Woman has unexplained illness that leaves her unable to breathe. Then she sees what’s been growing under her bed

A woman started to feel sick in her home. Then she looked under her bed and found something growing in her floorboards, and found a large fungus.

Amelia (@ameliaaxel) posted a TikTok slideshow that received more than 12.2 million views. In it, she examined a fungus that she said was growing underneath her bed. The TikToker reported feeling sick beforehand, which one commenter said was a “new fear unlocked.”

What Symptoms Did Amelia Have?

Prior to posting her TikTok, Amelia said she had to go to urgent care. She wrote in her slideshow that she was unable to breathe for two nights. 

After seeking medical treatment, Amelia went looking around her room. She said she found something under her bed, which she posted in her video. 

She took a photo of a mushroom that appeared to be growing in her floorboards. The content creator posted a photo from a mushroom identification site, which said the mushroom was “genus pleurotus,” otherwise known as an oyster mushroom. 

Can Mushrooms Make People Sick?

It can be concerning to see something growing out of the floorboards, especially at a rapid rate. But mushrooms have different effects on different people. Some individuals don’t feel sick around growing mushrooms, while others develop acute symptoms. 

Mushrooms release spores, which can cause allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma. Additionally, Elevating Kitchen reports that they can cause “mushroom worker’s lung,” or hypersensitivity pneumonitis. 

Is the Mushroom a Sign of a Bigger Issue?

Most of Amelia’s commenters warned the content creator that the mushrooms might be a sign of something worse—mold. Viewers said that the mushrooms may signal that her floorboards are rotting and that she has a mold infestation in her home. 

“oyster mushrooms feed on rotting wood your house is literally decomposing,” one viewer said. 

“This issue isn’t the mushroom it’s HOW MUCH moisture there’s got to be for it to grow, your walls are probably riddled with mold omg,” another commenter added. 

Most mushroom species require high humidity and dark conditions to grow. Mold also grows in damp, dark environments, so they often go hand in hand. It can cause debilitating side effects for those who are susceptible to it. 

Mold sickness can cause coughing, wheezing, brain fog, muscle pain, and vertigo, according to Parsley Health. Long-term, mold sickness can impact a person’s weight, mood, and overall health.

Other Risks Associated with Mushroom Growth

Outside of concerns over Amelia’s condition, some commenters said the fungi could pose a risk to her home’s structural integrity. A person who claimed to be a mold inspector said, “You might want to test it and make sure it’s not a species called poria incrassata. If it is, it’ll destroy your home and it grows extremely quickly. Trust me.” 

Poria incrassata is a “water-conducting fungus,” according to Engineer Fix. It can decay wood at a rapid rate, making it a nightmare for homeowners. 

Engineer Fix further explains that “The presence of Poria incrassata results in brown rot, which selectively targets and degrades the cellulose and hemicellulose components of the wood. By consuming these structural polymers, the fungus leaves behind a brittle, modified lignin matrix that has little strength.” 

It’s unclear whether Amelia has examined the situation further or whether she has mold in her home. 

The Mary Sue has reached out to Amelia via TikTok direct message for more information.

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