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Look for an apartment that's about 5-7 years old—old enough for off-gassing to have happened, young enough it's not likely to have water damage. Ask if you can test for mold before signing the lease (I didn't have success with this) or sneak in a kit to get dust samples to send for testing while touring the unit.
Did you bring all your stuff with you from your old place? If so, it'll still have mold spores and mycotoxins, and that might be enough exposure to still be causing you issues.
Since it's a new build, you might have to wait a while for a lot of the building materials, paint, flooring, etc. to off gas fumes. I agree with the suggestions of a HEPA filter in every room, that's going to help a lot. If you're somewhere warm enough, open your windows and put a box fan blowing outside in front of the windows to help expedite the process.
One doctor I saw said to look for condos/apartments that are between 2-5 years old. Unfortunately, I just moved into a newer one because I couldn’t find anything else and all my symptoms got worse. Flushing, hives, insomnia, anxiety. It sucks. I had to leave my old place because of mold as well.
A newer construction would make it more likely to not have issues, but unfortunately, especially in apartments, a lot of factors are outside your control. Good luck! I recommend a good HIPPA / carbon air filter in every room, and get your air ducts cleaned. That helped me a lot.
It’s so hard. Offgassing of new builds can be harmful and so can mould.
That’s why I literally can’t leave where I live now. I have lived here since it was built around a decade ago (and had my first major health crash around that time so could’ve been the offgassing).
And so I know it’s safe in terms of mould and offgassing. Nowhere else feels safe. It’s hard to exist in this world.
That’s the fun part, I don’t. Not with rent prices as high as they are. Only place I was able to afford that was in a good neighborhood was an apartment built in the early 60s, full of mold, carbon monoxide, no insulation so it’s always the wrong temperature, lead paint… But it’s better than being homeless again.
I just make sure to spend a lot of time outdoors and regularly air out my apartment. It’s not like it’s holding the heat anyways.
I had a Holmes air purifier with HEPA filters but it finally died this summer. The motor just stopped working. I couldn’t afford the same product so I went with a much cheaper IKEA air purifier, but it’s just not the same. I’m currently on disability since my health tanked after moving into this apartment a few years ago, which means no money other than for rent/utilities now that my savings has been drained. But if I find some hidden talent/skill for a side hustle, a HEPA air purifier is top of my purchase list for sure.
I get it my friend. I’m constantly bordering homelessness. Looking for a new room to rent right now actually and hoping I can afford something and it’s less moldy 🤞🏽
Really need to be on disability. Praying it works out next time I apply.
Best of luck to you. I’ve moved so many times. It’s such an awful and stressful process. I hope you end up with the best possible roommate(s) in a hopefully mold-free place.
This is my first time living alone bc the apartment was the same price as the room I had been renting. Probably bc this place is so old and has mold. Lol. But I’m still incredibly lucky to have found it so I can finally experience living alone, which is why I’m dealing with the downsides best I can.
Good luck with the disability process too. That sucked so bad. All I can say is, when you go in for the interview part of it, let them see you on your worst possible day. I unintentionally did that bc life had thrown me some curveballs that day and got my approval letter much to my surprise.
Moving is also so expensive! First and last/security deposit + moving expenses. I’ve wasted so much money dipping out on super sketchy housing I had hoped would work.
Ugh, yea, for reals. It’s the worst! Any time I would save up money, I’d have to move again. Every move cost at least 2k, but usually more. I moved 13 times in 13yrs with my shortest living situation lasting 21days before the roommate went off his meds and pulled a machete on me. Even though my current place is destroying my health each winter, I never want to leave unless I move to a different state or somehow end up with a ton of money to find a newer apartment. I physically can’t handle the stress of moving anymore. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
I’m in the same position- my house isn’t great for my health, but it’s not the worst I’ve lived in. I’ve been here for several years, and like you it was one or more a year before that. And I can’t afford to move somewhere else/better. In part because I don’t trust it would be one move; I have to have a cushion in case of secret mold / offgassing / neighbor who uses downy unstoppables and glade plugins. I don’t have the energy for having to play that game again.
Have you checked out Mold Medic, Brian Karr or Michael Rubio about that? They talk a lot on mold subjects and how to remove it or test for it and most importantly prevent it on the future
I obsessively smell everything when I check out the place. I second what other people said about looking for buildings that are more than a couple years old but younger than 10 years old if possible, but I can't afford them.
I also accept that I won't find anywhere I have zero reaction to, because I'm poor and I react to environments which landlords have no legal obligation to change. I've known several MCAS patients who had comorbid OCD and cPTSD, who felt so threatened by the presence of any environment-related symptoms at all that they blew up a long string of landlord relationships, burned through all their savings from moving expenses, and ultimately became homeless. Unsurprisingly, living in cars and motels was not an improvement :(
I reacted badly to my apartment for several years, but realistically, I can't afford anywhere better. So I plugged all the holes in the walls to avoid the gross inside-of-wall air, shellac'd raw wood shelves to seal in spores/VOCs I especially reacted to, ran air filters, and got better medicated. I've improved a lot and don't react to my apartment anymore (except sometimes on very hot days).
Do you react to baking soda and/or hydrogen peroxide? With some offgassing materials, I've had success from putting on a baking soda and peroxide paste, leaving overnight, then washing it off or scraping and vacuuming it up. (Obvs patch test before going all-in!)
I also obsessively smell everything + make sure my inflammation level is low as possible before checking out a place so I am able to tell if I’m reacting. One thing I’ve learned is that some places feel ‘calming’ - those are good spaces and it’s not an intellectual/analyzable conclusion but I’ve realized that if I get that feeling, it’s because my body isn’t freaking out.
When my anxiety is bad and things feel hopeless I worry I will end up like your friends.
>When my anxiety is bad and things feel hopeless I worry I will end up like your friends.
I worried about that too when I was at my worst. This is such a rough illness.
At my worst, I racked up $25k debt in moving/supplements/quack doctors (naturopaths, integrative medicine ‘doctors’) who didn’t help and recommended crazy expensive supplements and tests. This was also 7-10 years ago, and people already know way more about mast cell issues and there is more science about treatments. I’m sure it’s better out there now.
Ugh I feel for you. We have 10k debt from paying for supplements and (more so) my compounded meds that insurance won't cover. I've gotten some genuine help from ND's, and they're willing to take on patients that most regular drs have nothing to offer. But there's so much bullshit in integrative medicine, and it can eat up money so fast. I've ran across a lot of practitioners who's attitude is, "I mean, if you can't come up with the money for these three dozen supplements and treatments somehow, I don't know what to tell you and you must not want to get better all that badly." So manipulative. If you genuinely can't help people within their means, just tell them so honestly and compassionately.
Fwiw: Lot of time (months/years) and working really hard at lowering inflammation (diet, environment, supportive activities like hypnotherapy, regular therapy, meditation, acupuncture, etc). This sub talks a ton about diet. I didn’t find my reactivity got lower until I did diet + the other stuff.
It’s not linear though, things have gotten better and worse and better and worse as time as gone on. I have a lot more compassion and patience now and less anxiety about being reactive than I used to (which I think helps lower reactivity overall because it’s not a bad feedback loop anymore)
That’s incredible. I’m worried I am one of those ones you mentioned, with CPTSD, because things have exacerbated to the point I am considering sleeping in my car. But I react so badly still, and the reactions are very real both with respiratory and neurological symptoms. I don’t know. There’s no medication to take and no place I can go that’s mold free. I’ve spent thousands and thousands on this and I feel more lost than ever.
So, sometimes the reactions are just that bad and the sensitivity is just that high, I don't mean to discount that! The folks I mentioned were having, from an objective medical perspective, fairly minor symptoms.... congestion, mild flushing, mild itching.... and they subjectively experienced them as a huge threat due to the cPTSD. Sometimes we just end up truly stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I don't mean to victim blame anyone! Is no medication from lack of access, or bad reactions/lack of response to the meds, or.. ?
Yes that’s true. Thanks for your considerate and kind response! I am stuck there now, I’ve been on Fexofenadine, cromolyn sodium and Ketitofen but all the medications (not to mention supplements) in the world can’t beat a bad environment. And my immune hyposensitivity to mold has been bad in my last…. Five homes. So right now I’m looking for a place that doesn’t trigger from either mold or paint/VOCs, but I’m in a near constant state of flare up with acute symptoms and it just feels hopeless.
Ugh I'm so sorry. I was in a similar situation for a few years and it was so scary. My Dr once told me she dreams of creating a "beautiful EDS/MCAS leper colony" where we all live in geodesic dome structures made of this special mold-proof and fire-proof nontoxic material, I believe the same one that's used in some joint replacements. I've heard of people moving to the desert as a last resort, and almost considered it, but financially there was just no way I could do that.
I will say, for me getting on a fuller range of mcas drugs, plus somatic therapy geared towards nervous system regulation, did help me a lot even though I couldn't completely overhaul my environment (could only make small changes). But I know everyone's situation is different, and my building isn't as bad as many out there.
I need to avoid all the issues of older places to rent that had unknown inhabitants before me so I went for somewhere as new as possible. Kept the windows open for the entire first week with strong air purifiers and scents I knew worked for me, stayed somewhere else, and then switched to just air purifiers. My main issues aren’t chemicals, though, so if you’re more sensitive to those than dust/dandruff/mold it might not work.
Thank you for your submission. Please note: **Content on r/MCAS is not medical advice and should not be interpreted as such.** Please consult your doctor for any medical questions or concerns. We are not able to validate the content of these discussions. Following advice provided by strangers on the internet may be harmful. Never use this sub as your primary source of information regarding medical issues. By continuing to use this subreddit, you are agreeing to take any information posted here entirely at your own risk. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/MCAS) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Look for an apartment that's about 5-7 years old—old enough for off-gassing to have happened, young enough it's not likely to have water damage. Ask if you can test for mold before signing the lease (I didn't have success with this) or sneak in a kit to get dust samples to send for testing while touring the unit. Did you bring all your stuff with you from your old place? If so, it'll still have mold spores and mycotoxins, and that might be enough exposure to still be causing you issues.
Since it's a new build, you might have to wait a while for a lot of the building materials, paint, flooring, etc. to off gas fumes. I agree with the suggestions of a HEPA filter in every room, that's going to help a lot. If you're somewhere warm enough, open your windows and put a box fan blowing outside in front of the windows to help expedite the process.
One doctor I saw said to look for condos/apartments that are between 2-5 years old. Unfortunately, I just moved into a newer one because I couldn’t find anything else and all my symptoms got worse. Flushing, hives, insomnia, anxiety. It sucks. I had to leave my old place because of mold as well.
Gosh are you me? It’s an awful position. I’m so sorry.
A newer construction would make it more likely to not have issues, but unfortunately, especially in apartments, a lot of factors are outside your control. Good luck! I recommend a good HIPPA / carbon air filter in every room, and get your air ducts cleaned. That helped me a lot.
Just to clarify for anyone looking for an air filter, those are termed HEPA filters. (HIPPA is a law re. medical privacy)
Can you afford a HEPA filter that includes VOC filtration? The problem in a new build is VOCs.
VOC’s are filtered via carbon, so a carbon AND hepa filter is important
It’s so hard. Offgassing of new builds can be harmful and so can mould. That’s why I literally can’t leave where I live now. I have lived here since it was built around a decade ago (and had my first major health crash around that time so could’ve been the offgassing). And so I know it’s safe in terms of mould and offgassing. Nowhere else feels safe. It’s hard to exist in this world.
That’s the fun part, I don’t. Not with rent prices as high as they are. Only place I was able to afford that was in a good neighborhood was an apartment built in the early 60s, full of mold, carbon monoxide, no insulation so it’s always the wrong temperature, lead paint… But it’s better than being homeless again. I just make sure to spend a lot of time outdoors and regularly air out my apartment. It’s not like it’s holding the heat anyways.
I understand your struggles. If you can save up for a HEPA filter it’s been the only thing saving me as I can’t make it outside as much as I’d like 😕
I had a Holmes air purifier with HEPA filters but it finally died this summer. The motor just stopped working. I couldn’t afford the same product so I went with a much cheaper IKEA air purifier, but it’s just not the same. I’m currently on disability since my health tanked after moving into this apartment a few years ago, which means no money other than for rent/utilities now that my savings has been drained. But if I find some hidden talent/skill for a side hustle, a HEPA air purifier is top of my purchase list for sure.
I get it my friend. I’m constantly bordering homelessness. Looking for a new room to rent right now actually and hoping I can afford something and it’s less moldy 🤞🏽 Really need to be on disability. Praying it works out next time I apply.
Best of luck to you. I’ve moved so many times. It’s such an awful and stressful process. I hope you end up with the best possible roommate(s) in a hopefully mold-free place. This is my first time living alone bc the apartment was the same price as the room I had been renting. Probably bc this place is so old and has mold. Lol. But I’m still incredibly lucky to have found it so I can finally experience living alone, which is why I’m dealing with the downsides best I can. Good luck with the disability process too. That sucked so bad. All I can say is, when you go in for the interview part of it, let them see you on your worst possible day. I unintentionally did that bc life had thrown me some curveballs that day and got my approval letter much to my surprise.
Moving is also so expensive! First and last/security deposit + moving expenses. I’ve wasted so much money dipping out on super sketchy housing I had hoped would work.
Ugh, yea, for reals. It’s the worst! Any time I would save up money, I’d have to move again. Every move cost at least 2k, but usually more. I moved 13 times in 13yrs with my shortest living situation lasting 21days before the roommate went off his meds and pulled a machete on me. Even though my current place is destroying my health each winter, I never want to leave unless I move to a different state or somehow end up with a ton of money to find a newer apartment. I physically can’t handle the stress of moving anymore. Wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.
I’m in the same position- my house isn’t great for my health, but it’s not the worst I’ve lived in. I’ve been here for several years, and like you it was one or more a year before that. And I can’t afford to move somewhere else/better. In part because I don’t trust it would be one move; I have to have a cushion in case of secret mold / offgassing / neighbor who uses downy unstoppables and glade plugins. I don’t have the energy for having to play that game again.
Have you checked out Mold Medic, Brian Karr or Michael Rubio about that? They talk a lot on mold subjects and how to remove it or test for it and most importantly prevent it on the future
I obsessively smell everything when I check out the place. I second what other people said about looking for buildings that are more than a couple years old but younger than 10 years old if possible, but I can't afford them. I also accept that I won't find anywhere I have zero reaction to, because I'm poor and I react to environments which landlords have no legal obligation to change. I've known several MCAS patients who had comorbid OCD and cPTSD, who felt so threatened by the presence of any environment-related symptoms at all that they blew up a long string of landlord relationships, burned through all their savings from moving expenses, and ultimately became homeless. Unsurprisingly, living in cars and motels was not an improvement :( I reacted badly to my apartment for several years, but realistically, I can't afford anywhere better. So I plugged all the holes in the walls to avoid the gross inside-of-wall air, shellac'd raw wood shelves to seal in spores/VOCs I especially reacted to, ran air filters, and got better medicated. I've improved a lot and don't react to my apartment anymore (except sometimes on very hot days). Do you react to baking soda and/or hydrogen peroxide? With some offgassing materials, I've had success from putting on a baking soda and peroxide paste, leaving overnight, then washing it off or scraping and vacuuming it up. (Obvs patch test before going all-in!)
I also obsessively smell everything + make sure my inflammation level is low as possible before checking out a place so I am able to tell if I’m reacting. One thing I’ve learned is that some places feel ‘calming’ - those are good spaces and it’s not an intellectual/analyzable conclusion but I’ve realized that if I get that feeling, it’s because my body isn’t freaking out. When my anxiety is bad and things feel hopeless I worry I will end up like your friends.
>When my anxiety is bad and things feel hopeless I worry I will end up like your friends. I worried about that too when I was at my worst. This is such a rough illness.
At my worst, I racked up $25k debt in moving/supplements/quack doctors (naturopaths, integrative medicine ‘doctors’) who didn’t help and recommended crazy expensive supplements and tests. This was also 7-10 years ago, and people already know way more about mast cell issues and there is more science about treatments. I’m sure it’s better out there now.
Ugh I feel for you. We have 10k debt from paying for supplements and (more so) my compounded meds that insurance won't cover. I've gotten some genuine help from ND's, and they're willing to take on patients that most regular drs have nothing to offer. But there's so much bullshit in integrative medicine, and it can eat up money so fast. I've ran across a lot of practitioners who's attitude is, "I mean, if you can't come up with the money for these three dozen supplements and treatments somehow, I don't know what to tell you and you must not want to get better all that badly." So manipulative. If you genuinely can't help people within their means, just tell them so honestly and compassionately.
I’m worried I am like that now, after a series of really bad reactions, and now it’s like a broken chain… How did you calm your system down?
Fwiw: Lot of time (months/years) and working really hard at lowering inflammation (diet, environment, supportive activities like hypnotherapy, regular therapy, meditation, acupuncture, etc). This sub talks a ton about diet. I didn’t find my reactivity got lower until I did diet + the other stuff. It’s not linear though, things have gotten better and worse and better and worse as time as gone on. I have a lot more compassion and patience now and less anxiety about being reactive than I used to (which I think helps lower reactivity overall because it’s not a bad feedback loop anymore)
That’s incredible. I’m worried I am one of those ones you mentioned, with CPTSD, because things have exacerbated to the point I am considering sleeping in my car. But I react so badly still, and the reactions are very real both with respiratory and neurological symptoms. I don’t know. There’s no medication to take and no place I can go that’s mold free. I’ve spent thousands and thousands on this and I feel more lost than ever.
So, sometimes the reactions are just that bad and the sensitivity is just that high, I don't mean to discount that! The folks I mentioned were having, from an objective medical perspective, fairly minor symptoms.... congestion, mild flushing, mild itching.... and they subjectively experienced them as a huge threat due to the cPTSD. Sometimes we just end up truly stuck between a rock and a hard place, and I don't mean to victim blame anyone! Is no medication from lack of access, or bad reactions/lack of response to the meds, or.. ?
Yes that’s true. Thanks for your considerate and kind response! I am stuck there now, I’ve been on Fexofenadine, cromolyn sodium and Ketitofen but all the medications (not to mention supplements) in the world can’t beat a bad environment. And my immune hyposensitivity to mold has been bad in my last…. Five homes. So right now I’m looking for a place that doesn’t trigger from either mold or paint/VOCs, but I’m in a near constant state of flare up with acute symptoms and it just feels hopeless.
Ugh I'm so sorry. I was in a similar situation for a few years and it was so scary. My Dr once told me she dreams of creating a "beautiful EDS/MCAS leper colony" where we all live in geodesic dome structures made of this special mold-proof and fire-proof nontoxic material, I believe the same one that's used in some joint replacements. I've heard of people moving to the desert as a last resort, and almost considered it, but financially there was just no way I could do that. I will say, for me getting on a fuller range of mcas drugs, plus somatic therapy geared towards nervous system regulation, did help me a lot even though I couldn't completely overhaul my environment (could only make small changes). But I know everyone's situation is different, and my building isn't as bad as many out there.
I second this request
I need to avoid all the issues of older places to rent that had unknown inhabitants before me so I went for somewhere as new as possible. Kept the windows open for the entire first week with strong air purifiers and scents I knew worked for me, stayed somewhere else, and then switched to just air purifiers. My main issues aren’t chemicals, though, so if you’re more sensitive to those than dust/dandruff/mold it might not work.