The Flog – The Fabry Log

Andrea called from the doctor's office in Arizona to give me an update and to let me hear the consult. I've never heard so many words I didn't understand. She and the kids are going through a detox process from the exposure to our toxic mold.

All 11 of us have now been tested for the presence of certain toxins. We are all positive for aflatoxins. I looked it up. "Aflatoxins are potent toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, immunosuppressive agents, produced as secondary metabolites..." See what I mean? The word I landed on in there was carcinogenic. Yuck. Double yuck and ewww.

Again, this is why Andrea's "gut" told her she needed to get the kids seen even if the insurance company doesn't cover our treatment (which, so far has not come through).

So we all have basically been sickened by the environment we were in. There is emotional distress not only because of the losses we've seen, the house, the pets, possessions, but also as part of the exposure. These toxins work on the brain and other internal organs, including potential pulmonary problems. I couldn't resist the alliteration.

We were exposed at high levels, higher than any doctors we've talked to have seen. In studies conducted around the world, York England was a site where they found women were at 26 and men 29 parts per trillion. When they detect more than 1 part per billion, it's significant, and we were in the significant range.

Aflatoxins are able to alter the code or structure of the DNA, inserting themselves into the DNA code or causing breaks in the code. That means potential problems of birth defects, cancers, and metabolic abnormalities. It is listed as a confirmed human carcinogen by the WHO, not the band, the World Health Organization.

All of that went by in a blur, especially the part about aflatoxins and it's relation to autism. Samples on autistic children have shown them to be positive for aflatoxin at significant levels. That causes me to wonder about friends who have autistic children.

Here's what Andrea wrote on her blog last night. You can click on her link to the right.

"All 11 of us have now tested positive for aflatoxins. When you understand the nature of these mycotoxins and their capacity to do harm this could be alarming news. But, as one who has searched for answers for months on end, this news comes as a relief.No more wondering which child to treat. No more wondering about Chris or myself. I recommend this test (which is a urine test) wholeheartedly to someone wondering about mold exposure and their family. Aflatoxin is the mycotoxin that comes from aspergillus. Ochratoxin comes from penicillium and tricothecene comes from stachybotrys. The aflatoxin test is the only one we have had for all members of our family. The tests are available through Real Time Labs and require a doctor's order. They are costly but often reimbursed by insurance."

All of this causes me to wonder how our story will end. There is someone who knows and he hasn't let us in on any of it. Yet. Part of faith is taking one day at a time and letting God work. I think that's the only thing we can do now--do all we can to get better and let God take care of the rest.