Hi everyone,

As most of you will probably know, (especially if you follow me on social media) you will have seen the absolute nightmare I’ve been having with the NHS just lately.

What started as what I thought was an impacted upper wisdom tooth issue has now progressed into widespread tremors, the bones on the right side of my face being pushed out of position. Swelling all down the right side of my face and neck, blurred vision in my right eye. In the space of 3 weeks I’ve gone from being a busy Mum of 2 and a Fitness Instructor to being barely able to function at times, cannot drive, cannot work which has left me absolutely devastated.

I ended up at A&E at UHCW and was eventually admitted to hospital where I had various tests done and brain scans which revealed no anomalies. I was seen by a Neurologist who diagnosed me with Functional Neurological Disorder and I was sent home with nothing more than some printed info from Google, some liquid morphine for pain and told to wait for it to go away.

Maxillofacial have also seen me and done bone scans and have said that what I’m experiencing cannot possibly relate to my impacted wisdom tooth or upper jaw . However if I apply firm pressure to my right jaw and side of my face the tremors stop completely. The doctors themselves have seen this but they still believe this not to be a maxillofacial issue.

I made a complaint to PALS about how I I’ve been dealt with and because of the lack of answers or ongoing management of my condition. The response from the consultant couldn’t have been any more dismissive of my concerns. I am taking this further.

I know there is something wrong in the right side of my face, and neck. There is swelling and pain and the sensations I’m getting aren’t right. None of the scans that have been done show the soft tissues, nerves, glands or blood supply of my face and neck (or if they do they’ve not been checked for that)

I have asked repeatedly for this scan but have been refused. I have literally begged doctors to help me. Instead I’ve been palmed off with an erroneous diagnosis and basically been left to it. I feel like I am banging my head against a brick wall. To be told that what you’re feeling inside your own body is not what you’re feeling is really upsetting and frustrating.

So many people have asked me to set up a go fund me but I’ve been so reluctant to do it. Mainly because I hate asking for help of any kind. Secondly, I wanted to give the NHS a chance to deal with me. I’ve paid my National insurance contributions since I was 16 and have never needed to call on the system in this way before (apart from when I had my 2 kids)

I also know that there are so many worse things happening in the world right now. I really wish I could just deal with this by myself.

However, I am now at the point where I am so desperate and am having to swallow my pride and reach out for help.

I would like to raise some money to put towards the costs of a private consultation and a MRI scan of my right jaw and neck area. The findings of which will be shared with me as well as the images themselves. I can decide from there what my next step will be. I am seeing Maxillofacial again on 26th July but they’ve made their position pretty clear (see snippet of consultant response attached) I’d like to go to the appt equipped with these images but appreciate that is a big ask.

I appreciate anything anyone can do to help me.

Thank you for reading ❤️