First Event ...

Many say they can remember the first time they ____ , fill in the blank. Events in our life that set the flow of the following days, weeks, months or years of our lives remain close and easily remembered. I can remember -now looking back- to the 'genesis' of the expression of my allergy to mold.

At the time I didn't think it was anything other than an 'itch', but it was really so much more. The headaches were thought to be the results of just staying up late and not getting enough sleep; drinking too much coffee or being in need of a good chiropractic adjustment. The fact that I did not get enough rest, drank too much coffee and set for so long at a computer terminal that I needed regular chiropractic adjustments, added to a 'string ready to break' condition. But unbeknown to me, there was a more permanent condition at work.

What I noticed first - now looking back - were three prominent things: 1) anal itch (thought to be hemorrhoids); 2) headaches that came with 'set your clock' regularity (5-6 each week, most often as I woke up - or what WOULD wake me up); 3) flu-like congestion, aches and pains, and a typical low-grade fever (99F - but never above 99.5F). These continued and persisted - no matter how much salve, Tylenol, Excedrin, fluid or medication I took. Then almost as soon as they arrived, they were gone. But would return though; worse, more frequent and more persistent.

Reviewing the past 5 years, in hind-sight, I can see this all began its unveiling in October of 2000 - when my wife and I were in Panama City, FL for an annual church convention. I didn't know what the problem was - but I thought I had a hemorrhoid, didn't get enough sleep and caught a 'bug'. Why it began then, I don't know. Prior to this I didn't notice a 'regularity' to the pattern that began in 2000 and continues.

This was the FIRST EVENT, I see this now, but had not a clue of what would become a 'life controlling' condition. We either learn to live with these conditions and move on - or they will control us even more than they already do. At this stage of my 'mold allergy' I am very 'controlled' in what I can do ... when and where I can do it. But I try to not let it totally permeate my life, conversation and thinking.

The Journals help me to 'get it out and get on' with my life.

MoldChron

Why - the Mold Chronicles?

Well - it's not all that difficult really. Since I began dealing with what I found out later to be a severe allergy to all eleven (11) types of mold, I have kept an unofficial journal of my journey though this condition. I hope that through this series of stories of my plight with the allergy and the information I've gleaned in the process of trying to understand it - I can help others who may be suffering without knowing the source. I've been there. I know the frustration. And in some cases the fear in just 'now knowing'.

I will also be 'back-dating' some of these entries - just so they are more chronologically correct. OK .. it's not really important - but I like to keep things like this in order if possible. Indulge me this one vice. I'll only make this request every few weeks .. whether I need it or not. "8^)

As you might perceive, I've learned far more about mold than I ever thought I would - or than I ever WANTED TO. The education process has been slow - nerve wracking - but cathartic in many ways. However, I believe the benefit comes more from just becoming informed about the condition. Because knowing more has NOT made me any less susceptible or bothered by the condition.

I do not intend to become lewd or disgusting in the discussion of the condition - though some may find the topic, at times, quite distasteful and disturbing. My only comment to this is simply - "you should have been here if you think the discussion is disgusting" !!

Living it is a nightmare.

MoldChron

How it began ... I think

I am allergic to mold .. all molds. Not just one, or two or three .. but all eleven (11) mold species. And I am allergic to them ALL YEAR LONG. But I didn't always know I was allergic to molds. But come to find out I've been 'bothered' by molds all my life.

So where do I begin ... at the beginning of course.

I have been allergic to Penicillin since I was born. My mother was allergic to penicillin and sulfa drugs. So the doctors pretty well assumed that I would be as well. They tested me - and yes, I reacted: violently! I nearly died of anaphylactic shock when I was 3 and that pretty much nailed that problem. I began having problems with Strep-Throat when I was about 3.5 years old. I was administered an antibiotic that was both penicillin and sulfa based -- WOW -- that was NOT good. So that really nailed the door closed on any penicillin and sulfa drugs for me.

That I was so allergic to penicillin - and that penicillin is made from a mold extract - should have been a warning that me and mold might not mix well. But hey, that was the near 'dark ages' of medicine back in the late '50s. There were a lot of mistakes made then. And a lot of them being made today as well. But that is another story.

Now jump forward 47 years; to December 2002 to be exact. That was when I was noticing a 'problem'. An avid kayaker - doing roughly 1500 miles each year on the water - I had my share of 'water rash' incidents. But this was different. It wasn't going away. And because most of my paddling was in the Wabash River - not known as a pristine clean waterway - I was beginning to wonder if I had 'contracted' something in from the water.

I attempted to 'treat it' with the typical remedies: ointments, salves, cremes, and the like. I even resorted to taking some herbs that are to build the immune system. But nothing seemed to work. The 'itchy spot' became an 'itchy area' and then turned to an 'irritating zone' and finally an unbearable pain-in-the-arse .. LITERALLY!

I was at a real quandary. What to do? What was this anyway? More in my next installment.

MoldChron