MoldSurvivor_42
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We found black mold behind the bathroom wall during a renovation. I was 34 and healthy. Within two weeks of the wall being opened, I couldn’t remember my kids’ names. The brain fog was like someone wrapped my skull in cotton. Then came the joint pain, the crushing fatigue, the feeling like my lungs were on fire. I thought I was dying. The ER said my labs were normal. My husband thought I was having a breakdown. It took 18 months to connect it to the mold. By then my body had become reactive to everything — fragrance, smoke, paint, new furniture. The mold was the match. My immune system was the gasoline.
We had to abandon our house. Literally walked away. Insurance wouldn’t cover proper remediation. We lived with my parents for eight months — their house had carpet and gas heat, which made me worse. Finally found a rental in the country with hardwood floors and electric heat. I’ve spent $12,000 on air purifiers, dehumidifiers, and sealing every possible entry point. This house keeps me alive but it’s a prison.
I’ve seen a CIRS-literate doctor who ran the Shoemaker protocol labs. VCS test positive. C4a through the roof. MARCoNS positive. The science is there but my insurance doesn’t recognize CIRS as a diagnosis. I pay out of pocket for everything. My PCP still writes ‘anxiety’ in my chart even though my inflammatory markers are off the charts.
This is a personal experience, not medical advice. ImACanary.com makes no causation claims.
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