Stachybotrys found in my house!

[tpotter]

I kept insisting that this house was making me sick, and I was positive it was particularly bad in one room + I suspected the master bathroom.

 

Finally, I had enough, and called the handiman. He found insulation stuffed in several areas of the windowsill in the one room that shouldn't have been there, covered in black mold!!! He removed it, washed down the area (it was already dry, sprayed it, and now I'm praying that he got it all (we had the hepa filter going the whole time + the fan blowing in the room with the windows open while it was being done. Also, we all got out of the house (sent the dog to doggie day care, and my DS's went to the library and McDonalds all day (DH and I were at work!)

 

We also had an area of the master bathroom that had gotten wet, and ended up with a hole. The handiman showed me the "stuff".

 

Yukk!

 

We're also having the 28 year old a/c replaced in 2 weeks. It has never needed a filter change in the 4 years we've lived here, because it's not sucking up any dirt.

 

I can't wait to see if this helps with our problems. Our holistic chirpractor told me the other day that he doesn't think that my "ongoing symptoms" from the mycoP I started getting treated for last August is bacterial. I think he was right.

[JuliaFaith]

So glad you found the mold on one hand but not the work/$$$ to fix it! Have not researched that particular mold but some of the molds can even cause cancer!

 

It almost seems to me that we need to remodel broom/kitchens every 5-10 yrs. just to make sure no mold is growing! We did just hear from an insurance adjuster (our tub leaked [of course, not in the rooms we were remodeling at the time] and we are hoping insurance will pay for some of the damage) said that mold can grow within 24 hours after a leak starts!

 

You may want to do an ERMI test when you are sure that all mold is removed just to make sure.

Edited July 19, 2011 by JuliaFaith

[tpotter]

Stachyboctrys is black mold...the really bad one. What's an ERMI test?

[philamom]

Stachyboctrys is black mold...the really bad one. What's an ERMI test?

ERMI= Environmental Relative Moldness Index (better testing for mold)

 

You cand find more information at Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker's website www.survivingmold.com under the diagnosis section.

[GraceUnderPressure]

I'm curious - how did you determine it was Stachybotrys? Did your handyman do a test or is there some identifying characteristic that distinguishes it from other black molds?

[tpotter]

I'm curious - how did you determine it was Stachybotrys? Did your handyman do a test or is there some identifying characteristic that distinguishes it from other black molds?

 

 

That's a good question. He just told me that's what it was. I didn't realize there was more than 1 type of black mold. But, he also said that based on the symptoms I was getting (suddenly having difficulty breathing, unable to stop coughing,) he said that stachybotrys would cause that, and then he found all the black mold.

[cobbiemommy]

So glad you found the mold and had it removed. We just finished repainting our dining room after having to remove the drywall, insulation and change the roofline of our house! It was so worth it. We are waiting for new carpet and then our project will be complete!!!!

 

I feel better already! Hope for better days ahead!