Help fund my medical care
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In September 2017, I started to experience extreme pain. At first I thought it was just bad menstrual cramps, but after a while, it started to get worse. It got so bad that I had to go to the Emergency Room. Upon examination, they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, so they told me to follow up with my OB/GYN. My OB/GYN said it looked like my pain was coming from my bladder due to something called Interstitial Cystitis, or Painful Bladder Syndrome.
Interstitial Cystitis, or IC, is a condition that affects the bladder, causing extreme chronic pain along with recurrent UTIs, extreme frequency, and burning when you urinate. My OB/GYN referred me to a urologist. It took a while to get into a urologist, so I started to do research on my own, but when I finally got into the first urologist, he was no help. He didn't seem to think I had IC, and wanted to give me heparin treatments instilled into my bladder, once a week for 6 weeks. The doctor never even examined me. At the time, I had a $40 copay for each visit, so I couldn't afford the treatment he wanted me to have. I decided to go to another urologist for a second opinion. At this point, I was having so much pain that I was missing a lot of work because it was so bad that I couldn't get out of bed. This new urologist examined me and determined I needed to have surgery to examine my bladder with a scope and also distend my bladder with liquid to try to make my symptoms go away. The surgery was very expensive and did not work. In fact, it left me in more pain than to begin with. The doctor then offered me heparin treatments, which hadn't ever helped me. They exacerbated my symptoms. It got to the point where my mom and I were researching treatment options and possible clinical trials to bring up to the doctor to try to help me. After it took two weeks for the doctor to return a call about a treatment option, I left his practice.
At this point, I had missed so much work due to health issues, that I lost my job, despite having been on medical leave (which out of 48 days, only 2 were approved). This left me with no money for medical treatment and no insurance until January when I was able to enroll in the Affordable Care Act. I was in limbo at that point. This entire situation left me with a ton of stress, which made my IC symptoms worse.
After I was able to get insurance through the health marketplace, my mom took me to a new urogynecologist. He ran many tests, which cost money that I had to borrow from my mom, and determined that I probably had Endometriosis on top of the Interstitial Cystitis. He then referred me to a fertility specialist in my city who specialized in Endometriosis. In April, that doctor did surgery, a laparoscopy, laparotomy, and pre-sacral neurectomoy, which helped my symptoms immensely. However, it did leave me in crushing medical bill debt.
I was able to start looking for work again, and even started driving for Uber to make some money. A few months later, though, my muscles and joints started to hurt more than they had ever before. I had always had muscular and joint pain, but it had never been this bad before. I went to a rheumatologist, who diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and Psoriatic Arthritis. He started me on many expensive treatments, most of which have been trial and error. These treatments also have not helped much yet, leaving me in tons of pain on a daily basis, too much for me to drive Uber because it hurts me to sit for too long.
This is when my IC pain, which had been dormant since having endometriosis surgery, came back with a vengeance. My urogynecologist said that I needed another cystoscopy with hydrodistention and said that it would more than likely help with my pain. On October 10th, 2018, I had the surgery which took the only money I had left. I can't ask my mom, who I live with, for money because she is on disability and doesn't have it to give. My mom had already paid for some of my medical care when I didn't have the money, but she can't anymore because she has her own medical issues and bills to pay. She helped me more already than I could ever ask her to. My dad also says he doesn't have the money.
This entire situation has effected my life in more ways than I ever thought it could. I haven't had a real job since I lost mine back in December. Because I lost my job, I'm stuck at home most of the time, leaving me with no social life. I'm in constant, never ending pain. I'm unable to get dressed without help. I have to stay in bed most of the time, so I have no quality of life.
When I get better, I would like to be able to go to graduate school so I can get my degree to teach. I currently have a Bachelors of Arts in French, so being able to teach and possible move back to France is my long-term goal
I normally wouldn't make things like this for myself, but I am currently out of money and have exhausted all my options. With just having surgery and my fibromyalgia and arthritis constantly flaring, I can't work much except for driving for Uber every now and then. My account is currently in the negative. I need help because I still have lots of medications to buy and more doctors' appointments coming down the line. This money will pay for my medical care along with my personal care (such as food, bills, etc.) If you would consider donating , I would greatly appreciate it, because I really need the help.
Interstitial Cystitis, or IC, is a condition that affects the bladder, causing extreme chronic pain along with recurrent UTIs, extreme frequency, and burning when you urinate. My OB/GYN referred me to a urologist. It took a while to get into a urologist, so I started to do research on my own, but when I finally got into the first urologist, he was no help. He didn't seem to think I had IC, and wanted to give me heparin treatments instilled into my bladder, once a week for 6 weeks. The doctor never even examined me. At the time, I had a $40 copay for each visit, so I couldn't afford the treatment he wanted me to have. I decided to go to another urologist for a second opinion. At this point, I was having so much pain that I was missing a lot of work because it was so bad that I couldn't get out of bed. This new urologist examined me and determined I needed to have surgery to examine my bladder with a scope and also distend my bladder with liquid to try to make my symptoms go away. The surgery was very expensive and did not work. In fact, it left me in more pain than to begin with. The doctor then offered me heparin treatments, which hadn't ever helped me. They exacerbated my symptoms. It got to the point where my mom and I were researching treatment options and possible clinical trials to bring up to the doctor to try to help me. After it took two weeks for the doctor to return a call about a treatment option, I left his practice.
At this point, I had missed so much work due to health issues, that I lost my job, despite having been on medical leave (which out of 48 days, only 2 were approved). This left me with no money for medical treatment and no insurance until January when I was able to enroll in the Affordable Care Act. I was in limbo at that point. This entire situation left me with a ton of stress, which made my IC symptoms worse.
After I was able to get insurance through the health marketplace, my mom took me to a new urogynecologist. He ran many tests, which cost money that I had to borrow from my mom, and determined that I probably had Endometriosis on top of the Interstitial Cystitis. He then referred me to a fertility specialist in my city who specialized in Endometriosis. In April, that doctor did surgery, a laparoscopy, laparotomy, and pre-sacral neurectomoy, which helped my symptoms immensely. However, it did leave me in crushing medical bill debt.
I was able to start looking for work again, and even started driving for Uber to make some money. A few months later, though, my muscles and joints started to hurt more than they had ever before. I had always had muscular and joint pain, but it had never been this bad before. I went to a rheumatologist, who diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and Psoriatic Arthritis. He started me on many expensive treatments, most of which have been trial and error. These treatments also have not helped much yet, leaving me in tons of pain on a daily basis, too much for me to drive Uber because it hurts me to sit for too long.
This is when my IC pain, which had been dormant since having endometriosis surgery, came back with a vengeance. My urogynecologist said that I needed another cystoscopy with hydrodistention and said that it would more than likely help with my pain. On October 10th, 2018, I had the surgery which took the only money I had left. I can't ask my mom, who I live with, for money because she is on disability and doesn't have it to give. My mom had already paid for some of my medical care when I didn't have the money, but she can't anymore because she has her own medical issues and bills to pay. She helped me more already than I could ever ask her to. My dad also says he doesn't have the money.
This entire situation has effected my life in more ways than I ever thought it could. I haven't had a real job since I lost mine back in December. Because I lost my job, I'm stuck at home most of the time, leaving me with no social life. I'm in constant, never ending pain. I'm unable to get dressed without help. I have to stay in bed most of the time, so I have no quality of life.
When I get better, I would like to be able to go to graduate school so I can get my degree to teach. I currently have a Bachelors of Arts in French, so being able to teach and possible move back to France is my long-term goal
I normally wouldn't make things like this for myself, but I am currently out of money and have exhausted all my options. With just having surgery and my fibromyalgia and arthritis constantly flaring, I can't work much except for driving for Uber every now and then. My account is currently in the negative. I need help because I still have lots of medications to buy and more doctors' appointments coming down the line. This money will pay for my medical care along with my personal care (such as food, bills, etc.) If you would consider donating , I would greatly appreciate it, because I really need the help.
Organizer
Amber Cheyenne
Organizer
Bell Bridge, TN
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