Much love to All.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

In an instant your life changes - Black mold and how deadly it can be

I have be gone for a while.  I moved into my new
apartment 5-23-15.  Love the location, view, etc.
My first ER visit was on 7-23-15.  I have never
called an ambulance in my life.  I started having
a hard time breathing and my throat was closing
up.  The ER said probably allergies.  My friends
prompted me to check my HVAC system.  When
I opened the door it was covered in black mold.
I had no idea how dangerous this could be.  I went
to the office and maintenance came and put new
filter and cleaned up.  NextR visit was 9-5-15.
I was so weak, dizzy, felt like someone was stabbing
my head with an ice pick.  My left foot had pain.  My
left ear has been clogged since 7-23-15 with ringing.
The did a CAT scan,nothing.  One of my friends
said it had to be the apartment I am never sick and
I do not go to the ER ever.  I checked the hepa
filter I bought less then a month ago.  I decided to
check the HVAC unit.  The filter was black with
mold and it was less then 30 days in the system.
I bought a standing air filter for my office
delivered 8-18-15 and checked that filter.  Once
again,black.  No wonder I was so sick.  I left
the apartment 9-5-15 and have never returned.
I tried to get the air tested, the complex refused
to let me test the air.  My brother in law has a
special camera,  all of the air ducts were filled
with black mold.  No wonder I was so sick.  I
worked from home, so I was there a good 19-20
hours a day.  I never understood how dangerous
black mold can be.  Doctors are clueless on how
to treat it.  Took me 4 doctors and I finally found
one due to speaking to a woman who almost
died from the mold herself. If I had stayed there , no question I
would not have survived.  Black mold spores
cannot be seen.  I lost all of my belongings. 
If you bring your things to a new location,
the spores can grow in your new environment.
I lost every cross stitch piece I ever made.
Leaving my grandparents furniture behind
was heart breaking.    I am living with my
sister.  I have been out of work pretty much
the whole month of September.  I am once
again starting over.  I am so thankful for
my friends and family.  Things really do
not matter.  I am trying to find my way
back and recover my health.  It will take
time but I know I will be fine.

For information on mold please visit these sites.  It saved
my life to know I wasn't alone.    And some great
resources.  The medical community does not test for
mold unless asked.  It causes more things to your body
then you can imagine.  If you have an unexplained
illness maybe mold is the cause.  I am thankful for
the resources I found.  I was only in my apartment
for three months.  It shows how it can really work
fast on your body.  If I help just one person,  this is
worth my time. 

survivingtoxicmold.com
survivingmold.com
paradigmchange.me/survived/
toxix-black-mold-syndrome.com

There are a lot of sites.

Books I have read:

Suzanne Somers book Tox-Sick  covers many things. 
Her and her husband almost died from black mold.
The covers many toxins and what the medical
community does not want us to know.  I highly
recommend this book

Mold  The War withing By Kurt & Lee Billings
What this couple endured from black mold.

There are a ton of stories you can read online.
The internet truly helped me, without it I
wouldn't be on my way recovery.

I have no stitching supplies, no patterns.
Eventually I will get back to stitching
Recovery is my goal at this time.
I know a lot of praying people out there,
they would be greatly appreciated.

Please do not feel sorry for me,  I am one of
the lucky ones.  Each year 500K people die
to mold related illnesses,most do not get the
proper treatment.  Antibiotics and steroids
are the worst thing you can take, it makes
the mold in your body grow more.  The two
books really gave me some good guidance.

Happy stitching my friends.


25 comments:

valerie said...

Oh my! How scary! I am glad that you are doing ok and was able to identify what was going on before it could become even worse. I'm sorry you lost your cross stitch items but despite that, you are very lucky. I've heard lots of terrible stories about black mold. Good luck with your transition to a new place and finding a new normal.

Lisa V said...

Oh Gosh Cindy that is terrible, and very scary.
I'm glad you got out when you did and can start the mending process, however i'm upset for you that you have lost all your special belongings.
Take care and time to heal.
Hugs

Annie said...

What an absolutely horrendous thing to happen to you! I am soo sorry.
At one point in my life I had to leave my whole life and all my stuff behind to start afresh, and I got through it. It's very painful to have to leave favorite things behind, but it can also be quite liberating to start all over again. To leave all your cross stitching behind sounds very painful though...
Wish you all the best on the way to recovery!

Kay said...

Hugs and prayers. x

Vickie said...

Cindy! I am praying for you dear.♥ Please pray too. This is just jaw dropping. I had no idea. None. How very, very, very scary.

Mii Stitch said...

So glad you are ok.
This is a really scary experience.
Sad you had to leave everything behind.
I do hope things will be done to the home so that the problem get sorted & nothing happen to another tenant.

gracie said...

What a terrible time you have had. So sorry that you had to leave everything. Can you hold the apartment owners liable. I know it doesn't replace everything but it would help you to start over.

Barb said...

I am praying for you too. I know you realize that you are lucky you found out when you did but my heart breaks for,you that you even had to suffer this terrible experience - I know we are all praying for your continued recovery.

I was wondering, too, about all the other residents in your apartment complex - are they aware of this horrible problem?

I am so sorry about the loss of all,of your belongings - it's true that many things can be replaced but there are always some special items that can't be and mean so much.

Blessings to you and to your family and friends for helping you.

Vicki said...

I'm praying for you and so sorry for your losses.

Dotty's Daughter said...

You are in my thoughts dear Cindy....such a awful time for you but your post ...even in this situation ...you are positive and forward thinking...good for you. Maria xx

Ranae said...

Wow, so glad you found out before you were really really sick. I prayer that no one else has the symptoms and stays there, sometime needs to do something right away, it should be condemned, I do hope you get feeling lots better real soon

Lillie said...

Oh Gosh! I am glad you found the caused sooner. Sorry about you lost all your belongings. Hope you are getting better by the day and I think they should do something about that premise. Barred it or something before it kills someone. Take care!

Robin in Virginia said...

I am glad you were able to get out and start on the journey to returned good health. Thinking of you and lifting you up in prayer as your body continues to mend.

Robin in Virginia

Brigitte said...

Oh my Cindy, this is just terrible. I have read about the health-threatening black mold and once saw a programme on TV about the problems that the mold can cause. So terrible for you that you lived in such a place. But I'm so so glad for you that you could find out what caused your health problems and that you got away from it. Sorry that you had to leave all your belongings behind. I hope and wish that your health will get better now that you are out of there. I'll be thinking of you.

Carol said...

I hope you are getting your health back each and every day, Cindy. I just hate that this happened to you, but I so admire you for getting the word out about the dangers of black mold to our homes and health.

Am mailing a little "care package" for you tomorrow--hope it brings some smiles :)

Take care now and know that you are in my prayers...

Ann at Beadlework. said...

Hi Cindy
I just read about your issue on Carol's blog and would love to send something to you from Scotland but I don't want to send you stitching supplies that are perhaps not "your thing".
I have loads of charts, threads and linens - kits too and it would make me happy if something might appeal to you.
If you have anything on your list of what you'd love to stitch then I might just have it or something similar. I'd like to kit something up for you if possible so that you can just jump right in and make a start on something new.
Please let me know - you can send me a list if you have a few ideas and I might just have one or two in my craft room. If you can't link to my email address using this comment then you can find me on my blog at Beadlework.
Take care
Ann

Kaisievic said...

Cindy, that is such a scary story, thank goodness that you have been able to get out of the apartment but so awful that you have had to leave everything behind. I, too, came across from Carol's blog, and as Ann above has stated, please email me at kayedep@gmail.com with your preferences and I would love to kit up something for you. hugs, kaye http://kittenstitching.blogspot.com

Maggie said...

I have only just come across your blog but have to say how shocked i was to read your story,
O.M.Goodness how awful! thank goodness you had the good sense to move out when you did.

I feel for you having to leave all your belongings behind, but your health is more important.
I hope you will be on the mend by now.
x

Angela said...

I am so glad you were able to figure out what was making you so sick but I'm so sorry to hear you had to leave everything behind. Your health is the most important thing but I honestly think you need to pursue a legal case against the building. You've lost everything and almost lost your health too and they should not get away with that. I hope you feel better soon.

diamondc said...

I am so sorry this hapened to you, my Mother was living in a four level home that had black mold, it was horrible, she bought her first home in june at the ripe old age of 84, she is doing well, I hope and will pray for you.
I will be sending you a large and I mean large care package of stitching goodies, look for it soon.
A stitcher needs to stitch.

Blessings
Catherine

Jocelyn is Canadian Needle Nana said...

Cindy, I am so sorry for the loss of all your things. I lost everything I owned when the building I was living in burned to the ground. It is just things as everyone says, but really more meaningful than that. Things inherited, gathered, collected, made, stitched, paid for with your hard earned money, make up our identity to a certain degree and it is healthy to mourn their loss. Then of course the moving on part and rebuilding because as you know, despite this loss, you are still one of the lucky ones.

Natasha said...

Oh my!! how scary. I am so glad that you were able to find out what was making you ill.... My mothers apartment had black mold in it she was very sick... Sad to think that there are many places that have this deadly stuff lurking under the surface.

My heart and prayers go out to you!!

Irene said...

Cindy, spero che tu stia meglio, un abbraccio forte e tanto coraggio

StitchinByTheLake said...

What an awful situation for you but I'm so glad that you're getting better. You do such beautiful work so I'm also sad that you weren't able to keep any of your cross stitch pieces or stash. May God give you His strength and His peace. blessings, marlene

Anne said...

I'm so glad that you are ok and that you got out in time. My parents went through something similar and my mother's health has been severely affected. I will be sending you a few things in the mail by next week. I know this is not what you ask but I would love these charts I won't have time to stitch to someone who will bring life to them! HUGS!! Anne from Doll's Musings