Tackle Mold at Its Nasal Entry Point to Prevent Inflammation and Heal Your Body
My Story
In the beginning, my mold-triggered health issues were mainly upper respiratory in nature. I had all of the typical sinus and allergy symptoms, runny nose, watery eyes, chronic congestion, sore throat, headaches, you name it. At first, it was easy to dismiss being sick. I would tell myself that something was just going around, or that seasonal allergies were getting the best of me. But, when those symptoms continued to worsen, I began to feel like I was dealing with something more. It was like clockwork: I would finish my latest course of antibiotics; I would feel great for a few weeks; and then, I would acquire a new sinus infection, plus a new symptom to add to my growing list. I couldn’t break free from the cycle!
I often told my husband that it felt like something had settled in my sinus and was not being eliminated by any of the antibiotics, allergy sprays, or decongestants that I was taking. I had this suspicion because, as my sinus symptoms got worse–multiple sinus infections, multiple bouts of strep throat with severe facial, jaw, and neck pain–my list of other aliments was also growing. By the end of our first few months in the moldy home, GI distress, acid reflux, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and rapid weight loss were also daily challenges.
My Primary Care Doctor
Although my primary care doctor was properly identifying and treating the infections, he wasn’t looking into why I was progressively getting worse. Neither he nor I had any reason to believe that what was going on with my sinuses was connected in anyway with my new laundry list of hormonal and cognitive symptoms. We just focused all attention on the most pressing thing at the time, which seemed to be my sinus infections. I will say, though, never once did he ask me, “Has anything changed? How is your health overall? Is something in your environment different? (Honestly, looking back now, my medical history with the physician should have sounded some alarm bells. But, the rushed nature of our office visits and his inability to take more time discussing the details of my environment and my daily stressors worked against us.) When my fourth sinus infection in 3 months hit, I had had enough and wanted some answers.