Jeri Lynn's Surgery Fundraiser

Hi,

My name is Jeri Lynn Lasich. I am 32 years old. When I was a little girl, I remember wanting to be a mother… more than anything in the whole world.

That dream came crashing down when I was diagnosed with stage 4 deep infiltrating endometriosis, infertility, ovarian cysts, adenomyosis and most recently tarlov cysts.

Here is my story…

I started my periods pretty early on in my life, I believe I was 10 years old. I have had pelvic pain since early middle school from what I can remember. During gym class one day in middle school I remember my period starting and passing out in the bathroom from the pain. That is one of my earliest memories of my endo.

I also suffered all throughout my years of high school. I graduated with honors, but almost did not graduate because of the amount of time I had missed due to my excruciatingly painful periods. At that point in time, I was going to different gynecologists and explaining my pain. They kept telling me that “it’s normal for women to have painful periods and to just take some Motrin.” I was put on different types of birth control during high school to try and help, but it never did. My senior year, I even had to quit my school’s dance team that I had worked so hard to get on because I was in so much pain.

I started at Henry Ford Community College in the Fall of 2007 and the painful periods intensified. I was on birth control, I was taking over the counter medications for pain, I would even take time off of school during the painful days, but nothing seemed to help. I would be on the floor in my apartment, calling my mother to come help because I was unable to function.

I graduated community college in 2009 and went on to The University of Michigan – Dearborn. My pain continued to intensify, only this time to the point where I was in pain more often, not just during my cycle anymore. I was unable to focus and unable to continue on with school.

During this time, I was working at a hotel and remember being in so much pain one day that I vomited and passed out in the bathroom. My employer called an ambulance and I was rushed to the hospital. The ER doctors told me that they thought the pain was “all in my head.” I thought, how could they not believe my pain? I understood very quickly then that my pain was not visible to them, such as a broken arm, so they did not believe me. It was very frustrating to me. I remember just wanting them to feel what I was feeling… then they would understand. 

In 2011 when I was 22, I was seeing my gynecologist Dr. Michael Gatt in Livonia. We decided at that point to do an exploratory laparoscopic surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital. After that surgery, I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis and ovarian cysts. I remember after my first surgery, being excited to have gotten some relief for a while. I only had pain again during my periods. I was prescribed Norco for pain. A couple years passed and the pain returned. Dr. Gatt decided to do another laparoscopic surgery for my endo. I had my second surgery around 2013 at St. Mary’s Livonia Hospital. I was put on Lupron for 3 months which was supposed to stop my periods, but it never did. I was told that my endo had grown back and he recommended I see an endo specialist. He stated that his expertise in endo was not what I needed.

In 2014, I had to quit my job at the hotel because I had to stand during my entire shift as the Front Office Manager. In March of 2014 I started at my current job as a Foster Home Recruiter at Vista Maria because it was mostly a desk job and I could sit with my heating pads.

So, I met Dr. Johnathan Zaidan at Women’s Excellence, who specialized in pelvic pain and endometriosis. He did my third laparoscopic surgery via the Da Vinci robot around April 2015 at Pontiac General Hospital. Healing from that surgery was the worst so far. I was extremely bruised and my belly looked like I had been run over by a train. Dr. Zaidan stated that my endo was “one of the worst he had ever seen”, and that my organs were “stuck together like two pieces of cheese.” He also said that my endo was on my bladder, bowels and intestines. He put me on Zoladex injections and stated that it would stop by periods and he would do a cleanup surgery before Christmas. I really struggled with the side effects of Zoladex, so was put on add back therapy. I did the Zoladex injections for about 6 months, but they never stopped my periods. In December of 2015 Dr. Zaidan did my fourth laparoscopic surgery at Crittenton Hospital. After surgery, I was told that he was surprised that “everything had grown back already.” He recommended that I see a pain management doctor at that point because there was nothing more he could do. I was upset because I thought he was supposed to be an endometriosis specialist and was highly recommended. I was devastated that he too, was giving up on me.

I started seeing Dr. Rosenberg at Prizm Pain Specialists in Canton and he tried doing two different nerve block procedures. They did not help my pain. I got a spinal headache from them and had to go to the ER and got a blood patch done. He too, gave up on me. I then started seeing Dr. Rizvi at their office instead. I was put on a few different pain medications; Belbuca, Norco and Chlorzoxazone. I also take Zofran for nausea.

During this time, I saw a GI doctor who did a colonoscopy. I also saw a couple different infertility doctors, gynecologists and primary care doctors. The infertility doctors put my on Clomid and Fermara, which seemed to make my pelvic pain worse, so I stopped taking those.

As years passed, I started seeing a counselor to talk about my frustrations on being ill. The counselor, Louise, stated that I was depressed due to my illness. I tried pelvic floor therapy a few times with Amy. She did some external and internal therapies. She used a tens unit and massaged my belly. I really enjoyed the external, but the internal was painful for me. I get massages when I can to help relax. I see a chiropractor to help with my back pain. I get regular pelvic ultrasounds to keep up with my ovarian cysts growth. I went and got my medical marijuana card… smoking marijuana seems to help the pain. I tried acupuncture a few times and did not like that. I had to get FMLA for my job because of the amount of time that I had to take off during flare ups. I got a handicap license plate on my car to help with walking distances. I got a shower chair and handicap shower rail. I have a cane and a walker to help with getting around during flare ups. I have so many heating pads that I have lost count… I have really bad heating pad burns on my belly, back, butt and legs. I even recently had to get a portable potty because I struggle to get to the bathroom during my cycle. How embarrassing right?

I was also unfortunately in the ER quite a lot during period time because of the amount of pain I was in. Most of the time I was treated unkindly. I was treated like my pain was all in my head or treated as if I was a drug seeker.

I joined a ton of different support groups on Facebook and found many ‘endo sisters’ who were going through the same things as me. It gave me hope that I was not alone. I found the endometriosis yellow ribbon. The other girls and I reached out to one another… we sent care packages… gave each other advice… we supported one another. One doctor’s name always came up… Dr. Ken Sinervo at The Center for Endometriosis Care. He helped SO many endo sisters! He gave them their lives back. I then realized he was in Georgia and I was in Michigan… so it did not seem realistic at that point in time.

In 2018 I met Dr. Adam Cooper and he told me it looked like I’ve had multiple miscarriages. He then tried an IUI procedure on me. This was one of the worst times of pain for me. He had a hard time getting through my cervix. I was unable to get pregnant with the IUI. He then did my fifth laparoscopic surgery in October of 2018 at Beaumont Hospital. He stated that it was “one of the worst cases he had ever seen.” He recommended that if I wanted to get pregnant, that I would have to get IVF. About 3 months later, I went to get my pelvic ultrasound and I remember the tech said, “Wow, you really need to get surgery done.” I told her I just had surgery done less than 3 months ago. She stated, “It doesn’t look like he did anything.” I was really shocked.

After that, I saw a few different infertility doctors and discussed IVF and its very high cost. I continued with my pain management doctor and getting regular pelvic ultrasounds. I even contemplated getting a complete hysterectomy. I spoke with a couple different doctors about it actually. I was told, “You’re too young… you have no children.” Or “Your case is too severe, it won’t help you.”

In 2020, I even went to see a holistic doctor. She did a lot of blood work. I was put on supplements and told that I also had a severe case of celiac disease and was anemic.

About a year ago, I started having severe ‘electric shock’ like pains in my right leg during my period. The pain was SO intense… unlike anything I had ever felt. I was no longer able to control that pain. I am very thankful that my mother, Nanette, is my caregiver. She had to get FMLA with her work for my flare ups and period time. One day, we realized that I was unable to lift my right leg anymore while I was sitting on the floor.

This Summer, the right leg pain started happening outside of just period time. I was having shooting like pain, muscle cramps, numbness and weakness. Then it also started in my left leg. I started having issues walking because my feet would go numb and I would fall. The same thing then started happening in my right arm.

My pain doctor put me on Gabapentin and Flexeril to try and help. I bought a couple compression sleeves and socks… as it seems to help a bit.

I talked to my PCP, Dr. Jessica Sharon and she was worried I had MS. She told me if the pain got worse, to go to the ER. The pain in my legs and arm got so intense, that my mom and I went to the ER at Wyandotte Hospital June 16, 2021. I explained my symptoms and was admitted for a couple nights. I had an MRI of my brain done and was told that I did not have MS. The doctor there said that I needed to see a neurologist and follow up with my PCP.

I followed up with Dr. Sharon and she sent me to Basha Diagnostics for an MRI of my pelvis on July 28, 2021. I was told that I do have deep infiltrating endometriosis, ovarian cysts and I have a tarlov cyst on my spine. I had never been told I had a tarlov cyst before.

I researched deep infiltrating endometriosis and tarlov cysts and The Center for Endometriosis Care came up. Dr. Ken Sinervo.

Dr. Sharon wrote a letter for me stating: “Patient has truly reached the pinnacle of available care for her severe endometriosis and the associated chronic pelvic pain and is out of options. She has very poor quality of life and is at risk of job loss and disability from her condition. I agree with and strongly encourage her decision to pursue care with Dr. Sinervo.”

My periods these days are brutal! Between the endo pain and the nerve pain it’s unbearable, and it’s an intense 2 to 4 day event. My mother worries she is gong to overdose me trying to manage the pain. She uses every ounce of her strength to rub & massage me, feed me, get me to bathroom and take care of period stuff. Even the days leading up to my period are a mental toll trying to get ready for the awful days ahead. Then the days afterward, I’m exhausted and mentally drained.

So, now I have the option to come and see Dr. Ken Sinervo. I filled out the paperwork in hopes that he would take my case. I recently got the phone call stating that HE WOULD! I do not make much money at my job… minimum wage because I could not finish school. I do have insurance through my job and have met my medical deductible for this year.

I feel so guilty that my illness has taken over not only my life, but my family’s as well. My mom and stepdad have to plan their lives around my illness. They don’t want to be gone somewhere in case I have a flare up. I never thought at 32 that I would not have any children… that I would have to work from home and have FMLA… that I would be on so many medications… and that I would have to have a caregiver. I have lost my life to this illness. My life revolves around being sick… around period time… around how I’m feeling… around my doctor’s appointments. I have lived my entire life with this illness. I don’t even know what it’s like to be “normal” anymore. I have lost jobs, friends, relationships because of this. I have seen SO many different doctors who tell me they can help… and then give up on me. I feel like I’m unfixable. I am so exhausted all the time… I have no energy. If he wouldn't have taken my case, I honestly have no idea what I would do anymore or where I'd turn.

Dr. Sinervo at the Center for Endometiosis Care is MY LAST HOPE. I am SO thankful that he decided to take my case. I am now trying to raise the funds to be able to have this surgery and travel from Michigan to Georgia to see him.

Any help you can give, would be amazing!

Thank you!