Inflammatory Response from Mold & Lyme Exposure

 Per Dr. Richie Shoemaker:

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is a condition discovered and researched by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker. The proper definition of Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) is “An acute and chronic, systemic inflammatory response syndrome acquired following exposure to the interior environment of a water-damaged building (WDB) with resident toxigenic organisms, including, but not limited to fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes and mycobacteria as well as inflammagens such as endotoxins, beta glucans, hemolysins, proteinases, mannans and possibly spirocyclic drimanes; as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs).”

CIRS involves a systemic inflammatory response that results when an individual does not have the immune response genes to eliminate neurotoxins produced by their exposure to a WDB. So their innate immune system fails to regulate inflammation.

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Biotoxins directly affect nerve cell function (http://www.survivingmold.com/diagnosis/the-biotoxin-pathway). CIRS affects multiple systems in the body, causing patients to exhibit multiple symptoms. A patient who presents with several of these, after exposure to a WDB, could be suffering from CIRS.

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SYMPTOMS OF CIRS – Symptoms can include fatigue, weakness, aches, muscle cramps, unusual pain, ice pick pain, headache, light sensitivity, red eyes, blurred vision, tearing, sinus problems, cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, diarrhea, joint pain, morning stiffness, memory issues, focus/concentration issues, word recollection issues, decreased learning of new knowledge, confusion, disorientation, skin sensitivity, mood swings, appetite swings, sweats (especially night sweats), temperature regulation or dysregulation problems, excessive thirst, increased urination, static shocks, numbness, tingling, vertigo, metallic taste, tremors, multiple chemical sensitivities.

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Depending upon their symptoms, patients may be diagnosed with other illnesses, including multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and depression; however, there are tests that can be used to establish if CIRS is the underlying cause of their symptoms.

 How it works

The VCS test is a measure of one the neurologic functions of vision known as “contrast.” Biotoxins impair the ability to detect subtle contrast within 24-36 hours after exposure. The Shoemaker Protocol™ VCS testing system is an extremely valuable tool to detect and monitor exposure to toxic environments for individuals with CIRS.

The VCS test has 92% accuracy rate based on data collected from tens of thousands of tests taken over the years since Dr. Shoemaker first began using it. Your score is recorded and determined according to published criteria.

For the vast majority of the population, when the instructions are accurately followed, the test results have proven to be consistently reliable.

What a Failed Test Means

Your score will show up as a Pass or Fail. While a failed test may suggest the existence of CIRS or biotoxin/mold illness, the screening by itself is not considered a definitive diagnosis for any specific condition.

The VCS will not tell us which chronic inflammatory response syndrome you have, but it will give clear direction that you need to be evaluated for entities such as mold, Lyme, cyanobacteria, and dinoflagellates.

The incidence of false positives are quite low. If you have a multi-symptom, multi-system illness and a VCS deficit, the likelihood that you have a chronic inflammatory response syndrome is 98.5%.

The VCS is best to be taken on a desktop or laptop computer in a well-lit room with glasses if required for reading.

The Lyme bacteria is a stealthy bacterium that is known to evade the immune system and move out of the blood stream into the synovial fluid surrounding the joints. 

Lyme is difficult to diagnose and equally as difficult to treat. There have not been clearly outlined standards of care for treatment that have been proven to be effective. Many organizations disagree on how treatment should be approached making finding a practitioner even more difficult from a patient's perspective.

Our provider Melissa knows this all too well, having watched her mom struggle with the illness. Her mom was healthy many years after a bite with bullseye rash, despite being inadequately treated for the bite. It was not until the loss of a family member almost a decade later that Lyme had the opportunity to go unchecked by the immune system. 

Every person is different in what they can tolerate as far as treatment is concerned, and being able to tailor a plan based on the patient's ability to tolerate treatment is very important for success. Pushing too hard can cause a Herxheimer reaction which is uncomfortable and can make a person very ill.

While antibiotics can be helpful, they are not always the answer. They can lead to antibiotic resistance and wreak havoc on the GI tract and microbiome.