Help Jen Overcome Her Health Crisis

Hi,

I'm Jen, I currently reside in Florida and generally most of my life very healthy and active and able to work. Over the past month, since June 3rd, 2024, I started experiencing signs of what I thought was a common cold or possibly the flu. I went to work on June 4th feeling very fatigued but willing to work. I informed my managers that I'd probably make it a few hours and then needed to go home to rest. Once I left work just 4 hours later, I had a fever of 102.5 and more symptoms quickly ensued. I felt heaviness in my chest, coughing, sore throat, body aches and fever and chills. I decided to go to the emergency room immediately to receive help and a simple diagnosis.

It turned out to be walking pneumonia with findings in my right upper lung looking like glass crystals, according to the X-ray. I was discharged with a few medications and was told it would subside within a few days. A few days later as recommended, I followed up with my PCP and received a longer dosage of medication and sent home. Still signs of a low grade fever and all symptoms were still prominent and yet seemingly worse. I waited about 4 more days to give the medicine time to work, but I still felt terrible. Constant coughing and aches so painful and barely able to breathe easily on my own.

Within 2 weeks I returned to the same emergency room, barely breathing and the triage confirmed low blood saturation, low oxygen levels, and dangerously high blood pressure and rapid heart rate high enough for possible tachycardia arrest. I was given a few more medications and liquid IV's to try and calm my symptoms to prepare for further testing. A second X-ray showed none of the medications were working and the pneumonia had spread covering most of my right lung. I was admitted to the hospital at that time on June, 17th, 2024. Blood work and many other tests and IV's were given and I was hospitalized for 5 days. Other complications came about and luckily controlled by a few changes to the medications. I was discharged with instructions to follow up with my PCP again and further treatments from specialists such as pulmonary doctors and other necessary treatments for my recovery.

I was home that Thursday, relieved to be home and showered and resting in my own bed. I woke the next morning, being home approximately 12 hours and had to return to the emergency room again. This time different symptoms of coughing up blood and another high fever and similar symptoms, even on all the antibiotics and oral forms of IV medications.

I was admitted again to the same hospital. Awaiting tests this time, the team of doctors found I had a bacterial infection, along with the pneumonia, called Mycoplasma. I was told they don't usually test for it because it is apparently extremely rare that it shows up in a persons system. I spent another 4 days in the hospital this time. Since the doctors discovered the Mycoplasma, they were able to adjust the medication and IV's once more. All seemed very reminiscent of complications and Covid like symptoms, especially the fact it attacked everything in my respiratory tract with extreme weakness and constant fatigue. I went from taking no prescribed medication to taking up to 9 different prescribed medications, along with breathing treatments at home. Some of these medications will possible be taken for the rest of my life.

Once I was released and home again for the third time. I was starting to feel the difference and shown a slight clearing from another x ray that the infection was moving and clearing from my body. I am unfortunately not in the clear, as I have a long road of recovery and several specialists and a lot more testing to continue over the next several months within the hospital team and beyond. I have been unable to work during this time and asking for any donations of love and kindness to see myself and my partner Sarah through this difficult part of our lives together. Some medical bills are being covered by my insurance but there will be thousands of dollars I will be required to pay out of pocket as the claims are being completed.

Thank you

Jen