r/ToxicMoldExposure

I've been out for 10 months, had 40 symptoms now down to 7 : fatigue, brain fog, derelization, afternoon crash where I feel like I'm sundowning, light sensitivity, exercise intolerance and PEM.

After stumbling on a post where a guy had me/cfs for 23 years and that he cured it in days after realizing he couldn't convert long term fatty acid chain, I decided to try it. I still ate a little butter but cut every other fats in the last days.

It worked, after even one day I felt better, all my symptoms came way down and I felt normal again. I thought maybe it was seed oil the problem so today I took olive oil ( real, 100% real, organic, not rancid). After an hour and a half my brain fog, derelization, fatigue and afternoon crash came back with a vengeance. I felt great two days ago because my symptoms went down A LOT.

My symptoms also rise with sugar and go way down when I eat sardines. I thought initially it might be due to brain inflammation but I'm wondering if it could be from insulin resistance?

I have been bed bound the first year and second year I'm pretty sedentary. Im wondering if it could be cause by being extremely inactive? Or is it the mold?

Did you developed insulin resistance? Did it go away after a while?

For those whose husband/wife didn’t believe that your health symptoms were caused by mold, or didn’t take your concerns seriously, what did you say/do to change their mind? What actually worked?

My spouse is very loving and supportive of me as I’ve been undergoing health complication after health complication. They’ve also been very financially helpful. I’ve seen every doctor and run practically every test that shows I’m mostly healthy. Though I haven’t done specific mycotoxin blood/urine tests because they’re so expensive.

They’ve seen the mold in our house and on our belongings. They know how many plumbing issues we’ve had over the years. They’ve seen the EMRI test results. They see the difference in my energy and health levels from before we moved in together vs now. But because they and their children (from a previous relationship) are thankfully perfectly fine, they are convinced my problems are related to something else. Despite all the literature I’ve provided them that outlines otherwise.

I have spent the past 5 years undergoing countless scans and imagining, dozens of blood tests, dozens of different specialists, I take about 20 medications and supplements daily, have tried dozens more, and so on. Medically, I am completely unremarkable. Yet I’ve only gotten worse. I get an infection of some sort at least once a month, when I used to get them once every few years. I can’t drive or exercise or have a social life anymore. I’m a completely different person.

I’m afraid that we won’t be able to afford the remediation our home requires. We have so much negative equity in our home as it is. If we sell now, I know we won’t have enough to cover what’s left on the mortgage. My spouse is willing to make a 401(k) withdrawal for necessary repairs, but only up to a certain amount. We know we need a new HVAC system, but they want to replace everything because our electric bill is so high, not because there’s mold and moisture in the attic.

They don’t want to sell because they don’t want to disrupt their kids’ lives by getting rid of the only home they’ve ever known. Plus it’s the home they had with their mom until she died (from an accident, not anything mold related). I get there are memories here for them and there’s a big emotional attachment to this place. But I can’t spend the next 10 years waiting until they’re all on their own so we can sell the house and finally leave.

My spouse has completely refused my suggestion that we live separately, like we did when we were dating. So I need to find a way to convince them that mold is a serious issue that is affecting my physical and mental health, and needs to be taken care of for me to continue living here.

I lost my job because I wasn’t healthy enough to keep showing up. I’ve applied for and been denied disability twice. We don’t have a yard big enough for a tent but I’ve thought about living in my car for the next 10 years with our tiny dog. Though I’d still have to come inside to clean (they cook) and help take care of the kids. So even if I slept in my car it’s not a practical solution overall. And realistically I can’t afford to move in with a friend or get roommates even if I wanted to, unless I sold my car I suppose. And all of my family are a couple of states away so they can’t help.

I don’t want my spouse to spend their life savings and their kids’ inheritance fixing up a home that is more trouble than it’s worth. And I know wherever we move to next might come with the same risk of mold. And I don’t want them resenting me if I don’t get any better. But if there’s a chance I could get better, I don’t want to resent them 10 years from now because we didn’t take that chance when we should have.

I just feel trapped and hopeless. So any judgement-free advice or suggestions are appreciated. Thank you for listening to me rant.

I’m sharing updates regarding what I’m dealing with here with mold in my newly rented unit.

Hey all, at this point I’m writing these posts because I’m so stressed they provide a form of stress relief for me, kind of like telling a friend about your problem.

The original post mentioned how I rented a unit in Toronto upon moving I felt very sick from being there due to the air quality.

On night 2 my partner came to my room at 2AM asking if I had my Apple Watch handy as she felt trouble breathing chest pain and heavy malaise.

Well we had a very stressful panic. Ultimately upon opening up the all the windows in the unit 🪟 she started feeling better hrs later she ended up feeling fine again.

She said something which scared me alot “thank god I didn’t sleep because who knows what if I died I my sleep” not sure if that concern is realistic or if that’s just a fear being mentioned in passing but… it’s scary.

Anyway she out on a winter coat and double the blankets and decided to sleep with all the windows open… I kept checking on her every 2 hrs to make sure she was okay.

Here is what makes this situation even more complicated, we moved to Toronto in the first place because I had lost my job not too long ago. I thankfully found one in the city, and that was massively helpful to me economically. I really REALLY need this new job to workout, I am writing this on a Sunday morning after yesterday’s events. My first day of work is Monday.

I don’t even know if I should mention my situation to them, or if I should keep it to myself and put on a tough front and stuff this anxiety and fear down focus at work on work matters and give it my all, ensuring that atleast despite my horrible situation renting I still atleast have enough money to get by.

Wish my the best my friends please advice me if you have good insights and keep me in your well wishes and prayers. I will fight to get through this! ✊

Does anyone have experience with MCAS caused by chronic mold exposure? At the beginning of my symptoms we did not know that our apartment had any mold (it was painted over by the landlord). It has been 14 months since the onset of symptoms and 8 months in a mold-free environment.

I'm starting to really lose my mind with how many allergies I have acquired, my limited safe foods and honestly explaining that over and over again.

Anyone that has had MCAS triggered by mold...is there hope that this will resolve itself since it was caused by my environment? Or is this the new reality that I need to accept and continue to adapt to?

Is the VCS test enough to start self-treatment?

Unfortunately, I’m unable to afford further testing as I’m only 16, and my parents don’t believe in mold exposure causing this much symptoms. They believe that because my ordinary blood tests at the doctors have come back normal, I should be fine. However, I’ve been dealing with debilitating symptoms for over a year, many of which I believe correlate with mold exposure and CIRS.

I initially used the free VCS test from vcstest.com, which came back positive with a biotoxin score of 62/90. Just to be sure, I also purchased the $15 test from SurvivingMold.com, which came back as “failed” in both eyes and also indicated positive symptoms.

I was told that if the VCS test comes back positive, there is reportedly a very high likelihood of having CIRS. I’m now getting to the point where these symptoms are significantly affecting my everyday life, and I’m struggling to cope with how long this has been going on.

Has anyone here gone mainly based on the VCS test alone and then self-treated with binders such as CSM (cholestyramine), or other treatments? I’m not sure what would be the safest or most appropriate approach, especially when I can’t afford further testing.

If anyone has been in a similar situation or has any advice, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience.

Thanks!

I just moved to a brand new building 3 days ago and just been able to check to see if I am in afib(it happens so much I don't realize I am in it) and I have had normal sinus rhythm since moving. I believe alot of the place has had mold in it. I also have had alot of other health problems I have been dealing with. I have noticed already I have alot more energy and unpacking and being more active. I am not sure if this has to do with being in a way nicer place and its helping my depression or it's because I am out of that environment. I was wondering can symptoms go away that quick? If not what can I do to help me detox? thanks