Ian's Medical Help

some quick basic FAQs

FAQs thus far

1. Feel free to DM through Twitter if you would like an alternate way of helping. I've had many questions about using PayPal

2. This campaign will be running for a while and ties into number three

3, *most importantly*. There is no goal currently because there is no diagnosis in sight. If funding stopped now believe me I would consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world to have received such support but I have no idea how long it will take until I am back on my feet earning a livable wage with a wave a of medical bills under control. It's why I broke and began this gofund me. Thank you so much for everything. All of you.


This was the last avenue I wanted to take. I promise.

My name is Ian Ferguson. In better times I am co-host of the Completely Unnecessary Podcast with Pat Contri, very poor player of video games, original member of the NES Marathons and @pxlsicle on Twitter.

Starting in late September of 2016 I fell ill with what I had originally written off as slightly odd flu symptoms. Stomach pain, nausea, and all of the good ol' fashioned gory stuff that goes with it. While most of the symptoms faded the stomach pain grew sharper and never left. Sometime in late October while playing some games with Pat, and realizing it had become a painful chore to talk, play an NES game, and sit upright for an hour, I decided it was time to go to the doctor. This started the long trip that has led me here. I'm bad at short stories but I will do my best to summarize what my medical journey has been so far, what is next, why I broke down and started a gofundme, what any money will be used for, and why it would be extremely helpful.

Firstly, I am uninsured. Important to know going in, everything has been out of pocket. I am working on having that fixed by the end of the month but there have been snags. It is also not the only financial stressor.

My primary care doctor referred me to an Internalist. I saw this Doctor four times over the next two months or so for the initial concern of ulcers but also perhaps bowel disorders. Blood tests, sonograms, and an endoscopy were done. For months they insisted I had acid reflux. I know acid reflux, it wasn't. I took prescription PPIs (think Nexium) for two months with no improvement. Despite signs of potential gallbladder problems they refused to take that, or any other idea, seriously. After the endoscopy showed no ulcers and an esophagus with NO erosion yet still receiving a diagnosis of reflux from my internalist I went back to primary care and asked for an internalist who would give me a second opinion. After wasting $4,000+ dollars I said goodbye.

In between being able to get a second opinion the pain got so bad I went to the Emergency Room. I was drugged until I turned into a marshmallow and given another sonogram with nothing particularly remarkable showing up in my gallbladder. The doctor listened to my concerns this time and wrote me a rec for a HIDA scan, letting me know that there are many different gallbladder issues without stones and this could detect them. The hospital finally contacted me and I shall be scheduling this tomorrow (1/11/17) for an unknown date (hopefully soon). This should conclusively rule out gallbladder or confirm it. However...

I began seeing my new internalist yesterday. He comes highly recommended and saved my friend's life. He costs over twice as much as my prior internalist. He does not have hope for the HIDA. With him I am basically starting from scratch as he is not impressed with the prior internalist's doctoring. This means bloodwork, an MRI with contrast, a likely colonoscopy, and these are just labs and tests round one, who knows if there's a round two or a surgery or what to come. I don't even get to see him again until these tests are done. They are all cash up front or they don't happen. Currently we are back to potentially: Gallbladder, bowel disorder, "other stomach issues", maybe stigmata.

My savings account has about 1.5k left (from about 5.5 in November). My bank account is three digits. Vani works as a comic shop manager. We are not flush.

This is where even if I figure out insurance I'm still on shaky ground for now. I'm in too much pain to keep a regular work schedule. I average about 3 days a week at Luna. Even with a three paycheck month in January with my hours I'll probably make 1200-1500. That's our rent, not including bills and food. I have not been doing the actual podcasts since October. The ad revenue from the fresh ones is the lion's share of my income from that avenue which has become a not at all insignificant part of my income. While I still make some other ad money and a portion of the Patreon my total income per month has dropped considerably and continues to do so until I am healthy. The money will not only help me get better and find a cure to whatever the hell is wrong but will keep Vani and I from sinking, food in the fridge, etc.

The fact that the second opinion did not bring about a Eureka! moment but has instead opened up what sadly appears to be at least another few tiring, financially straining months is what has caused me to start this gofundme. I'm always willing to help people but it is not easy for me to ask for help. I am now for the above reasons and also because a friend put it to me this way when I was dead set against doing one and it stuck with me "at some point this isn't about your pride but allowing friends who want to help you to do so"

So, if for whatever reason you find my cause worthy of a few of your dollars please know that I appreciate it more than you may ever know and I'm probably crying over your donation.