Symptoms

symptoms from mold what helps sensitivity to chemicals symptoms from chemicals

The following are my experienced symptoms of mold and chemical sensitivity.  I assume the presence of mold symptoms indicates toxins in my system as result of inhalation of mold spores,  or the chemicals/compounds associated with mold secondary toxins,  and Volatile Organic Compounds  (VOC's).

Offensive chemicals other than those related to mold are inhaled in purely gaseous form as opposed to particle form  (as with mold spores and secondary toxins).  However,  not only can various chemicals offend our senses and produce symptoms,  but could cause some changes in our behavior,  since our behavior is dependent on the interaction of chemicals within our system.  So,  even though symptoms from chemicals may disappear quickly,  increased sensitivity to chemicals may not be a trivial occurrence.

• Reduced peripheral  (or other aspects of)  vision
• Headache
• Sore upper roof of mouth  (inflammation?)
  • This predominantly in first 3 years of mold sensitivity;  tapering off until almost non-existent after 4 years
  • inflammation is one of the first events in the inate immune system process
  • Had considerable soreness and some swelling in tooth gums and else in sinus cavities during first 2 years
    
    
• Dizziness
• Disorientation
• Weakness,  fatigue
• Mental dullness,  lethargic,  malaise,  nausea
• Capillary flow interruption
• Blowing nose regularly
• Coughing/Hacking up mucous  (immune system is working)
• Can’t spit straight;  saliva has something additional in it
• lungs/chest  'tight'
• teeth
  • don't fit right
  • sensitive to cold
  • some parts hurt/ache
    
    
• redness in eyes

The presence of inflammation in the upper front part of the roof of my mouth for several years I used as an indicator of a coming mold attack.  I have now come to think that by the time one senses the inflammation,  one already has toxins inside.  One is then too late to completely prevent the attack.

The following items have been found to alleviate  (for me)  symptoms of a mold attack.  Menthol-based cough drops are my number 1  'go-to',  as they seem to counteract the symptoms  (to a limited degree)  right away.  One of these cough drops also helps if I am under attack,  and then make some specific change to see if that solves it.  If the  'burning'  sensation in my mouth intensifies,  I am still under attack from sensing mold spores or secondary toxins.  Mentally,  I feel better continuing my exposure  (in order to learn something)  if I have the semi-protection of the cough drops.

• menthol-based cough drops
• antacid tablets
• drinking water
• coffee black
• oranges, carrots, lettuce, fig bars etc.
• eating in general
• being outside

Going outside is my last-ditch choice to get away from a mold attack.  Sometimes,  a mold attack comes,  and no explanation is obvious.  What to do,  then?  At this point,  I may go outside and go for a walk.  This gives me a chance to think about things,  see if I can't figure out what likely happened,  and then decide what to do next.

In reflecting back on my experiences,  it is remembered that about 1 1/2 years into my mold sensitivity,  I already had developed additional sensitivity to chemicals.  Having torn out all the panels and insulation in my bedroom in order to get at the mold in my walls,  I re-insulated with styrofoam as improved insulation.  However,  off-gasing of chemicals from the styrofoam was both unanticipated and unacceptable,  even after covering the styrofoam with plastic.  The styrofoam was then removed and replaced with fibreglass insulation,  which has since not bothered me.

Inasmuch as I have had sensitivites to both mold and chemicals at the same time,  it is very difficult to differentiate between the symptoms of the 2 antagonists.  I have tentatively concluded that the symptoms primarily related to chemicals were as listed below.

• disorientation
• detection of some different smell (in some cases)
• irritation/offensiveness of the smell
• dizzyness
• mental confusion, maybe somewhat different from disorientation

As I developed additional sensitivity to various chemicals,  initial sensing of the chemical  (as compared to sensing inflammation),  was also in the roof of my mouth,  but more in the center and back of the mouth roof,  and sometimes spreading into the throat.  In the first 15 - 20 seconds or so of detection of something  'burning'  in the roof of my mouth,  I could not distinguish between mold source and other chemicals.  I had to let it develop.

Chemical smells were a major factor in the assessment of  'bibs'  for my sleeping bags and other protection from  'drool',  etc while sleeping.  Some smells were highly irritating,  yet their effect on me seemed to quickly disapear once the exposure ended.  Taking an antacid tablet seemed to help get over a chemical-based symptom just as a menthol-based cough drop helped counter the symptoms of mold toxins.