Recovering from Mysterious Medical Challenges

Update: (2025) I have managed to keep paying for care somehow but often have to dip into credit card to make appointments with a private and expert chiropractor/cranial sacral therapist. I’ve been battling with a strange and complicated health issue for going on 8 years, or longer when counting nerve pains and different head jaw pressure related issues since I was a young adult. As of now, my balance is not maxed out, busy time of year is coming work wise, but still any funds to help me keep seeing the chiropractor while I continue advocating for a diagnosis are appreciated. Thank you. I also offer web design and promotional services if anyone needs any help with anything related to those areas. 

2024: Even more concisely sad: This GoFundMe is for helping me recover economically from paying out of pocket to get evidence for receiving medical care. I finally have gotten an appointment to UCSF Neurology and am still recovering/struggling to afford this health crisis. If I get enough donations, (way more than I am asking for), I will employ a private Neurologist to help me get a diagnosis and treatment plan... Thank you.

2023: Six years ago, very frequent migraines and tremendous pressure in head and face starting forcing what feels like air through my teeth and inner cheeks. It’s been extremely difficult getting a treatment plan or diagnosis, and making normal life difficult. As for what we know, CT Scans show chronic sinusitis, I have a large cyst in my right sinus which is inoperable, and LENS EEG shows brain function is severely suppressed. I’ve had to pay out of pocket for travel and evidence in order to get referral to UCSF, and currently I am expecting to go to San Francisco again this October. I’m also hoping local Neurologists accepts my referral, based on recommendations of UCSF ENT and LENS results. My card is maxed out from dealing with all of this, and while I work a lot I’m having trouble keeping up with all of this. All of your donations have been tremendously helpful, and I think we’re closer than ever to getting the answers I need. I am writing a fictionalized book about my experience with navigating the medical system and all of the crazy ideas I’ve considered as for what could be causing this. Any donation below $100 will get a digital copy of the book, and anyone who donates over $100 will get a signed physical copy. Thank you, every bit of encouragement and feedback is appreciated. 

Updated Campaign Info* (I will leave the original draft for transparency purposes.)

As of July 29th, 2023, I've been suffering from what feels distinctly to me like air getting trapped in pockets behind my face and around my head. The amount of pressure I feel in my jaws, temples, and just random places such as behind my cheeks, it's extremely distracting and oftentimes the pressure turns into migraines. The reason I believe this pressure is trapped air is because I'm also experiencing what appears to be air forcing its way through my teeth and inner cheek. I've been suffering in this condition 24 hours a day for over 5 years.

I had been told by a local doctor that I would have to "Just live with it," around 5 years ago when it started. I suffered from this every day, exhausted trying to keep my life together and steadily getting further into stability despite this ridiculous nagging situation. But about a year and a half ago my dog died, and after he wasn't there to keep me distracted from my problem I became acutely aware of how much this is destroying my life. As ridiculous as it sounds, shortly after my dog was gone, so did I sell my broken-down truck and my girlfriend left me.

None of these things are why I've finally started asking for help. I was having a really hard time at getting a referral to more experienced doctors. After getting sent from the oral surgeon to the ENT, and back again, being told by both that I would need to be seen by the other.. I decided to start calling around the country, searching for clinics that have ENTs and Oral Surgeons working together side by side. I found a clinic in Utah that referred me to a Doctor in Pennsylvania, who referred me to a Specialist that trains Doctors all around the country.

Finally, that referral lead me to a clinic in San Diego with a special 3D Cone Beam Scanner. I got an appointment with the Doctor in San Diego, got the imaging, and with that imaging some important clues to what may or may not be causing this issue with my face. More importantly, I now have two appointments with UCSF, the Oral Surgery Clinic and the ENT clinic. I also have the information I can present to the doctors there to show that my situation is complicated and may need the two different specialists to work together.

While obtaining this evidence for my case, I had to max out my credit card and that is causing me a lot of stress. I also had to move, and it's been generally difficult to catch even with two or three jobs plus the freelance work I do on the side. Now I must raise funds for two separate trips to San Fransisco, at least, just to figure out if they can identify the cause and help me. Unless I can raise a few thousand dollars in three weeks, I won't have any credit available like I did when I went to San Diego. I feel like I'm doing everything I can, but not sure how I'm going to make it through this.

I'm not proud to be asking for help, but I am grateful for those who have helped and for everyone that continues to know I am who I am, even with this particular issue holding me back. Ideally, I'd like to pay off my credit card to save my score from dropping any more and have access to the funds on an emergency basis while making these trips. I'll continue to update the story, and I'm writing a book about the experience which will be available to all donors. Please help me by sharing my campaign, and donating if you can.

Thank you.

Previous Statement Below:

Hi, my name is Anthony DeLuca and I am from Humboldt County, CA. My story is a bit complicated so I'll share the short version here.. Reach out if you want more information. Thank you for considering my situation and for any help you might send. Over the past five years, I am experiencing chronic migraines from what appears to be air getting trapped in my sinuses causing pressure until eventually forcing its way out through my teeth and inner cheeks.

After dozens of failed attempts with local doctors and various specialists, we still do not know what is causing this compounding health crisis. I tracked down a specialist with the right equipment and knowledge in San Diego and then maxed out my credit card going see him, which was definitely worth it. I learned more about what seems to be going on, and then after I got home the doctor said to me, "You're imaging was reviewed by our lab and it answered a lot of my questions, I think it will answer some of yours as well."

That was in January. I had planned on paying my credit card off before paying for the next appointment, but it's been difficult with setbacks and moving and just constantly being distracted by the migraines and feeling of air pressurizing my face. I don't like asking for help, but this morning I woke up coughing from my throat and face being swollen and I can't take it anymore. I thought I'd be caught up by now, but I am not. I am also supposed to travel at least two more times at least for other doctor appointments.

I am however finally moved into a new space, which is relieving. I picked up a temporary job and a new job while my regular job hasn’t been busy enough, and when I’m not working one of my three jobs I provide freelance services. I'm grateful for every opportunity that comes my way, and I always make a genuine effort to provide excellent service. Thankful for every web design and promotional gig that comes my way, and I'm learning more.

As far as medical progress goes, I have a consult scheduled with UCSF Oral Surgery in August but that may be fruitless. I convinced my primary care physician to send another referral to UCSF ENT, who denied my first attempt. I've been told I have an inoperable cyst in my right sinus, at least one of my wisdom teeth is very close to the sinus wall, and my nose is "developmentally swollen." While treating the swelling in my nose I've begun to suspect that a broken nose may be the culprit.

If I get the wrong surgery it could complicate things further, so I would like to pay for the next appointment with the doctor in San Diego before going to UCSF, so I can have more information that would make it more likely I get a diagnosis. Any donations to help me accomplish this, or prepare for the trips to SF, would be greatly appreciated. I'm happy to provide services for donations so please inquire if you want help with web design, media design, or promotion.

I'm looking to raise $2,500 but realistically will need much more. Some images will be provided below, but I'm accessible by phone or DM if anyone wants to discuss any of this with me further. After the past five to six years of facing this challenge and navigating the medical system, I've started writing a fiction book to process/document the story. I'd like to offer anyone that donates $20 a digital copy of my story when it is published. Anyone who donates over $100 will get a signed physical copy, the steep incentives offered are because taking care of this medical issue will increase my efficiency tremendously.

Thank you for your consideration, Anthony DeLuca 

(Email from the doctor regarding the potential for wisdom tooth removal to help.) 

(Wisdom tooth in question) (Image shows the airways are not ideal probably from pressure.) 

(I honestly have no idea, but maybe this shows air pockets of pressure?) Thanks again!