CPAP Device Had Black Mold

by Kirt

Late in 2011, I began to use a CPAP device to aid my breathing. When sleeping it was strapped on my face. A few months later I stop using it because I was doing better and put it away. In September 2012 I began to have bazaar health issues; then it hit me strong by end of September, things I have never experienced before.

I began to go to the doctor for the next 9 months. I went to approximately 11 visits all this time. I got worse, a lot worse. You name it I had a test for it! Infusions! Multiple drugs! The list goes on. I got worse and I began to worry. All this time the amount of horrible suffering continued to grow. I knew it, friends knew it, family knew it. They could see my appearance was odd and my reactions strange.

Out of the blue a friend said have you checked your home for mold? I said no, why? He said it can make you sick. I thought it was nice of him to be concerned but in my mind it was not reasonable. Mold could not possibly make feel so horribly bad anyway. I forgot about checking out my home and months later I was getting worse. Far worse by now I was not really existing. For some reason I began to check my house for mold and in 15 minutes I was completely exhausted and did not find any trace of mold. I thought this could not get worse except to die.

I had my doctors appointment, but I did not want to go anymore. I was just too sick and decided whatever was going to happen was going to happen. Then I said I will go one more time and tell my doctor I'm done.

That evening I could barley take a shower. I went into my spare room to get clothes in my closet. I push all the clothes to one end and I looked on the bottom of the closet and saw my CPAP device in its opened black case. I got a light and shined it and saw a heavy concentration of black mold on the case, the device itself and the straps. What little adrenalin I had left rushed in on me. I thought what and how that could be and still did not think that would be the cause my serious problems. Anyway I was told bleach and water would kill it so everything went in sink with bleach and then I put the device outside along with the clothes that were hanging over CPAP. I sprayed the clothes and went to bed. This was the night before my doctors appointment.

I saw the doctor the next day. He shared some more previous test results with me and said nothing significant showed up. This is after several blood tests; the last one was of 5 vials on blood. He talked for a while but didn't know what to say. I thought he probably thinks I am crazy or a hypochondriac or both, or I am making this up, want attention, etc. Just when we were concluding I lightly mention could black mold have anything to do with this problem? I explained the CPAP device and what I found. He actually began paying close attention and listening, staring right at me. When I stopped there was the longest pause and looking right at me he stood up and and said "end of mystery, mold caused this problem"!

He told me what to do which I had already started the day before - clean the mold out - then he gave me a prescription. In less than 18 hours some of my symptoms had completely disappeared. Some of them I have had a least 9 months. In 10 days almost all of my problems had completely vanished. Only 2 problems exist that are very slight and do not really interfere with life. Who knows maybe these will go away.

I still can't believe it. When i go back to my doctor and tell him how I feel now I don't think he will be surprised. I could not read this article let alone write it 3 weeks ago. I am not going to write the symptoms now unless some wants to know. I will say this - if you are having severe odd ongoing and increasing problems and I mean real problems, check for black mold. I don't know if there is a test for mold sickness. If there is have them test for it first! That's what I would do because some of the medications can actually cause mold sickness to increase. Thats what I found out after the fact.

PS: the CPAP device I use; I washed it out every night and put in fresh water for each use but when I stopped using the device I did not dump the water out. Its dark and closed atmosphere caused the mold to grow and pump out mold spores.

In all it was my own fault, not the CPAP device. My spare room was a death trap where I could sleep, study, use the computer, watch tv, listen to radio, etc. My day bed was only 3 feet away from the source of mold. I am so thankful that the problem was found. The simple medication really worked and fast with no side effects; how often does that happen???? Of course removal of the mold was most important....

Unknowingly slow motion torture. Thank you for reading my story.

Kirt

Editor Notes

For more information on the health effects of black mold, follow this link. Here is information for finding mold in your home. Sometimes mold is hidden and cannot be found. If that is the case you should have your home tested by a professional. They will conduct air tests to determine if any type of mold is present in your home.

For a list of licensed professional mold testers in your area, click on the link.