TL;DR:

Hi, I’m Elliott. Since January 2024, I’ve gone from being active and outdoors every day to being mostly housebound, unable to work, and struggling to get through basic tasks. I’ve seen six specialists, tried countless treatments, and spent most of my savings. The most recommended option left is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy—but it’s not covered by Medicare and costs up to $22,000. I’m asking for your help to afford this treatment and hopefully get my life back.

What happened

It started with a minor illness in January 2024. Soon after, I began getting migraines and visual disturbances—things I’d never experienced before. Over the next few days, more symptoms appeared:

* Ongoing headaches

* Dizziness and light sensitivity

* Extreme fatigue

* A heart rate that jumped and dropped with minimal effort

* Brain fog and trouble focusing

I tried to push through at first—I’ve always been a fit, energetic person—but things didn’t improve. Any overexertion, no matter how small, would set me back for days.

How it’s affected my life

By mid-2024, I had to give up exercise entirely. Even socialising became too much. I was struggling to work and couldn’t do my share around the house—basic chores like cleaning the kitchen would knock me out.

Eventually, I had to stop working altogether in August 2024. Since then, I’ve spent most of my time at home, unable to manage full days upright. It’s been incredibly frustrating and honestly scary.

I want to say a huge thank you to Katrina for carrying me through the past year—I couldn’t have made it this far without her.

What I’ve tried

There’s still no clear diagnosis. I’ve done countless tests and seen six different specialists. Along the way I’ve learned I have:

* Anemia

* Celiac disease

* Dysautonomia (where your autonomic nervous system—things like heart rate, blood pressure, temperature regulation—stops working properly), triggerred by Long Covid

* Autoimmune markers

* Hemochromatosis

Both my GP and a long COVID specialist believe I likely have long COVID, but it’s a diagnosis of exclusion—it can’t be tested for directly.

I’ve also developed new problems since a COVID booster in March 2025—worsening anemia, borderline diabetes, and signs of pancreatic injury (though those are now improving slightly).

Treatments I’ve tried:

* Physical therapy (but it left me worse off)

* Medications

*Salt loading (I now consume iodised salt on mass because my body can’t hold salt properly) and eletroclyte drinks and increasing my water consumption.

* Mental health support

* Dozens of supplements and dietary changes

It’s been a long road, and nothing has given me sustained improvement.

What I’m asking for

The most recommended treatment I haven’t yet tried is Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:

* 30 to 40 sessions

* 2 hours a day

* In a pressurised oxygen chamber at 2 bar

It’s been the most successful option my long COVID specialist has seen in helping people return to normal—or at least significantly improve.

But it’s expensive: between $16,500 and $22,000, and not covered by Medicare or private health. After everything I’ve already spent, I can’t afford this on my own.

So I’m asking for help. If you can contribute anything at all—big or small—it would mean the world. If you can’t donate, sharing this page would still help a lot.

Why it matters

I want to get back to working. I want to be able to hang out with friends again without crashing for days. I want to feel strong enough to plan a small wedding with Katrina—we got engaged in January.

This year, more than anything, I just want to try this treatment and hopefully get back to my old self.

A few moments I’m fighting to get back to

I’ve added some photos of me out living life—winning a doubles tennis comp with my old coach Jesse, climbing mountains, skating in West End with my crew.

I miss that version of me. With your help, I might be able to get back—maybe not all the way, but enough to work, socialise, and build something again.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope to see you all again soon.

Love always,

Elliott