Keep Carrot Afloat
Donation protected
****UPDATE****
I will be separating from my husband with the intent to divorce. Many of my health expenses are paid up as of yet, but, it is slated that I will be having surgery to implement a spinal stimulator, hopefully in September/October that should help reduce my pain levels. I am still building my case for disability, but my fibromyalgia has been unmanaged and I may be changing my medication regimen to address this. Every little bit will continue to help me out. 6/29/15
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!!!!UPDATE!!!!! This campaign's initial goal has been reached. I am keeping it open however because I still have expenses, 2-3 doctors appointments every week, medications, gas to and from the gym, that all add up. I am disabled and cannot work, so every little bit does help.
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Hi! My Name is Carrie, or Carrot as I've become affectionately referred to. I have fibromyalgia, multi-level disc degeneration, spinal stenosis and peripheral neuropathy. I have been unable to work for nearly 4 years and my life has become very limited. I am in constant pain and it dictates everything I do from sleep to a social life.
Recently I found aquatic therapy after several repeated failures with traditional physical therapy. Twice a week I go to a heated pool and am able to slowly increase the range of motion, and it doesn't hurt. It actually feels good. The tingling in my fingers and toes subsides and I feel more positive.
It works so much better than taking pain medication and I feel better about myself.
My doctor recommends that I use the pool as often as possible. Daily if I can. It is also recommended that I start a walking regimen to slowly increase my stamina above ground. Its also about developing the habit of motion and retraining my body to respond better to motion and stop resisting it.
The problem is that it is expensive. I have managed to work out a reduced rate for a yearly membership at the pool that I do my aquatic therapy which would include all their locations (very convenient). This is awesome and comparable to the YMCA but with less foot traffic.
The other problem is that my health insurance has limited therapy allowances, so at some point I will be unable to receive aquatic physical therapy unless I pay for it myself. If I have a yearly membership, I can at least apply my knowledge to the remainder of the year and keep moving.
Walking is another major issue. I have an intense cold sensitivity. In the winter I will break out into welts and get asthmatic from the air, so just walking outside is inadvisable. Getting a treadmill really is the way to go to ensure that I am doing some dedicated walking every day. I can schedule time to get out of the house and into the pool at least 4x a week. I can't guarantee 7x for walking.
Therefore, my estimate would cover my year of expenses for a membership, a treadmill (nothing fancy), and gas money or pool equipment (they have these neat floating bar bells and stuff) I would require.
I am not exaggerating when I say that these things are making my life not only better, but for the first time in a long while I feel like I might be able to get some control back. I look forward to going to the pool each time. I feel much more alive afterward, I walk better, I have less balance problems and less instense pain because of the warm water. Walking is going to be hard, but I know that I need to work on this if I'm ever going to get my life back. I just need your help to KEEP me there...
I will be separating from my husband with the intent to divorce. Many of my health expenses are paid up as of yet, but, it is slated that I will be having surgery to implement a spinal stimulator, hopefully in September/October that should help reduce my pain levels. I am still building my case for disability, but my fibromyalgia has been unmanaged and I may be changing my medication regimen to address this. Every little bit will continue to help me out. 6/29/15
---------
!!!!UPDATE!!!!! This campaign's initial goal has been reached. I am keeping it open however because I still have expenses, 2-3 doctors appointments every week, medications, gas to and from the gym, that all add up. I am disabled and cannot work, so every little bit does help.
---------
Hi! My Name is Carrie, or Carrot as I've become affectionately referred to. I have fibromyalgia, multi-level disc degeneration, spinal stenosis and peripheral neuropathy. I have been unable to work for nearly 4 years and my life has become very limited. I am in constant pain and it dictates everything I do from sleep to a social life.
Recently I found aquatic therapy after several repeated failures with traditional physical therapy. Twice a week I go to a heated pool and am able to slowly increase the range of motion, and it doesn't hurt. It actually feels good. The tingling in my fingers and toes subsides and I feel more positive.
It works so much better than taking pain medication and I feel better about myself.
My doctor recommends that I use the pool as often as possible. Daily if I can. It is also recommended that I start a walking regimen to slowly increase my stamina above ground. Its also about developing the habit of motion and retraining my body to respond better to motion and stop resisting it.
The problem is that it is expensive. I have managed to work out a reduced rate for a yearly membership at the pool that I do my aquatic therapy which would include all their locations (very convenient). This is awesome and comparable to the YMCA but with less foot traffic.
The other problem is that my health insurance has limited therapy allowances, so at some point I will be unable to receive aquatic physical therapy unless I pay for it myself. If I have a yearly membership, I can at least apply my knowledge to the remainder of the year and keep moving.
Walking is another major issue. I have an intense cold sensitivity. In the winter I will break out into welts and get asthmatic from the air, so just walking outside is inadvisable. Getting a treadmill really is the way to go to ensure that I am doing some dedicated walking every day. I can schedule time to get out of the house and into the pool at least 4x a week. I can't guarantee 7x for walking.
Therefore, my estimate would cover my year of expenses for a membership, a treadmill (nothing fancy), and gas money or pool equipment (they have these neat floating bar bells and stuff) I would require.
I am not exaggerating when I say that these things are making my life not only better, but for the first time in a long while I feel like I might be able to get some control back. I look forward to going to the pool each time. I feel much more alive afterward, I walk better, I have less balance problems and less instense pain because of the warm water. Walking is going to be hard, but I know that I need to work on this if I'm ever going to get my life back. I just need your help to KEEP me there...
Organizer
Carrie Canup Hoover
Organizer
Lowell, MA
