Introducing Dr. Shoemaker, the Leading Expert on Mold Illness & Biotoxins

Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker -- www.SurvivingMold.com -- a medical doctor from the Eastern Shore of Maryland educated at Duke medical school and has taught at Duke, Johns Hopkins and is still teaching at University of Maryland medical schools.  He has done extensive research and has treated patients for decades in a private family practice and focuses on biotoxin illnesses.  (See his C.V.)  He has written many books but these two are the ones we will be focusing on...  (the newest one Surviving Mold is downloaded in my iPhone).

                   

Instead of rewriting a great synapsis of Dr. Shoemaker's discoveries with testing and treatment of toxic mold illness, I am including several excerpts from a web site (www.BetterHealthGuy.com) summarized by Scott Forsgren, another mold illness victim.

TESTING & TREATMENT

Are you genetically susceptible and therefore have a predisposition to a biotoxin like mold?

A blood test looks at HLA (human leukocyte antigen) to find this answer.

"The immune system uses HLA to determine the difference between "self" and "non-self". HLA is involved in the steps responsible for antibody formation. These genes have been associated with an inability of the body to recover from illnesses resulting from Lyme disease, molds, and other sources. In the event that a person has a susceptible genotype, the body does not recognize the toxins as a foreign invader and thus, they are allowed to remain in the body. This causes long-term and perpetual ill-health. It has been asserted that nearly 100% of people that become ill after exposure to a biotoxin can be shown to have a predisposition to that biotoxin through the HLA-DR genotype. Many of us have bodies that simply do not recognize the presence of these toxic substances and thus do nothing to eliminate them. Dr. Shoemaker uses the terms "mold susceptible" to categorize one's HLA genotype."

It is just one part of the puzzle discovering you are genetically susceptible.  If you are exposed like I was to significant inhalation of mold spores when cleaning and sweeping dust for hours in a mold basement and you are susceptible to mold illness, then your body cannot fight off the biotoxins in its tissues and organs by itself. 

What other blood tests are done to monitor the body's response to a biotoxin illness like mold?

The “Biotoxin Pathway” shows the cascade of events that starts a biotoxin illness in those who are HLA-susceptible the moment that they are exposed to a biotoxin. It leads to increased leptin, increased cytokines, increased MMP-9 (MMP-9 is a global measure of cytokine activity in the body), reduced VEGF, and reduced MSH (alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone). Reduced MSH leads to reduced ADH (antidiuretic hormone), reduced sex hormones, changes in cortisol and ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), prolonged illness, resistant staphylococci infections, gastrointestinal problems, chronic pain, and sleep disturbances. All of these are downstream effects of a biotoxin in an HLA-susceptible individual. It is mind-boggling to try and comprehend the magnitude of negative impacts on so many body systems caused by a biotoxin.

Dr. Shoemaker's Monitoring Protocol:  The labs are monitored (MMP9, VEGF, C4a, and TGF beta-1) and Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) discussed below at each step.  The next intervention is continually enacted that fixes each uncorrected item until we get to the "top" of the treatment pyramid.

 

My results fall in line with being exposed to a biotoxin:  I have increased cytokines and reduced VEGF.  I've also tested low for thyroid hormone, have tested high for dairy/egg food allergy, struggle with nightly insomnia and other mold illness related symptoms like those listed below.

"The symptoms of mold illnesses include:

• Fatigue  

• Headaches  

• Weakness  

• Stabbing sensations  

• Light sensitivity  

• Rashes  

• Memory loss  

• Concentration difficulties  

• Confusion  

• Joint pain and morning stiffness  

• Shortness of breath  

• Cough  

• Blurred vision  

• Sweats  

• Abdominal Pain  

• Metallic taste  

• Static shocks  

• Sinus congestion  

• Numbness and tingling  

• Skin sensitivity  

• Muscle aches and pains"

What is a simple online test you can do to see if you have biotoxins in your system?

The online screening test is a measure of one of the neurologic functions of vision called contrast.  I have failed this test twice in 2012.  Try it to see if you are suffering!

What is Dr. Shoemaker's treatment protocol?

"Dr. Shoemaker contends that people with mold-related biotoxin illness are not necessarily infected with a mold or fungus, but that they are exposed to the spores that these produce which are highly toxic. When biotoxin illness is confirmed, Dr. Shoemaker often uses a combination treatment of Cholestyramine (CSM) and Actos, along with a low amylose diet. CSM works by removing the toxins that have entered the body. Though it should still be a key goal to avoid the toxin-producing substances in the first place, CSM can help to bind to the toxins already in the body and shuttle them out of the system. A low amylose diet is an extremely important part of the treatment protocol, as it helps to minimize (along with the Actos) the pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are often elevated in individuals with biotoxin induced illnesses."

 

To see more on this subject from Scott visit his web page at: http://www.betterhealthguy.com/topics/mold#sthash.z9iIlENw.dpuf

A Month Later... Has Removing Mold from our Home Helped?

It only took 1 1/2 weeks after moving back into our home for the pain that I had shooting through my body in my muscles or nerve pain to nearly completely go away.  I suffered all day every day.  Amazingly, I rarely have this pain today.  It is a true testament that mold exposure illness does exist and it can wreak havoc on our bodies!

Over the last month (despite being in the first trimester of pregnancy), I have noticed my energy level has improved.  I've gotten so much done around my home, in my business, with my kids, running our family...  I've caught up with things I was greatly behind on.  The mental fog I had and debilitating pain and sluggish energy daily wore on me.  I couldn't get anything done.  Didn't want to.  Didn't even care after awhile.  Now I care again!  Now I'm motivated!!  I feel happier, more peaceful and hopeful. 

When you feel like what you imagine is like living an elderly life where you are days or weeks from death, you have a deep appreciation for wellness!!!

I've been able to not only focus on myself, my new pregnancy including lining up a new team for prenatal care this time (a wonderful perinatologist and midwife that work together at a local hospital), but I can now also focus more on my children's health and how this biotoxin and mold exposure has possibly affected them.

My oldest son is 7 and has been exposured since the age of 4 or 5 years old.  He has developed a focus/attention/concentration issue which is prevalent in children exposed to toxins.

My next son is now 6 and has been exposed since the age of 3 or 4 years old.  He has a bit of an obstinate streak (gets it honest) but has been emotionally more extreme in his reactions to things which we thought would improve with age but has yet to do so.

My daughter who is 3 years old seems fairly normal for her age as far as my parent analysis goes but does have persistent swollen glands in her neck which I'm not content with.  I want her to be evaluated to rule out anything concerning causing these or anything I haven't myself observed.

My baby girl is 9 months old now.  She is at least 3 months behind in developing teeth for our family.  All 3 of the others got teeth in at 6 months.  She has no sign of teeth.  She's also delayed in talking.  She doesn't making any syllabols at all but what makes me feel good is that she can mimic sounds we make (not syllabols) and she has very well developed and early gross motor skills - early to crawl, stand and walk holding onto things.

I've been looking for a doctor who specializes in mold exposure illness, who understand what we are going through, who does Dr. Shoemaker's extensive genetic and mold illness diagnosing tests, who takes our insurance or at least can help us file for insurance reimbursement (a biggie for us right now!), who will see the entire family in one day for initial evaluation and blood work, and is within 1ish hours of our home. 

I believe I found someone!  A doctor in Gaithersburg!  Dr. Alan R. Vinitsky is a medical doctor, an internist and pediatrician who specializes in environmental medicine.  Who treats autonomic nervous system dysfunction which comes from exposure to toxins like mold.  He's written books, articles, given lectures, workshops, severed on boards, etc...  He seems extremely experienced in this area in which we are in need of evaluation, diagnosis and treatment.  He "gets it".  So many doctors don't fully understand that people like me who are sick are very sensitive to light, sound, chemicals, perfumes, fragrances, and that their allergies like food/cat, etc... become worse with mold exposure illness.  He understands all of this and doesn't allow his staff or other patients to wear scented products.  :) 

Dr. V.

His testing includes: 

• Autonomic Nervous System Testing.

• Visual Contrast Sensitivity (screening for neurotoxicity).

• ELISA/ACT testing for non-IgE mechanisms of sensitivity to foods and substances.

• Skin testing to evaluate and treat food and other sensitivities (perfumes, fragrances, tobacco, cats, etc.)

• Comprehensive Digestive Stool analysis with Parasitology - evaluates digestive function, dysbiosis, inflammation, and parasites of the GI tract.

• Metal testing - heavy metals, nutritional minerals, and challenge for metal elimination.

• Organic Acids, Amino Acids, Essential Fatty Acids and minerals for nutritional and metabolic analysis.

• Porphyrins, Histamine, Zinc, Copper, Magnesium,Vitamin B6,  Folate, B12, to identify nutritional causes for depression.

• HLA DR genetic markers for Mold Toxins, ANA, immunologic markers,    TNF- a, lymphocyte distributions, natural killer cells, titers for toxoplasmosis, EBV, CMV, HHV-6, Lyme, Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma.

• Carbon monoxide, venous and arterial blood gases.

• Identification of pesticides, Volatile organic chemicals (aromatic and aliphatic), herbicides.

• Hormonal Evaluation - including Adrenal, Thyroid, Ovary (or Testis), Pituitary, by blood, saliva, urine, or all 3.

• Pulmonary Function Testing.

• EKG

• Other testing as indicated based on above results

Note many of these tests are those Dr. Shoemaker uses to diagnose mold exposure illness!  

I'm really hopeful this is the doctor for me and for my family!  He seems on paper perfect!  I'll update after I set up a consultation and get to check him and his staff out!  Maybe this will help our family to change everything!

Mold exposure illness is serious.  If you live or work in a water damaged home/building, please consider removing yourself or getting your toxic home/building remediated asap!  You don't want to go through what our family is still going through.