Mold Illness: How We Survived and Reclaimed Our Health



Mold exposure is an often-overlooked but serious environmental health hazard that can cause a range of chronic symptoms. My family and I experienced this firsthand. For over two years, I struggled with a persistent cough, phlegm, and chronic fatigue, which I initially attributed to long COVID. My son, who works with me in the same office, experienced ongoing sinus issues, brain fog, fatigue, and significant attention deficits. He often said, “Mom, I have this cold that just won’t go away.”

It wasn’t until my friend V and her cat, Baby, became violently ill from mold exposure that we realized something was seriously wrong. Tragically, despite her best efforts, V could not save Baby, but she tirelessly encouraged me to pay closer attention to my own symptoms and my son’s unexplained long term "cold". While researching for remedies, she discovered and introduced us to the term “apartment building illness”, prompting mold testing in both our home and office. She tested her own apartment and discovered among other mold species, Aspergillus, a fungus (mold) that , as you guessed, causes Aspergillosis. Despite the most expensive remediation attempts, V's symptoms did not improve. She had to ultimately move out of her contaminated building, where several other tenants suffered with similar symptoms. We tested our home and office building and sure enough, while our home tested clear, mold was discovered in my office building as well.

During this time, I learned hands-on while treating V traditionally with antifungals, researching mold resistance, advanced environmental testing, and effective remediation strategies. V’s illness was aggressive and required daily attention, which deepened my understanding of mold illness, its impact on human health, and the precise protocols needed for recovery. Her perseverance and guidance pushed me to treat my own symptoms and my son’s ongoing health issues. After gutting our contaminated office building and implementing functional medicine detoxifying strategies, we successfully recovered from mold illness. This experience not only restored our health but equipped me to help others facing similar challenges.

Understanding Mold Illness

Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker, MD, in Surviving Mold: Life in the Era of Dangerous Buildings (Shoemaker, 2020), describes mold illness as a chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) triggered by exposure to mycotoxins. Symptoms can include respiratory issues, cognitive dysfunction, fatigue, sinus problems, headaches, and systemic inflammation (Shoemaker, 2020). Children may experience attention deficits, sinus infections, and brain fog, as I observed with my son.

Recent research supports these findings. Mycotoxins, produced by mold, can compromise the immune system, disrupt gut microbiome balance, and trigger chronic inflammation (Fung et al., 2018; Vesper et al., 2013). Functional medicine testing, including biomarkers for inflammation, hormone imbalances, and gut dysbiosis, is critical for identifying the root causes of chronic symptoms linked to mold exposure.

Functional Medicine Approaches to Recovery

Recovery from mold illness is multifaceted. Functional medicine strategies we employed included:

• Gut Restoration: Correcting dysbiosis through targeted probiotics, prebiotics, and antifungal support helped reduce chronic inflammation and restore immune function.
• Hormone Balancing: Mold exposure can exacerbate hormonal imbalances, contributing to fatigue and cognitive dysfunction. Addressing thyroid and adrenal health was essential for both my son and me.
• Detoxification Support: Supporting liver and kidney detoxification pathways to eliminate residual mycotoxins.
• Candida Control: Eliminating overgrowth of opportunistic pathogens like Candida to restore microbial balance.
• Metabolic Optimization: Using tools such as the Metabolic Code® Assessment to assess cellular metabolism, improve energy levels, and optimize weight and hormonal health.

By following these protocols consistently and eliminating the mold from our environment, we observed dramatic improvements in energy, cognition, and respiratory health.

Why Mold Testing Matters

Mold illness often goes undiagnosed because symptoms mimic other conditions. Home and office testing, air sampling, and surface sampling are essential to confirm the presence of mycotoxins. Environmental remediation, combined with personalized functional medicine treatment, is the most effective path to recovery.

If you suspect mold exposure in your environment, consider comprehensive testing and discuss options with a functional medicine specialist. At Mirelle Institute for Anti-Aging Medicine, we integrate functional medicine assessments like the Metabolic Code® to support gut health, hormone balance, detoxification, and overall wellness during recovery.

Key Takeaways

• Mold illness is a serious and often underdiagnosed condition caused by mycotoxin exposure.
• Children and adults may experience chronic fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, respiratory issues, and immune dysregulation.
• Functional medicine strategies, including gut restoration, hormone balancing, detoxification, and metabolic optimization, are critical for recovery.
• Environmental remediation of mold-contaminated spaces is essential to prevent reinfection.
• Personal experience, hands-on learning, and clinical studies inform the most effective approaches to recovery.

We hope our story inspires others to recognize mold illness early, seek testing, and pursue functional medicine approaches that target the root causes of chronic symptoms.