Siobhán's Top Surgery & Dental & Medical Bills

Hi there, my name is Siobhán and for a long time I've been trying to get everything in my life sorted to the point where I'm no longer in pain or anxious that I'll lose housing or things I need to survive. I'm currently on the Ontario Disability Support Program and recieve 1.2k CAD per month which is hardly enough to make rent and get groceries, let alone survive with extra expenses.

Physical Health:

I currently have pending specialist appointments that I have to make but have been putting them off because I can't afford both transit to Toronto and an airbnb rental. I need to get my heart evaluated- after inconclusive test results my cardiologist wants me to return to undergo a contrast IV, a stress test, and a holter test. I need to stay in the city for 48 hours, hence the need for an airbnb.

I also need to get bloodwork to test inflammatory markers to see if I have rheumatoid arthritis since my joints are swollen and painful, rendering me unable to walk long distances without a cane- getting this bloodtest would jumpstart the process of being referred to a rheumatologist which I desperately need. I also need an MRI of both my legs, which is another trip to the imaging center.

I recently had a breast cancer scare, and only had a benign cyst show up on the screening, but it was suggested I see a breast specialist for further testing- I'm still waiting on my doctor to make the referral, but this is more money for transit.

My family doctor is also in Toronto as the doctor shortage in my current town is unprecedented, and being a trans person it's hard to find a trans-friendly GP in my area (very conservative town). Needless to say, transportation for medical appointments is extremely expensive since I can't drive and rely on Uber and the go bus for the most part.

Mental Health:

Without getting too personal, I'm a neurodiverse person and have been speaking to my GP about the possibility of getting an ADHD diagnosis. He told me about the cheapest option which is through telehealth. I've paid $179 CAD up front for an initial assesment, and will have to pay $79 if I'm eligible for an actual diagnosis. This is cheap compared to the other options, but it's still money I don't have

Dental Health:

I currently have periodontal disease and need multiple teeth pulled- I am in a lot of pain most of the time and have a hard time eating dense or hard foods- I usually have to mash food against the roof of my mouth to eat. I'm afraid I may lose my teeth but can't afford the initial appointment, let alone root canals or surgery.

Top Surgery:

I have been medically transitioning for over a decade, and am able to get the actual surgery covered, but am unable to transit to Montreal and get an Airbnb for my entire recovery since I have dogs at home. I would also need to figure out food cost, dogsitter cost, and any other items and medication for recovery I may need.

Everything Else:

I struggle to get groceries, pay rent, pay bills, get dog food and clothing (which is difficult because I experience weight fluctuation with my disability). Any money I've raised before this has usually gone straight towards staying afloat, to get me to the next paycheck- I would really love to come out ahead and have enough to live and be able to address all the needs that have gone on for years due to not being able to afford taking care of myself

I set the goal as 6k because it's going to take a lot to get me to a better place, but I am honestly just thankful for anything to help stay afloat at this point.

Thank you so much for reading :) <3 If you need proof of anything I've written about, please feel free to contact me and I can provide documentation

Update (August 14, 2023)

I was able to pay out-of-pocket for my adhd assessment and if all goes well at my final cardiologist appointment, I start medication at the end of August.

I am unsure of how I'm going to get to that appointment, and was only able to go to my first two because of some lovely folks who donated to paypal directly. Thank you, I am so so grateful <3

Unfortunately I now have a tooth abscess that has become a full blown jaw and throat infection- I am unable to speak or eat, and now may have to schedule yet another in-person appointment to get swabbed to get antibiotics. I'm hoping that this doesn't spread to my heart or brain, but it's a real possibility. I've gotten incredibly sick from a similar infection before so am trying to get this done as soon as possible as to not experience the same thing again. I would of course, like to get as many affected teeth pulled or saved where they can be saved. I will most likely need scaling and graft surgery for my front teeth, as the roots are exposed.

I am of course going to continue to keep this up and circulate it, but will be making updates here every so often