While waiting for our test results we started following the doctor’s first advice to make changes to our lifestyle and diet. The basics included:
- Avoiding further mold and mycotoxin exposure in foods and the environment
- Starving mold and bacteria in your body by avoiding sugars and starches, their feeding source
- Removing mycotoxins from fat cells (their “storage space”) by shrinking the cells and sweating the toxins out
- Pulling toxins out of your system with oral activated charcoal capsules
So, anything in our new condo that could have been exposed to mold, mold spores or their toxins was re-washed and/or re-cleaned. The new condo was tested for mold (all negative!) and we added HEPA air purifiers and dehumidifiers for mold prevention.
Online research helped us develop our “NO-NO” list, that is, the list of our current lifestyle and food choices that add toxins or other harmful substances to our bodies. My “evening cigarette”, obviously, was at the top of the list, followed by alcohol, sugars, coffee, nuts, mushrooms and carbs. Goodbye lattes, wine, vodka, gummy bears, cashews, pasta, bread, Reese’s cups and Dani’s addiction to sugary Dr. Pepper®. Hello to lots of fresh veggies, fruits, and LOTS of water!
As we began our new new diet and cleaned our environment, we also mapped out a detox plan that included activated charcoal capsules, increased cardio exercise and infrared sauna.
Two weeks after our ENT visit, the test results confirmed what we and our doc had expected. Both our mycotoxin tests showed high levels of ochratoxin A (cancer causing mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus mold) and mycophenolic acid (immunosuppressant mycotoxin produced by Penicillium). I had also citrinin (mycotoxin produced by multiple molds) in my body. The skin prick test confirmed we both were still basically allergic to everything with heightened reactions to mold, trees (Steph) and grasses (Dani). So the daily allergy meds are to be continued. And finally, my blood test revealed I have two celiac markers which confirmed my gluten intolerance (and a 5% chance of developing celiac disease).
What may sound like really bad news to most people was actually a huge relief for us. We finally had a diagnosis, a long awaited answer, a reason, a quantitative root cause.
The plan we laid out, and had already started, was the right path.
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