MOLD

I know this topic has come up before but I wanted to see if anyone has found any specific link to mold and sarc? I work in a small office in a strip mall. Each office is around 1,000 to 1,300 sq feet. The whole plaza has plumbing problems. The pipes were apparently too small and we had at least 3 floods per year in the office. Many times it was sewer water. It has never been really professionally cleaned. We have had the carpets cleaned and they spray some microbial stuff down that's supposed to kill everything. I have worked in this office for 10 years now.

Just before I really started to get sick, about 5-6 years ago, the office two doors down, a chiropractor was doing some remolding and found a lot of mold. He had it tested and it was the bad one, I won't even try to spell it. In fact, the company doing the testing told him it was the highest air born reading they ever had. We had several swabs taken from our office and it was also the really bad stuff.

The roof also leaks so we have to replace the ceiling tiles a lot but my boss is slow in doing it and the tiles sometimes stay wet for months before getting changed.

The chiropractor moved out of that office. About 3 months ago, a pipe broke in the dentists office directly next store and again, flooded our office. Standing water at least 3 inches deep in 2/3 of the office.

Last week my boss was on vacation so I did a thorough cleaning. Washing walls and molding, the whole 9 yards. Took me over 3 days. I was more than miserable. Not only did my sarc pain increase, that could of been from over doing it though but my face hurt. I mean that my nose ran constantly, my eyes watered and were red (not from my uveitis) and my sinuses actually hurt. My breathing was very labored even through the weekend and today and I can't get rid of a mid grade headache.

Obviously being exposed to as much mold that is in my office is not good for me but I am unable to find in other employment and have been looking for some time. I live in MI, the highest rate of unemployment in the US. I just wonder how many of my chronic symtpoms are actually from sarc or if its the mold? Is there any way to tell?

By LucyLue
Posted November 10, 2008 at 2:00 pm
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I would also like to hear from anyone out there that may have some knowledge on this subject.
I work in the basement of a very old office building, which, when it rains, the stone walls will leak.
I'm fairly certain there is mold growing on the walls, so my employer has hired a company to come in sometime this week to test for it.
Like you, my eyes and nose run constantly when I'm in the office and my chest hurts alot as well.
I'm wondering if anyone has had any success with the use of a clean air machine and if so, what did they recommend ... ?

By Paradox
Posted November 10, 2008 at 2:09 pm
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Let's break this down. You know you have an overexposure to a foreign substance and want to know if that would cause similar symptoms in someone without sarcoidosis? If so the answer is yes. As michele pointed out the overexposure to mold is pretty extreme in her case and that alone will cause watery, itchy eyes and runny nose as the body goes into a frontline defense against a large amount of foreign objects. Interestingly, similar findings can be found in the setting of forest fires as well - and this isn't truly an allergy, it is simply the body recognizing a massive amount of foreign material and trying to limit access to the interior. Isn't the body an amazing thing?
I have to applaud your determination in taking on the cleaning task Michele. I would have probably tried to avoid the dirty work myself. If forced, though, I would definately suggest using the heavy duty cloth masks that carpenters and such use to keep particles out of their nose and mouth as well as goggles to protect the eyes.
As for the use of the clean-air machines, I haven't heard promising reviews of any of them except for some very expensive central systems. I would strongly advise not spending money on one until checking it out with an independent surveyor such as consumer reports.

By micheleb
Posted November 10, 2008 at 2:35 pm
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All I had for protection when cleaning was a regular white mask, probably like the one you might wear at your office and some latex gloves. Luckily the weather was nice so I was able to have both doors open to help ventilate. Believe me, the only reason I resorted to such drastic cleaning measures was my boss is a cheap ass and doesn't believe that mold can cause any problems. He is also 66 years old and has never been sick a day in his life!! It was either leave the filth to fester or clean it up myself.

I often wonder if my exposure to such high amounts of it caused my sarc. I know no one can yet answer that as they do not know what causes sarc but I was really very healthy until I started working in this office. If we could get by without my paycheck, I'd be outta here but the sad fact is, especially with the economy now, I can not afford to lose my check. But it shouldn't come down to working in an environment that I am sure is detrimental to my health and being able to pay my mortgage.

Do you know of any reputable resources or articles in regards to the effects that such high levels of toxic mold can have on us? I have done a lot of googling on the subject but can't find anything concrete. If I could find some concrete evidence than I might be able to use it to make the actual slum lord of our plaza to have it cleaned up properly.

Also, is there anything I need to be overly worried about with the mold since I am on a relatively high dose of remicade? I know I am more prone to infections which so far I have not gotten. Can the mold due anything more to me than the average Joe because of my weaken immune system?

By Cloudnine
Posted November 10, 2008 at 4:46 pm
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I am allergic to mold. I had a level of high allergy to it. It does a real number to me. I had to move out of a building I was living in due to mold once. It was even in the carpet. They did remove the carpet and the carpet padding and there was mold in it. I told them that it was moldy, but no one believed me and when they ripped it up, they were shocked. It had stains coming up through the pad and they tried to tell me they weren't the color of mold. The foundation didn't look so good either after the pulled up the carpet.

When dealing with any mold I have to wear the special mask that filters particles. The thick black work gloves. I am kind of freaky about mold. I am always looking for it. In cabinets, on outer walls, etc.. I leave that few inch gap between furniture on outer walls for airflow and never put anything right up against a wall. Mold is quite common where I live, due to the fact that I am about 33 feet above sea level. The climate for the most part is damp and foggy.

Since I know that I am allergic to it because I have been tested then I am more cautious and diligent in trying to keep my house as mold free as possible. I have no carpet except for throw rugs. I have moisture collecting containers in closets and cupboards that I know are an issue. Like I have one in the cupboard over the washing machine and dryer.

Why don't you make an anonymous call to the health department and have them test the mold type and levels? I didn't look to see what state you are in. You don't have to report your employer, possibly just the building itself. You don't even have to report what unit of the building you work in. That way no one will know.

By dmcadams
Posted November 10, 2008 at 7:41 pm
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I am currently at Mayo Clinic and have been meeting with sarcoid specialist in neuropathy department for the past seven days. I can help you. I was exposed to toxic mold over a period of at least 7 years and I feel my lung sarcoid is directly related to that exposure.

By kooks
Posted November 10, 2008 at 8:04 pm
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Hi Michele,
Davero had a link about a building that had asbestos and other dust here is the link http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071207/NEWS04/712 070386/1003/NEWS02

By kooks
Posted November 10, 2008 at 8:08 pm
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Michele,
Did you try to save some of this mold?
Maybe you can have it tested and you can prove that it has gotten you sick!! I think that was very brave of you to clean that up i would have done the same thing.

Connie

By SarcoidPrincess
Posted November 11, 2008 at 10:11 am
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Just an FYI before I got sick I lived in a house for five years that flooded in the basement. We were saving to buy our house and renting this particular one. The owner owned a construction company that apparantly didn't know what they were doing because whenever it would rain the sewer would backup in the basement! Totally disgusting! I had rotorooter at my door more times than I could count! This caused bad mold in the dirt basement. The owner spread some lime down and that was about it. While living there I was actually hospitalized with pneumonia twice! I hadn't really made the connection till now. Of course it wasn't until I left there that the real sarc symptoms started and then three years later diagnosis. If the mold theory holds up it would be interesting.

By micheleb
Posted November 11, 2008 at 11:03 am
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I have thought about the anonymous call many times. However, the probable outcome of that would be for the health dept to close down our offices meaning I would be out my paycheck.

We have already had the mold tested and got an extremely high reading of the bad black mold, I can't spell it! The carpet is just on the cement slab, no padding but i KNOW its in the carpet. Its in the ceiling tiles as well. I know I did not get it all cleaned but I did the best that I could.

When I got the mold all stirred up, my face and throat went haywire-the red, runny eyes, constant nasal drip, sinus PAIN, sore throat, headache, etc. I have some of these issues with my sarc but I did feel some definite different "sickness" than I normally feel-does that make sense? LOL!!

So I guess what I am trying to decide is, is it the office that is making me sick? Did it cause my sarc? How much more sick am I making myself by staying in this office? Do my remicade treatments make me more susceptible to getting ill from the toxic mold?

After things settled back down in here over the weekend, I didn't get the extra sick feelings that I got last week while cleaning. In a better economy, I would definitely just go get another job and get away from all these toxins in here but I have been looking and there just isn't anything. I live in the Detroit area of MI-with all the factory layoffs from the Big Three-there isn't a job to be had.

I have been pleading my case to my boss and I might be able to get him to replace the carpet, that's a BIG might but I am working on it. That would help but this whole office building is toxic so it won't eliminate the problem totally.

By pamk
Posted November 12, 2008 at 7:18 am
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I was exposed to toxic mold in 1979 when water from the apt upstairs leaked into mine while I was living in Miami. Within a week after they came to dry out the 200 gallons of water black stuff grew all over the walls. In 1982 I got my first flare up of pulmonary sarc. So I guess it is possible. Something similar happened to my mom15 years later and although they gave her a different auto-immune illness, I believe she had sarc as well.

By GloriaV
Posted November 12, 2008 at 12:20 pm
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My experience is....anyone with lung issues...and probably everyone in general ...should avoid breathing in any kind of mold. Associated with Sarcoid or not....it's not a good thing. I found I can't join any gym that has a pool as the mold hits me immediately! My newest addition to my home is a unit that fits in either a basement window or the vent in a crawl space that clicks on as soon as it senses any dampness....making the mold non-existent in the house. It's relatively inexpensive if anyone needs it....usually sold in a plumbing supply house.

Gloria

By micheleb
Posted November 12, 2008 at 2:02 pm
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The boss just did bring in an air purifier. I am sure its not going to suck up all the spores but its a step in the right direction. I had a long talk with him last night and he agreed to either replace the carpet or at a minimum have it sprayed for now and replace it next year.

I did read that people with compromised immune systems, such as those of us on steroids or the remicade I get are usually more affected by mold and have a higher incidence of infections from it.

By twilight
Posted November 12, 2008 at 2:49 pm
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That's great that the boss is willing to replace the carpet next year. Remind him (or make him put it in writing a specific date such as Feb 09 not Dec 09) and express the desire that he will find a reputable company to install it as some of the glue used to tack it down is TOXIC to everyone including him. If he doesn't comply you can turn him in to OSHA due to hazards in the workplace. Also it wouldn't hurt to ask him how he is feeling as MOLD is also TOXIC to his system. He needs to understand that his health and wellbeing is also at stake here, not just his employees. Not to mention that OSHA will fine him to the hilt if he doesn't address this soon. Or he can also pay workmans comp for the time his employees are out of work due to this mold problem. Do not cover for him as I doubt he has your best interest at heart.

By MeggB
Posted May 1, 2009 at 7:11 pm
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I moved into the duplex I live in now in December 2004. A week after I moved in the ceiling leaked. My landlord told me it was from the heavy snow and ice. He said that in the summer the roof would be fixed. It was fixed in the summer of 2008. Every time it would rain or snow it would leak. Above my living room ceiling is my daughters room and that never leaked. I believe my duplex has the mold you have in your office. I have been sick for three years but since the roof was fixed it has been even worse and this winter everyone in my home has been sick. The neighbors children have been sick with croup again and again as well.

Two weeks ago I went to Utah to visit family. The last three days I was there I felt almost completely healthy and almost back to normal again. With in hours after coming home I had some weird symptoms with my hands happen and then came down with a bad cold. By the next day I was coughing up thick green mucus. I went to my primary who told me I had bronchitis. I am so sick right now. I have no energy, I feel weak and I have lost my voice on top of everything else.

I have called the board of health and they are coming monday to inspect the duplex but in all honesty I don't know if they will find anything because if it's in the walls or floor like I think then won't they have to actually cut into things and wont' they need to have my landlords permission? If so, that will never happen because my landlords are cheap bullies. I can see me getting evicted over this soon. I always pay my rent on time even early sometimes but my boyfriend was the one they hired to fix the roof and they had a conflict with him over the way it was done. They only wanted to replace the shingles which he did but when fixing a roof, plywood and other things should be replaced as well but my landlords want to do everything cheaply and cut corners when it's for their apartments. They own many and they have plenty of money going to europe and other place every year. My landlords father is on the board of selectmans and this is a small town. I know I jumped into a big flame so to speak but I don't know what else to do.

I'm convinced as well that there if there is mold here, which my gut is screaming there is, that it's what caused my sarcoidosis. I just hope the medical community can someday prove this. Imagine how many lives this could save? Right now, mold is known for it's danger but it's not known how dangerous it actually could be. What if it's more dangerous than they actually know? Would people have to be exposed or be put in situations like yours if mold was linked to things like sarcoidosis? Just make you wonder.

By mKoElSdHkIiAlls
Posted May 3, 2009 at 7:53 pm
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I do too believe that the mold here is what triggered my sarcoidosis. Been living here for three years now and start getting sick months after I moved in. Most of my doctors has totally ignored me when I ask them could mold be causing my on going symptoms and sickness. The ones that do respond on that issue always say, only if your allergic to mold it could cause minor symptoms. Finally, I just recently got a diagnosis with sarcoidosis about a week ago. But, biopsy results reads that I have focal granulomatous "foreign body-type" inflammation. Could this be mold spores or such intering my body and causing inflammation?!! My pulmonary Dr. is very evasive about my diagnosis.

I wonder will we ever get an answer. Maybe if a doctor will explain it to us to were it sounds believable and convincing then maybe we would stop wondering if mold is the cause or not. Then, we would say oh yeah that makes sense. But I haven't had that light bulb moment yet. All I ever hear is a bunch of gibber gabberish.

I also was thinking about removing the mold here. But I'm a little hesitant because I heard you can cause mold spores to grow and spread by disturbing it. And I'm also scarred that I would get sicker from it.

Michele, I too commend you on your braveness in removal of the mold . I really know that something had to be done.

By jeanie33
Posted May 4, 2009 at 10:45 am
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My heart goes out to you I am very allergic to mold, and I have discovered it is one of my sarcoid triggers. At one time I worked in a high-rise and discovered the benzen based carpet cleaner was also one of my triggers fortunately my entire department noticed it so they changed to a more environmentally friendly carpet cleaner.
Do you want the research to prove to your boss?

By jeanie33
Posted May 4, 2009 at 2:01 pm
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Am at work so this will be quick. I used google scholar typed in
sarcoidosis mold.

This brought lots of medical/scholarly references including clinical trials, think you can find one that will be effective with your boss.
Good luck!

By Water_Damage
Posted October 24, 2009 at 3:11 am
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Not only are there potential issues with you being exposed to mold spores (some of which were obviously Stachybotrys with very potent micotoxins), but the sewage losses not being taken care of properly didn't help either. In a sewage loss (or category 3 water loss) everything porous that got wet needs to be thown out! - that includes carpets, sheetrock, wood furniture legs etc.

By marshalljohnny
Posted October 24, 2009 at 8:12 am
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I don't know if this is related to sarc or not, but I lived in a house that had a basement full of mold. My washer and dryer was in the basement, so I had to go down there to wash. My children was too scared to go down there, and my husband did not need to go down there, so I was the only one exposed to the mold. I find it ironic that I am the only one with sarc. I was diagnosed after living there for three years. My symptoms did not improve until I moved out of that house.I have always believed that the mold in that house caused my sarcoidosis.

By BUNKIE
Posted October 24, 2009 at 10:46 am
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I had a mold issue in my apartment swamp coolers in California but since moving to Michigan it seems to be everywhere. I am sure it played a role in my Sarcoid when I lived out west but I have been in 3 houses here in Mich and it has been in every one. I was in remission when I helped remodel an older home in 2004-2006. I started to have horrible symptoms again and started high dose steroids. Fearing it was the mold I moved to my parents older home and have now discovered that they have mold in the basement from water leaks and also in the kitchen from roof problems. I can't win. I have air purifiers all over the house. I will be leaving this winter to stay with a relative near here while they redo the kitchen and get rid of the mold. Hopefully she won't have any. When I return they will start on the basement. I also heard it makes it worst to disturb the mold so who knows. I just know I am very allergic to it and can't seem to escape it. By far Michigan has been the dampest moldy place I have ever lived.
Bunkie

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