It all started with a pain in my chest.
Not just any pain, but a constant and
intense pain. At first, I thought maybe it
was stress or anxiety. A doctor said they
thought it could be costochondritis. It
seems nobody was right.
I began to feel sick often. This included
tonsilitis, migraines and minor rashes.
I didn't think anything of it. Things took a
turn when I went to the doctor again,
convince something was not right.
I was sent back to get lab work and
had my first seizure. I was sent to the
ER and they did numerous tests. We
thought it was my living condition, so
I moved out of my apartment. It was a
house made into a duplex and very old.
We found numerous forms of toxins and
mold in my house.
We thought this was the end but when I
came home I grew tired quickly, at times
struggled with my speech and could not
do much physically. I had another non
epileptic seizure and EMS came to get me,
taking me to the Greenville hospital.
I was held for three nights and four days.
They did extensive testing including CT
scans, lab work, EKG, ultrasounds of my
chest and heart etc. There I met a toxicologist
and he referred me to a neurologist. The
neurologist referred me to a pulmonologist.
Ever since that event, I have been hospitalized
three times and I have ridden in an ambulance
three or four times. Since August 2024 to today,
December 2025, I have had over 15 non epileptic
seizures.
The pulmonologist not only diagnosed and confirmed
I have asthma, which I have had for years, but very
severe asthma. I was also diagnosed with several
life threatening allergies including dust mites, cat
and dog danger, grass, weeds and white Oak trees.
Smoke is the worst and the most harmful.
Once I get a whiff of something too strong and
do not have my inhaler, my body seems to slowly
go into shock. I first feel a tingling and or tightness
in my chest then begin to twitch, doze off
then fall into a PNES. I am unable to move or
speak and I am out of it. I can hear but I am not
fully aware. The next couple of days I am sore, tired
and it takes me time to fully recover.
I have also been informed I have a rare and serious
condition where my lungs are hypersensitive and
overreact. Due to this extreme sensitivity I now
carry around an EpiPen and have to be extremely
careful with any strong smells.
I must remove myself from any kind of smoke,
colognes, perfumes or cleaning supplies.
My conclusion is the mold I was exposed to
in my apartment for four months has most
likely permanently damaged my body. It seems
to have awaken my underlying allergies, placing
them on overdrive.
This has been a challenge as it has brought
a lot of worry to my family. I am also unable
to work but at least remote is an option.
Therefore, my condition doesn't necessarily
have a clear name other than severe asthma
and allergies and PNES.
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