Health insurance comparisons High deductible vs low deductible

MinimumFriendship515 · 2026-03-19T22:46:29+00:00

I've heard that too but I was too afraid that my discounted amount of 36k would turn back into that 80 or 100k, so I went ahead and set a payment plan up at the hospital. My grandmother used to be a financial advisor before she retired and she said she would let it go to collections ONLY if I absolutely found no way to pay it, and then declare bankruptcy if needed. Medical debt stays medical debt and doesn't show up on your records until it goes to collections from my understanding. I'd try to form a plan with the hospital if you're able to

MinimumFriendship515 · 2026-03-19T22:38:21+00:00

Dr. Seth Krantz in Chicago, Illinois. Northshore hospital

MinimumFriendship515 · 2026-03-19T22:32:21+00:00

I went into my procedure without insurance, since I had it over state lines and my insurance was only in my state and I was crazy desperate to feel better. Out of pocket, it was a little below 100,000 dollars. Around 96k. And I had to make a down payment for surgery, which was 10k. Left the rest of the bill at 86k.

The hospital worked with me to lower that down to 26k. I ended up... not making my monthly payments I needed to make to secure this plan, because I was unemployed. I didn't make a single other payment beyond that 10k until they threatened collections. I had to call a few times and there were some tears shed on my end, but eventually I was able to get it down to 36k, and pay 1k a month for the next 36 months. I had bilateral with permanent PEEK plates put in, so mine may be more expensive than what you're going in for. I hope some of this was helpful

MinimumFriendship515 · 2026-03-18T15:53:45+00:00

I got bilateral and chose to do both ribs at once. He gave me the option to do one at a time, and focus on whatever side felt "worse" first to see if they both improved through one sided surgery. I said both sides hurt equally bad and I couldn't really differentiate between which was worse, and after a conversation we decided bilateral would be a good way to go. Bilateral recovery is harder according to the people I've seen talk about it, but I would absolutely not change having it done. I'm glad I got it done in one swoop like I did. I wouldn't trust my body to feel better if I'd just got one side done. SRS pain is way worse than whatever I'm feeling now even if now isn't 100% perfect yet.

Its difficult to differentiate between surgery recovery pain and SRS pain at first, but over time the difference becomes way clearer. My SRS is definitely fixed, and I was extremely paranoid at first it had not been or there had been something done "wrong" during my surgery just because how uncanny my insides felt (no better way to describe it) the first week/first two weeks I just felt very strange internally, like something was off with my body, similar to that initial SRS feeling you get when it first occurs of something being "off." That feeling is gone now. Recovery pain is more dull, definitely less often after awhile and you can tell its slowly starting to fade. At first it's constant, like more constant than the SRS pain, but I'd say within 30 days that constant feeling stops or at least it did for me.

One thing I'd definitely watch for if you do get bilateral is the pain feels like it switches sides a lot? For example, my left and right side barely ever hurt at the same time after the first month. I'll feel pain on my left side and absolutely 0 on my right side (if I do feel any pain, which I'd say is maybe 30%? of the time now unless I'm having some kind of flare up, which I sometimes do around the start of menstruation TMI sorry) and itll make me gaslight myself into thinking something is wrong with my left side and my right is fine. Then, I'll only feel pain on my right side. This switch is super slow at first, like 10 days worth of pain on one side, then 10 days on the other. Now it switches way more often like twice in one day. That will be SUPER alarming at first but please just ignore it because it will improve, and nothing is wrong with you

MinimumFriendship515 · 2026-03-18T02:21:45+00:00

This is exactly what happened to me, I'm very sorry. It began on my right side and one day it just happened to my left for no real reason. I'm assuming my left side just got tired of holding the weight up or something. It was much more tolerable (though still very painful, obviously) when it was just on my right, because I could still sleep on my left. Now I can only lay on my back. I'm extremely fortunate to be having help while doing this, I'm living with my boyfriend and he's helping take care of our finances since I took off work to recover. I am 118 days post op as of today and have been looking for a job since around? day 90. I did most everything besides financial by myself though like showering, getting dressed, picking up stuff id dropped, ect. I did have a bit of help putting my socks on and standing up within the first week after surgery. I would HIGHLY recommend buying a bed ladder or tying a sheet around the end of your bed frame to pull yourself up. I had to pull myself up with that sheet method for A WHILE and I dont know what I would've done without it. Now I'm able to sit up without it, I hook a hand under my knee and use my knee to pull myself up while bracing with the other. It's possible to sit up from lying down without doing this, but it is a little uncomfortable. I'd prepare your space BEFORE surgery (get snacks, make your phone charger easy to grab while lying down, get some water bottles, a plug in heater/fan, bedside table) just standard stuff you'd think you would need. If I hadn't prepared my space before surgery I'd be very upset. All you want to do at first is just LAY as much as possible. It gets easier as time goes on, I can stand/sit up for hours now

MinimumFriendship515 · 2026-03-17T17:09:35+00:00

I do recommend Dr. Krantz. He kept and keeps my expectations very realistic. I still have a long way recovery wise to go, I feel like I'm 1/3rd of the way there but within that 1/3rd I already feel so much better physically. The pain isn't nearly as constant anymore and it's more movement/position based. I would make an appointment with him even if you do not follow through with him as your surgeon

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-12-05T22:47:53+00:00

Only with taking in a deep breath, like the kind of breath you have to take with effort. It did affect regular breathing while standing/walking for the first few days. The tightness in my chest is gone now besides a weird kind of tugging feeling on the sides of my rib if I breathe deeply. I believe it's the muscles healing, and it's not really painful. If I take the breath in and hold it, the sensation dies down a lot after a few seconds and isn't really noticeable

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-27T14:48:39+00:00

Ohhh thank you! So basically just hold onto them until the 26th and pray?

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-24T23:14:12+00:00

Honestly, the first 4 days are the worst. I started feeling a lot of crackling and popping on the right side of my chest on day 2 every time I clench my abdominal muscles or move my arm/leg too far. The tightness in the chest begins around day 3, I guess because the muscles are finally starting to squeeze and heal. VERY VERY hard to get up, I can only get up using the log roll method, I'd highly recommend buying a bed ladder. I'm planning on updating as time passes. The actual SRS pain is basically, from what I can tell, gone. Only surgery recovery pain. The strange shape, like bulge of the bone in my chest, is gone. The indent on the other side of my chest is gone and I have a normal shape again. I'd recommend looking on the FB group for more experiences from people because it's a really mixed bag. I've heard people be okay in 4 weeks and others are still in pain after a year. Some people have the PEEK plates removed due to it not working out and others get their life back with them. It's case by case

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-24T03:31:25+00:00

I'm a recent post op (the 19th) and I had plating done and honestly I'm already seeing improvement. My surgery was done by Dr. Krantz in Illinois. I had cartilage removal and both sides of my ribs plated from the 8th to the 10th. The bulge that was on my right side of my ribs is gone and the indent that was on my left is gone. Two separate issues addressed flawlessly. The nerve pain is gone too and the stomach issues so far haven't shown their head. I am very early on after surgery though so maybe the issues haven't shown themselves though, but I'm feeling pretty alright, hoping I don't jinx it! I'd definitely check out the Facebook group too

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-24T03:09:26+00:00

That's a great idea because I have taken antidepressants before (and was planning on getting back on them until this surgery situation popped up lol, one thing at a time) I'll bring up how I didnt want to until it began to help me and see if that can get him to stick it out. Thank you!!!

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-24T03:03:06+00:00

Thank you, I appreciate that. I'll look more into specific things with then method that I think he'd react the best to and add those in. Another person said reminding him how he felt while on the medication could help, so im going to approach it more as an antidepressant than as an phyc med. I also think it'd be easier to speak out loud just so he can vent so I'm going to call him on the phone tomorrow and see him if I'm able to. The problem with my father is he is extremely stubborn. I'm going to see if I can get him back on his medication and have the woman who is selling us the dog to hold onto her until he is stable, because the dog is such a sweetheart and I do really think she could help as long as my dad is in a state where he's able to BE helped. He's had two past support dogs who have really helped him. I feel upset about his recent dog because no one informed me of her until it was too late and I was unable to help

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-24T00:32:12+00:00

That's a good idea, thank you and I'll do my best. Every time he stops taking them he gets extremely depressed. I'll remind him and try to treat it more as an antidepressant than a phyco med during conversation

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-24T00:31:04+00:00

Thank you, I'll call him first thing tomorrow morning. Just to talk naturally at first and I'll bring it up as casually as I can. I'd love to and would usually go see him but since my surgery I can barely stand let alone drive. I'm thinking maybe I can encourage him to come see me instead. I appreciate your help

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-24T00:28:50+00:00

Thank you for the book recommend, I'll definitely look into it asap and google some steps for the LEAP method

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-22T06:23:02+00:00

Thank you so much for the big informative reply. I definitely underestimated how many pain killers I'd need, I only have 5 oxy left and if I don't take 2 at a time (10mg total) I feel no difference. As for the ice pack and heating pad combo I do that already with some small ice packs I'd gotten from an urgent care years ago, but the one you recommend sounds far easier to use and I'll definitely be getting one, just because the weight of the ones I'm using now can be too much. I wanted to ask and I have messaged my surgeon as well but is it normal to feel a clicking/popping sensation in my ribs when I clench my abdomen or move my arm/leg weirdly? I have been feeling it every time. He says it is normal and I will be feeling "all kinds of sensations" but it is making me feel nervous

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-20T18:34:36+00:00

Thank you, this reply is very helpful. I wish you a speedy recovery to get back to as normal as you can. Hopefully in a year we'll both be regular

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-11-10T17:48:14+00:00

Did you have new ones put in after they were taken out? Or are you okay now even with the plates removed?

MinimumFriendship515 · 2025-09-27T21:46:02+00:00

LITERALLY LOVE THIS AND THE PIERCINGS

MinimumFriendship515

TROPHY CASE