Episode 8 - Real Talk From CIRS Patients on Mold Illness: Chris Foth, Aaron Pettigrew & Tim Martin

In this episode, Dr Eric Dorninger sits down with CIRS patients Chris Foth, Aaron Pettigrew & Tim Martin to have an honest and eye-opening conversation.
0:20 - Introduction's - Our incredible, vulnerable, brilliant CIRS patients (active and recovered) Chris Foth, Aaron Pettigrew, Tim Martin
1:30 - Aaron shares his story of Misery and SUCCESS!
6:30 - What happens when a normal, balanced, capable life implodes
9:14 - STUCK in Healthcare without a diagnosis....
11:42 - Helping others while working through CIRS....Family, Faith, Friends and Community to get us through the hard times and
14:00 - Screening for CIRS - VCS (Visual Contrast Sensitivity), Clustered Symptoms, History of Biotoxin Exposure..Confirmatory Labs...The Shoemaker Protocol....the most complicated step is Getting out of exposure!!!
16:41 - Aaron's Brilliant Improvements from an Authentic walk through the Shoemaker Protocol
18:40 - BRAINS CAN HEAL!
24:10 - Paying it forward...and taking care of our Friends and Community...Tim Martin shares his story and Chris Foth as the most important link in the chain of his healing, penetrating lack of a diagnosis and staying on this planet
31:25 - Defying the Impossible....It is possible to heal heartburn and reflux!
32:35 - Step 1 "Remove Patient from Biotoxin Exposure" is essential to healing
34:50 - Question WHY? suicidal ideations as MORE than life circumstance
38:40 - Help each other and society and Reach out if you're in a tight Spot!!....there are answers for healing suicidal thoughts
42:00 Inflammation and lack of a thorough diagnosis can change your brain and your personality
44:10 - "CIRS Does Suck", but as a community we can heal.

[@bg5760]

Amen! Look forward to working with you Dr. D.👍 I’m currently in pain, hands don’t work, I’m living in a tent in the backyard, wife and kids at neighbors. You guys have just injected me with hope. I was ready to be done too. God bless you all!

[@jeohmusic5199]

Powerful, powerful, powerful eye opening revelation regarding CIRS. My wife is going through exactly to the detail what you gentleman have shared. We’re living it! Sold the home, had to live separately for almost a year now and are now looking at temporarily moving her from PA to CA. I’ve struggled at times to believe there is hope for her. This here has injected new hope in me to fight for my wife’s life. Thank you gentlemen for sharing your journey, steps and openness to recovery.

[@thevitalityhour1371]

We have yet to see the Shoemaker protocol fail, we unfortunately have many patients stuck on Step 1 "Remove Patient from Biotoxin Exposure". The CIRSx conference (May 17-19th 2024 Frisco, TX..CIRSx.com) is meant to bring together the building/environmental side and the healthcare side with coaches and patients so we can address the monstrosity that is American construction. Void of massive abuse, I tell patients to close the "divorce door" and get with a sincere Shoemaker provider....interview them if possible and ensure 1) they are in the strict accordance with the Shoemaker protocol (it's fine to complement and pad the protocol with functional medicine to support each patient as an individual, but not bait and switch the protocol...it's organic chemistry, not alchemy that's sets those with CIRS free...2) that as providers that get down and dirty with supporting clean building...an average week for me as a Doctor includes many phone calls with inspectors, remediators, and coaches ensuring we are getting Step 1 proper..."Remove Patient from Biotoxin Exposure"

[@mindymastruserio2735]

Rock on! Awesome talk, guys. As a psychotherapist with CIRS, I especially love the vulnerable discussion about the mental health aspect and suicidal ideation. Thank you!

[@thevitalityhour1371]

Hey Mindy, we are grateful you are on the team...having the insight as therapist who's dealing with CIRS (who's hopefully healing their CIRS!) is an unfortunate/fortunate potent insight for the human condition....our dream is for all therapists, nurse, doctors, coaches, nutritionists, Medical Assistants, etc. learn how to do VCS on survivingmold.com ask the Clustered Symptoms and become screeners for CIRS...8/13 clusters for >11 year olds is 95% sensitivity you're dealing with CIRS with a failed VCS 98.5% sensitivity...for kids

[@bg5760]

I’m still a skeptic and pushing back against you but know you’re strong enough to be the leader I need

[@erikjohnson4275]

Look at that book on the shelf. Surviving Mold. It has my story, Chapt 17 "The Novice Pilot. CFS and other medical mistakes" How I started Chronic Fatigue Syndrome nearly 40 years ago in order to get researchers to look into mold illness. The reason it says "Novice Pilot" is that when I was a novice Hang Glider pilot I found out why advance pilots were crashing their launch but could not tell anyone with a flying rating higher than mine. Only people of equal novice status or beginners. In this way "The Mighty Ones" deprived themselves of knowing, simply because they were too arrogant for their own good. Same with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Toxic Mold Illness. People could have known this any time in the last four decades, but their own false pride got in their way.

[@joleeneanderson989]

Thank you for sharing!

[@zscioli]

Thanks for the info guys!

[@JamieR]

Like Chris, I have been sick a long time and spent years looking for my root cause. 14 years and counting. When you've been in it a long time, you just settle into it... Im glad you two have each other in it. It's difficult walking it alone. I have negative VCS, but 13/13 questionaire. Pretty sure i have CIRS. Good episode. Thanks for doing this.

[@thevitalityhour1371]

Please get to an earnest sincere Shoemaker certified clinic.....I was there....it is a vicious but treatable illness!! Time to hunker down and graduate! Hang in there

[@JamieR]

@@thevitalityhour1371 Thanks for the reply! I'm curious, have you seen anyone doing Primal Trust before detoxing? I'm seeing a trend where many like me, who struggle with MCAS, dysbiosis, etc---get their body into balance and their symptoms goes away---purely from somatic / limbic / cell danger correction.

[@gailivey2015]

I love this so much. Thank you, Dr. Dorninger. I can spot CIRS in a person a mile off, I just can't get them to believe me when I tell them, hey, you might want to check this out, maybe take the vcs test. I can walk into an infected building and know within 5 minutes or less if I'm safe in there or not. My mom got dementia out of nowhere, and now I know she had CIRS, too. My nephew has CIRS and has been BEDRIDDEN for 10 years and I'm struggling to get my sister to believe he has CIRS. They've lived in a moldy house, an OBVIOUSLY moldy house, for almost his whole life and he didn't get sick until after they moved in there. I want so much for people to realize CIRS is REAL and the Shoemaker protocol is how you handle it.

[@thevitalityhour1371]

Whew, yes please...the patients will lead the revolution....You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them take a VCS and do the clustered symptoms....Ugg, would be great to see you at the CIRSx.com Conference in Frisco Texas May17-19th...All we can do is continue to product larger scale data, educate the healthcare community, the environmental professionals and those with "mystery illness" symptoms like being bedridden.

[@bg5760]

A challenge for me is this is so often under the header that you have here,”mold illness”. It’s not just a mild illness and I think that needs to be removed.

[@gappedtoto1663]

Jesus loves you!

[@ericdorninger3559]

Thank God...those going through CIRS need love, support, understanding and a clean/clear effective diagnosis!! Bring the Love....Dear Lord bring the Love!!

[@BurntheBreeze1]

Thanks for this podcast.

[@thevitalityhour1371]

ahh, your welcome!

[@KP-os2lb]

I have been dealing with this for 5 years and knew it was it but because it was caused by my career I have spent close To $20k out of pocket trying to prove it was something else even though I knew it was CIRS deep down. The almost constant vision issues and ear, head and eye pressure as well as the constant full body joint pain is debilitating for sure. The modern healthcare system has failed me even with me telling them it was Cirs, which they basically mock. I am triggered basically anywhere I go now.

[@thevitalityhour1371]

It’s super frustrating, hopefully this podcast is a first step in wide spread understanding.

[@lppa24]

Have 2 questions: Can a person have CIRS but not the genetics? Can a person with CIRS get let's say 60-70% better with only supplements??

[@thevitalityhour1371]

Yes, 95% of Dr. Shoemaker's 10,000 Biotoxin ill data set were Genetically susceptible...this is the most genetically susceptible common illness (blows RA, MS, Celiac, Hashi's etc. out of the water)...I've addressed in 30 years of healthcare, 20 years of private practice...insane predisposition...NEVERTHELESS, 5% of his data set did not have the genes, but did tend to have some pretty rough building exposures. Just like Celiac, etc. You don't have to hav the HLA to express the illness, but you're wildly more likely to express CIRS with the genes.... .....Yes, CIRS patients feel better with targeted nutraceuticals or addressing nutrition, addressing apnea / thyroid etc. ...Sometimes they have CIRS "plus" and sometimes you're simply dampening their CIRS cytokines (for example, high dose fish oil dampens MMP-9)...I call this the "functional medicine hook" when people do supplements and modalities at the exclusion of finding and addressing the underlying cause...This is steps 2, 3 and 4 of Naturopathic medicine (2. Reestablish Healthy Regimen -e.g. diet and lifestyle 3. Stimulate the VIS - the vital force, like good acupuncture or Wim hof breathing, 4. Tonify systems...targeted nutraceuticals and herbs)...but sincere restoration of health happens with Step 1 "Remove Obstacle to Cure" also known as Identify and treat Underlying causes"

[@lppa24]

@@thevitalityhour1371 Only 5%? I asked because I fear the lifestyle of mold avoidance that I heard. Taking supplements is what I can do before getting out of exposure, once I arrange another home. Thank you

[@skylerfennell5984]

​@@lppa24 What tests have you done?

[@lppa24]

@@skylerfennell5984Just the VCS test

[@redesign5096]

@@thevitalityhour1371 I am so grateful to you for this video!!! I am on my 4th Functional who happens to be out of state. Those here never tested me for biotoxins like the one now. That said I feel like I’m questioning my journey A LOT!! I tested and she basically spent 1 hour going over my 3 test results. Hormones were upside down, I had much of the same as these 3 men shared, and was terrified I was getting Alzheimer’s 1 year ago. I was not tested for the gene and when asked was told I most likely have it with all that the labs show. I was left to search out answers as I had high lead and antimony and other metals, plus BPA, and Glyphosate- when I’m organic! The mold issues was 1 black mold and a couple food mold. I’m feeling a bit disgruntled lately over why my functional didn’t explain CIRS and MARCoNS better to me. Testing was last Sept 2023. I’ve been on all these supplements- high fish oil which I know nothing of what you said above about it dampening something. Does it not help??? I’m 55, single, no kids and no income. I sold my house which had mold which I had to fix but I moved away and chose to rent so I could get to a better functional doc and work on a startup biz… needless to say, as you know the challenges… I couldn’t focus to work on starting anything. I saw another video on CIRS recently with Shoemakers protocol in pyramid format. I was never told I need to do some of the steps on it. I started out on NDF for metal detox, and then Ultra Binder. I was afraid to do CSM as it was a pharmaceutical, and also did BE spray which I had to stop. Told to use Xlear if BE irritated. Well I got a massive bleed end of Feb. nose still isn’t right and I’m not sure what to do. Where do I go for help. I only opted to do Phase 1 of 4 phases due to financial reasons since I’m out of work since Jan 2023!! Blowing through my house proceeds and I literally have no CIRS support here. In fact I told my family I needed a break from them to eliminate stress to reduce stress hormones and inflammation. I’m literally taking stuff every hour from time I get up 5 am to bed 9 pm. I can’t afford to keep testing and doing more supps. Bleeding me dry. But I know I MUST get the mold out. I did test 3 weeks ago and have Salicylates Intolerance. Now down to 10 things I’m allowed to eat!! What do I do? Never knew about VCS test until that other CIRS video I found. I do photography and graphic work and am certain I would fail the test. I have vision issues. Vision changed twice last summer and had to get glasses changed!! Would love to know where to go and know I’m in the right place so I don’t have to keep researching & watching videos. Oh - I did just start CSM…. Appreciate any help!!!!

[@paphet]

I don’t know any of these guys yet after watching this video I feel like they’re my bros lol

[@thevitalityhour1371]

🤜🤛

[@holylabs]

Hi. Can I take my Omega pills the same time I take my Welchol? I Take my binder and then 30 mins later eat and you mentioned how its best to take 3000mg of Omega 3 with your meal while on binders, but then also thought you needed to wait 2 hours before taking supplements when taking your binder. Any clarification on this?

[@thevitalityhour1371]

I take my CSM welchol 1-2 hours after meal with fat (fat contracts the gall bladder) If taking fish oil or supplements with a meal I wait 2 hours until welchol / CSM. Welchol was a modification of CSM to be able to take with food, but I avoid taking it right at a meal with supplements, especially my fish oil.

[@holylabs]

@@thevitalityhour1371 why is it so important to avoid taking the binders with fish oil supplements? And why do you take binders an hour or 2, after you eat vs with eating? Theres so much conflicting info on whats the best time. I think understanding the reasons behind it will help me make the best decision.

[@KarsonsChannel]

Hey Aaron, could I ask you how much VIP spray you were on before your brain atrophy got better? and how long you were on it?

[@thevitalityhour1371]

Initial paper was 4 sprays daily for 18 months....Dr. Shoemaker then showed brain regrowth with 12 sprays daily in 6 months...same amount of sprays but tripled over 1/3 the time (our clinic ramps patients up)....VIP only regrows brain if documented clearance tests (HERTSMI-2, endotoxin and Actino Index) are really showing no longer in exposure, you've taken enough CSM/Welchol to take biotoxins to the toilet and you've eradicated MARCoNS (Steps 1-3 of the Shoemaker protocol)...Here's the VIP regrow brain paper: www.survivingmold.com/Publications/VIP_AN_GALLEY_PROOF_3_20_2017.PDF

[@KarsonsChannel]

@@thevitalityhour1371 thank you!

[@barblaforce3991]

Please talk to my son. He is going through this and needs a friend.

[@thevitalityhour1371]

Jenny Johnson at simplifiedwellnessdesigns.com is one of many phenomenal CIRS coaches that runs support groups for those with CIRS...it's so important to have people who understand this illness, but also help protect the chronically ill from misinformation and shenanigans. I highly suggest he reach out....sorry to hear about your son