SHARI'S BATTLE WITH CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME

But over the last couple years, she has laughed a whole lot less and her energy is completely gone. Her demeanor has changed dramatically. 

It’s because she has chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis.

It’s a debilitating systemic neuroimmune disease characterized by post-exertional relapse (a severe worsening of symptoms after minimal exertion).  It causes dysregulation of the immune, nervous and energy metabolism systems. It is a devastating disease that disables nearly 2.5 million Americans and 20 million people worldwide.

Read more details about it here: https://solvecfs.org

Shari has lost her ability to do all the things she used to enjoy: yoga, biking, kayaking, walking, rock climbing, ballet  _  anything involving energy, which is pretty much everything.

On top of that, she can’t teach her yoga classes, she’s lost her job as a licensed clinical social worker and she's been unsuccessful in getting disability coverage through her old job.

It started back in April 2017, with a head cold and progressed from there. While she has had ups and downs, she’s never been 100 percent and never may be again. 

Some days she can only be upright in half hour increments, let alone leave the house. Going to the bathroom can be a feat. She’s had digestive problems, extreme nausea and lost 25 pounds. 

Her senses are extremely heightened and often overwhelm her, so she sometimes has to wear ear plugs and sunglasses in public.

She’s on an anti-inflammatory paleo diet and has regained some weight but has to force herself to eat.

"I get weird symptoms like sore eyeballs,” she said. "I get headaches frequency. I get sick easily. My body has a difficult time regulating temperature, so I get cold and hot easily. Simple things like taking a shower are very taxing."
She’s had brain scans and blood test after blood test. She's been tested for Lyme disease. (It was negative.) She’s been to what feels like a thousand doctor appointments: including a rheumatologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist, gastrointestinal doctor, immunologist and a chronic fatigue syndrome specialist in California. That specialist one was a highly anticipated appointment in February, after a 1 1/2 year wait. But the medication they tried just made her feel worse, a common issue she’s experienced with many medications. That doctor isn’t giving up and has other options.

She’s also seeing a naturpathic doctor and getting regular acupuncture.

“It's destroyed my self esteem, my sense of self worth because I am unable to function like I always have,” she said. "I am unable to to do the things that bring me joy. Even though I don’t look sick, everything is a struggle.”
Her parents in California have been paying her bills. 



"I am fortunate that I have a family that is able to help me and support me but I constantly ask myself, ‘How long can they do this?' and ‘How long am I going to be sick,'” she said.

“I feel worthless and I feel like a burden.”

I’m condensing this, but there is so much more to her struggle: insomnia, doctors' mistakes, insurance issues, doctors insinuating her symptoms were due to mental illness, inconclusive tests and unsuccessful medical trials. 

You might think that having a debilitating disease might mean you automatically quality for long-term disability? Not so. Since her illness doesn’t have a test her workplace disability insurance doesn’t believe her.  She has to be off work for a year before she can apply for government-funded disability assistance.

On top of all this -- she has struggled most of her life with depression. So as you might imagine she’s also fighting back suicidal thoughts. 

"I feel so locked in my world of hopelessness,” she said.

Here’s a breakdown of her $2,700 monthly expenses, currently being paid by her parents.

Let's start with a goal of $33,400, which is a year of her bills along with a little extra for processing fees.  Let's show her she is NOT a burden as well as help her concentrate on healing, rather than money, for the next year.  

Your donation doesn't have to be huge. ANY amount would help. 

Medical Expenses:
Insurance $700
Co-payments $200-$300
Medication $250
Therapy $200
Total: $1,450

Living Expenses:
Rent/utilities $600
Car $250
Groceries $400
Total: $1,250