Camride

Yep, last year in NC I had 38 plan options across 5 providers when I started my own business, I was able to find a plan that was expensive ($1,100/mo for 2 adults and two kids) but covered everything I needed. The deductible wasn't too bad ($2,000 individual) but they fought us on almost everything. Still it worked out OK.

This year we have two providers (BCBS and Cigna) and 18 plans. Cigna isn't an option as they don't even work in most counties in NC. The cheapest BCBS plans aren't an option as they have no hospital coverage in my county AT ALL. So what I was left with was a $1500/mo plan that still had a $5,000 individual deductible and didn't cover my neurologist or any of my current meds.

So yeah, I went back to work so I could get decent health insurance through my employer. Nothing like killing the American dream of starting your own company because you can't afford health insurance.

My wife went over a year after both our girls were born without a period. She was definitely not upset about that.

Yep, I don't understand how that's even an option. Outside of getting some horrible complicated disease or injury it wouldn't help anyone. It's basically catastrophic coverage of the shittiest kind.

I know someone with ulcerative colitis and a history of colon cancer and other issues in his family. He did the DIY route a few years ago, used his wife's stool as she has always had a really good stomach and digestive health. The fmt ended up changing his life, it made a massive difference and basically healed his colitis. It's not perfect but he's now actually able to eat a decent range of foods where before he could barely eat anything.

I think the people behind the AMA have the best intentions, and I think FMT will show a lot of potential in the coming years. Unfortunately this AMA seems to be doing more harm than good. Do not completely discount fmt because of this thread, it holds a lot of promise. But it's going to take a while to get a FDA approved procedure here, where the DIY community is obviously trying to push this forward more quickly.

2nd try, first comment was removed as I didnt put a clear question.

Have you looked at an intrathecal pain pump to help manage your pain vs using oral pain meds?

I have Chiari and had my decompression surgery 20 years ago at 20 years old but it did not help my symptoms unfortunately. As a result my Chiari headache has been 24/7 for the last 2 decades in addition to a bunch of other fun symptoms. I also managed to break my neck on a trampoline when I was 13 which has resulted in a number of cervical spinal fusions. I tried a spinal cord stimulator which helped some but became less effective over the last year or so. I'm now doing an interthecal pain pump trial in a few weeks to try to get my pain better managed. Not sure if that's an option for you considering all of your complications. I can't get an MRI anymore either because my doc put in a non-mri compatible stimulator in. Because I have so much scar tissue they couldn't remove the paddle lead on my spinal cord so that thing is there for life.

Sorry about everything you're going through. I hope you're able to get your pain better managed. It sucks losing the genetic lottery but I'm glad you have a good attitude about it.