Are Psychological Factors Causing Your Water Health Symptoms?

Recently, after moving into your new home, you've experienced some peculiar health symptoms related to the water. Your tongue feels numb, your stomach aches, and your hands tingle. Furthermore, clothes washed with this water come out with a residue that causes your skin to tingle and itch. Despite water tests yielding no results, several theories have surfaced: the water may have been sitting in the pipes for a long time, or worse yet, your spouse might be slowly poisoning you.

Old House and Heavy Metal Contamination

Given the age of your 200-year-old home, heavy metal contamination is often the primary suspect, particularly if symptoms persist. Cyanobacteria, a type of bacteria that can thrive in stagnant water, can cause symptoms similar to food poisoning, along with a residue that could irritate your skin when washing clothes.

To ensure an accurate diagnosis, it's crucial to undergo full-spectrum water testing, which goes beyond the standard home test kits available on the market. If heavy metals or cyanobacteria are the cause, a comprehensive approach involving both water softening and a whole-house reverse osmosis system (RO) might be necessary.

Considering Environmental and Psychosomatic Factors

While these physical explanations are valid, another possibility is that your symptoms are more psychological in nature. After moving into a new, historic home, the stress and anxiety about potential environmental hazards could trigger psychosomatic reactions, where physical symptoms arise from emotional distress rather than a physical cause.

It might be helpful to consult with a psychologist or wellness expert to explore the psychological aspects of your situation. Additionally, seeking testing from an independent company, ideally outside your state or even through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), might provide more reliable results.

Reassembling the Evidence

Given the possibility that your initial water test results might not have been conducted correctly or the testing entity lacked the necessary expertise, a second round of testing is recommended. Sending your water sample to a different company or even to the CDC can ensure that the testing is done by highly qualified professionals using the latest technology and methods.

Water testing facilities across the country, including Anchorage, Alaska; Cleveland, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; Fort Collins, Colorado; Hyattsville, Maryland; Morgantown, West Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Spokane, Washington, offer a broader range of testing options and more stringent standards. The CDC, with 10 testing locations across the United States and Puerto Rico, can offer a definitive diagnosis.

It's important to remember that one test is rarely sufficient. Historical discrepancies in medical and environmental testing are not uncommon. Just as I've experienced with certain medical tests, initial negative results can sometimes turn positive with further investigation.

I understand the significant impact these water issues are having on your life. The CDC is known to take such cases seriously. If you're willing, I can send your case to them for further investigation. They are one of the most respected institutions in the field and can provide the thorough testing and analysis necessary to resolve your concerns.

Let me know if you need any assistance in arranging further tests or if you have any more questions. I hope you are able to determine the root cause of your symptoms and find a solution.