A US expat living in Australia has told of how she she made a disturbing discovery inside her apartment after suffering from months of unexplained symptoms, leaving her with no choice but to vacate the property.
Sophia Kim, who is originally from California but now lives in Sydney, moved into a newly-painted three-bedroom rental apartment in October 2023, paying $800-a-week.
Just four months later, she began breaking out in hives and experiencing allergy-like symptoms such as a runny nose, constant sneezing and tiredness.
‘I had hives non-stop for three weeks straight. It was really bad, it got to a point where my skin was shedding because of the unbearable itching,’ Sophia told FEMAIL.
‘I couldn’t sleep… my eyes were completely swollen as if I was going through an allergic reaction and the hives were getting worse.’
What she didn’t know was that mould was lurking behind the walls and ceilings.
‘I’ve had hives since February this year and I did not understand what was going on with my body. I thought my health was deteriorating. I had no idea where the hives and rashes were coming from – but now I know it was because of mould,’ she said.
Her real estate agent sent a mould removal specialist to her property on December 4 where he uncovered fungal spores in every single room of her apartment.
Sophia Kim has told of how she she made a disturbing discovery inside her apartment after suffering from months of unexplained symptoms, leaving her with no choice but to move out
She began breaking out in severe hives and experiencing allergy-like symptoms
‘He was gasping in shock that I was living in this apartment. He was like, ‘You need to move out… You need to go’,’ Sophia said.
Sophia was devastated to find black mould all over her personal belongings, including her favourite clothes, shoes, handbags and even suitcases.
‘I was bawling, crying my eyes out when I saw my guitar,’ she said, explaining how the mould had seeped through the case and onto her beloved musical instrument.
‘I just lost it when I found mould on my guitar because I’ve had it since high school. I was at my breaking point because it’s a sentimental item.
‘I know that at the end of the day these are all just things and objects. I’m just really grateful that I now know why my health has been bad.’
Before her discovery, the ‘fit and healthy’ woman had just started a new chapter in her life after moving into the apartment back in October 2023.
However, things took a turn after the hives started appearing in February this year.
Despite taking antihistamines every four hours, every day for a week, the owner and designer behind bikini label Siempre Golden noticed the hives wouldn’t go away.
She knew something was wrong in her apartment when she woke up the morning after returning to Sydney from a two-week holiday with rashes and swollen eyes
A mould removal specialist found mould in every room earlier this month
‘I was taking it every morning and at night but it wasn’t strong enough so I went to urgent care where they gave me steroids,’ she said.
‘I had no idea what it was. The hives were so itchy, I couldn’t sleep… I thought maybe I had an allergic reaction after I ate something. I was so confused.’
Over the next 10 months, her body would flare up with rashes, leaving her with unsightly red blotches around her face, chest, arms and legs.
‘I was so frustrated and upset,’ she said.
‘I crying all the time because I didn’t understand why my body was acting like this. My mum was so worried and scared for me.
‘No one could understand what was going on with my health. I felt dejected, I thought I was doing something wrong – my body was in such terrible condition.’
She tried tweaking her eating habits, from cutting out dairy, gluten and alcohol to eating a strict clean diet – but nothing seemed to work.
Her hives started worsening again just last month so she began taking antihistamines to help alleviate the symptoms, which made her day-to-day life more bearable and allowed her to sleep.
Sophia broke down in tears when she realised the mould had seeped through the case and onto her beloved musical instrument
The mould found on her travel bag
On November 11, she noticed mould for the first time in her third bedroom so her real estate agent sent a cleaner to remove it.
‘I thought I’d be ok because they got rid of mould,’ she explained.
It wasn’t until she spent two weeks in the US during the last half of November that she noticed she was feeling better, with her hives and rashes noticeably clearing up.
However, she knew something was wrong in her apartment when she woke up the morning after returning to Sydney on December 1, with rashes and swollen eyes.
‘The hives were worse again so I knew it was my apartment because I had left Sydney and was in America for two weeks,’ she said.
‘I was feeling better in America… then I blew up like a balloon when I was back in my apartment. I remember looking up at my bedroom ceiling and seeing mould. The mould must have started to appear while I was away.
‘I just don’t want to imagine how much mould I’ve inhaled this whole time.’
Sophia said she always keeps her windows open but believes the ongoing heavy rain during spring in Sydney may have caused the mould to spread throughout her home.
She said everything makes sense now, as she finally understands why she’s been feeling ill
Her hives started worsening again just last month so she began taking antihistamines to help alleviate the symptoms
Sophia is currently in the process of moving to a new apartment.
‘The mould is everywhere, not just the walls and ceilings, but on everything – all my dresses, purses, shoes, jeans, handbags and even my suitcases that were in the attic. It’s just wild, it’s endless,’ she said.
‘I’m going through the whole process of having to throw away my things and moving again. It’s frustrating but at the same time, I know I’ll be healthier again.
‘I currently have hives as I’m cleaning because the mould spores are just floating everywhere. Health is my priority, and I know I can’t keep living here. My body has been dealing with these rashes for too long.’
She said that everything makes sense now, as she finally understands why she’s been feeling ill all year.
‘Now it’s all clicking and coming together. It took me basically 10 months to figure out what my downfall of my health has been.
‘I’m very grateful that my body was trying to tell me something was wrong.’
There was mould all over her suitcases
Despite taking antihistamines every four hours, every day for a week, she noticed the hives wouldn’t go away
Sophia said she believes the mould has made her ‘highly sensitive’ to certain foods such as dairy and gluten.
‘The moment I eat any of those, I get hives instantly,’ she said.
‘It has really ruined my body.’
Sophia said her friends have been coming over for ‘moral support’ as the mould discovery has been quite overwhelming.
‘I don’t think I can handle this alone. This is my reality now, there’s going to be mould on everything. But it’s still really hard and I’m moving,’ she said.
She hopes by sharing her story, people will become more aware of the serious dangers of mould hidden in homes.
‘Mould is a huge issue in Sydney,’ she said, adding that there needs to be more education on how to manage it.
‘It’s so common here.’
After sharing her story on social media, many shared their own experiences of falling ill from mould exposure around Sydney.
‘My heart goes out to anyone who’s a victim of mould because it’s traumatising and scary, especially when you don’t know why you’re sick at first,’ Sophia added.
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