r/CozyPlaces • u/Icy-Obligation-8862 • 1d ago
BEDROOM New space after having to get rid of 95% of everything I owned due to toxic mold
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u/UX_Strategist 1d ago
Yikes! That sounds horrible! How did that happen to you? How can we avoid such a thing? Your place looks great, by the way!
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u/Icy-Obligation-8862 1d ago
Thank you! I was living in an 1886 Victorian-era mansion that was neglected by the property managers for quite some time. About a year ago, my health started deteriorating rapidly. I had a pre-existing condition that has overlapping symptoms with mold toxicity and so initially I didnt think to consider environmental factors.
I was having what I called “pressure migraines” nearly everyday. Towards the end, my short term memory was terrible—i’d completely forget conversations I had earlier in the day. I was also experiencing frequent infections, digestion issues, neurological issues, vascular compression, chronic pain, shortness of breath just from talking, and more. It was really scary
I even had neck surgery scheduled for this month, but that’s been canceled for now.
Mold had been in the back of my mind because many people with my rare and complex diagnoses develop Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, which can be triggered by prolonged exposure to environmental toxins like mold. However, the property managers didn’t take me seriously (I’m currently in the process of suing them). In September, contractors working on the basement pipes pointed out black mold on the walls. The basement was covered in black mold and other toxic mold was found throughout the house as well. [Jumpscare pic of a portion of the mold we found]
My advice would be to listen to your body and trust your intuition. Address any signs of water leaks or high moisture levels in your home right away. Taking care of your overall health—through good nutrition, exercise, and self-care—can also help your body detoxify from environmental toxins, including mold.
It’s estimated that 1/3 of households in the U.S. have some form of mold, with varying levels of toxicity. For what it’s worth, I lived with about seven other people during my time in that house, and I was the only one who got sick. Mold sensitivity exists on a spectrum, and unfortunately, I was the one who drew the short straw. ;-)
ETA jump scare link
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u/triplequeer 23h ago
Just wanna pop in and say my partner developed MCAS from our moldy apartment, took us a year to find a clean home with fresh air (apartment building was horrendous for mold and 24/7 laundry fragrances)
I wish you well on your healing, remember to take it slower than you'd expect, it's taken another year for my partners body to be able to handle doing small dishes and other chores. We also got rid of 98% of our belongings and the rest has been in tote bins since we moved.
Edit to add - your space is wonderful and bright!
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u/sunshineyellowgg 23h ago
I dealt with the same thing! I was always the only one who would get sick in moldy places, and it took me awhile to find out about mold toxicity / MCAS. So glad you found a safe space! Cheers to healing 🥰
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u/Icy-Obligation-8862 1d ago edited 1d ago
Well my comment keeps getting deleted by the auto moderators for some reason.
My advice: Trust your body and address water leaks or moisture issues immediately. Staying healthy through good nutrition and exercise can help your body naturally detox toxins like mold. Mold affects people differently—out of the 7 or 8 housemates I had over the 2.5 years I lived in that house (which was built in 1886), I was the only one who got sick. Unfortunately, I drew the short straw!
Feel free to message me if you’d like more info since I’m unable to share here for whatever reason!
Edit: typo
ETA: mods just approved my original reply
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u/Own-Interview-928 1d ago
Nice rug. Do mind sharing where you bought it? Green’s my fav color.
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u/sanark13 19h ago
Fantastic, so lovely! 🥰
Could you please share from where you bought the light which is near the TV?
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