Looking for a specialist...

Dr. Jane Miller over by the corner of Main Street 👍 - I’ve been seeing her for eight years now... which is quite the change, considering how some previous dentists used to practically butcher me, leaving me absolutely terrified of even sitting in a dental chair.
Once she stepped up, took charge, and actually brought some order to the chaos, I started coming to her clinic regularly without hesitation. For about six years now, I’ve only needed her for routine cleanings, scaling, and check-ups, since there isn't much else that needs doing at this stage... 🙂
It’s a private practice, but because she accepts standard insurance, the cost for covered services is 50% lower for patients who are on her provider list.
And honestly, looking at the prices being discussed in other threads, she isn't expensive at all....

Thanks, everyone!
My main thing is being able to book afternoon slots since I’m stuck at work every morning until 4 PM.
And obviously, I just want decent doctors.

Look, I’m definitely not a medical expert, so I’m hoping I’ve come to the right place for some guidance 😬

I am looking for recommendations for reliable physical therapists who offer in-home visits 🙂

Here’s the situation: my mother-in-law just had knee surgery, and per her insurance coverage, she’s entitled to home health physical therapy. Her primary care physician handed us exactly two referrals, but both turned out to be complete dead ends. We are essentially starting from square one and feeling a bit lost, so I’m turning to you all for any leads or suggestions

If you have specific contact information or names of providers, please shoot me a private message 🙂

Thanks in advance!

Hey, it's me again. 🙂

So, the surgery happened about 10 days ago. They actually scheduled it just seven days after she finally cleared her last medical clearance—and let me tell you, getting all those tests approved took nearly a whole year! Huge shoutout to the team at Mayo Clinic for getting that sorted. 🙂

Things got a little messy during the procedure, but thankfully everything turned out okay in the end. She’s got movement back in her hands and feet, and she's fully conscious.

I have a quick question if anyone here knows someone who specializes in recovery after this kind of surgery.

Basically, she still can't speak normally. Her voice is super raspy, and she starts coughing whenever she strains herself. It's tough because everyone else I saw seemed to be talking fine by day two or three after their procedure! Right now, she's just sitting at home being quiet, but she isn't exactly a silent person by nature, so she's starting to feel pretty depressed.

On top of that, she’s dealing with intense dizziness and just looks really rough.

We're trying to get an earlier appointment with the doctor because they told us the dizziness and speech issues should have passed within a couple of days. If anyone has any insight, I would be so grateful for some info.

It just feels like such a weird recovery process. I’ve seen plenty of other people on that same ward go through this, and none of them looked like this. 😢

darkpuma5 said:Here I am again. 🙂

The surgery went down ten days ago. They scheduled the whole thing for just seven days after she finally managed to pull together that last bit of paperwork—and let me tell you, the grind to collect those medical records took nearly an entire year! You have to hand it to the folks over at Mount Sinai for how fast they moved once they actually had everything in hand. 🙂

Things got a little messy during the surgery, but we pulled through in the end. She’s moving her arms and legs now—fully conscious and aware of everything going on around her.

Does anyone here know someone who actually understands the recovery process after this kind of surgery? I've got a question.

He still hasn't found his voice yet. His throat is raspy, he starts coughing whenever he tries to push himself, and it’s just... stuck. Meanwhile, everyone else in the recovery ward was back to talking normally by day two or three after their surgery. So now, he’s just sitting at home in total silence—and since he isn't exactly the quiet type, he's starting to spiral into a bit of a depression.

Second off, they’re still dealing with intense vertigo and looking pretty out of it.

We’re trying to get an appointment with the doctor as soon as possible. They told us the dizziness and speech issues should have cleared up within two or three days by now, but they haven't. If anyone out there has dealt with something similar or has any insight, I’d really appreciate the info.

It’s a bizarre recovery process for me. I’ve been glancing around at the other people in this ward who went through the exact same thing, and honestly, they don't look half as good as I do. 😢

Wouldn't her throat be absolutely killing her from all those intubations? Look, we're right in the middle of flu season, so she needs to lay low and avoid crowds. It would be a disaster if she picked up something else on top of everything else right now.
Not everyone recovers at the same pace. Some people bounce back almost instantly, while others need a bit more breathing room to get back on their feet. You even mentioned yourself that things got a little messy with the surgery schedule. Just give her a few more days to settle in. Plus, this erratic weather we're having is definitely taking a toll on how she's feeling.
I read somewhere that she’s taking Aspirin 81 for her circulation. There’s actually a better alternative—Aspirin Protect—which won't wreck your stomach like standard Aspirin does. You should probably check with her doctor to see if making the switch might be a better move for her.

Angela Wright said:Didn't her throat get pretty sore from those early morning intubations? Watch out, since flu season is hitting hard right now and we don't want too many people visiting her. It would be terrible if she caught something else on top of everything.
Everyone is different. Some people bounce back instantly, while others just need a little more time. You even mentioned how things have gotten a bit complicated regarding surgeries. Just give her a few more days. Plus, this crazy weather definitely plays a role in how someone feels.
I saw earlier that she’s taking Advil 100 for circulation. There's actually a better alternative—Aspirin Protect—which is much easier on the stomach than regular Advil. Maybe ask the doctor if that might be a better fit for her.

It was actually local anesthesia, so I don't think they had to intubate her there. Her throat seems fine, too; her primary care physician stopped by the house to check on her, and she doesn't look inflamed at all.

The notes said she needs to take Advil, but I made sure to mention she’s allergic to it. She’s taking Pigrel instead; they gave her that as a substitute she can safely use.

I know she's dealing with low blood pressure and feeling weak, but honestly, it feels like this has been dragging on forever. We were all so stressed out before because of those dizzy spells and the fear of something neurological, so we still haven't fully relaxed or started viewing them as just "normal" dizziness. 😢

And she’s struggling with depression now, too. At this point, I’m running out of ways to reassure her and convince her that everything is going to be okay. 😢

Those intense dizzy spells are often caused by issues with the cervical spine or disturbances in the vestibular system, so she really ought to try recording them when they happen...
It’s been happening to my mom like that too.

Thanks for the link. Seems like a model dentist.

You’re basically trying to use Blue Cross to cover a white filling for $100—$50 and then waiting five weeks just to get an appointment.

I find myself joining the many inquiries and requests for a reliable dentist. For my part, location would be a deciding factor; I would prefer someone on the West Side of town—perhaps near Lincoln Park—because I know how I operate. I’ll likely make it to the first two appointments, but after that, if it isn't convenient, I simply won't feel like making the trip.

wiredrider2 said:Look, I have Google too, and I can find plenty of articles about ozone dental therapy if I really wanted to.

WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR IS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. Has anyone actually tried this? What’s the word on the street?

I’ll throw in a recommendation for Dr. Miller and her ozone treatments. (www.dentalcareexample.com)
My husband and daughter both had an absolutely wonderful experience using ozone. To give you some context, we originally saw a dentist through our insurance provider who refused to treat a cavity on my husband's molar. Because he was undergoing chemotherapy, she insisted that it was better to do nothing at all—or rather, just pull the tooth entirely.😲
Naturally, we weren't having it, so we went to see the amazing Dr. Miller instead.👍 .
Dr. Miller took detailed X-rays, handled his treatment meticulously, and even cleared up two minor cavities using the ozone method. With ozone, there's none of that aggressive drilling.🙏
She did the same for my daughter's two molars. Now, she doesn't have a single traditional filling in her mouth, and everything is perfect.
There truly is no pain involved. Granted, it requires paying out of pocket, but the process is efficient, thorough, and honestly, worth every penny.

I'm also looking for a solid dentist here in Chicago... specifically someone who does high-quality restorative work and ozone therapy. I've narrowed my choices down to two practices and would love some input on which is better... Dr. Zeljka Stolar (www.drstolar.com) or the clinic run by Dr. Zdenko Trampus and Dr. Serge Muski Trampus (www.drstomatolog.com). If anyone has experience with either of them, please let me know!!🙏 😕😛

I used to go to a small practice run by Dr. Zeljka Ivice before. He was great at first, but things changed once he started overbooking everyone and couldn't stick to his schedule. Last time, I sat there waiting for three hours even though I'd booked two weeks ahead. It was so frustrating, and he seemed really stressed out because the waiting room was packed and everyone was talking at once. To make matters worse, he didn't even wear gloves during my last visit. I'm super sensitive about hygiene—it honestly makes my skin crawl when dentists aren't careful with sanitation. 😱 It’s a shame, really. I haven't completely ruled him out, but I'd much rather find someone else. Though, if I'm ever in a total pinch, I'll probably end up back there.🤔

Dr. Miller is my long-time dentist, and honestly, she’s become a friend over the years. 😁
She’s excellent—does top-tier work on anything tooth-related. I see some people here acting like ozone therapy is some kind of miracle cure, but let's be real. It only works if the cavity isn't too deep. If you catch it early, there's hope. If you wait too long, you're looking at drilling and standard fillings. The only real downside is the cost; ozone treatment is pricey, and if you have a few teeth to fix, you'll find yourself dropping a thousand bucks before you know it.
Bottom line, I recommend Dr. Miller, though I've heard Dr. Smith is pretty solid too.

ZG: I’m telling you, go see the Miller clinic—definitely recommend them. It's a father-son duo and they are top-tier—been going to them for years and honestly, nothing but praise. Even their colleagues swear by the old man, and the son? Total chip off the old block.

Could you send me the contact info for your gynecologist? I'd love a recommendation...
Thanks so much!

Does anyone have a recommendation for a reliable private dermatologist in the Chicago area? I’m looking to get some spider veins removed... There are just so many options online that it’s honestly overwhelming, and I really can't tell which ones are actually worth the money and time.😕
If you happen to know, could you also let me know roughly how much these treatments cost?
THANKS🙂

Nicole Nelson73 said:Can someone please recommend a good private dermatologist here in the States for spider vein removal? There are so many options online that I honestly have no clue which one is actually worth the money...😕
If you happen to know how much these treatments usually run... let me know....
THANKS🙂

I'm interested too. Those little veins on my face are getting so annoying as I get older. I've even realized I have to skip the steam rooms because the sudden temperature changes just make them pop up more...
And I'm definitely not old enough to just live with them without trying something.

Susan Brooks48 said:I’m curious too. Those facial hairs are getting more annoying by the day as I get older. Apparently, I have to be careful avoiding those steam rooms at the spa because the sudden temperature shifts just make them grow back faster.
And it's not like I'm too old to want to do something about it.

I think I’ll probably just head over to the Mayo Clinic. I’ve had laser treatments done there before, and the staff was truly wonderful.

So, what kind of laser treatments did you get, and did they actually work for you?
I hear people talking about lasers all the time—honestly, I’ve been thinking about it—but I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger. I guess I've heard stories where it works wonders, but then there's the other side... where it just makes things worse.
Come on, please tell me a bit more about your experience. 🙂

crimsonhound28 said:What kind of laser treatments did you get, and what actually worked for you?
I hear so much about lasers, but I honestly can't bring myself to go try them. I've heard they help some people, but then again, I've heard they make things worse for others...
Please, could you tell me a bit more about it?🙂

I decided to go through with it because my acne was everywhere and nothing else was touching it. It took about four or five sessions before my skin really cleared up, but you can see an improvement after every single one.🙂 One session costs roughly $100, though I also had dermabrasion done, which is basically just resurfacing the top layer of skin. The laser treatment itself doesn't really hurt; there's just a little stinging sensation, and it's over quickly. Honestly, it’s worth it, even if the price tag is pretty steep.😢
And of course, the initial consultation is $67

I think I might need some dermabrasion too... my skin hasn't handled the sun well for the last decade. Instead of an even tan, I just get these blotchy spots. Dark patches mixed with broken capillaries... not exactly how I want to look at 35!