When the symptoms started
At first, the symptoms seemed like small nuisances.
I was short of breath. My nose constantly ran. My “foot knuckles” swelled up. Rosacea appeared on my face, and my scalp became itchy. My tongue developed a thick coating, and I started sweating profusely—at night and even after eating.
Then things got stranger. My thinking became foggy, and I struggled to remember things. I developed the “dropsies,” frequently losing my grip on objects, and sometimes I’d completely lose my balance and fall over. Joint and tissue pain became part of my daily life, along with pins and needles in my hands and feet. I was fatigued. My vision blurred or doubled, my stomach became bloated, and I struggled to digest food.
All these symptoms piled up, but none seemed severe enough to stop me from functioning. Still, something felt very wrong. After six months of tracking these issues, I was working with a functional medicine doctor who ordered an ANA test and X-rays. The results were devastating—I tested positive for Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. And then my hair started falling out.
Diet changes
In response to my diagnoses, and with my doctor’s supervision, I overhauled my diet. I began an elimination diet, cutting out all major allergens to reduce inflammation and protect my organs. I took three months off work to carefully reintroduce foods, one at a time, and track how they affected me.
The results were surprising—and frustrating. Gluten caused issues with my eyesight. Foods high in histamines triggered rhinitis. “Regular” personal care products left me with rashes. Seafood caused my tongue to swell and gave me pins and needles. I had to adopt an incredibly strict diet just to keep my symptoms manageable.
During this time, my doctor suggested an eye contrast test. After reviewing the results, they said something that changed everything:
“You know? I think it might be mold.”
Mold testing
I hired a reputable mold testing company, and the findings were shocking. Mold was everywhere—behind the walls, thanks to water intrusion that had occurred before I moved in. The air was teeming with toxic molds like Aspergillus and Stachybotrys (commonly known as black mold), along with several others.
Finally, I had an answer. But now, I faced an even bigger challenge: what to do about it.
Moving
I agonized over whether to remediate or sell the property at a loss to an investor who could handle the cleanup. After consulting with a mold expert, I came to a painful realization: no matter what I chose, I couldn’t live there. The health risks were too severe.
While I deliberated, I slept on the outdoor balcony—ironically the only place I felt safe—until I could move out. Ultimately, I decided to remediate the property. Looking back, I wish I had walked away and sold to an investor. The remediation and selling process dragged on for two exhausting years, draining energy I simply didn’t have.
During this time, I stayed in temporary housing: first an Airbnb hotel, then a rental home for a year. Both places turned out to have mold issues as well. I improved slightly, but my recovery felt frustratingly slow.
Finally, I made a bold decision. I moved into a brand-new, experimental LIV travel trailer designed to be mold-resistant. It’s a tiny home on wheels, and it’s become my sanctuary. After three and a half years, I finally started to feel like myself again. But the travel trailer lifestyle is not an easy one, especially for a newbie…
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