Tricia's 2nd Hiatal Hernia Surgery

Hello!

My birthday is in a few days and I’ve had some people ask what I’d like for my birthday and I’ve had some people ask if I needed help for my surgery. If I can pay it in one lump I will get a discount, but that’s not going to happen so I’m going to ask about a payment plan.

If you’re one of those folks that asked about my birthday, a small donation would go a long way to help me pay this off.

Back in June 2020, I had an MRI checkup as one does as a spinal cord cancer survivor every few years. When I picked up the MRI report, it told me they saw a tumor and it wasn't even in the same spot as the original one. I waited 2 painful weeks for a CT scan and then they told me it wasn't a tumor after all, but my hiatal hernia.

I was diagnosed with this hiatal hernia in August 2011 after going to my doctor for 6 months complaining of pain and nausea. They told me to never have surgery because it was worse than the hernia so I never did, but they also told me it was small.

Then, in 2017, I had a weird thing happen when I was driving in my chest and it felt like it took my breath away so I went to urgent care. They told me it was anxiety and I told them it wasn't a panic attack because I get those and it wasn't that.

In 2018, I told my doctor I was having a hard time taking a deep breath and they told me it was anxiety.

In 2019, I went to the ER because I was having really bad pain and nausea where my gall bladder is located, but they did tests and told me it was my hernia. They did not tell me how large it was at that time.

So circle back to 2020 when I find out that I didn't have another tumor, but my hiatal hernia is the size of my fist and pressing on my lungs. No wonder why I was having trouble breathing. I spent the rest of 2021 having crazy tachycardia, breathing issues and feeling like I was dying. I had to do a barrage of tests and doctor appointments before they would schedule surgery.

I had hiatal hernia and fundoplication surgery in April 2021 at USC and the surgery went great. Unfortunately, I have severe asthma and allergies and the allergy season came early. I couldn't stop coughing really hard and it busted open the hernia.

I had another barium swallow and upper scope done last year to confirm it had busted and in November 2022, I had surgery again for my hiatal hernia along with another and different fundoplication.

Healing feels much better this time around thank goodness! I have had some help with the previous bills from a generous charity, but outside of that help, I've spent $13,000 in medical bills since the 2nd half of 2020.

If you'd like to help, this would be the best birthday gift! Thank you!