Hi, this is something I never thought I’d have to do but here goes…
I’ve been suffering chronic pain and a multitude of illnesses since 2004, only in the last 6 years as this become unbearable to the point that I’ve had to quit my job and sell my house due to being constantly sick and in pain. My Mother died in 2020, she was the last of my family so it’s just my son and I now. I’m worried sick about our future. The public health service in Ireland is dire and there’s no chance of me getting the regular treatment I need to be strong for my son, to get some relief and some answers regarding my health. There is something seriously wrong with my system, I have Arthritis, Bursitis, Ulcerative Colitis, Hiatus Hernia, Fibromyalgia, which is suspected to be from childhood neglect. My immune system must be very weak as I pick up every cold and flu there is, I feel perpetually awful!
To be here for my son’s future, I’m all he has now, and to improve my quality of life I need to see the following health Consultants:
- A Rheumatologist 4 times a year for Corticosteroids injections to decrease the pain of the Arthritis and Bursitis.
This costs €160 x 4 times annually = €640.00.
2. An Anaesthestic/Pain Specialist who provides Lidocaine Pain Infusions for people suffering with chronic pain. He also performs a Rhizotomy where needed which blocks the nerve pain of a specific nerve. These are short term fixes at a cost of €150 per procedure 4 times a year until I can get surgery, hopefully.
This costs €150 ($162) for each procedure 4 times a year: €300 x 3 = €1,200.00.
3. I have a multitude of issues in my neck and back, I have a number of herniated discs in my neck along with Osteophytes, my neck can’t be fixed according to a Surgeon I’ve seen before, however, it has been suggested that I attend the leading Back Surgeon in the West of Ireland, who MIGHT perform surgery on my lower back as I’m approaching the need for a wheelchair (at 55 years of age). I have Retrolisthesis in L2, L3 & L4 and herniated discs.
The cost to see him is €350.00 (I have no idea how much surgery would cost and imagine that even privately there is a long waiting list, in the meantime I will have to stay with the other 2 pain management treatments above, IF I can afford it.
4. My right thumb is extremely painful also due to severe Osteoarthritis, it is also in my wrist. The Rheumatologist and Pain Specialist suspect I need a Trapezieotomy to resolve this.
The cost to see the hand surgeon here is €250.00.
5. I have regular bouts of Microscopic Colitis and problems with my hernia. I attend a public Gastroenterologist once in a blue moon when I can see him, however, I more usually go into the E.R department publicly when I encounter pain, inflammation and bloody diarrhoea, or if the Hernia starts to bleed. I have a history of Pulmonary Emboli and am on a blood thinner, Xarelto for same. There is a great risk of bleeding with this medication so when my Hernia or Colon bleeds it’s vital I get medical attention in case the bleeding is difficult to stop.
The cost to see a Gastroenterologist privately is €210.00. I do not know how much surgery will cost IF he can fix my hand.
- NB I do not smoke or drink alcohol, I restrict my diet to non inflammatory foods, however, this diet conflicts in part with the FODMAP diet recommended for Colitis. I find it very frustrating trying to get this right, especially as I’m on medication for pain and Osteo, depression and anxiety and Fibromyalgia, these medications bring side effects which are hard to differentiate between symptoms of an existing or new health problem.
6. I am due to see a Breast Surgeon in Sept this year for a Mammogram, I have seen him before and due to lipomas in what was only my right breast but has now become a problem in my left breast. (Incidentally, I am not overweight, I can’t afford to be but Lipomas are more prevalent in overweight people. However, there is a disease called Dercum’s Disease which I need to be investigated for. I suspect he will now want to operate as the lipomas will continue to increase in size asymmetrically. Large breasts add pain to my back also.
The cost to see him is €270. I do not know how much surgery will cost IF he wants to proceed with same.
7. I have no idea how I will afford my son’s college fees in Sept (€9,000.00 before books and study materials, realistically €10,000.00), I can’t bear to think of him having to drop out due to expense.
8. My car is VERY old, 2008, it needs a new battery now which I can’t afford and I NEED a car to get to medical appointments but more importantly for my son to get to college. There is no direct transport to his college as we had to move to a rural area because the house rental price in Ireland is insane, it’s higher than London in parts and the availability of property is minimal! I cannot buy a house obviously as I’m unable to work, the tiny profit I made from selling my last house because I couldn’t afford it, was spent on my son’s college fees (€18,000.00), car expenses (€1,176.00 per annum), food and rent (€12,000 per annum) for the last 2 years.
To buy even another old car to get my son to college and to get me to any public medical appointments, will cost me a minimum of €5,000.00 My car tax is €676 per year and my car insurance approx €500 per year.
I’m in a vicious cycle as all of this financial worry and childhood trauma attributes to Fibromyalgia flare ups and chronic pain, the incessant chronic pain leads to depression and anxiety. I have never had Psychotherapy to help me heal from the adoption and childhood abuse because it’s too expensive.
The cost to see a Psychotherapist weekly is €70.00 which is €3,640.00 per annum based on the presumption that I need one year’s therapy minimum, which my Doctor has suggested.
I have no idea how to manage all of this and don’t know what I’m going to do, my priority is keeping my son in college so he can have a good future out of this life of poverty.
- My overall cost for the year ahead based on the expenses above before even considering surgery and aftercare is: €22,736.00 minimum and before any unexpected surgical expenses. If I go through some of the surgeries I’m hoping for, not to mention all of them, I’d imagine the additional expense will run into 10 or 20k, I’m really not sure…
I am trying to find any sort of job I can do at home or from my bed, even part time, something like Data Entry, so I can have some sort of income. I had a great career and it broke my heart to have to stop working!
ANY HELP AT ALL WOULD BE IMMENSLY APPRECIATED AND ACTUALLY LIFE CHANGING FOR MY SON AND I!
My PAYPAL link is as follows: PayPal.Me or Email Address:
Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this. Mind and cherish your health, God bless. 🙏
My story is very long, but starts with me being a Desert Storm Vet exposed to chemicals, ending with a VERY rare autoimmune disease called scleroderma that has affected my heart, my lungs,GI, and almost everything else. I have 2 autistic kids, and i also have autism/Asbergers. I am now on disability. My and my kids’ medical bills have caused enormous stress, and delinquent credit card debt from pst medical treatments and surgeries are now in the court system. In the lst four years i have had a spinal fusin on my neck, two shoulder surgeries, multiple epidural, steroid injections, endoscopy is twice a year, and several heart catherizations. One of them resulted with a ruptured femoral artery and I almost died.
Dear Potential Donor,
In 2020 I developed acities (water retention), due to liver and kidney issues. I don’t drink and I don’t smoke. Complications from it all led to an ulcer on my left foot and half my foot had to be amputated in Sept 2021. I was bedridden for four months with a wound vac (apparently there wasn’t enough gook skin to close the hole it left). I have been without an income for years and had to sell everything I own just to get the monthly bills for living expenses paid but I don’t have anything left to sell, with no way to pay monthly expenses or make minimum payments on my debt. I’m exhausted but hopeful. Any help is greatly appreciated. paypal.me/joejames11172