Just because a doctor is a great physician with the right credentials, doesn’t mean that s/he will know how to treat mold illness. Here are some good questions you might ask:
1. Does the doctor have experience treating mold toxicity?
If the doctor has no experience with mold illness and mold toxicity, keep looking. A doctor without experience will just treat symptoms and not the root of the problem.
2. What type of treatment plan does s/he typically recommend for this type of issue?
Finding out your doctor’s philosophy to treatment helps you discover if s/he is the right doctor. If a doctor uses pharmaceuticals and you like a more holistic approach, then that is important to know and decide if his treatment plans feels right to you.
3. What types of tests would he run to diagnose and does insurance normally cover them?
A doctor that is used to treating mold may not need to run many tests to diagnose you. One doctor that I called spent about $5,000 to run a whole battery of tests. The doctor that I ended up going didn’t run as many tests so it saved money that could go towards treatment instead.
4. Does s/he normally prescribe any pharmaceuticals for treatment, and why?
It is important to understand as much as possible how a doctor would treat you. Some doctors use Cholestyramine, a drug normally used to treat high cholesterol, to detox patients from mold. But if you don’t have high blood pressure, this could further upset the natural balance and chemistry in your body. This drug is also known to cause constipation, so if you are trying to rid your body of toxins this doesn’t seem like the best idea. However, you may need some pharmaceuticals to assist your body in functioning or healing. For example, if your thyroid has taken a hit your doctor will need to treat your for that.
5. Does the doctor do any testing to make sure vitamin and mineral levels are normal?
If you have been really sick from the mold exposure, your body has been under severe stress. It is likely that you may be low in important vitamins, minerals or amino acids that your body needs to function properly. You can be doing everything right, but if you are low in a specific vitamin or mineral then you still may not feel great.
6. Does he doctor do anything to nutritionally support the body while detox occurs?
Detoxing the body can cause strain on organs and other systems. If you doctor is in tune with that, he may prescribe vitamins and minerals designed to support your body’s natural healing process while you detox.
7. What is the average length of treatment? How long does the treatment usually take before you see results?
No one will know exactly how long it will take you to fully heal. But, your doctor should be able to give you some idea of the normal length of treatment. During this time, you should substantially feel better as long as your are not being further exposed to mold.
8. Do I need to be on-site at your office for any length of time (i.e. longer than a day)?
Some doctors have detox centers and facilities where you are treated by the doctor and his staff for a number of days or weeks. When you are sick from mold, it is worth it to have this kind of intensive care to start you healing. The doctor is there to make it as easy as possible and treat you for any reactions as they come up.
9. Are there parts of the treatment I can do long-distance or from home?
After an initial consult and diagnosis, some doctors may be able to guide your treatments long distance using phone appointments or consulting with your local physician who might oversee your treatments.
