Medical bills, Health insurance, & Living exp.

I have been dealing with chronic illnesses since 2007. It has completely flipped my life upside down. I would give anything to be healthy again to go back to working as an EMT and to reenlist in the USAF.

I have been diagnosed with Gastroparesis, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, Adrenal Insufficiency, Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, SVT, Visceral hyperalgesia, Narcolepsy, Intestinal dysmotiliy, Osteoporosis, Osteopenia, Degenerative Disc disease, and anemia.

Gastroparesis is probably what has taken the most away from me. I have not been able to eat solid food since 2010. I can no longer tolerate liquids either. I have a jejunostomy tube (feeding tube that goes straight to the intestines bypassing the stomach). For a while I was able to tolerate tube feeds into the intestines; that is until my intestines decided to stop working as well. Now I get all my nutrition through a Hickman catheter (an i.v that goes through the chest to the heart). Because of this Hickman I get bloodstream infections which lead to sepsis and almost always put me in the ICU. Three infections have also our me into heart failure. Luckily I've been able to recover mostly. But my heart will never be as strong. Because of this disease I have also had a gastrectomy (80% of stomach removed) and multiple inches of my intestines removed. 

Ehlers Danlos (aka EDS) has also taken quite a bit from me. EDS is a connective tissue disorder. Because of it I have had over a dozen surgeries on both feet, ankles and knees. I will also be getting my lower back fused in the future. My right foot/ankle are completely fused and no longer bend. EDS is also thought to be the cause of Gastroparesis because the connective tissues holding the stomach and intestines together have become week and no longer do their job. 

Another tough one is Visceral hyperalgesia. What that basically is is the skin and hollow organs are all extremely hypersensitive causing constant pain. I have an implanted intrathecal pain pump which delivers Fentanyl directly to the intrathecal space of the spinal cord. That gives my body a constant infusion of pain medicine. It does help tremendously but it doesn't take away all pain. It is targeted at the nerves that go to the abdominal are. Pain that it doesn't help are things such as broken bones, connective tissue injuries, acute illness causing pain, etc. 

Because of POTS and Narcolepsy I am always falling asleep or paint our while standing. Hence the reason I have Addie. Addie is a 4 yo German Shepherd Dog who is my service dog ‍. She is able to sort me before I fall asleep or pass out allowing me to sit down as to not get injured. She is also able to detect low blood sugars. When I'm dizzy or blacking out she can help guide me to a chair or safe place to sit. There are so many more things she is capable. My chronic illnesses have taken so much from me but with Addie I am able to go out of the house by myself without worrying about having a medical emergency in public all alone. 

Because of all this I'm unable to work. I am considered permanently disabled and do receive social security disability. But most months I struggle to pay my bills. I have a credit card that had gone to collections and I'm to embarrassed to answer the phone anymore. 

That's why I'm here just asking for a little help. I'm considering getting rid of my phone and getting a free government phone at this point. With Jan coming that means out of pocket for healthcare cost start over. We are about to lose our home insurance. 

Trust me I know in the world today many people are struggling. If you can't donate just sharing my link will help as well. But also just leaving a positive message below helps me. If you made it to the end. Thank you