First Month in the Low-Tox House

I am getting better—yahoo!!!!

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Gorgeous weather—bedroom windows stay open almost every day!

Specific improvements this month:

  • Digestion, almost immediately.  I could not digest meat the last 4-6 weeks in town.  Within 1 day here, I could.
  • Ability to use computer now, not get sick from the computer screen, and even be on wifi for very short times.
  • Brain fog is starting to clear.
  • Energy is slowly increasing.  I went from energy level about 1% of normal for a person my age to about 5% now.
  • Numb and painful spot in my left foot has cleared up.
  • The smell of cinnamon no longer bothers me!

One thing that surprised me, though, was the first week.  Other than a couple immediate improvements, I was absolutely miserable.  Headaches, nausea, chills, malaise, heart palpitations….

It felt for all the world like withdrawal, and I think it was!  If caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol, then why not another chemical—namely car exhaust—for those of us whose bodies do not process it quickly enough while in it!

I went from town being the sickest EVER since leaving the mold house to this safe, low-tox house; from smelling car exhaust every day in town to not smelling it but once in the whole month!

After about the first week, the withdrawal-type symptoms began to reduce significantly.

The one time I smelled car exhaust here—I got into our relatively-safe car and gagged before the engine was even turned on!

Compared to this house, the relatively-safe car is pretty bad now—what a wonderful thing!!!  LOL

I know it probably doesn’t sound wonderful to you, but it is fantastic to me.  It shows how good the house is.

Knowing the house is much, much safer than my “safe spot car” means that God has given us wisdom on building and materials.

The house was less than 3 weeks “old” yet far superior to the car (or anywhere else I have lived, with the possible exception of the metal camper until it got contaminated with herbicide numerous times).

HALLELUJAH!!!!!

I must also mention how wonderful it is to see our daughter Sarah so independent.  She is 10 years old, has spina bifida, and is wheelchair bound.  She has not been able to use her wheelchair at home in almost 6 years due to various problems in rentals (carpet, no space/room for wheelchair, living in a Winnebago, etc.)

We designed this house to have wheelchair access and space so that she can basically get anywhere in the house.

It is obvious that she is just thrilled to get around other than a little army crawling, get things out of kitchen drawers, reach the fridge, help wash veggies, bring things to me in my bedroom, help with laundry, go wash her hands anytime she wants.  Oh, it’s so exhilarating to see her enjoy this new freedom in her life!!!!

We are so very thankful for everything.

Christa Upton     Black Hills Picture Books     Edgemont, SD  57735

About Christa Upton

I am a wife and mother of three children ages 11, 14, and 18. I used to be a stay-at-home mom (teaching piano & dance, volunteering, etc). From 2007 to 2010, I suffered accidental Toxic Injury (also called Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or MCS). MCS has had major impact on our family, but the forced time in bed has given me time to write. So far, I have published 4 children's books (2 in e-book format on Kindle, one in Print-on-Demand at CreateSpace, and one printed by a local printer). Sometimes I miss my old life, but I love writing for children!
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8 Responses to First Month in the Low-Tox House

  1. Kris says:

    I’m SO So thankful that you are in your safe home!!! What blessings you’ve received from God!!

  2. Mary says:

    So good to hear this!

  3. Alice says:

    It makes me so happy to hear that you and Sarah both are experiencing some of the simple things in life that you’ve missed out on for a long time now. May the good times continue!

  4. Cathi says:

    So glad things are improving! I just wanted to comment that a lot of people have trouble digesting proteins. Especially as we get older our natural digestive enzymes decline. I take a digestive enzyme supplement after I eat protein. It helps a lot!

    • Christa Upton says:

      Thank you!!! Makes sense about enzymes!!! So far, I have not found one pill, supplement, etc. that I tolerate (for anything) 🙁 So many have an additive I can’t have, or are produced a way that doesn’t work w/ my body. However, I have found some natural enzyme sources that do help, like chicken broth, raw cow’s milk, etc. Which reminds me, I need to have some broth–thank you!!!! 😀

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