Surgery Support to Fight Endometriosis
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Thank you for stopping to read my story, I greatly appreciate your support.
As many of you know, I’ve been struggling with some continued health issues through the past year and a half, which started in June of 2018 while visiting family in Minnesota and becoming very ill. What I thought was a stomach bug turned into months of severe stomach
pains, rendering me unable to eat for weeks at a time. I attended multiple doctor’s visits and completed many scans, blood work and a colonoscopy where I received no viable answer, but was advised that it “could be” IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I was put on medication
that helped minimize the pain but still missed several days of work to bouts of severe stomach pains and ate little to nothing. I worked with a nutritionist to identify triggers, tried elimination diets and supplements to help, but found no relief.
About 9 months in the pain became unbearable and I was sent to the ER with an active diverticulitis infection. I had not known previously that I had diverticula, but found this as a possible answer to the source of my problems. After 3 rounds of antibiotics and several more weeks of pain, a final scan was done which found no more infection or inflammation, yet the pain persisted.
At my 1-year mark I had lost about 100 pounds due to being on a fairly consistent liquid diet, which I call my silver lining. However, I was left fairly malnourished from the lack of nutrition and began struggling with skin and nail issues as well as hair loss. I began a new journey to learn what else could cause the consistent pain which led me to 1 of only 3 specialist in Endometriosis that are located in Jacksonville. I met with him and his ARNP for a 2 hour consult and imaging scans. This led
to the discovery of endometriosis and adenomyosis in my uterus, a fibroid in my uterine lining which they were unable to measure as well as an inguinal hernia. A plan was made for
me to have surgery to have the endometriosis excised, a total hysterectomy due to the adenomyosis in my uterus and hernia repair. The surgery was originally planned for November/December, however, due to a full schedule and changes in my insurance it had
to be postponed to January 21st, 2020.
This has been a long painful road for me and while I am fearful to have this surgery at 35, I am also very hopeful that it will bring relief to the constant pain. I have felt the Lord’s hand in the movements of this journey in many steps of the way and feel extremely blessed to
have found these answers. I received a call this week advising that my surgery costs will be over $3500.00 for one of my surgeons and at least $1700.00 must be paid within 10 days prior to the surgery otherwise it will have to be cancelled. The costs for the surgery center and anesthesiologist will be separate but I am hopeful that these fees will be billed versus having to be paid upfront.
I am seeking your support firstly in prayer, that this surgery is able to happen, that the doctors have steady hands and keen eyes to ensure nothing is missed and that the healing process is successful without any issues. While I am blessed to be insured, due to the high cost of my insurance deductibles I am unable to handle the financial strain on my own in such a short amount of time, I am greatly appreciative to you for any way that you can give weather it is in prayer, in sharing this or monetarily. I’m grateful for your care and compassion. If you can't
support financially, and would like to offer support in other ways, you are also appreciated, I am so blessed and incredibly thankful.
As many of you know, I’ve been struggling with some continued health issues through the past year and a half, which started in June of 2018 while visiting family in Minnesota and becoming very ill. What I thought was a stomach bug turned into months of severe stomach
pains, rendering me unable to eat for weeks at a time. I attended multiple doctor’s visits and completed many scans, blood work and a colonoscopy where I received no viable answer, but was advised that it “could be” IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). I was put on medication
that helped minimize the pain but still missed several days of work to bouts of severe stomach pains and ate little to nothing. I worked with a nutritionist to identify triggers, tried elimination diets and supplements to help, but found no relief.
About 9 months in the pain became unbearable and I was sent to the ER with an active diverticulitis infection. I had not known previously that I had diverticula, but found this as a possible answer to the source of my problems. After 3 rounds of antibiotics and several more weeks of pain, a final scan was done which found no more infection or inflammation, yet the pain persisted.
At my 1-year mark I had lost about 100 pounds due to being on a fairly consistent liquid diet, which I call my silver lining. However, I was left fairly malnourished from the lack of nutrition and began struggling with skin and nail issues as well as hair loss. I began a new journey to learn what else could cause the consistent pain which led me to 1 of only 3 specialist in Endometriosis that are located in Jacksonville. I met with him and his ARNP for a 2 hour consult and imaging scans. This led
to the discovery of endometriosis and adenomyosis in my uterus, a fibroid in my uterine lining which they were unable to measure as well as an inguinal hernia. A plan was made for
me to have surgery to have the endometriosis excised, a total hysterectomy due to the adenomyosis in my uterus and hernia repair. The surgery was originally planned for November/December, however, due to a full schedule and changes in my insurance it had
to be postponed to January 21st, 2020.
This has been a long painful road for me and while I am fearful to have this surgery at 35, I am also very hopeful that it will bring relief to the constant pain. I have felt the Lord’s hand in the movements of this journey in many steps of the way and feel extremely blessed to
have found these answers. I received a call this week advising that my surgery costs will be over $3500.00 for one of my surgeons and at least $1700.00 must be paid within 10 days prior to the surgery otherwise it will have to be cancelled. The costs for the surgery center and anesthesiologist will be separate but I am hopeful that these fees will be billed versus having to be paid upfront.
I am seeking your support firstly in prayer, that this surgery is able to happen, that the doctors have steady hands and keen eyes to ensure nothing is missed and that the healing process is successful without any issues. While I am blessed to be insured, due to the high cost of my insurance deductibles I am unable to handle the financial strain on my own in such a short amount of time, I am greatly appreciative to you for any way that you can give weather it is in prayer, in sharing this or monetarily. I’m grateful for your care and compassion. If you can't
support financially, and would like to offer support in other ways, you are also appreciated, I am so blessed and incredibly thankful.
Organizer
Charlene Arnold
Organizer
Jacksonville, FL