Lupus Update/Fund Raising Update

Gallery l Portfolio l Watch Me

Greetings!  I desperately miss being here!  The truth is that dealing with the muscle spasms that prevent me from drawing make it upsetting to be here.  I'm just an amateur but was so thrilled to draw again...then it was taken from me.  So, anyway...

I have had to make some changes thanks of course to the ever-changing world of lupus.  I was raising money to pay for weight loss surgery.  Two years ago I had saved enough to have a ton of dental work done, everything that was needed.  Two years.  Now, thanks to lupus and it's close friend Sjögren's-which often accompanies lupus, I have had some teeth pulled, some have broken, and the dentist states that so many need to be removed that they will just remove all.  WTF??  You see, one major symptom of Sjögren's is severe dry mouth.  I keep on hand Biotene in liquid, gel and spray forms because running out really sucks.  It's basically fake spit.  Yum!  Actually it's minty and pretty good.

Remove teeth, expensive!  Luckily I get discount at the Health Department because MEDICARE PAYS NOTHING FOR DENTAL WORK!  Many elderly suffer from malnutrition because they can't afford dental work.  A regular dentist can charge around $350.00 to remove ONE tooth.  Health Department around $55.00.

So...the next kick in the teeth?  (Ha, punny!)  Dentures, ewwww, will cost around $900 for the pair, PLUS removal of about 19 teeth, PLUS surgical removal of 2 teeth that have roots growing up into sinuses.  Damned expensive!  BUT..I can't wear dentures.  Due to my friend Sjögren's I MUST get dental implants.

Dental implants?  That's where they surgically implant metal studs into the jaw bones, and then the teeth are attached to these.  It must be implants because the studs will continuously stimulate something in the jaw bones, because without this the jaw bones will deteriorate.  If that happens I won't even be able to wear dentures, and it'll be too late for implants.  But the Health Department doesn't do implants.  Wanna know cost?  Are you sure?

If you call that place on TV that is all high tech and can even give you temporary ones to wear home on the same day they implant the pegs...between $30,000.00-$55,000.00.  No, that's not a typo.  Your basic dental surgery office will cost around $10,000.00-$20,000.00.  

We have a dental school in Southern Illinois that does all kinds of dental work at a discount, because it's the student working on you with constant supervision by the instructor.  I have a January appointment with them.  The first appointment is a consultation to determine if they will even do the work.  It's got to be something instructive for the student.  Ha!  I'm keeping my broken and painful teeth, even though the front ones are cutting my inner lip, because I think I would be a damn good candidate for them.

So, that's why the surgery fund has changed to a dental fund.  No use having the weight loss surgery if I am not going to have teeth to eat with!  Even if you can't help could you please go to my campaign and SHARE IT on any and all media?  Having no teeth is a huge phobia of mine.  I no longer smile or laugh like I used to.  I avoid people too and will not be going to family holiday gatherings.  I just can't.

I can't cure the lupus or Sjögren's or the nerve damage and I will always have the constant pain.  But I can get my teeth fixed.  I just need help.  I apologize for the length of this journal, I didn't realize I had gone so long.  Thank you so very much for reading to the end-it's very appreciated.

OOPS!  You might need the fund raiser address!  gofund.me/LoriLife

Take care and be well,

Lori 💛🐺

Journal Skin designed by: FalconArts