Seriously, could our house be making us sick? As if getting overdosed by a diagnostic center wasn’t enough, I was really starting to think something else was going on with me besides the lingering issues from receiving a medication error. At times when I would leave my home for overnight appointments I felt a little better. I was still very sick and fatigued with cognitive issues from Benadryl overdose so I was definitely a little nervous about being far from home and my routine. But, this was a trip my parents planned and was something important to them to get the family together again. So, we went and I was excited to see my sister, nieces, nephews and step brother. 
It was a beautiful trip and something strange happened while I was in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. I was not as fatigued like I was at home, I had a nice time with family. I actually slept at night and slept through the night. But, my ankles were swelling and I felt the need to eat continuously as if my sugar would be off if I didn’t eat regularly. But, I did have enough energy to have a good time with family and walk around the beautiful boutiques and stores on the breathtaking mountain top.
We enjoyed our trip and after 10 days of bliss, drove home. When we arrived home the following day I was in bed all day. I figured we had a busy vacation and we had to unpack and adjust to 
our regular routine again. Well this went on for a few weeks I was in bed all day. I didn’t understand it I had such a great 10 days and had energy and slept through the night without waking up gasping for air. Could my house be making me tired? Could our house be making me sick? This was all very hard to understand. My cat would just lay with me all day in bed, why am I so fatigued, I just don’t get it.
Another week passed with continued fatigue. Thankfully, my niece was having her bridal shower so off to my parents house I went for the weekend. Guess what? I felt energy again, not like normal but I had energy and had fun with family again. 
I hadn’t laughed this hard since the Benadryl overdose. I had so much fun, it was a BLAST. But, why does the fatigue return when I get home. Why do I feel fatigued all of the time?
I was starting to really question things because why do I get worse when I return home. I was always a Type A personality and worked hard prior to Benadryl overdose. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me and maybe it was just timing and I was just having a good few days. At this point I didn’t know much because my body was so affected I received medication error with Benadryl in my IV.
A few weeks later we were having new windows installed because half of our windows didn’t open or needed parts that were no longer available. 
We were excited to get all of this fixed and to save on our electric bill by installing insulated, low e windows. This picture of new window is my window to look out. The window dealer came and installed the windows but there was a problem. In our master bathroom over the tub we had glass block that we wanted replaced with a window that would open. 
When they removed the glass block all beneath the bottom of window was rotted and had to be replaced. My husband had to replace it from the outside. There were some other areas of rot but nothing out of ordinary for 20 year old windows.
After the windows were installed I was getting worse and started to react to foods like I did after I received the Benadryl overdose. It was horrible and I could not sleep at all at night. I kept waking up gasping for air. Then I started to get these rashes and prickly bumps on my skin. To top it off I was starting to have anxiety attacks like I did after the overdose. This was not cool I was starting to think I was reverting back to the way I was right after the Benadryl overdose.
But, other things started to happen my daughter came home from school and told me that she was sitting in class and felt funny. She explained that all of a sudden she felt like she was going to die and wanted to run out of the room. These started to get more frequent for her. Then, I was becoming very short with everyone in the house and couldn’t concentrate and my memory was now than it was after the overdose. It was really scaring me.
Buzz
You have already met Kitty Momo but we have 3 other kitties too. I had to take my cats to the vet for their annual check up and blood work. The vet found an elevated lymph node on my Kitty Momo’s neck. Then the vet calls me back about my other cat Buzz’s blood work and said that his kidney levels are off and he had elevated protein in urine. (The photo is Buzz Nugget man) Kitty Momo and Buzz had been throwing up and I did not think anything about it because I felt so bad.
So, I started to do some research and called my CFS (Chronic Fatigue Specialist) and asked her if our house could be making us sick. She was thinking it may have been the VOC’s from our new windows. Then when I spoke with my methylation/DNA specialist he thought I may have inhaled some fungus when they were replacing the windows. This started additional research for me.
I think our house could be making us all sick. I read that elevated protein in cats can be caused from exposure to mold in home. Cats don’t detox the way we humans do. Well, the way some people can detox (that is another blog post, lol).
Then the tip of the iceburg was when my husband started to get short with all of us. My husband, Gerald, is the calmest, most level headed man I have ever known. I knew something wasn’t right. But, we are still thinking that the VOC’s may be the culprit at this point. Then, one night I am sitting on couch and my tongue started to swell and I got very anxious. I didn’t want to alarm my husband and daughter since they were always on edge with me with my health since the overdose. So, I figured let me just step outside and get some fresh air. 
So I stepped out onto my front porch and sat out there. Well, within a minute or so the swelling went down. So, I walked back into the house and swelling started right away again. At this point it was 10:00p.m. and it was a school night for my daughter. I left the house and took my daughter with me and we stayed at a hotel. That night in hotel I was so dizzy I had to practically crawl across the room floor to go get some water. Immediately the next day I ordered a mold dna test on house and it came back very elevated. In my next blog post I will continue what we had to do.. and what else happened...
Wow! This is very interesting. I’ve been in a new apartment for 6 months and have felt really weak and tired lately. I’ve actually had this exact thought about the apartment, the air system and the water. I’m in South Korea and I knew that adjusting to the new place would take a while but I’ve actually wondered if it was more since it’s been lasting so long. I have a very healthy diet, sleep schedule and I exercise regularly so I’m still perplexed at what could be going on. Thankfully, I only have 6 more months at this apartment and then I’m back to the states so hopefully I’ll start feeling better. Thanks for the great article and I definitely believe that your surroundings can affect your health. I hope you start feeling better and can find the source.
Kristin,
Yes unfortunately indoor air is a big problem and with the increase in wi-fi etc they are saying it is increasing the growth of mycotoxins and other contaminants in the home. We did find the source and I will be updating that on my site in next few days. Pay close attention to this even in the states and if you can spend as much time as you can outside limit your exposure. If it is mold in your home please note that it only takes 6 weeks cross contaminate your new home with the mold from the old place. 🙁 Are you in South Korea on business?
I’m really glad I came across this because my parents house is running into the same exact problem and I have been researching for things that might be wrong with it. How do you do a mold DNA test? Is there a professional service that does this?
There are two ways you can do it. If you are definitely sure it is mold you can order a dna mold test here You can do a HRTSMI with this test. If you are not sure if it is mold, VOC’s etc this is a great test to measure what could be other possible causes in your parents house. I really like this test too Click Here I would get the full test including formaldehyde, voc’s etc.. with this one (ordering with this link for second test if you choose this one will give you 10 percent off for being a follower on my site. 🙂 The first link doesn’t offer anything but if you really think it is mold I would order that one so you can find out which mold it is etc..
This must have been an awful time for you as something is definitely going on in your house, I’m glad that you managed to find the source of the problem as it has affected your whole family as well and the cats to. I had no idea that mold could do this to you.
It is becoming a growing concern as our houses get tighter and tighter for energy efficiency. WiFi is increasing the rate at which bactera, mold and viruses are multiplying. It is pretty crazy stuff
That’s crazy because I’ve experienced the same thing to a lesser extent! I used to get sick whenever I would go in our basement and play when I was younger. It turned out to be black mold, which I also happen to be allergic to. We had another instance where the filter in our AC was the source of our problems. Any time any of us would spend and extended time in the AC we would all be sick. Did you find that all of your problems went away when you dealt with the problem?
Sam I am so sorry you experienced such a horror in your home, too. It is becoming a huge problem more and more.
After being so sick and once you are sickened by mold you become highly sensitive. I am working on removing mold from my body now and am eating a strict paleo, gut friendly diet. Hence, my recipes, lol. When you live in a moldy environment it enters your body and your blood stream to include your gut. It tends to throw everything off. I am so much better we have a special air purification system in our home that eradicates mold, mycotoxins, etc… Yes, I am feeling much better but still have a long way to go it takes about 5 years to recover from being in mold if you are following a strict diet, etc.
Do you find you have any symptoms that you are questioning?
Wow Francine I’m glad you were able to discover what was happening with your house so that you could finally do something about it! Mold is a serious issue, thank god you found out before anything got worse!
That reminds me. There’s this commercial on my favorite radio show that I always hear for a product called “Wave Home Solutions.” I believe it is an alternative air and water purification system for homes. They’re always talking about how most people are unaware of the dangers of indoor air pollutants, so it’s such a synchronicity that I find your article about the same thing! I was literally just listening to my radio show in the car a couple hours ago!
You can learn more here:
http://www.wavehomesolutions.com/
Who knows, maybe if you end up liking this product you can promote it here on your site! 😉
The problem with some of these machines is they only work on small area. We wound up finding a great machine that takes care of the mycotoxins,mold, VOC’s, formaldehyde, pet dander and other air quality issues. It as a life saver or we may have lost all of our possessions. I would not use anything but this in my home and for my family and friends. If you eradicate mold and don’t take care of the mycotoxins, the mycotoxins can be more deadly than the mold itself. It is really scary stuff. 🙁 That is post that I talk about what we used etc.. Thank goodness and the best part it is made in the USA. woohooo
Wow, I feel so bad that this is happening to you but at the same time, I was incredibly interested to read. From all your post it really seems that there is something in your house that makes all of you feel like this. I read many times before on the news or Internet, generally, that mold can be very unhealthy and cause many symptoms.
I truly hope you will find a way and all of your symptoms for you and your family will go away. This is crazy!
Thanks for sharing your story, waiting for more.
Jolita
Jolita, we are doing so much better thank you. It has been a crazy ride the past few years. But, I wouldn’t change it at all. It has made me very passionate about empowering and educating others. If you didn’t see what happened to me before we found out about mold check it out here
Francine, yes, absolutely your house can be making you sick. I believe it can, as it’s happened to me!
I lived with a family member for almost 5 years after my divorce. I experienced all kinds of worsening symptoms: horrible, debilitating eczema, random hair loss, fatigue. I thought it was just from the stress of re-engineering my life. But these symptoms persisted – and worsened – well after I was feeling much, much better mentally and emotionally.
I changed my diet. I tried different medications. I changed my exercise routine. But do you know when it was I finally started getting better?
After I moved.
Whenever I visit that house, I can now smell – taste, even – the difference in the air as soon as I walk in the front door. When my sister visits that house, she gets uncontrollable congestion.
Shame, because I love that house. But I do believe it wasn’t helping. Since I left, patches of black mold were discovered …. yikes.
Great job with your site!
Be well,
Kevin
Isn’t it crazy how this happens. We have a very clean diet and it wasn’t until we found the source of the mold. Sorry, the next page is broken and it will be posted soon and it has additional info about what we did. We contributed my symptoms to being overdosed on the Benadryl if you didn’t read my story you can read that by clicking Here it’s been a crazy few years and wait till you see my next posts. But, you know I was able to learn so much from all of this and my passion is to share and empower others so they aren’t sick. I am super sensitive to mold now if I go in a house and it has mold I react right away. My friends call me the mold/chemical dog, lol. Hmmm, I wonder if the love of the house was the mold sucking you in, lol j/k.. 🙂 If you have the mold gene your body cannot detox. Mold isn’t good for anyone but those with the mold gene have harder times. I’m happy you got out.
Great article and very well written, we are exposed to many unhealthy chemicals in our own homes and even in our food sources today. People are very unhealthy today, this article will help many people look more serious at their own homes and how healthy they really are.
Great Article
Jeffrey, One thing I have learned from all of this is that so many people are walking around feeling like crap. They don’t have to feel that way it is not normal. That is why I am truly so passionate about sharing this information with everyone. Thank you for your post.
Thanks for sharing, this is a problem, my grand daughter got very sick and nearly died. We found mold in my daughters apartment and my grand daughter has an acute allergy to penicillin. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it is such a big problem. Hopefully they removed mycotoxins too or they left their belongings along with the home that made them sick. I am so sorry your family had a run in with mold, too. It is a horrifying experience.
Wow…I am so sorry to hear what you went through. I cannot even imagine. I want to have my home checked now for mold. What a scary thing to go through. I’m glad you are home and better now.
Rachel,
Thank you so much it’s been a journey that is for sure. I want to take what we have learned and share with others so they don’t suffer needlessly. 🙁 If you are feeling that way test your house.
About 15 years ago we had a similar experience. I only felt sick when I was home. Once I got out of the house I was better. My husband at the time, was constantly coughing. My 3 kids kept getting nose bleeds. (very weird). And they would wake up in the middle of the night saying that their legs hurt. Long story short. We had many different kinds of black mold. We had to evacuate and leave all of our possessions behind. We moved into an apartment while we were waiting for renovations to be done. It was a very stressful time. Once renovations were done and the house was certified mold free, we sold it. I simply couldn’t go back.
Wendy,
I am sorry you went through this, too. It is a tough situation but you have gone through it so you know how serious it is. I’m happy you got the remediation done and left. Could you not go back because you still felt weird in house or just because you were over it all already.
Hi, Wendy
It’s so interesting what you are saying. I have never thought about that houses could make people sick. I am also so glad that you were able to find out what caused the physical problems in the family and evacuated. I can totally understand why you didn’t move back in the same house.
I have to ask out of curiosity. How are you and your family doing today?
Tove
Tove,
Some people never stop reacting to mold and some have had to resort to living outside. Luckily for us we found a solution but it is so sad how so many suffer. My passion is to educate and empower
Hi, Francine
I am sorry to hear that you have been so sick. I am happy to know that you found out what the cause was. Mold in houses can’t be easy to get rid of. So I am looking forward to hearing more about this event. I hope you got rid of all the mold and that you have recovered your health.
Tove
Can your house make you sick? Absolutely. My home almost killed my wife and son nearly 5 months ago. Black mold in a wall from a leaky pipe we never knew about sent my wife and son to the ER resulting in my son on life support and my wife very close to the same. Doctors all said it was allergies. One attendant pulled me aside and gave me his opinion. He listened, read the signs, and acted (kinda). You never know.