By the second day, the peeling progressed. First, the ankles, then the knees, and eventually his thighs.
Each morning, he would stand in front of the mirror, heart hammering, as he watched his once-healthy skin take on a brittle, almost charred appearance.
Panic began to gnaw at his composure, but he attempted to rationalize: perhaps an allergic reaction, a vitamin deficiency, or even an unusual infection.
Meanwhile, the black substance in his mouth intensified. Each morning it was thicker, darker, and more tenacious, clinging to his tongue and teeth.
By the fifth day, it had left stains on his pillow. That night, the reality of his situation broke through denial. Trembling, he called for medical assistance.
At the hospital, his symptoms prompted immediate concern. Nurses and technicians exchanged furtive glances; doctors whispered as they consulted one another.
Blood tests were taken, swabs analyzed, and scans ordered. The anxiety of the unknown—the silence that stretched on for two days—was almost unbearable.
Finally, the chief specialist, a composed woman in her forties, entered his room. She pulled up a chair and sat beside his bed, her gaze calm but unwavering.
“Pavel,” she began softly, “we understand what’s happening. But it’s critical you know this did not start in your mouth.”
She continued, “The black substance you’re observing is necrotic tissue—dead cells that your body is expelling because it can no longer process them internally.
Your skin and underlying tissues are dying, and your body is attempting to eliminate this material through your oral cavity.”
“Why… why is this happening?” Pavel’s voice cracked.
“The root cause is severe systemic fungal poisoning,” she explained. “This fungus has colonized your digestive tract and entered your bloodstream.
Continue reading…
