Screw Arizona Green Tea!!! You Ruined My Life!

I am a terrible writer (not me being negative; I have several cognitive deficits that get in the way of this being true). Still, I will do my best to give you some idea of what life is like in my current and past world.

Something I must say is that I am still sober. This coming September will be 14 years, and typing this and repeatedly rereading my words are some of the lowest points of my life. AI did not write this, but it was corrected using Grammerly.

Here I go, leaning solely on faith:

I'm just a guy... Attempting to reach others with his story… Asking strangers and those he loves to help him.

Side note: What is the reason this is still here and rewritten? I believed in my head that I was asking too much at such a dark time when so many people are scared and hurting as well. I pulled down my link from Facebook, had a few discussions with individuals I missed dearly, and went to bed. When I completed my first session this morning, I came on here through my computer to provide refunds for the three individuals who donated. There was a 4th donation on a page I checked several times last night to ensure I did not receive anything more. I guess other plans were already in motion.

As stated above, conveying emotions through the written word has never been my strong suit. So I put some things in points, attempting not to have to provide the back story to each thing I wrote about:

I am a 42-year-old man, and I currently live in Florida.

To say there is a lack of help/aid, you know how the saying goes. My hope is to raise enough money to keep a roof over my head, my lights on, my insurance current, and keep helping others…

I attempted to get a lawyer to help me sue Arizona Tea. I was repeatedly informed that the law firm after the “high-powered” law firm was basically ‘too big’ to go against or never returned my calls.

In a perfect world, I would love to move somewhere I can get the medical help I need And feel seen as more than just an “Other” or ‘I don’t know what’s going on, so you must be faking or exaggerating your symptoms.’

Two doctors believed me from the start.

One doctor held my hand and promised she would do all she could to ensure other physicians saw I was/am a scared and sick person whose body was shutting down.

One surgeon was in the trenches with us to the point she went to report an individual for the conduct of a nurse at their sister facility; not ALL medical professionals can be lumped into the crap-on-a-stick category.

Know this when I say it: If it were not for those 3 Doctors, I believe I would not still be alive! I am deeply grateful for their support and the support of anyone willing to help me in my time of need.

I want everyone to know that any donated funds will go directly to keeping a roof over our heads and allowing me to continue working with my clients, as I use my apartment as a home office.

My ex and I had our issues. However, the financial, emotional, cognitive, and physical toll it took on me and those I loved proved too much.

What I can tell you is that I was supposed to be married on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025. I broke down and wrote this the following day.

The reason for this post started a few years ago after I drank an Arizona Green Tea from a can, and it ruined my life as I knew it!

I contracted a foodborne illness and, by the next day, was in urgent care and received two IVs, various medications, and the diagnosis of a foodborne illness. The doctor informed me that I needed more IVs, but they had reached the limit they were allowed to administer.

I called the Arizona Tea Company hotline and told them what was happening. The representative on the phone offered me $20 in compensation, to which I replied no. Actually, at first, I thought about it. Then I told her I would assess how I felt and get back to her regarding the money because I wanted to make sure that if anything got worse, I could ask for help with medical bills. Thankfully, I did not take the money because things went downhill afterward. For a few days, I felt terrible. Then, it appeared for a very short amount of time that I was on the mend, but then came the first of many manifestations of an illness or illnesses the doctors still cannot pinpoint.

The first 'gift' I received was battling C-Diff for approximately 7 1/2 months. The cure. An antibiotic that cost, I believe, $6000 WITH insurance. I received that diagnosis through my AMAZING Internal Medicine Dr. (the individual who stayed on the phone calling people and organizations until the antibiotic cost me less than $100!!), who my just as Amazing Primary doctor referred me to. After the doctor who examined me confirmed the diagnosis via testing, I was given a referral to be seen by a GI specialist. This “specialist” barely touched my stomach or abdomen and just told me there was “no reason” I could not return to work! I attempted to explain the other symptoms, but it was as if I no longer existed.

I was having balance issues, struggling with my memory and recall, disruption in my depth perception, and pain, what felt like everywhere in my body. When I finally was able to tell her, she told me, “If it gets worse, go to the ER.” While continuing to repeat things along the line, I could go back to work and “I didn’t need a note.” Never mind that I never asked for a note; she never even gave me the chance to tell her I worked for myself. So, not working only hurt my family and me!

The trend continued; my cardiologists pointed to a neurological issue(s) and neurology to cardio. Subjected to more and more tests, scans, and so on.

Did I mention that the second cardiologist I saw told me my symptoms would subside if I chose to “Think happy thoughts and consume a tablespoon of daily at breakfast, lunch, and dinner?”

When I asked why the testing said it could not pick up one of my nodes firing, The Cardiologists dismissed it. I had reached my breaking point of medical gaslighting! I sat in that exam room until he admitted that something “may be happening.” Still, he is “unable to identify it.” I replied, ‘Thank you.’

He then left abruptly, handed me my appointment summary with his notes, and stormed off, letting the door slam behind him. After I read the summary he provided, I realized he wrote absolute lies. He made claims that if I had not read after the appointment, it would look as if I were a malingerer, and I would not know to speak my mind to help refute his claims. There were flat-out lies! This influenced at least one specialist, and I was never allowed to talk during my examination!

The whole time, I attempted to continue my work by helping others. Thankfully, I could work from home. I believed I was fooling my patients until one frankly told me I looked like ‘crap’ (but with another 4-letter word!). They connected me to the outside world and helped me hold on to my purpose.

I am deeply grateful for your time and consideration. Thank you for reading my story and for any support you may be able to offer. Your kindness means more to me than I can express.

I would be grateful for whatever you can provide. If all you can do is view this and take the time to check in with the people you care about, love, or may have just met, that is more than enough.

If you can do that, share this link with others... AMAZING!!!

I will be on the end of grace if you can do all those things. A gift that I have done nothing to earn but will spend the entirety of my life attempting to repay through kindness to others and helping when I am able.

It would also allow me to have the nasal surgery I need and purchase a new standing Rollator that will hold my weight and be tall enough to work on standing up straight again. It may even settle the balance of my car that was ‘accidentally’ repossessed three months before it was paid off!?!?

I will stop here because, let’s face it, this is way too long. Just know that I have left out the weirdest stuff because, frankly, I wouldn’t believe it if I read it from someone else who has time for all that!