Help Paige find answers for deteriorating health
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Hi everyone, my name is Paige and I’m 24 years old. For the last 12 years my health has become extremely complicated. At 14 years old I was diagnosed with the neurological disease, Multiple Sclerosis. It was quickly discovered that I had an aggressive debilitating form of the disease which completely turned my life around and at that point it was like time stopped for me as I was forced to watch family and friends continue with their lives. At 16 years old, what had been seemingly mild barely noticeable gastrointestinal symptoms that were being managed, became a nightmare that I soon realised I would never wake up from.
For the last 8 years, I have been pretty miserable with nausea, early satiety, frequent stomach pain, bloating and constipation. Over the years I was diagnosed with gastroparesis and intestinal dysmotility. We managed to stabilise my health with several treatments including medications, feeding tubes, many surgeries and central lines to provide supplemental TPN (IV nutrition).
Everything was finally manageable until I contracted COVID-19 in April 2022. I deteriorated extremely quickly and we have now exhausted all medical treatments and interventions. I’m having to come to terms with now being 100% dependent on TPN to keep me alive. As well as severe nausea and vomiting, constant unbearable pain, malabsorption and malnutrition complications, bowel obstructions and constant anxiety around when I will next suffer a life threatening complication. This has all become very hard on my mental health and the reality of being on a form of life support is extremely difficult to deal with and understand the seriousness of this. My current medical team are against repeating any testing I had 8 years ago because it won’t change my circumstances but it is extremely important for me and my mental health that I find some answers to the questions I’ve had for 2 years. Being able to come to terms with my reality and having the physical and mental strength to continue fighting such a tough battle I believe will come from having more information on how much my illnesses have progressed.
I am so thankful for all of the support over the years from family, friends and even complete strangers through this extremely difficult journey. Your kindness and generosity really goes a long way and it is so so appreciated ❤️
For the last 8 years, I have been pretty miserable with nausea, early satiety, frequent stomach pain, bloating and constipation. Over the years I was diagnosed with gastroparesis and intestinal dysmotility. We managed to stabilise my health with several treatments including medications, feeding tubes, many surgeries and central lines to provide supplemental TPN (IV nutrition).
Everything was finally manageable until I contracted COVID-19 in April 2022. I deteriorated extremely quickly and we have now exhausted all medical treatments and interventions. I’m having to come to terms with now being 100% dependent on TPN to keep me alive. As well as severe nausea and vomiting, constant unbearable pain, malabsorption and malnutrition complications, bowel obstructions and constant anxiety around when I will next suffer a life threatening complication. This has all become very hard on my mental health and the reality of being on a form of life support is extremely difficult to deal with and understand the seriousness of this. My current medical team are against repeating any testing I had 8 years ago because it won’t change my circumstances but it is extremely important for me and my mental health that I find some answers to the questions I’ve had for 2 years. Being able to come to terms with my reality and having the physical and mental strength to continue fighting such a tough battle I believe will come from having more information on how much my illnesses have progressed.
I am so thankful for all of the support over the years from family, friends and even complete strangers through this extremely difficult journey. Your kindness and generosity really goes a long way and it is so so appreciated ❤️
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Paige Patching
Organizer