A Hysterectomy For Henry

Hello all,

This is a GFM page to help out my friend Henry with costs of a hysterectomy to cure her of her chronic abdominal pain. Below are two statements from her to explain the situation and why she needs your help.


From Henry:

Since a lot has changed, we’re updating the main page as well. If you’re new, don’t forget to read the old statements below and the updates to get caught up.

I’ve finally found a willing doctor! She’s based in Arizona and wants me to get a laparoscopy first (which I’m going to try and get done here in the UK) and try a medication for awhile. But she’s told me that, once I’ve done those things, she’ll remove my uterus. I also got a quote from her clinic. The good news is we shouldn’t have to change the goal amount anymore after this. The bad news is it’s pretty steep, but that’s unsurprising. The new quote $17,000.

Her clinic:
$1,315 for robotic hysterectomy (actual procedure)
$110.50 for initial appointment
$191 ultrasound (she might decide not to do this)

The hospital:
$12,000 for facility use
$2,200 anesthesia

Travel:
~$1,000 (air plane, taxi, hotel)

All of this makes $16,816.50, which I’ve then rounded up to $17,000. It’s a lot, I know, and I hate asking for more money, but as long as there aren’t any urgent complications, this should be the last time we change the goal. I have about $10,000 saved right now ($2,500 from you guys, the rest is money I’ve put aside), so there’s still $7,000 to raise. That’s in addition to what’s been raised on the GoFundMe, however, so we’re changing the goal to $10,000. In a way this is the final push guys, this is the last big obstacle. Assuming I’ll have the money, I should hopefully get the operation in about a year. Once again, a big thanks to everyone who’s donated and spread the word. #SendHenryToCrewe


--------------------------------------------------Old Statements------------------------------------------------------------


Short statement:

I’m diagnosed with severe menorrhagia, and suspected to have endometriosis. Put simply, my menstrual cycles are extremely painful and extremely heavy. I’ve weighed my options and I want to get a hysterectomy. I want an end-all treatment that leaves absolutely no chance of these symptoms returning. Unfortunately, I’m constantly told the same thing (I’m too young, I might want kids, etcetera…) But I don’t want to go through another decade of horrible trial and error. I’ve found a private practice and currently estimate the cost to be around £10,000, or $13,500. That includes the actual procedure as well as travel and other potential expenses. I do have other ailments, but to have this physical condition removed would lift so much weight off my shoulders and greatly improve my quality of life. Thank you for your support.


Full statement:

I’m diagnosed with severe menorrhagia, and my doctor suspects I have endometriosis. Every month I experience pain in my back and my abdomen so severe I can barely get out of bed. It’s quite literally disabling, and often prevents me from functioning for well over a week at a time. It’s painful just lying down, but it can be agony forcing myself up to perform the daily tasks required of me. Not only do I experience pain on my cycle, but I also experience pain and other symptoms throughout the month. The blood loss is so heavy, some days I actually can’t leave my home. My cycle typically lasts more than 10 days, and with my pre-menstrual symptoms, I spend most of the month dealing with my condition. I get a week “off” where I don’t have any symptoms and I can live comfortably. This has been my experience for nearly 10 years now, and I turn 21 in May. I’ve spent half my life like this.

Pain medication helps, but only just. The only medication that’s ever been able to fully dull the pain was 1000mg of Ibuprofen (for comparison in strength, that– plus a narcotic– was what I took after I had my wisdom teeth taken out) but I had to stop because the high dosage was too hard on my kidneys. I’ve tried birth control, and while it lessened my symptoms for awhile, they just came back. I didn’t like how I felt on hormone regulation either.

I realize that removing my uterus seems like a big step “just” for a painful period, but there’s other reasons as well. I want to make sure there’s absolutely no way my symptoms can ever come back. There’s other options, but they all have me dependent on something to regulate or suppress my symptoms and require me to return for “checkups.” I’m already on several medications, I don’t want to add another to the list. I also want to avoid pelvic and other gynecological exams as much as possible for personal reasons I’d rather not discuss publicly. A hysterectomy would significantly reduce my chances of developing a reproductive cancer as well.

I’ve considered the many, many treatment options and I want my uterus removed, plain and simple. Specifically, I want a partial hysterectomy. I’m willing to surrender my ability to carry a child. I’ve talked to my family and friends about the matter and they all support my decision.

I will keep trying to get it publicly funded in the meantime, but I keep getting the same response: “you’re too young.” For some reason, when it comes to my reproductive health I suddenly don’t have the right to decide what to do with my body. I should have the autonomy to make my own decisions, and I’m more than ready to face any potential consequences of those decisions. I know there’s alternative methods; I don’t want them. I don't want to go through another decade (or several) of miserable trial and error, on-and-off again treatment. I want a hysterectomy.

The private practice I’ve chosen is Cambridge Nuffield Hospital. The online price guide for a hysterectomy is £7,275. That’s an estimate. There will also be travel and other expenses. To round it up to what I believe will be a safe sum is £10,000, or about $13,500. Conversion rates vary, but I rounded this up as well.

At the moment, I'm waiting to get a referral from a public healthcare physician. Once I get that, I'll go to Cambridge for a consultation, which will be paid for by the money you’ve already raised for me. And once I have that consultation, I'll get a better idea of the price and will update the campaign further.

Thank you for your support. It really does mean everything to me.

Sincerely,

Henry