Michelle moved from Michigan to California (2016). Her first apartment flooded ~20 times across ~4.5 years. By 2020 she developed escalating symptoms—skin rashes, hair loss, crushing fatigue despite 12 hours of sleep—dismissed as “stress.” A major sewage backup just before Thanksgiving left her extremely sick; COVID tests were negative.
After moving to a “nicer” new place, she initially stayed with her boyfriend and felt ill only after nights at her own apartment. Three weeks after moving in full-time she crashed: severe dizziness/vertigo, vomiting, intense brain fog, and episodes of forgetting where she was driving.
A chance conversation with a coworker who’d had mold illness triggered the environmental suspicion. Landlord “inspections” amounted to a moisture meter and “all clear.” Early tests showed “mild” mold. A seasoned inspector finally ran air sampling with the HVAC on, revealing very high levels of multiple molds. Targeted wall probing later found Chaetomium under the bathtub and in bathroom walls—matching her worst exposures during long, steamy baths. She was later found unconscious in the apartment.
Michael explains why some people (roommates) seem fine while others crash (genetics/HLA, immune differences, specific mycotoxins), why superficial checks miss hidden reservoirs, and why proper protocols matter. Michelle describes the isolation and gaslighting, then how she rebuilt her life and is now training in integrative health to help others navigate mold illness. They close on awareness, better testing/remediation standards, and policy/medical education gaps.
You’ll learn:
- Early signs Michelle missed (and why “sleeping 12 hours” didn’t help)
- Why landlord “moisture meter checks” aren’t real investigations
- The test that finally exposed the problem: air sampling with HVAC on
- Hidden sources (under tubs, inside walls) and why baths can worsen exposure
- How genetics (HLA types) and biochemistry shape symptoms
- What to ask inspectors & property managers (and when to self-test)
- The emotional toll: gaslighting, isolation, and staying resilient
If you suspect a mold issue: Schedule a free call with the HomeCleanse Care Team today
Timestamp Highlights
00:00 Intro & Michelle’s first symptoms (rashes, hair loss, fatigue)
03:29 Thanksgiving sewage flood & sudden crash
05:21 New apartment → rapid decline in ~3 weeks
07:03 Vertigo, vomiting, cognitive dysfunction while driving
11:36 The “aha” moment: a bartender who’d lived it says “black mold”
13:08 ER visits, “it’s anxiety,” and months of dead ends
24:09 Testing that works: HVAC on during air sampling
25:03 Hidden source: Chaetomium under the tub/walls
29:36 Neuro effects of toxigenic molds; susceptibility & mycotoxins
35:12 Turning pain into purpose: Michelle studies to help others
39:55 Why awareness + better building/health policy matters
