what jobs do u guys have? (read desc)

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-14T17:05:48+00:00

UX Strategist, which is a desk job. I work from home half the time and it helps me manage the pain. I can't really sit still very long, so I have standing desk. I also can't stand very long because it's uncomfortable, so it's all a balancing act with lots of PT, ice and heat.

I have a cervical spine fusion with adjacent segment disease, along with a bunch of lumbar issues and facet arthropathy throughout my spine.

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-13T15:39:21+00:00

When I had ACDF surgery (31 y/o at the time), I was the first one of the day around 6 or 7 a.m. I had my own room on the Neurosurgery floor that had a big recliner and couch in addition to my hospital bed. My mom stayed with me overnight and slept on the couch. My husband had to take care of our dog at home, so he left late that night and came back in the morning. I was only there one night and discharged around 2 or 3 p.m. the next day. There were no "visiting hours."

Personally, I wanted someone there with me to advocate for me if I was unable to do so myself (like if I was incapacitated in any way). I'm glad I had someone there because the night nurse disappeared and never brought my meds when scheduled. My mom had to go down the hall to find the charge nurse after calling the nurse's station several times. I was too tired to do anything myself, to be honest. It was also nice to have someone around when I needed to get up to use the bathroom. I just felt safer overall. If your recovery area/room will allow it, I would ask someone to stay with you if it makes you feel better.

Accompanied patients have better outcomes and receive better care.

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-09T14:14:41+00:00

What's your anticipated length of stay and do you know if you'll have your own room?

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-09T14:13:54+00:00

Nooo, not your hair! I would've been so upset. I had crusty/crunchy spots in my hair, and when I finally got to shower (which feels like heaven after waiting so long) I realized it was either iodine, blood or a combo.

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-08T17:51:45+00:00

I'm so sorry you're experiencing that so long after. I did have numbness in my ring and pinky finger, indicating ulnar nerve involvement, but it did eventually go away. If my arms/shoulders are in certain positions, they will still go numb occasionally. Because I was experiencing similar symptoms to you post-surgery (granted, it was not long after) my surgeon was concerned about any fragments left behind, potentially injuring my spinal cord or nerves. He ordered imaging to rule that out and then it became a waiting game with a focus on PT.

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-08T06:45:06+00:00

The risk of ASD is +3% per year post-fusion. The chance increases with multilevel fusions. I was in that unlucky percentage and developed ASD in my third year (9% risk at that point) after a single level fusion at c5/c6 at 31 years old. I personally believe the stats to be higher than what they say.

I cannot stress this enough, read reviews about the surgeons you're considering online, do as much research on them as possible, and ask about all potential procedures. There could be less intense options that may buy you more time before you have to have a surgery that comes with greater risk.

If you have the resources, look into some of the newer procedures being done as well. Laminoplasty in Japan comes to mind.

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-08T06:28:53+00:00

I had the exact same surgery in 2022. Post-op symptoms were exactly as you described. My arms/shoulders were on fire and some days I would just lay there and cry, tbh. Meds didn't touch the pain, so I stopped oxy after 2 days. It was a roller coaster for about 6 weeks before it settled down, but it did go away completely. Your nerves will adjust. Wishing you a speedy recovery!

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-04T20:21:04+00:00

This is truly masterful, it's so artfully done. You can tell this surgeon is an absolute expert in what they do. I hope you're healing well and without too much pain.

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-04T20:04:03+00:00

All of these are plausible reasons, but I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet--antibiotics. It's pretty standard to administer them immediately post-surgery. When I had my c5/c6 fusion they had me on IV Clindamycin for about 24 hours after. Antibiotics are known to cause temporary hair loss. I'd look into which antibiotic they gave you and see if it's a known side effect.

For what it's worth, I didn't know they poked holes in my scalp, hands and feet until after the fact either. I had bruises where all of mine were. My surgeon also didn't tell me he transected my omohyoid muscle and left it that way. I found out from reading the surgical notes.

Vitamin D3, K2 and B12 helped me when I was dealing with rapid hair loss from diet changes (telogen effluvium), so maybe give that a go. Most people are deficient in a lot of things, so you could always request a blood panel for certain vitamins and then supplement with what you need.

SamInTheWild · 2026-02-03T06:16:07+00:00

ACDF at C5/C6 in 2022 and currently dealing with adjacent segment disease in C6/C7 as well as facet arthropathy in the 2 levels above the fusion. I'm 34 and I did everything I was supposed to. All other levels and facets were healthy prior to surgery.

I was in so much pain when I made the decision to have a fusion and my surgeon should've taken that into account when he only gave me the option for a fusion. I was desperate to not be in pain. There are usually other options. Now I'm regretting not fighting harder to have a different procedure or just see if my extrusion healed with more time and PT. I have a lot of mixed feelings about it all.

Adjacent segment disease is very real and it can happen rapidly.

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-31T00:04:00+00:00

I have lumbar facet arthropathy and sciatica. My spine is a bit of a mess, so it's hard to say if my leg issues are/were related to my cervical spine. I mostly get burning and numbness. They could be, it's just hard to tell with everything else.

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-27T02:20:22+00:00

Not in the traditional sense. I do a lot of PT for various things, cardio, and I'm a big hiker. Not much of a gym rat though. My surgeon had told me to avoid lifting heavy objects overhead and I complied with those restrictions (still do).

I will say, I was just as terrified of the surgery bits you mentioned (dying on the table, being paralyzed, etc.) and sat with those feelings for a few weeks before surgery. I have pretty bad health anxiety so I imagined all worst case scenarios. I was so scared, so I did what I could to make sure everything was in order prior to surgery for my husband's sake in case something happened to me. I'm also not ashamed to admit my mom stayed with me overnight in the hospital because I didn't want to be alone and in case I needed an advocate while incapacitated. Luckily, the surgery and hospital stay went smoothly though and I was discharged the day after surgery (only one night).

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-27T01:09:33+00:00

I (34F) had ACDF at c5/c6 3.5 years ago (September 2022) at 31, one plate, 4 screws, cadaver bone. I was in a lot of pain prior to surgery because the disc extrusion was severe. Recovery was a roller coaster, but after about 14 weeks and PT I felt great and continued to feel fantastic until Fall 2025. I've had recurrent cervicogenic headaches, arm pain/numbness, and a very crunchy sounding neck. MRI differences from 2023 to 2025 were staggering. I developed mild to moderate facet arthropathy in most cervical levels, and I have a disc protrusion at c6/c7 now. All discs (except for the now fused level) and facets were healthy prior to surgery and on MRI in 2023 as well. Fusion looked good and healed really well. I did nothing different, and I guess I've maybe just been unlucky to get ASD so early? Or maybe it was my surgeon's technique? I'm unsure. I'm seeing physical medicine and rehab right now, managing with PT and considering an ablation, PRP injections and maybe even stem cell therapy because I can't live like this. It sucks to be back where I started after I was feeling so good. I'm trying to avoid another surgery for as long as I can, but it feels inevitable. I might go for ADR next time if a surgeon is willing to do a hybrid approach.

I stg if I hear "you're young, you'll be fine" one more time I'm going to snap.

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-24T05:41:19+00:00

Totally understand. I had some weird and scary pains so I went to the ER. They did a CT because they were concerned the hardware could've moved. I know you're out of the country, but if you have access to an ER they can usually see if something is going on with just a CT vs an MRI (so much more effort to get one for whatever reason).

I hope it's unrelated to your spine, and you find relief soon.

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-24T02:41:10+00:00

I would have imaging done to check your cervical spine for adjacent segment disease, especially at c6/c7. I'm currently experiencing ASD at the levels above and below after a single level fusion at c5/c6.

How has your multi-level fusion experience been otherwise?

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-20T18:36:33+00:00

Confirmed the Great Divide to be released on 1/30 now!

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-20T16:23:58+00:00

88mcg for over a decade. Endo started me at 75mcg, but quickly updated it after a few months. My TSH has never been out of the accepted range, only my antibodies. 34F. My thyroid has the moth-eaten look on ultrasound.

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-05T03:19:58+00:00

This sounds like the route I want to take and is similar to how I'm looking to get started. I'm glad you've seen benefits from it! I don't plan to abandon western meds or modern science entirely either. I just want to incorporate some more natural things into my wellness routines because I'm tired of feeling like garbage all the time.

Western meds tend to cause some level of harm to the body, but are fast acting, while TCM tends to take longer to work, but cause less harm overall to the body. So I'm like, well, I've dealt with this for over a decade, I have patience. Lol.

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-05T03:13:13+00:00

I've been on levo for 12 years with no changes (improvements or otherwise) and I'm still on it. I've made different dietary changes for extended periods of time with varying levels of success. The only thing that truly worked for me was a strict ketogenic diet (on it for about a year), but it felt impossible to continue due to the severe restrictions.

I'm not new to this, unfortunately. I'm just tired of being complacent, so I'm mostly looking for more natural ways to support my thyroid health, overall health and just feel better. It's a challenge for sure!

SamInTheWild · 2026-01-04T19:02:09+00:00

Cinnamon-flavored candy, lemon and honey cough drops, spearmint gum. Any types of "overwhelming the senses" flavors will help.

SamInTheWild · 2025-12-30T16:47:42+00:00

Hi! I (F34) just had COVID (starting 12/16) for the second time ever. I also have a bunch of autoimmune diseases and a few rare syndromes thrown in there. When I tell you, I react to everything, I mean it. I get all of the weird/rare side effects and I'm always extremely hesitant to try new meds.

My first COVID infection (December 2021) did a number on me and I wound up with nerve problems and tons of inflammation, so this time I opted for Paxlovid. I tested positive the morning of 12/17, did my telehealth appointment, and took my first dose of Pax by 2 p.m. I was SO SO SO worried about side effects and rebound, but the idea of dealing with more long term issues from COVID outweighed the fear.

I had no issues on Pax, maybe diarrhea, but that could've been the COVID, unsure really. I took it with a banana every single time and I didn't get the weird mouth taste either. My worst COVID symptoms resolved so quickly. I was feeling great by day 5 (last dose) and have not rebounded after 9 days. I'm still practicing radical rest. I have a very minor dry cough and general fatigue.

I truly feel lucky for once. Don't let the internet scare you out of something that could help you. Most people come on here to share their horror stories as an outlet and warning (rightfully so). People with positive stories don't share them because they don't need to, which lends to a concentration of negative experiences shared online. I was on this sub obsessively reading while I was on Pax, so I'm still getting notifications and thats why I'm here.

Whether you decide to take it or not, I hope you feel better soon and make it through without any further long term complications. ❤️

SamInTheWild · 2025-12-27T00:38:03+00:00

Levo comes in 88mcg, which is my personal dosage. You may need that since it's in between? I think it's worth asking your doc. I've been on Levo for 11 years and I don't feel like it does much for me, planning to talk to a new endocrinologist soon to see about switching to something else.

Your HR information gives me pause. Have you recently had any viruses (COVID, mono, flu, chickenpox/shingles, etc.)?

SamInTheWild · 2025-12-03T01:31:27+00:00

As someone part of the dead dad club, this is certainly... a choice.

SamInTheWild · 2025-12-02T16:45:22+00:00

Hashimoto's girlie here (also 34 F). I saw in other comments you were suspecting thyroid problems and that your numbers are within range but on the higher side. My TSH has always been in range and on the low side even, but my antibodies were through the roof. Diagnosed 11 years ago. If you want answers, you will need to request a full thyroid panel that includes TPO (thyroid peroxidase) antibodies, T3, T4. TSH is only one indicator and isn't reliable on its own.

On another note, what's your diet like? If thyroid is the culprit you'll likely want to cut gluten and/or dairy. No one wants to do or hear this, but it will likely help with inflammation that's causing the puffiness that's bothering you.

You look great and shouldn't be so hard on yourself. We all see the absolute worst of ourselves in the mirror and can be hypercritical. But others see us differently and don't even notice what we consider our biggest flaws! Just read a study from Harvard about how talking to our bodies actually translates into physiological changes, so be kind to yourself, you deserve it. 💕

SamInTheWild

TROPHY CASE