I got Gwenn's back!
In late October, the day before her 25th wedding anniversary, Gwenn awoke at 1am with a sharp pain in her left arm. That night the pain only got worse and traveled to more parts of her body. Thinking it was a heart attack, she woke John to take her to ER. She had 2 EKG’s, 2 Heart enzym panels and a CT scan. Thankfully nothing was wrong with her heart!
But the pain was unbearable.
Went from pain in the left arm, moved down arm and into hand. Also traveled through shoulder into back and neck. She was given the IV version of Advil. It didn’t help.
Then nausea meds with Morphine. Didn’t help.
They were out of Valium and so they offered Adderall. All test rest came back "normal"and Gwenn was sent home with Percocet. She has stayed on top of the meds. Though her left arm and hand have been "asleep" ever since. Then they believed it was her ulna nerve causing the Left arm, hand and fingers to be numb. That and it hurts when she looks down.
A couple days later she used the money she had been saving up for her first tattoo, on an MRI. MRI says Herniated disc at 3 levels (C4-5, 5-6, and 6-7 with some spinal cord compression). Referral to a spinal surgeon, Dr. Cohen.
She is suffering excruciating pain that no pain meds can touch. And the doctors say without insurance (yes, without) they are requiring a $25,000 payment just to schedule the surgery. The total will be over $91,000.
Imaging feeling like you are flexing your muscles all the time, and your fingers are always asleep but in the worst way. That has been a constant in Gwenn's life since Oct. 30th. In addition to shoulder, neck, back and chest pain. Her muscles are often so tight it is as if they’re going to split apart! And then there are the spasms.
Today, November 14th, the same day she was told the surgery payment requirement, she experienced a painful episode that was actually worse than the one that sent her to the ER.
She has tried every prescribed medication, exercise, stretch, food, oil, etc. There is no known method of relief for her other than the surgery. The surgery needs to happen ASAP.
Her kids help her with daily tasks, including getting dressed. She cannot even wash her own hair. Anyone who knows Gwenn knows she's easy going and always has a laugh to share. But she hasn’t had too many of those moments since this happened. Her constant pain leads to being upset easily. John & Gwenn don’t sleep in the same bed anymore because she really needs the space, and he wouldn't get any sleep if he stayed (hearing her whimper/cry in pain all night)! When she is having a really bad moment, she can't help but snap at anyone that tries to speak to her.
Show Gwenn you have her back, and get her silly self back up and at 'em!
Please give what you can.
