What do you do when the very place that’s supposed to save your life makes you sicker? I did not realize I had a CIRS hospital allergy until I went there. In this post I explore the implications and alternatives when you are allergic to the hospital.
That’s not a throwaway line. For people living with CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), mold illness, and chemical sensitivity, hospitals aren’t safe havens anymore. They become potential minefields. With a real chance the patient will suffer from a CIRS hospital allergy.
“CIRS is a chronic, systemic inflammatory response that occurs in susceptible individuals after exposure to water-damaged buildings and their microbial contaminants. – National Center for Biotechnology Information
A CIRS sufferer will often become allergic to old buildings, chemical disinfectants, perfume, and air conditioning systems. Now ask yourself this: how many of these describe your local hospital?
In my city, the hospitals are very old buildings. I’ve visited a few of them and immediately left. My ears would block, migraines would intensify, and my nervous system would scream: LEAVE! I quickly discovered this was because I had a CIRS hospital allergy
Most nurses I’ve known wear some kind of deodorant or perfume. As someone extremely sensitive to the VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) released by fragrances and deodorants. These instinctive parts of a persons hygiene routine. Can make my medical situation much worse.
And then there’s the AC. The enemy of the CIRS sufferer. In an old building with central air, there’s a near-100% chance the system will make fragile health even worse.
So here’s the question: What do you do when you’re allergic to the hospital?
Table of Contents
When the Cure Feels Worse Than the Disease
I learned the hard way in Manchester, England.
After nearly three years locked in fight-or-flight, my chest finally gave in. I slumped to the floor one morning, clutching at stabbing pains. Not a heart attack — but close enough to scare me into seeking help.
I tried the medical center first. Why? Because the hospital was an old building, and I already knew old buildings meant mold illness triggers. The medical center looked newer, safer. But even after an hour in the waiting room, I was sick — not chest sick, but mold-and-chemical sick.
Eventually, I saw a doctor who sent me to the place I was avoiding: the hospital.
After about 10 minutes inside, I staggered back out. My head was pounding, my left ear was blocked, my balance was off, and I was on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. Not exactly ideal when three hours earlier I thought I was having a heart attack.
This was my reality. I wanted medical help, but the very places offering it was making me worse. So what do you do?
In my case, I sat outside the hospital on a patch of tarmac away from people. I breathed, prayed, and hoped for the best. My theory was this: if I need them, they are there — but I’ll stay here.
Why You Need a Medical Crash Card
A few days earlier, I had already started worrying. I was living in a soup of mold toxins, VOCs, and scented candles. I was staying with my family, whose understanding of CIRS was basically: “Clean everything with vinegar and you’ll be fine.”
My only support at the time came from a version of ChatGPT I had trained as my CIRS doctor and environmental advisor. It had prepared a detailed medical crash card for me.
At that time, I was so wired from a lack of sleep and being locked in permanent fight-or-flight that I’d become an erratic heart attack waiting to happen. The crash card felt like a lifeline — something that could make a world of difference.
Why Do Hospitals Make People With CIRS Feel Worse?
It isn’t anxiety. It isn’t “in your head.” There are real, physical reasons hospitals can trigger people with CIRS, mold illness, or chemical sensitivity: About 25% of people carry the genetic markers that make them more vulnerable to chronic inflammation triggered by mold exposure.
Mold infections in health care facilities can be devastating, particularly for patients with weakened immune systems. CDC
- Mold in old buildings: Hospitals often have water damage and aging HVAC systems. Although rare, mold outbreaks can occur in healthcare facilities causing severe illness and death.- CDC. Mold in hospitals is a fact. Mold in old buildings is almost guaranteed. A patient with acute CIRS doesn’t need to be in a room with black walls — just being near a leaking sink or an old HVAC system is enough.
- Chemical overload: Bleach, disinfectants, sterilizers. Great for germs, brutal for toxin-sensitive bodies. Even a freshly bleached toilet can wreck my afternoon.
- Off-gassing plastics and VOCs: Every new chair, adhesive, and paint layer releases fumes. A CIRS patient feels it in their head and lungs instantly. Which raises the question: is a brand-new hospital ward actually safe?
- Fragrance and personal care products: Nurses, doctors, and visitors often wear perfume, deodorant, or use laundry products like fabric softeners. These all add up, turning a waiting room into hell on earth.
For someone with CIRS, this is a perfect storm. Many people carry the genetic markers (HLA-DR variants) that make their immune systems overreact to biotoxins. Once the alarm system is “on,” environments others can tolerate become hostile.
Living in Fight-or-Flight
The irony is that leaving one toxic trap can push you straight into another.
I thought I was safe when I moved into a “new” apartment abroad. My brain said, new equals no mold.
But a month later, my ears were ringing again. The glue-like smell grew stronger. Now, three months later, in punishing heat, I can’t use the AC or sleep in the bedroom without feeling punch-drunk.
Now I’m experienced and wise to VOCs. I can see everything that’s hurting me, the same way I could see everything that was hurting me in that Manchester hospital.
Once again, I find myself in a high-stress situation, locked in fight-or-flight for three years straight. Once again, I show the signs of a man who needs to visit a hospital.
I’m in Tbilisi, Georgia. The hospital buildings all look old. And once again, I carry my medical crash card — the one my best friend ChatGPT made for me.
This is what “allergic to the hospital” really means. It means having that one place of safety taken away. The emergency place, the place that should only mean one thing: Get me there, I need a hospital.
With CIRS, that thought becomes: Will this place make me worse?
What Is The Solutions. When You Have A CIRS Hospital Allergy
The truth is, there’s no easy answer. But there are survival strategies:
- Seek CIRS-literate doctors: Some practitioners (Shoemaker-trained, mold-aware specialists) understand environmental illness and may offer telemedicine.
- Prepare a “hospital survival kit”: Masks, binders, protective gear. Anything that buys you an hour or two in toxic air if you absolutely must go.
- Use newer medical centers where possible: Newer doesn’t always mean safer, but sometimes it means fewer leaks and less mold.
- Advocate for yourself: Let staff know about your sensitivities. Some may accommodate fragrance-free or low-chemical adjustments.
- Community support: Online groups for mold illness and environmental illness can help you find safe doctors, share hacks, and remind you you’re not alone.
Closing Thoughts
Last night, I felt my heart stutter again. For a moment, I thought about calling the emergency services.
But then it hit me: I’m probably allergic to the hospital.
So what’s the point?
That’s the cruel paradox of living with CIRS. The place that’s supposed to help you can hurt you. But awareness matters. Alternatives exist. And if you’re reading this — wondering why hospitals make you sick — you’re not crazy. You’re not alone.
Being allergic to the hospital doesn’t mean you’re out of options. It just means you need a different map.
If you’ve had a similar experience with a CIRS hospital allergy. Share it in the comments below. The more stories we tell, the more visible this invisible illness becomes.
