Hi I’m Bridgette and this fundraiser is for me. Here is my story. Back in 2024 when Covid was starting I noticed my eyesight would blackout (out of the blue for a few seconds) and then come back. I thought it was strange but since it always came back I figured it wasn’t something to be too worried about and hoped it would stop on it’s own. About a year later it did. Then, my right eye started becoming fuzzy (for lack of a better word) and that got progressively worse to the point I knew it was time to see an eye Dr, which I did in the fall of 2024. He ran a bunch of tests; testing my vision, testing me with frames, the whole gambit. The glasses did nothing to improve my eyesight and in fact, nothing improved my eyesight. It was at this appointment I found out my vision was 20/300 in my right eye (more than likely has gotten worse) which effectively left me blind. My eyesight was still perfect in my left eye at 20/20. The eye Dr suspected I had a condition called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension and told me I would need a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to confirm the diagnosis so they could start me on medication right away At this point I went into a 6 month denial of my condition. I find this impressive to do as the other symptoms for IIH came out in full force during this time. I started getting Horrible neck and back aches that would then wrap around my head and settle behind my right eye. The pressure from all of this made it feel like my eye was going to pop out of my head and would cause very serious migraines. The migraine’s are always so severe that they cause me to throw up and dry heave for the next 24hrs to days afterwards. I was nauseous and dizzy all the time that I was then burping all the time as a coping mechanism. There has never not been pressure behind my right eye or pain in my neck and shoulders. I wear an icecap to bed every night because if I get overheated even for a moment I will be throwing up and instigating a migraine. In short it has been vicious on my body and debilitating on my brain. I have been diagnosed and living with chronic clinical depression, generalized anxiety and panic attacks since I was young. IIH symptoms also include depression and anxiety so doubling up on both has been extremely hard for me. The symptoms got so bad and were happening so regularly that I had to to take a Leave of Absence from work stating at the beginning of April. It lasted until the first day of July. In June my Mom made the wise decision to drive me to the ER wether I liked it or not and get a lumbar puncture. While waiting in the ER they gave me another eye exam that confirmed the suspicions the eye Dr had had. Once the needle pierced my spinal fluid and it came rushing out they knew I had IIH and prescribed me medicine immediately. I take Diourox (SP?) twice a day to help lessen the pressure in my brain and on my optic nerves. I now see an eye Dr once a month to confirm my left eye stays at 20/40. The nerve of my right eye has atrophied and died so my vision in my right eye will never get better and can get worse as time goes on. As of now I can make out basic outlines. I do worry about the day it becomes that I can only see light and dark. I will do everything in my power now to save the eyesight in my left eye. I will see a Nurologist in August and hope to get an appoint with Neurological surgery soon as well. Unfortunately, the medication hasn’t taken away any of my symptoms and the frequency of the flare-ups have stayed the same. I’m ready to undergo brain surgery and get a shunt put in my brain to deal with this condition permanently. Back to work. I did not receive any paycheck during my FLMA. The holiday paychecks I would have received in May and June went directly to my FSA card, 401K, and taxes. I haven’t received short term disability from work either. I have gone three months mainly stuck in bed with no form of income. I have been more than fortunate to receive my Momason’s help with food, bills, and rent these last three months. As grateful as I am for her help I am as disappointed that I haven’t been financially independent from her either. I have finally gone back to work this past Monday, July 1st because I need the money and my FMLA has been exhausted. I’m working on getting an accommodation from work for 15 minute breaks from the screen hourly and 4 days off a month for sick days and/or Dr appointments. They are still pending approval and I have to meet with my Dr next week to get more forms filled out. My time away from work has been filled with constant nausea, dizziness, pain in my back and neck, migraines, vomiting for days at a time, constant pressure behind my eyes and various parts of my head, chronic depression, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, messed up sleeping/eating schedules, blindness, grief, worry, Dr appointments, eye exams, MRI’s, needles, anger, and helplessness. I worry for the strain I put on my mom, and worry wondering if I’m going to be “okay”.With that all being said I’m working hard to get back to living life and making things better. Any Donations would go towards medical bills, rent, food, and cat care. It would also allow me the ability to not completely rely on my Mom as I continue to work and get regular pay days going again. There is also No pressure to donate anything as well. I will always take positive thoughts, healing energy and prayers being sent my way as well. thanks for listening to my spiel
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