From Mold Exposure to Thriving at 70
When Sarah put her first HTMA test in the mail, she didn't think she would be calling me in a few months to say, "Dr. Stillman, you're not going to believe this."
A Health Professional's Nightmare
Sarah had spent over 35 years in health and wellness, helping others find their path to better health. She's a wife, grandmother, and experienced practitioner who had seen it all. Or so she thought.
When her son fell ill from mold exposure in their home, Sarah found herself searching for answers in unfamiliar territory. That search led her to my Substack, and eventually, to one of the most dramatic recoveries I've witnessed in my practice.
But let me back up and tell you Sarah's story from the beginning.
When Everything Falls Apart
A few years ago, Sarah was living in what could only be described as a health nightmare. Years of failed hormone treatments had left her frustrated and depleted. Her previous providers had used non-bioidentical pellets, pushing her testosterone to 450 (well into the male range) without any improvement.
But it was the mold exposure that nearly broke her.
Living in a contaminated environment had triggered a cascade of debilitating symptoms. Severe headaches that wouldn't respond to treatment. Brain fog so intense she couldn't complete sentences. GI issues that made daily life miserable. Energy levels so low she hadn't been able to launch her health practice despite decades of experience.
To put this in perspective, Sarah is a tough cookie. She had been helping people with health issues for over three decades. But this mold exposure had her beat. She had practically given up hope that she would ever feel normal again.
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The November 2023 Breakthrough
Sarah's first Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis in November 2023 revealed what I suspected. Her body was crying out for proper mineral balance and detoxification support.
She had just moved out of the moldy house and was living in temporary housing. Even in this less-than-ideal situation, the results were swift and dramatic.
Within three months of starting the HTMA program and supplements, she experienced 50% improvement in overall symptoms. Brain fog lifted enough for her to communicate clearly again. Energy began returning for the first time in years.
She described feeling "alive for the first time" and called to tell me, "I can laugh again. I can actually have a conversation without losing my train of thought."
This is the power of addressing root causes rather than chasing symptoms.
Why Her Hormone Therapy Had Failed
Sarah's experience with conventional hormone therapy illustrates a critical point I make repeatedly in my practice. More is not always better.
Her previous providers had pushed her testosterone levels to 450 without addressing the underlying factors preventing her body from utilizing hormones effectively. They were treating numbers on a lab report instead of treating Sarah.
It wasn't until we implemented bioidentical hormones alongside proper mineral support and detoxification that she experienced the transformation she'd been seeking for years.
The 90% Transformation
Today, Sarah reports a remarkable 90% improvement in her overall health. But these amazing results were just the beginning.
As she continued with the program month after month, Sarah experienced transformation after transformation.
Bioidentical hormone optimization played a crucial role. Proper progesterone supplementation restored 9 hours of nightly sleep after years of insomnia. Balanced hormone ratios instead of excessive single-hormone dosing. Hormone drops that actually worked with her body's natural rhythms.
Mineral balancing through HTMA was equally important. Sarah credits mineral balancing with 30% of her recovery. The targeted supplementation based on tissue analysis addressed deficiencies that had gone undetected for years.
Daily health habits completed the picture. Morning sun exposure, regular walks in nature, and a consistent sleep schedule supported by proper hormone balance.
"Nothing works that comprehensively," she told me. "But here I was, seeing results I'd never experienced before in all my years of practice."
Starting Over at 70
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Sarah's story is what happened after her recovery.
At age 70, an age when many people are winding down, Sarah finally had the energy and mental clarity to launch the health practice she'd been dreaming of for years. The newfound energy from her treatments enabled her to start something she hadn't had the capacity for in over a decade.
This isn't just about feeling better. This is about reclaiming a life that illness had stolen.
Why a Healthcare Professional Became a Believer
Sarah has been in health and wellness her whole life. She's seen a thing or two. This is why she is so enthusiastic about the HTMA approach and comprehensive functional medicine.
"I understand the science behind mineral balancing," she explains. "I've seen the research. I understand the mechanisms. But more importantly, I've seen the results in myself and now in my own clients. The results are like nothing I've ever seen in 35 years of practice."
What Sarah Wants You to Know
In her own practice now, Sarah emphasizes several key lessons from her journey.
First, experience doesn't immunize you from illness. Even health professionals can fall victim to environmental toxins when root causes go unaddressed.
Second, environmental factors must be addressed first. No amount of supplementation can overcome ongoing mold exposure.
Third, proper testing reveals the real problems. HTMA showed what blood work had missed for years.
Finally, she stresses the importance of prioritizing sleep restoration in any treatment plan. She's seen how addressing sleep issues can dramatically reduce anxiety and improve overall treatment outcomes.
The Bigger Picture
Sarah's story teaches us that conventional approaches often fail because they ignore the foundational factors that determine health outcomes.
Her hormone therapy failed because her providers were focused on numbers instead of addressing why her body couldn't utilize hormones properly in the first place.
Her symptoms persisted because no one looked at the environmental factors that were triggering her immune system day after day.
Her energy remained low because mineral deficiencies were never identified or corrected.
It wasn't until we addressed all these factors together that she experienced the life-changing transformation she'd been seeking.
Hope for the Future
If you're struggling with symptoms that seem to have no clear cause, or if you've tried conventional treatments without success, Sarah's story offers hope.
Environmental factors like mold exposure can trigger autoimmune-like symptoms that respond beautifully to the right approach. Hormone imbalances can be corrected when we address the underlying mineral deficiencies and toxic exposures.
The key is finding practitioners who understand these connections and are willing to dig deeper than surface-level symptom management.
Are you dealing with unexplained symptoms that might be connected to your environment or hormone imbalances? Join my next autoimmunity webinar where I'll share the exact framework that helped Sarah and hundreds of other patients reclaim their health. Register Here
Until next time, be well,
Dr. Stillman
Thank you, Dr. Stillman!
It is a profound realization to accept that, as health care providers who help others, we are not immune.
I am in the beginning stages of implementing your 14-day reset, and once I am through this financial rough patch I plan to apply to be your patient.
Thank you for sharing yourself and your knowledge! You are greatly appreciated!
God bless you and yours! :-)