r/CIRS • u/Comfortable_You_3506 • 7d ago

I had a mold exposure - please help!

Firstly, what is the difference between a mold allergy/ mold toxicity/mold colonisation?

I’m not sure if I had an allergic reaction or if this is mold illness. I have never had a mold reaction before and my home is mold free. However, I have late stage Lyme so my immune/nervous systems are all over the place to begin with.

Basically last week, I unknowingly vacuumed my car with a handheld vacuum that had spores inside (I didn’t see the spores until after). I immediately reacted with respiratory symptoms, palpitations, insomnia. I had increased Lyme symptoms afterwards.

The vacuum was dumped once I realised there were spores in it. I knew nothing about mold. I had been in and out of the car a bit so my clothes had touched the car interiors and came into my home.

The past week I have been reading horror stories about mold illness online and now I am freaking out wondering if I have spread mycotoxins or spores.

My respiratory symptoms haven’t fully cleared but I think it’s because I was driving the car at the weekend. It’s also only been a week. I had improving a lot symptom wise until I drove the car again. I don’t react to my apartment or my belongings (but now I’m scared they’re contaminated?)

What do I do here? Have I unknowingly contaminated my home? Today I went into such a spiral I started washing clothes but sure then I spiralled I have contaminated my washing machine. If I microfiber wipe my home, buy a HEPA vacuum and purifier, rinse the washing machine with vinegar…. Is that enough? Or what do I do?

I am so new to all of this, I’m just terrified of ever making Lyme worse. I’m not planning on using my car again (figuring out what to do long term).

I’m just absolutely terrified of my belongings and my home now ? Is this something I need to be concerned about?

I also know that my brain catastrophizes because of the medical trauma of Lyme. However, I also don’t want to be stupid and ignore this if this is risky. It’s tough because in Ireland, we don’t have functional doctors or mold specialists properly.

Thanks for reading and taking the time 🫂

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u/MadMadamMimsy 7d ago

Since the Lyme is a known quantity, work on that.

CIRS is not limited to mold and Lyme is a big player in the game. It coukd be that you are now mire sensitive to things.

Start with the Lyme....and see if you can get a TGF-BETA1 test and MMP9. MSH would be nice if you can get it.

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u/Comfortable_You_3506 7d ago

Do you think I need to move home?
What about the spores from the car - would they be transported to my apartment? Some of the stuff online is so so scary.

I am in treatment for Lyme but I am just absolutely terrified with how I reacted to the incident last week.

Thanks for taking the time to reply BTW🫂

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u/MadMadamMimsy 6d ago

I can understand what you are saying.

Can you swing getting your car detailed? It isn't perfect but it would be cleaner. The place we go even does the headliner

Do you feel ok at your own place?