1. Exposure history

2. Your symptoms cannot be explained as the result of any other illness. This includes taking a complete health history and doing a thorough exam.

3. You need to have multiple symptoms in multiple systems of your body to be diagnosed with CIRS Dr. Shoemaker has developed a symptom chart to evaluate patients for multi-system, multi-symptom illness

4. VCS-visual contrast sensitivity testing. Symptoms clusters+a positive VCS test is 98% sensitive of the condition. You can take this test below for $15.

   https://www.survivingmold.com/store/online-vcs-screening/purchase-vcs

5. HLA genetic suscpetibility testing, CIRS patients have a genetic predisposition that leaves them vulnerable to accumulating biotoxins in their body.

6. Bloodwork- There are a number of markers that indicate CIRS, they include: MSH, TGFB1, MMP9, VEGF, ADH/Cortisol, marcons nasal swab

Yes, 98% of CIRS patients are positive for a genetic abnormality found in HLA genetics. These genes tell us that your immune system lacks the ability to tag, destroy, and remove biotoxins from your body.

What are biotoxins? Organic materials found in nature that can cause dysregulation in the body. When you have these genetics’, your body cannot identify these intruders, tag them, and remove them from the body. They consequently build up causing multisystem multisymptom illness.

When your immune system cannot clear these biotoxins, it turns on a severe innate immune system reaction, constantly trying to search and destroy what it cannot find. This leads to a decrease in immune system function and a spike in inflammatory cytokines resulting in multi system, multi illness symptoms. This illness is called CIRS- chronic inflammatory response syndrome.

Ritchie Shoemaker, M. D., is a recognized leader in patient care, research and education pioneer in the field of biotoxin related illness. Dr. Shoemaker has dedicated his life and career to uncovering the link between the toxic stew found in many of our buildings and homes, and the vast amount of misdiagnosed and catch-all ailments physicians often assign patients for whom they cannot offer any real treatment. By uncovering the real science behind these illnesses, and attacking the problem with clinical studies and sound research techniques, Dr. Shoemaker leads the way in not only identifying the true cause of these afflictions, but also in curing those whom the medical community deemed incurable.

His protocol and treatment methods continue to be the only evidence based treatment protocol for biotoxin related illness.

• Chronic fatigue

• Brain fog

• Headaches/Migraines

• Muscle aches and joint pains

• Vision disturbances-primarily decreased ability in seeing contrast (this is what the VCS test is testing for)(this will also make driving at night difficult)

• Shortness of Breath

• Dizziness/Vertigo

• Night sweats

• Ice pick pains

• Gut disturbances/SIBO/gut disorders that do not respond to treatment protocols

• Increased food sensitivities

• Unexplained rashes

• Exercise intolerance

• Anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation

• Heart palpitations

• Unexplained weakness

• Frequent nose bleeds

• Static Shocks

• Frequent urination/Frequent persistent bed wetting in pediatrics

• Interstitial Cystitis

• Autoimmunity

• Persistent Miscarriage

• PANS/PANDAS

• Chronic Migraines

• Celiac disease

• SIBO

• MCAS

• Covid-Long haulers syndrome

• Post Exercise Malaise

• Erythromelalgia

• OCD

• Bipolar disorder

• Anxiety disorders

• Depressive disorders

• Parkinsons/neurodegenerative disorders

• Ulcerative Colitis and IBD

• Chronic Mystery illness

1. Schedule a new patient appointment where we will screen for CIRS (VCS testing/symptoms clusters/genetic testing) If positive for CIRS we will send you out for labs

2. Get sent out for labs- This will be a very comprehensive process of running everything necessary to get a proper differential diagnosis (labwork from quest, labcorp, vibrant, marcons nasal swab, stool testing/sibo testing if indicated/neuroquant brain MRI)

3. Meet to review findings

4. If positive for CIRS begin Shoemaker treatment protocol

5. Leave your water damaged building, this process is hard and often times is what keeps us from progressing in treatment. Our team will provide you with many referrals and resources for who to trust with assessing your home.

6. Complete shoemaker protocol

7. Retest to prove the treatment has worked, begin rebuilding body and educating the patient on how to maintain health and wellness moving forward

The timeframe is unique and different for every individual.

From initial appointment it usually takes 1 month to meet again to review lab results. After that if you are able to get out of the water damaged building/mold treatment is 6-10 weeks before retesting.

*Road blocks typically include: Not being able to get out of exposure, Marcons infections, Atrophy on neuroquant brain MRI, Sibo or other concurrent infections