Bridget’s Journey of Healing

Life is always a mystery and we never know what is coming up next. I’ve always considered myself determined to fight against all odds not one to lay down when life gets tough and it has been at a very early age but I kept going, it made me work hard to try to find a way to always lift others up because we never know what they may be dealing with.

 

 

My Story:

 

In late October of 2021 I was waiting to turn left in a turning lane when a heavy force jerked my body multiple times after catching my breath and getting my mind calm I saw a man’s face in the rear mirror , he was in a big truck and my vehicle was a few feet past where I had been stopped. After safely pulling over my body kept shaking for an hour, according to the man he served into the lane over 50mph trying to avoid a car the had served into his lane and wasn’t paying attention to see the turning lane was not empty.

 

I didn’t desire to go to an ER for many of the nurses I know and have come across working on have told me it’s usually full of covid patients - i I could think is how daddy died in February from a blood clot the drs reported was caused by covid and I couldn’t imagine dealing with the potential of that on top of the trauma of being hit. A severe migraine had already started in my head so the story of my journey started.

 

The first month was so debilitating light sound almost anything just hurt - migraines daily pain throbbing everywhere. I was bed bound just trying to not get overwhelmed by the pain and having symptoms of depression creep up and post trauma mentally every time I got in the rental car to drive to the dr to get therapy. I couldn’t work I could barely care for myself

baths were almost daily as the epson salts provided slight relief,

showers where random as nausea and light headends and faintness were caused by my migraines which were caused by my neck injury. I had a few times I caught myself in the shower which increased my fears and worries. I didn’t have an family support no husband no parents nothing helping me through it all just like before. I tried so hard to manage it after all I didn’t have a choice.

 

A little over a month my dr signed off to have me work again with 4 hours limitations and light load ( which there is no such thing in dentistry for my job) even though he knew I needed more rest and healing but he knew I was on my own and the bills needed a way to get paid. Learning from my past I listening to my body not just drs and went back for 2 days and then 3 days a week for 4 hr shifts. I had to spread the work days out as my body would be throbbing when I got home and I’d go straight into a long sleep having to roll to get out of bed just to make it to the bathroom that I have just a few steps from my bed. I would spend the days off in between sleeping with a few hours up to eat ( which I sometimes didn’t because I’d sleep through meal times and forget trying to focus on ways to get pain down). So I spent time off in recovery mode which for all of December. I barely took any pain meds my blood doesn’t clot easily, I have to limit my usage to almost none - one cut and I just bleed more than one should - I have to keep iron supplements on had.

 

I was referred to a neurologist by December which took a while to get into and get tests and had MRIs done of neck and back. I had a herniated and torn disk in neck that is the cause of much of the injuries from the arms up to my head it’s at the C6 area. Drs says people can have no symptoms at all or serve symptoms for life unless surgery to done with the injury - i was shocked at that answer.

The MRI report of my back wasn’t any better dr stated it entails new perm damage to the lower two back disks L4-L5:::L5- S1 I’m not a nurse or dr but tried to understand the over all effects as I didn’t know what my new reality would fully entail. Arachnoiditis, central herniation, ligamentous sprain, and spinal canal stenosis were all mentioned and discussed. Back Surgery would potentially create worse situation with such damage than I have. It’s hard to tx the injuries and some will progress no matter what it’s just trying to get as much therapy and care and as less stress as possible and stagnant any progression and try to reduce the pain.

 

The private dental profession is not known for providing health benefits as most practices don’t feel they can afford it for their staff.

 

I never imagined being put in a debilitating state and limit my ability to fix it - I’ve tried to do what I can on my own. A dear friend told me people can’t help if they don’t know you need it and it’s not fair for you to not give them the opportunity to try.

 

I don’t know what else to say. that’s the amount I was given for the neck surgery. It’s doesn’t include all my past bills I need to pay or any other future ones I need for my back. I’m in the middle of getting a set of 3 steroid shots which drs said are 2,800. Which is where my income has been going to and will continue to go to along with living expenses and catching up post bills from the continued loss of work.

 

Thanks for taking the time to hear my story. 

 

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Any help is appreciated including prayers.

May 2023 bring many blessings your way

UPDATE 12/30/22 Its been a rough year experienced yeast infections for first time ever - yes more than one about 4 months total. Praying no more - i did not realize how much the steroids would crash my immune system. Got two in the neck and one in the back the first few months of this year after trying a round of pill forms.

Oh they hurt spinal column effects numbness in hand arm legs all still happen so no more for me in future. I am trying to go up to one 8 hr shift a week (minus once a month my menstrual cycle is still debilitating so lots of laying down the bathroom floor is usually where i end up when the worst of it hits) so that week i stay home laying down a lot. Dr said time is my only option after the shots for healing risk is too high for paralysis etc. for surgery.

My plan try keep healing and God willing by Nov 2023 my back is healed enough to wear i can work more without causing injury and loss of healing so that then i can find a way to come up with money to buy heal insurance and then hopefully by FEB 2024 have my neck surgery planned. I will have to not work for at least 6 weeks after and apparently have to also pay for a nurse 24 hrs after surgery to be home with me (thats what one of the papers said and dr verified it ) apparently its to protect the hospital make sure my body is ok. Then I have to find someone to care for me for a week or two yup sponge bath here i come. I don't cost of those but i will worry about that later. As I do not have family or hubby spouse etc helping me.

The end of this year also had a fatty tumor ( I named her rose lol) removed from right next to my lady area. Those two months with an ope wound caused some loss of healing with my injuries due to akward sitting laying and not being able to always stretch to prevent tearing

stitches out. I thank God and a dear friend Jody (shes a blessing ) for helping me get through it.

I am praying no more medical issues and complete healing.

Thank you to everyone who has been there for me during this time.

You don't know how much it helps during this scary time.