How Ignored Symptoms Led Us to Discover a Silent Threat in Our Home
Hi, I’m Heather, married to Ben and mom to four amazing kids. I have so much to share, and figuring out where to start has been a challenge. So, I’m diving in by talking about symptoms first and taking it from there. Along the way, I’ll fill you in on who I am, (See our welcome post here). our life in Florida, our lovely coastal town, homeschooling, chickens, and whatever else my wild, neurodivergent brain thinks of next.
The great news is that life is currently beautiful, filled with joy and healing. I think it’s crucial to start with that because without hope, what do we have?
I want to share the hidden dangers of toxic mold and shake up an entire industry by spreading awareness far and wide—mountain tops, city streets, schools, government buildings, military bases, and wherever else I can. But, as a mom of four, my resources are limited. What I do have is the ability to write and tell our story, and help you, your neighbor, mother, brother, or co-worker feel seen. Though I’m not a professional or medical expert, I have more experience than I care to admit, and I’m happy to guide you on a path to healing.
Here are some of the symptoms we experienced:
Symptoms I Experienced:
- Migraines
- Extreme fatigue
- Intense Joint Paint
- Blurry vision
- Memory loss
- Stuttering, inability to complete a sentence
- Mood swings
- Severe depression
- Spells of anger, even rage
Symptoms in the Kids:
- Outbursts and irritability
- Increased ADHD symptoms
- Anger
- Vomiting
- Upper respiratory infections
- Croup-like symptoms
- Itchy nose
- Headaches
- Exhaustion
So, what might a doctor say if you came to them with these symptoms? Here are some quotes from various medical professionals that I personally received:
- “Heather, you have 4 kids, you’re tired.”
- “It’s early menopause.”
- “You work and you have 4 kids, what do you expect? Do you drink coffee?”
- “You have anemia. You need iron supplements.”
- “You need a rheumatologist, I think you have lupus.”
- “Here’s a prescription for antidepressants.”
- “I want you to try these antidepressants.”
- “Have you been tested for Lyme?”
- “Have you seen an allergist?”
- “How is your sleep at night?”
- “Do you have to work?”
- “Instead of homeschooling, why don’t you send the kids to public school?”
- “Have you considered counseling?”
- “When is the last time you had COVID?”
- “You need vitamin IVs.”
- “You need vitamin B injections.”
- “It’s your hormones.”
- “You hit 40, what did you expect?”
- “You don’t need hormone therapy. Your levels are fine.”
I could go on and on. These are just some of the things I heard from medical professionals—ranging from my OB and primary care physician to naturopaths, pediatricians, urgent care nurses, and physician assistants.
So how did I find out we were living in a house riddled with toxic mold? On December 7th, 2022, I went to see my friend Jayme. She performed a Zyto scan, a non-invasive biocommunication procedure that measures the body’s galvanic skin response (GSR) to help people make better health decisions. The scan can analyze hundreds of items, including the nervous system, meridians, hormone and endocrine system, detoxification system, and immune system. It basically tests your biofield. Jayme did a full body scan, and mycotoxins were off the charts.
Based on that appointment, she looked at me and said, “You need to get your house tested for mold.” And that’s exactly what I did.
This is just a peek at what we have been dealing with and how it all started. I’ll continue to write and share our experiences, how we navigated this nightmare, and how my husband and I wondered if we’d ever make it to the other side. But we did! We did it together and turned it into an adventure for our four kids. Serious symptoms were ignored and honestly brushed to the side. For goodness sakes, I was stuttering! My migraines drove me to the hospital three different times. But somehow, it was “menopause” or “depression.” I am forever grateful for my intuition and determination to find the root cause of my debilitating symptoms. I feel very lucky for that. I hope this message helps someone else fast-track to find their root cause. I will share more soon about how we tested the house with Certified Mold Assessment, Inc.’s team and how we found the hidden toxic mold that rapidly grew following Hurricane Ian.
For now, here is a guide of typical things to check for when looking for mold in your home, office, school, or work environment.
Feel free to comment, subscribe, ask me questions. I will try to reply to all messages and give you my personal experience and references I have used along the way. We all deserve to heal!
Blue Skies and endless adventures,
Heather
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Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for general informational purposes only. I am not a certified mold assessor, medical professional, or legal expert. This guide is based on my personal experiences and should not be considered professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional for mold assessment and remediation, as well as any health-related concerns.