Putting aside pride to ask for help

Recently I had to have surgery to broaden my airways so that I could breath. A lifetime of severe sleep apnea had taken it's toll on my health and I was "a prime candidate for waking up dead," as one doctor was wont to put it. The surgery went well. I now have the energy to be more active, which should lead to weight loss and the correction of various medical issues that lack of proper rest can cause, such as metabolic syndrome, depression and morbid obesity. But it ran quite a bit more than I was expecting. Insurance has paid for quite a bit, but I still owe around $5000 (and I've still not heard from the hospital.) I'm paying as much as I can as I scrape up the money, but thought I'd see what happens if I ask for help instead of trying to do it all myself this time. Any help is greatly appreciated.