Help me Eat Again
Donation protected
I need your help.
Hi! My name is Shawnta Starkey. I haven't been able to eat since the end of January.
You see, I have been dealing with SEVERE nausea, vomiting, pain/intestinal cramping and other abdominal issues - and no one knows why. I went to the er and they didn't know, but wanted me to see my Duodenal Switch surgeon. Let's just say that was a waste of time & money I didn't have. He said he didn't see anything wrong, but I should quit smoking. No medication or tests, just quit smoking. I walked out of his office bawling. I felt like no one was listening, let alone cared. Thanks to my family, I was able to go to my pcp. She reassured me that we would get to the bottom of my nausea & vomiting. She did a couple of test, but thought I should go see a specialist. She referred me to a gastroenterologist. I met him and knew immediately I was in good hands. He looked at my CT scan and noticed my duodenum (the connecting organ from the stomach to the small intestine) is filled with fluid. He checked a CT from last year and there was my fluid filled duodenum again. He is concerned about it. He changed one of my meds, put me on a liquid diet and scheduled me for an upper GI and a mri of my abdomen. Progress! But there lies the problem.
You see, I have no insurance and I'm unable work due to my illness. My family has been helping us this whole time, but they are tapped out. Bills are piling up and I still have more tests and doctor appointments. Jeff, my wonderfully supportive husband, is working, but it's still not enough and his job does not offer insurance. In July, my Medicare part B will finally be active, but that is still some time away and it won't cover anything prior to July. If I thought I could make it to July, I'd be set. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
I am unable to work to bring in money and I am miserable. I'm sick & tired of being sick & tired. I need answers and I can only get those by working with my doctors which costs money.
This is where you come in. If you are able and desire to give, you will be helping me pay for doctors appointments, medicine, tests and procedures, as well as gas, groceries, and medical bills I've already accrued. Because of an awesome friend, I am able to pay for the imaging I'm having done on March 30th but everything after that is still up in the air. The doctor has already mentioned that endoscopy may be needed.
I am asking/pleading/begging for any help at all. Not only monetary, but emotionally as well. I am so grateful for all of my family and friends who have been so supportive of us. We could not have made it this far without y'all.
It's so easy to help!
*Share this post and get the word out.
*Click the donate button if you feel so inclined. Every dollar counts.
Any donation or share is one step closer to finding an answer and getting me back on solid ground. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and joining my quest for answers.
Hi! My name is Shawnta Starkey. I haven't been able to eat since the end of January.
You see, I have been dealing with SEVERE nausea, vomiting, pain/intestinal cramping and other abdominal issues - and no one knows why. I went to the er and they didn't know, but wanted me to see my Duodenal Switch surgeon. Let's just say that was a waste of time & money I didn't have. He said he didn't see anything wrong, but I should quit smoking. No medication or tests, just quit smoking. I walked out of his office bawling. I felt like no one was listening, let alone cared. Thanks to my family, I was able to go to my pcp. She reassured me that we would get to the bottom of my nausea & vomiting. She did a couple of test, but thought I should go see a specialist. She referred me to a gastroenterologist. I met him and knew immediately I was in good hands. He looked at my CT scan and noticed my duodenum (the connecting organ from the stomach to the small intestine) is filled with fluid. He checked a CT from last year and there was my fluid filled duodenum again. He is concerned about it. He changed one of my meds, put me on a liquid diet and scheduled me for an upper GI and a mri of my abdomen. Progress! But there lies the problem.
You see, I have no insurance and I'm unable work due to my illness. My family has been helping us this whole time, but they are tapped out. Bills are piling up and I still have more tests and doctor appointments. Jeff, my wonderfully supportive husband, is working, but it's still not enough and his job does not offer insurance. In July, my Medicare part B will finally be active, but that is still some time away and it won't cover anything prior to July. If I thought I could make it to July, I'd be set. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
I am unable to work to bring in money and I am miserable. I'm sick & tired of being sick & tired. I need answers and I can only get those by working with my doctors which costs money.
This is where you come in. If you are able and desire to give, you will be helping me pay for doctors appointments, medicine, tests and procedures, as well as gas, groceries, and medical bills I've already accrued. Because of an awesome friend, I am able to pay for the imaging I'm having done on March 30th but everything after that is still up in the air. The doctor has already mentioned that endoscopy may be needed.
I am asking/pleading/begging for any help at all. Not only monetary, but emotionally as well. I am so grateful for all of my family and friends who have been so supportive of us. We could not have made it this far without y'all.
It's so easy to help!
*Share this post and get the word out.
*Click the donate button if you feel so inclined. Every dollar counts.
Any donation or share is one step closer to finding an answer and getting me back on solid ground. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and joining my quest for answers.
Organizer
Shawnta Cobb Starkey
Organizer
Azle, TX
