Me, my boyfriend, & my cat sick 2 years after wilderness & home reno exposure. High platelets, swollen lymph nodes, 10/10 head pain. Doctors won't test. Please help. (Only letting me share one pic idk why)
Hi everyone. I am posting out of absolute desperation. I am a female, and I have been dealing with a progressive medical mystery for nearly two years. I feel completely abandoned by the medical and veterinary systems, and I need advice from real doctors, dermatologists, or veterinarians on what this could be, or how to get a provider to take these physical symptoms and lab results seriously.
The Home Environment & Recent Renovation:
I live in a 2002 manufactured home in Ramona, California. During this two-year timeline, my house underwent renovations. My boyfriend ripped open the spare bedroom and left the insulation completely exposed. I am constantly cleaning aggressively every single day using HEPA vacuums and Honeywell air purifiers, and I have thrown away everything in my house three separate times to try and get rid of the source, but the environment still feels deeply contaminated.
The Exposure Timeline:
This started around November 2024. Around the same time as the home renovation, I was in nature walking my cat. I didn't see myself brush against a specific plant, but afterward, I looked down at my arm and found light yellow, spine-like structures embedded in my skin. Between the exposed insulation at home and the outdoor exposure, my health and my cat's health completely spiraled.
The Personal and Emotional Toll:
This has completely destroyed my life financially, physically, and emotionally. Out of sheer desperation to escape the physical sensations, I shaved my head. As a woman, my hair was my most precious asset, and losing it has completely destroyed my self-confidence. I am deeply embarrassed, isolated, and exhausted.
My Severe Physical Symptoms:
Intense, Debilitating Pain: I have severe, constant pain in my shoulders, my neck, and my lower spine.
10/10 Headaches: I suffer from constant, 10/10 headaches concentrated on my temples and the top of my head. The pain is so severe it keeps me awake for five days in a row sometimes. The resulting brain fog and fatigue are severe.
Swollen Lymph Nodes: The lymph nodes in my neck are very visibly swollen. I have shown them to multiple doctors who physically touch them, but they still don't say anything or order further testing.
The "Gritty" Texture & Mucus Membranes: I feel a highly distinct, sand-like or gritty texture all over my body hair, but it is especially severe on my scalp and my eyelashes. It is also actively affecting my mucus membranes, including my nose, my ears, and internally/vaginally.
The Hair Structures: Under close inspection, the affected hairs have a highly distinct look: they have a clear tip with a jagged hair shaft.
My Lab Work & History:
High Platelets: My blood work from multiple ERs and clinics consistently shows elevated/high platelets, but the doctors are completely ignoring it.
Abnormal Pap Smear: I recently received an abnormal Pap smear result. Given the other symptoms, I suspect this is connected to a localized or systemic fungal/yeast issue or severe chronic inflammation.
The Dermatologist Visit & Medications: I managed to see a dermatologist who claimed she didn't see anything and refused to perform a KOH prep (Potassium Hydroxide) smear or skin scraping. Despite refusing the test, she still prescribed me terbinafine. Because the doctors wouldn't run direct diagnostics, I eventually had to use TeleRX to obtain itraconazole and additional terbinafine myself.
Transmission/Shared Symptoms:
My Boyfriend: He caught this and is still actively experiencing the exact same symptoms. He moved out in February to Santa Isabel, but moving away did not stop the symptoms; he is still dealing with it there.
My Cat (Luna): Luna has developed circular, bald patches on her shoulders and behind her ears. She is actively losing weight and losing her strength, and I am terrified I am going to lose her. We paid nearly $200 for a standard ringworm culture at the vet, which came back negative. I also personally checked her with a UV blacklight / Wood's lamp, which didn't show anything.
What I need from the Reddit Community:
Given the combination of exposed insulation in a manufactured home, high platelets, swollen lymph nodes, 10/10 head/spine pain, the gritty texture, and my cat's hair/weight loss, I am trying to figure out what is happening to us.
If you are a medical professional, what does the combination of high platelets, swollen lymph nodes, severe cranial/spinal pain, and a chronic "gritty" texture suggest to you? Could chronic exposure to raw insulation/fiberglass mimic a systemic or fungal infection in the skin, mucus membranes, and lymph nodes?
Why would a dermatologist prescribe terbinafine but refuse to do a simple KOH prep to verify what they are treating?
How can I find an Infectious Disease Specialist, a toxicologist, or a provider who will take these physical symptoms and swollen lymph nodes seriously?
What steps can I take with a new vet to get Luna targeted treatment without relying on basic cultures or Wood's lamps that already failed?
Thank you so much for reading. Any direction could literally save my cat and my sanity