The Call Of The Caribbean

The Caribbean Calls My Soul... But My Mold Brain Comes Too

There are two versions of me.

The first is the little girl who spent years in medicine dreaming of turquoise water, palm trees, and warm Caribbean sunshine.

The second is the physician who has spent the last several years helping people recover from mold illness.

Those two versions don't always get along.

Every time I step off the plane in Cancun, Punta Cana, Jamaica, Costa Rica... honestly almost anywhere tropical...

My first thought isn't,

"Vacation!"

It's...

"I wonder how moldy this jetway is."

😂

My mold patients are laughing because they know exactly what I mean.

It Isn't About the Resort

One thing I want people to understand is this:

This isn't because resorts are dirty.

In fact, we've stayed at some of the nicest resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Costa Rica.

Five-star.
Premium.
Swim-out suites.
Private concierge.
You name it.

The problem isn't the housekeeping.

The problem is physics.

Humidity wins.

Many resorts understandably turn off or significantly reduce the air conditioning between guests to conserve energy. Electricity is incredibly expensive in many tropical countries.

Then imagine what happens.

Five days...

Eighty percent humidity...

A closed room...

That's a perfect environment for mold to begin growing.

When the next guests arrive, the air conditioning gets turned back on and the room is cooled down beautifully.

It feels amazing.

But sometimes the damage has already started.

The Clue Was Waiting at the Door

We walked into our premium swim-out suite and the first thing I noticed wasn't a smell.

It was condensation.

Water beading around the sliding glass doors.

That tells me the room had recently gone from very humid to much cooler.

Not proof of mold.

Just one of those little clues my brain has learned to notice.

At first, everything smelled fine.

But experience has taught us to never assume.

So we unpacked our usual travel companions:

✔️ Our travel ozonator.

✔️ Our mold candles.

No panic.

Just prevention.

My Canary in the Coal Mine

If you've followed me for any length of time, you know my husband Gio is my human smoke detector.

He reacts to everything before I do.

He's my canary in the coal mine.

The first day of vacation I still had patients to see, so Gio spent most of the day in our room making sure I had water, snacks, coffee, and everything I needed while I worked.

By the end of the day...

His brain fog had picked up.

His fatigue had crept back in.

Nothing dramatic.

Just enough for both of us to look at each other and say...

"Yep."

The next day?

We spent almost the entire day outside.

Beach.

Pool.

Sunshine.

Ocean breeze.

We only went inside to sleep.

By that evening he already felt noticeably better.

Coincidence?

Maybe.

But after years of doing this, we've learned to pay attention to patterns.

So... Do We Stay Home Forever?

Absolutely not.

I refuse to let mold steal my joy.

Do I wish someone would build a truly mold-conscious healing resort someday?

Absolutely.

Actually...

I'd love to build one myself.

Can you imagine?

An all-inclusive designed specifically for people recovering from chronic illness.

Clean indoor air.

Humidity control.

Thoughtful building materials.

Healthy food.

HBOT.

Cold plunge.

Sauna.

Massage.

Morning beach walks.

Functional medicine.

No worrying whether your vacation is undoing months of healing.

One day...

Until Then...

We travel smarter.

When I know I'll likely encounter some mold exposure, I support my body instead of pretending the risk doesn't exist.

For me that includes:

• Taking my binder daily while traveling.

• Using my nasal spray to help reduce the chance of unwanted microbial colonization.

• Spending as much time outdoors as possible.

• Sleeping well.

• Staying hydrated.

• Listening to my body.

Most importantly...

I work just as hard protecting my nervous system as I do protecting my sinuses.

Because fear itself can become another toxin.

PTSD Is Real

I won't lie.

I still have moments where I wake up in the middle of the night wondering...

"Is this room making me sick?"

Healing from mold changes you.

Many of us develop what I jokingly call Mold PTSD.

We scan every hotel room.

Every Airbnb.

Every office building.

Every musty smell.

Every water stain.

Our brains are simply trying to keep us safe after learning a very difficult lesson.

But healing also means teaching our nervous system something new.

Not every exposure becomes an illness.

Not every vacation becomes a setback.

Not every mold spore means disaster.

That's where programs like Primal Trust, the Gupta Program, breathwork, meditation, prayer, or simple affirmations can be incredibly helpful. They remind our brains that we are safe, supported, and resilient.

Life Is Meant to Be Lived

Could staying home reduce my mold exposure?

Probably.

Would it reduce my joy?

Absolutely.

Because there is something magical about the Caribbean.

The warmth.

The ocean.

The slower pace.

Fresh guacamole.

Street tacos.

Watching the waves with the person you love.

Sometimes the healing that comes from laughing, relaxing, and feeling the sun on your face is just as important as any supplement sitting in your suitcase.

So yes...

Take your binder.

Use your prevention strategies.

Be smart.

Pay attention to your body.

But don't forget to tell your nervous system something it desperately needs to hear:

"I am safe."

Because healing isn't just about avoiding what hurts us.

It's also about embracing what brings us back to life.

And somehow...

Life just feels a little sweeter in the Caribbean. 🌴☀️🌊