Please help me heal

I genuinely can’t believe I’m starting this page. I am the absolute last person who asks for money!! But I’m struggling.

I’m a 45 year old Melbournian with an awkward chronic ailment. I have a fistula. It’s an abscess in a very uncomfortable spot – my butt. Well, it’s an infected tunnel between the skin and anus. What started off as a fissure, led to an infected anal gland through sheer bad luck. Since this developed in December 2021, I’ve come to realise just how rotten my luck is.

I’ve had 3 VERY uncomfortable/painful minor surgeries so far and there is no end in sight via Western medicine. My fistula has become complex which means I have multiple tunnels. I’ve been advised that my chances of a successful procedure are around 60%. Not to mention there is a high rate of recurrence, and the more procedures in that region means more chance of incontinence. At my age! A frightening prospect indeed. For my last procedure, I’ve had a seton inserted which is essentially just a tie that is keeping the tunnel open externally to allow it to drain. So I have a permanent open wound at the moment.

How has this affected my life? In so many ways it’s crazy.

Daily pain in the area meaning I cannot sit for extended periods – if at all. I can’t walk for long as it seems to aggravate the abscess/infection and increase the amount of pain and gross discharge of pus or blood (sorry). These two things alone mean I am very limited in what I can do or where I can go. Minimal exercise has led to much weight gain and an all over soreness of body. My immune system is fighting hard which has led to constant sickness, colds, flu, weird rashes…

I’m in limbo.

I’ve never been a depressed person at all. I’m one of those people that laughs a lot (like a LOT), wants to make others laugh, loves exploring near and far, values time with family and friends immensely, finds joy in the little things.

For many months I would cry at the teeniest thing – and I mean heaving sobs! That is NOT me at all. This has dominated my mind because I am constantly in pain, constantly having to change dressing (which I’ve spent thousands on already), constantly having to be near a bathroom to wash. It’s become increasingly difficult to have a positive mindset.

I don’t even recognise myself anymore.

One day I woke up and thought – how do they treat this in other countries? It didn’t take long to discover a video testimonial from a lovely lady from Canada talking about an Ayurvedic procedure in India with a success rate vastly different to Western medicine – around 95% and with a teeny recurrence rate. I found more and more testimonials. Then I found an amazing support group and just broke down. Finally there was a glimmer of hope. I was blown away by how many people were affected by this, when I had never heard of this ailment before. People don’t talk about it because it’s an embarrassing part of the body, but I’m way past being embarrassed. I’ve been horridly unhappy for so many months and I’m one of the ‘lucky’ ones. There are many who have suffered through this for years and Western medicine just hasn’t been able to help.

In order to receive treatment, I need to be in India for 3-4 months and see the doctor a minimum of once a week. I have found a highly regarded doctor because of this support group I am part of, and am now planning to be in India in October. The treatment will be $7015 but this does not include medication, tests, transport to and from the hospital, flights, accommodation or food. I have to find someone to rent my room at home and have to take leave from work to do this, so expenses are building.

Which is why I’m here crying out for help. This has impacted my life so much that I’m going into debt and to another country to rectify it!

I thank you for reading my story and if you can afford to donate, I will be overwhelmingly grateful.

With love and hope,

Lara