Are you experiencing CIRS?
Understanding Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), commonly known as mold illness, sheds light on a medical condition initially explored in the context of sepsis research, a potentially life-threatening condition triggered by bacterial infections. Unlike sepsis, CIRS manifests as a chronic inflammatory condition, a persistent blaze within the body long after the initial spark. The syndrome results from an innate immune system gone awry, with chronic inflammation persisting even when the original trigger is no longer present.
Dr. Shoemaker's pivotal discovery linking CIRS to mold began with the question: Could a similar inflammatory cascade, akin to sepsis, be occurring in chronically ill patients exposed to water-damaged buildings or suffering from Lyme disease? This inquiry revealed a shared inflammatory process, leading to further research into human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetics and its role in CIRS development.
Key findings from Dr. Shoemaker's work include:
- CIRS typically occurs in individuals with specific susceptibility in their HLA DQ/DR genes, around 95% of the time.
- Impaired HLA genetics can lead to a chronic and ineffective inflammatory response after exposure to biotoxins.
- This ineffective response fails to eliminate biotoxins, triggering dysregulation in hundreds of genes and causing a range of symptoms.
- Binding agents, like cholestyramine, can aid in biotoxin elimination, but additional steps are often necessary to rebalance the inflammatory response.
Inflammation, a natural healing process, becomes problematic in CIRS as it persists deep within the body, unable to switch off due to genetic factors. Dr. Gupta describes the mechanism as a chaotic and inefficient inflammatory cascade responding to biotoxin exposure, whether from mold toxins, bacteria, parasites causing Lyme, or other sources. This process triggers a myriad of imbalances, resulting in diverse symptoms affecting various bodily systems.
Common symptoms of CIRS encompass fatigue, memory problems, disorientation, headaches, muscle and joint pain, and more. Diagnosis involves assessing multisystem, multi-symptom illness, evidence of biotoxin exposure, genetic susceptibility, positive Visual Contrast Sensitivity (VCS) test, and blood tests indicating inflammatory and hormonal changes.
Crucially, CIRS is not exclusive to mold; biotoxins can originate from diverse sources, affecting approximately 25% of the population with a genetic susceptibility. Dr. Shoemaker notes that a primed HLA gene, often triggered by past inflammatory events, can lead to an inflammatory response upon biotoxin exposure.
The connection between CIRS and breast implant illness highlights the heightened risk for those with saline implants. Damaged implants can introduce mold and bacteria, becoming a constant source of biotoxins. Removal of implants is imperative for recovery. Silicone implants also pose a risk, with immune dysregulation potentially allowing Lyme pathogens to prime the HLA gene.
Treating CIRS involves avoiding ongoing biotoxin exposures, removing breast implants, detoxification with binding agents, and addressing hormonal, inflammatory, and gene imbalances.
In summary, CIRS emerges from genetic susceptibility, primed by an inflammatory event, coupled with exposure to biotoxins, resulting in a chaotic inflammatory response and a multi-system, multi-symptom disorder. If you suspect CIRS in relation to breast implants, a VCS test can provide initial insights, but consulting a qualified practitioner is essential for comprehensive guidance.
