FIGHT FIBRO: Get Holly to a specialist
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Hello, internet!
My name is Holly and I have fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder characterized by long-term, body-wide muscular pain, extreme fatigue, depression, and anxiety--among many other symptoms. If you are interested in reading more about fibro, the US National Library of Medicine has a pretty good article here.
Despite the fact that I've tried most everything my doctors can come up with, I still wind up in the ER to get painkiller shots every couple of months when the pain gets too bad to handle. I've had to quit jobs that I love, have struggled to pay my medical bills even with help from my amazing friends and family, and in general, feel like I've lost my life to fibromyalgia.
An initial appointment with Dr. Vrchota costs $650. The second appointment costs $475. Each consecutive appointment, which would occur every month to three months, costs $275. The extra $135 included in my goal would cover fees charged by gofundme.
Any contribution at all would help me achieve this goal. Fibromyalgia has taken my life away from me for too long, and I have high hopes that this doctor could help me get it back.
My name is Holly and I have fibromyalgia, a chronic pain disorder characterized by long-term, body-wide muscular pain, extreme fatigue, depression, and anxiety--among many other symptoms. If you are interested in reading more about fibro, the US National Library of Medicine has a pretty good article here.
Despite the fact that I've tried most everything my doctors can come up with, I still wind up in the ER to get painkiller shots every couple of months when the pain gets too bad to handle. I've had to quit jobs that I love, have struggled to pay my medical bills even with help from my amazing friends and family, and in general, feel like I've lost my life to fibromyalgia.
A good doctor is hard to find.
It is rare that a person is able to find a physician who knows enough about fibromyalgia to actually help. I've been lucky enough to find doctors who genuinely want to help, but they have all admitted that they do not know enough about fibro to do more than just help control the worst symptoms.
Here's the good news! My most recent (and favorite) doctor, Dr. May, who was my primary physician while I was in college, found a local fibromyalgia specialist for me and even shadowed her clinic for three days. Her name is Karen Vrchota and she works in Winona. According to Dr. May, Dr. Vrchota has changed many patients lives. She even told me stories about patients who were completely bedridden whose lives have been completely turned around after being treated by Dr. Vrchota.
So, here's the problem. Dr. Vrchota doesn't take insurance.
That's where you come in. My goal of $1,810 would help me pay for a minimum of four months worth of appointments with Dr. Vrchota.
It is rare that a person is able to find a physician who knows enough about fibromyalgia to actually help. I've been lucky enough to find doctors who genuinely want to help, but they have all admitted that they do not know enough about fibro to do more than just help control the worst symptoms.
Here's the good news! My most recent (and favorite) doctor, Dr. May, who was my primary physician while I was in college, found a local fibromyalgia specialist for me and even shadowed her clinic for three days. Her name is Karen Vrchota and she works in Winona. According to Dr. May, Dr. Vrchota has changed many patients lives. She even told me stories about patients who were completely bedridden whose lives have been completely turned around after being treated by Dr. Vrchota.
So, here's the problem. Dr. Vrchota doesn't take insurance.
That's where you come in. My goal of $1,810 would help me pay for a minimum of four months worth of appointments with Dr. Vrchota.
An initial appointment with Dr. Vrchota costs $650. The second appointment costs $475. Each consecutive appointment, which would occur every month to three months, costs $275. The extra $135 included in my goal would cover fees charged by gofundme.
Any contribution at all would help me achieve this goal. Fibromyalgia has taken my life away from me for too long, and I have high hopes that this doctor could help me get it back.
Organizer
Holly Abel
Organizer
St. Paul, MN