It's hard to ask for help in today's world.

I have been diagnosed with multiple autoimmune conditions over the years.

I struggled with hormone imbalances as a young woman and was unable to take medication to resolve this issue. These constant imbalances would give my skin flare ups of severe acne, pelvic pain and awful monthly periods.

Unfortunately, there was little known about the causes of pelvic joint and hip pain at the time and I was told to manage it with other medications, activity and other options.

I have been through countless specialists, procedures, tests, etc. I have been diagnosed with several autoimmune conditions, one affecting the other over the years. I have struggled to work due to the constant pain and pressure in my hips and infections.

In 2020, like so many others, I was diagnosed with COVID, but I never recovered. I lost my ability to heal, I couldn't walk, and every joint on my body inflamed causing daily pain. I went through countless specialists, procedures, tests, etc only for them to tell me I have to change my lifestyle and start immunosuppressant medication. I was officially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis due to my ulcerative colitis and began working to overcome it. Every doctor told me the same thing, wide spread inflammation is difficult to control and detect.

For 4 years, I struggled to walk again. I pushed myself to overcome muscular atrophy. I looked at my lifestyle and quit drinking. I changed what I ate. I managed my stress, I chased the skeletons from my closet. I did everything I should, everything I could.

Until my insurance ran out.

Last year I started working again. I had an amazing opportunity to train in an exciting new career. I worked so hard for months to become a casino card dealer, putting years of customer service to the test. For the first time in my life, I was in a job that required me to sit for hours every day. I love my job, but it had unintended consequences.

My health issues started almost immediately. The pain in my hip was causing such inflammation that it was ravaging my body. I started having numbness in my back and thigh. I was swollen every day. There were times I went up to my boss with tears in my eyes and they let me leave early. Without the kindness, encouragement, and support of my co-workers, I would not have made it to becoming a full time dealer. I pushed myself so hard to make it past my probation period and celebrated the day I could start my medication again.

The new insurance brought a new team of doctors but the medical costs were manageable. Unfortunately, countless specialists, tests and procedures brought on several new diagnoses. This time, it was deemed that I was suffering from “Adenomyosis” which is a painful thickening of the uterus. It most likely contributed to a large number of my problems over the years such as including the miscarriage of a child. My doctor considered my history, the increase in pain and a negative response to the medication, and it was decided I would have a hysterectomy. We hope it eases my symptoms.

My health started rapidly declining in the last couple months and my doctor decided it would be safer for me to be at home. Last month, he pulled me from work to prepare my body for surgery and most importantly, not getting sick because I take so long to heal. I planned to be out of work for a few weeks for this much needed surgery, not a few months. This has been financially devastating causing medical bills, copays, insurance premiums and household necessities to pile up. It's not something I can keep up with in my current condition.

It's so hard to ask for help when I know so many people are in need, but if you have anything to spare, I am definitely in need of some assistance getting through this difficult time. If not, please share my story so that it can reach as many people as possible.

I appreciate your consideration and for reading my story.

Renee