Help us pay utility & medical costs
Donation protected
My spouse and I need help. I have had increasing health problems and medical costs and utility bills are stacking higher each month. While we do have incomes (my spouse does full time overnight labor, and I am a freelance business owner), my chronic fatigue and pain have dramatically slowed my rate of production, causing even more hardship while we try to have all of my tests and procedures done to hopefully find a solution. We have had to endure utility shut offs more than once already, which hasn't helped our stress and adds more fees we can't afford. Basically, we are in survival mode and have been for a while.
I put $700 as a rough goal, but my medical costs are unpredictable, even with my insurance. The first $400 can at least help us get caught up on our utilities this month. Even if donations here surpass the $700 over time, every cent donated here will go toward our utility and medical bills only.
What I am dealing with medically:
I feel it is only fair to explain here what I am going through medically since we are here asking for help. There are still many unknowns as to what's been going on in my body, but here's what I know so far as well as the symptoms I've been dealing with in the lists below. Frankly, there's a lot.
Pain:
-Scoliosis and spine lock ups (often I will wake up to this pain, currently untreated but pain medications are in place, for now, waiting to afford specialists)
-Chronic migraines, eye socket pain, sunlight sensitivity (I need to get an MRI and see an Opthomologist, currently on a new medication trial, nausea also sets in often with these symptom flair ups)
-Fibroadenoma (tumor cluster) in my left breast, biopsied, noncancerous. (Pain management in place, doctors won't operate)
-Digestive and intestinal pain (happens randomly, I had C. diff in 2012 and my system hasn't functioned normally since)
-Arthritis and carpal tunnel symptoms (makes my art illustration and sewing/crafting work painful to do for long periods of time, currently untreated, waiting to afford specialists)
-Severe cramping and emotional distress during period cycles (I had two spots of pre-cancer removed via LEEP surgery from my uterus early this summer, some of the pain has eased since, but more is still being looked into regarding this issue with my doctors, especially the suicidal thoughts that occur)
Mental/Emotional:
-Chronic Depression and Anxiety disorders (random crying and hopelessness, motivation loss, mental paralysis, suicidal thoughts and panic attacks happen more often than I'd want to admit, and lately have worsened near times of my ovulation cycle, I have a medical appointment booked, currently also need to afford a psychologist in my insurance network)
-Focus and memory loss issues (usually accompanied by my fatigue, doctor said an MRI might help find some answers here, I also plan to get tested for attention deficit once I can have a psychologist)
Other symptoms I deal with often:
-General nausea
-Dizziness
-Tingling and numbness, especially in my upper back
If I forgot anything important I will update this list, and will also update here as I progress through appointments and procedures. Essentially I want to be as transparent about this as possible.
Many people have suggested that I apply for disability, but that is a very complicated and uphill process. It will require much more current statements and records from doctors and specialists before I can even be considered, not to mention I would likely have to either limit or close my business entirely. I am researching my options, but this for at least right now isn't looking like a possibility for me.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and our deepest thanks if you are able to donate at all.
I put $700 as a rough goal, but my medical costs are unpredictable, even with my insurance. The first $400 can at least help us get caught up on our utilities this month. Even if donations here surpass the $700 over time, every cent donated here will go toward our utility and medical bills only.
What I am dealing with medically:
I feel it is only fair to explain here what I am going through medically since we are here asking for help. There are still many unknowns as to what's been going on in my body, but here's what I know so far as well as the symptoms I've been dealing with in the lists below. Frankly, there's a lot.
Pain:
-Scoliosis and spine lock ups (often I will wake up to this pain, currently untreated but pain medications are in place, for now, waiting to afford specialists)
-Chronic migraines, eye socket pain, sunlight sensitivity (I need to get an MRI and see an Opthomologist, currently on a new medication trial, nausea also sets in often with these symptom flair ups)
-Fibroadenoma (tumor cluster) in my left breast, biopsied, noncancerous. (Pain management in place, doctors won't operate)
-Digestive and intestinal pain (happens randomly, I had C. diff in 2012 and my system hasn't functioned normally since)
-Arthritis and carpal tunnel symptoms (makes my art illustration and sewing/crafting work painful to do for long periods of time, currently untreated, waiting to afford specialists)
-Severe cramping and emotional distress during period cycles (I had two spots of pre-cancer removed via LEEP surgery from my uterus early this summer, some of the pain has eased since, but more is still being looked into regarding this issue with my doctors, especially the suicidal thoughts that occur)
Mental/Emotional:
-Chronic Depression and Anxiety disorders (random crying and hopelessness, motivation loss, mental paralysis, suicidal thoughts and panic attacks happen more often than I'd want to admit, and lately have worsened near times of my ovulation cycle, I have a medical appointment booked, currently also need to afford a psychologist in my insurance network)
-Focus and memory loss issues (usually accompanied by my fatigue, doctor said an MRI might help find some answers here, I also plan to get tested for attention deficit once I can have a psychologist)
Other symptoms I deal with often:
-General nausea
-Dizziness
-Tingling and numbness, especially in my upper back
If I forgot anything important I will update this list, and will also update here as I progress through appointments and procedures. Essentially I want to be as transparent about this as possible.
Many people have suggested that I apply for disability, but that is a very complicated and uphill process. It will require much more current statements and records from doctors and specialists before I can even be considered, not to mention I would likely have to either limit or close my business entirely. I am researching my options, but this for at least right now isn't looking like a possibility for me.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and our deepest thanks if you are able to donate at all.
Organizer
Tricia Peterson
Organizer
Modesto, CA
