What are the Symptoms of CIRS?

If you’re reading this post, it’s highly likely that you suffer from some sort of vaguely explained illness. The illness, likely a syndrome, doesn’t have treatment. It’s more like the diagnosis of your illness was the last resort for your practitioner (or practitioners. You’ve probably seen more than half a dozen).

The illness could be:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
Fibromyalgia
Long covid

But what if these syndromes are actually… symptoms? Symptoms of a complex illness that involves environmental exposure, genetics, and your body’s immune response?

I am describing CIRS – or Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. Patients who suffer from CIRS have been diagnosed with all of the illnesses I listed above, plus many more. They have seen a wide variety of conventional and alternative practitioners, and taken every medication and supplement available. Unfortunately, they have often been dismissed by the medical establishment and told it’s all in their head.

But the underlying cause of their illness is their immune system’s inability to expel biotoxins. As a result, their immune system is continually reacting to the biotoxins, which has resulted in CIRS.

Unraveling the Mysteries of CIRS

Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, or CIRS, is a condition that happens when the body can’t recover from exposure to biotoxins produced by mold, Lyme disease, and other sources. Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, a pioneer in the field, has dedicated his career to unravelling the mysteries surrounding CIRS.

Dr. Shoemaker has found that CIRS is not a simple illness. Instead, it is a syndrome with symptoms that can vary widely from person to person.

Understanding CIRS requires an understanding of its underlying mechanisms:

Exposure to biotoxins. This exposure initiates a cascade of inflammatory responses in genetically susceptible individuals.
Immune system dysregulation. In its attempt to neutralize these toxins, the immune system can become dysregulated. This leads to a constant state of inflammation that affects the entire body.

The Diverse Faces of CIRS

CIRS is like a master of disguise. It presents with symptoms that mimic many other conditions. This makes it a challenging puzzle for both patients and healthcare practitioners. The symptoms of CIRS can appear in virtually any system of the body. As a result, practitioners who are not familiar with CIRS are not able to figure out what’s going on.

Let’s take a closer look at the many faces of CIRS.

1. Respiratory System:

The respiratory system often bears the brunt of CIRS, as exposure to mold toxins is a common trigger. As a result, persistent coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and sinus congestion are frequent complaints. These symptoms, which are similar to allergies or asthma, may lead patients and their practitioners down the wrong diagnostic path, which delays the identification of CIRS.

Symptoms: Persistent cough, shortness of breath, wheezing, sinus congestion.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2006). A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 28(2), 103-113.

2. Neurological Symptoms:

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of CIRS lies in its impact on the nervous system. Hallmark signs the nervous systems displays are cognitive dysfunction, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and brain fog. Patients may also experience mood swings, anxiety, or depression, which makes diagnosis even harder. That’s because these symptoms can often be misattributed to stress or other mental health issues.

Symptoms: Cognitive dysfunction, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, depression.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2006). Similarities in the neuropsychiatric presentation of mold illness, Lyme disease, Gulf War illness, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 61(2), 77-83.

3. Fatigue and Malaise:

Chronic fatigue, unrelenting exhaustion, and a pervasive sense of malaise are common threads that weave through the CIRS tapestry. This profound impact on energy levels can disrupt daily life, and lead to a cascade of secondary symptoms that compound the challenges faced by individuals with CIRS.

Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, unrelenting exhaustion, pervasive malaise.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2006). A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 28(2), 103-113.

4. Musculoskeletal Complaints:

The inflammation triggered by biotoxins can affect the musculoskeletal system. As a result joint pain, muscle aches, and stiffness are common in those with CIRS. These symptoms may be mistakenly linked to conditions such as fibromyalgia or arthritis, which diverts attention away from the root cause.

Symptoms: Joint pain, muscle aches, stiffness.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2006). Similarities in the neuropsychiatric presentation of mold illness, Lyme disease, Gulf War illness, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 61(2), 77-83.

5. Gastrointestinal Distress:

CIRS doesn’t spare the digestive system, and GI symptoms are very common. Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation mimic irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other GI disorders. A CIRS practitioner must unravel the intricate interplay between CIRS and gut health.

Symptoms: Nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2006). Similarities in the neuropsychiatric presentation of mold illness, Lyme disease, Gulf War illness, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 61(2), 77-83.

6. Sensitivity to Environmental Stimuli:

Patients with CIRS often become hypersensitive to things in their environment. This heightened sensitivity can appear as an intolerance to certain foods, odors, or even electromagnetic fields. These diverse sensitivities show the far-reaching impact of CIRS on multiple bodily systems.

Symptoms: Hypersensitivity to certain foods, odors, and electromagnetic fields.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2006). Similarities in the neuropsychiatric presentation of mold illness, Lyme disease, Gulf War illness, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal, 61(2), 77-83.

7. Sleep Disturbances:

Symptoms: Insomnia, disrupted sleep patterns.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2005). A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 27(1), 29-46.

8. Headaches:

Symptoms: Chronic or recurrent headaches.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2005). A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 27(1), 29-46.

9. Weight Fluctuations:

Symptoms: Unexplained weight gain or loss.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2005). A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 27(1), 29-46.

10. Night Sweats:

Symptoms: Excessive sweating during sleep.
Source: Shoemaker, R. C., & House, D. E. (2005). A time-series study of sick building syndrome: chronic, biotoxin-associated illness from exposure to water-damaged buildings. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 27(1), 29-46.

11. Skin Issues:

Symptoms: Rashes, itching, and other dermatological problems.
Source: Rosenblum Lichtenstein, J. H., Hsu, Y. H., & Gavin, I. M. (2015). Personalized exposure assessment of toxicants using high-throughput microarray gene expression analyses. PLoS One, 10(7), e0131022.

12. Changes in Sensory Perception:

Symptoms: Altered taste or smell perception.
Source: Rosenblum Lichtenstein, J. H., Hsu, Y. H., & Gavin, I. M. (2015). Personalized exposure assessment of toxicants using high-throughput microarray gene expression analyses. PLoS One, 10(7), e0131022.

Do you think you have CIRS?
Book a complimentary 15 minute phone chat with one of our Shoemaker practitioners!