any care or attention to detail from other Doctors in past experiences except with Dr. Kilcup. Anyone who is seeking a holistic path towards healing or improving their own health should see him.
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Ciara Wakley
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