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Help Sally Afford Ongoing Medical Treatment

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Thankyou for taking the time to look at this page. My name is Sally and I am 26 years old. For much of my life I have lived with autoimmune issues such as severe dermatitis, eczema, asthma, alopecia (hair loss) and anaphylaxis. Despite this I strive hard to live a normal, happy life. My day to day generally consists of doctors appointments, drug trials, hospital visits and various medications. As no doctor has ever been able to successfully diagnose all my issues, my treatment is always ongoing. Most of the medication Im prescribed causes side effects, resulting in a vicious cycle of taking one drug to counteract another. As a last resort to stop my immune system attacking itself, I was put on immunosuppressants at 15. However, about a year ago I was taken off my medication (immunosuppressants) against my wishes by a practising doctor. I attempted to explain why I needed to be on such a form of drug, but he refused to give it to me stating I was too young and it was detrimental to my body. Two months later as a result I lost over 50% of my hair because my alopecia flared up, my dermatitis got worse and I developed severe depression and anxiety. I lost my job and have been unable to work for over 6 months because it became too difficult to leave the house. I started having regular panic attacks, excessive sweating and withdrew myself. While I have fought hard and am back on track I still have to take about 14 different medications each day to keep my problems at bay (costing on average $1,000 a month).  I still have injections in my scalp, blood tests, laser surgery (result of weight gain from steroids) and regular appointments with a dermatologist, GP, immunologist, psychologist and psychiatrist. For example one montly appointment with my dermatologist can cost $800, plus a few hundred more if I need injections etc. (because I see specialists their fees and meds are often not subsidised).  I am still unable to return to work due to severe anxiety and depression and am struggling to pay for not only medications but also rent. As I'm sure you can understand, the specialists, treatments and medications I need are very expensive, and unfortunately ongoing. There have already been times where I have opted out of treatment and medication simply because I couldn't afford it. This post is not only to raise money but also awareness for alopecia. People need to understand even though some of my problems may be aesthetic, doesnt mean they aren't extremely detrimental to mental health. So please, anyone who is affected or would simply like to chat do not hesitate to reach out to myself or someone else. I have struggled with alopecia for 12 years and the hardest part was lack of understanding and awareness. I appreciate your time and ask anyone reading this if you have anything to spare it would be greatly appreciated! All I'm striving for is keeping a roof over my head and my body as healthy as it can be!  Thank you so much for your time.
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    Organizer

    Sally Shallue
    Organizer
    Prahran, VIC

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