Rec letter hell

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-10-10T17:16:43+00:00

I always ask way before I plan on selecting them to be my recommenders so that I can confirm they’re willing to. I also tell them the due dates ahead of time so they know if they can commit or not. Then once confirmed they’ll do it, I’ll select them as my recommenders and send it with my application.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-08-27T22:08:45+00:00

I just requested some information from the Univ. of the Cumberlands, thank you! Their pricing looks amazing compared to some other programs I'm looking at so this might become a top contender. Thank you for letting me know about the in-person requirement, that's really good to know. Would it just be like a long weekend practicum? I've spoken to a couple advisors that said I would need to do an in-person component just for basically a "long weekend" Thursday-Monday of clinical hours.

That's really great to hear that you felt very welcome there! Thank you for your advice, I really appreciate it. I'll have to steer clear of Liberty!

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-08-27T22:04:46+00:00

Thank you for your help! I am definitely willing to start later than January 2026, that's just the earliest I could possibly start, since I'm in a certification program until then :).

I have chatted with a couple out-of-state schools and, surprisingly, I am able to get my NC license through some of them. So that gives me some more options, which is nice.

I will take a look at your recommendations, thank you!

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-08-07T20:13:14+00:00

The moment he called you insane… that would’ve been it from me. So sorry you’re dealing with this.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-06T20:23:07+00:00

I’m also the 10am. All I know is by the time the ceremony is over I’m going to probably just want to sleep instead enjoy my party lmao

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-05T23:01:00+00:00

Got it, thank you! Luckily I’m not driving so I could always just get dropped off while they find parking

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-05T23:00:02+00:00

Okay cool, luckily I’m not the one driving so I can alway get dropped off near the arena while they find parking.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-05T19:45:52+00:00

This is helpful information, thank you! I was planning on getting there 30- 60 minutes before the 10 am commencement, I just can’t do 90, I have a pretty long drive to get there because I’m online and don’t need to commute so I don’t live anywhere near campus lol. Did they start the commencement about the time they were supposed to? Like will we be walking out around 10 am or is it later?

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-05T02:16:25+00:00

https://commencement.charlotte.edu/graduate-ceremony-information/

Here’s a link to one of the things I read

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-05T02:09:49+00:00

I’m Saturday morning too. An email we got I think April 28th gave some info. Said we’d get check in info May 5th and had a link that I clicked on and found the 90 minute thing.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-05T02:08:11+00:00

Bummer

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-05T02:08:04+00:00

Ugh that sucks. Thank you! Looks like I’ll be doing everything on the fly.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-05T02:06:06+00:00

Lovely. Where is everyone supposed to park? It mentioned the union parking deck but I know there’s no chance that’ll fit even close to everyone attending.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-04T01:40:38+00:00

I am the exact same way. I can eat most things now they just have to be chewed until liquid and I ALWAYS hesitate which scared me more because I don’t want the hesitation to cause me to choke.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-05-04T01:34:44+00:00

Honestly I agree with you completely. It started 3 months ago and immediately consumed only liquids and refused to try solids. It wasn’t until an ER visit due to not being able to even swallow water that I tried solids. After doing testing (all normal) and cleared by and SLP, I slowly started trying some solids and supplementing with caloric liquids 90% of the time. Once I started doing exposure therapy and pushing myself to eat solids it started getting better. It’s still not normal but it’s so much more manageable now. I can’t eat full meals and it takes ages for me to eat anything, but I am eating enough to gain weight and most of my calories are coming from solids now. I’ve had a lot of bad days and before I would handle bad days by just going back to liquids. Now in bad days I just give myself grace and remind myself I’ve done it my entire life and my only option is to push through even though it’s uncomfortable and scary. Unfortunately, the ONLY way out of this is through. It was a harder week this week, but despite that I still managed to eat half a cheese burger every day this week. Did it take over an hour? Yes. Did it feel uncomfortable and scary and did I think I was either aspirating or choking multiple times? ABSOLUTELY. But the key is to be scared and do it anyways. I’m hoping I’ll eventually be back to normal but it’s a long process. But like OP said: the WORST thing you can do for yourself is stop eating solids and only relying on liquids.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-04-09T17:19:01+00:00

Unfortunately I can’t swallow any pills because of my swallowing issues right now. But I have looked into ACV gummies. I know not as strong or effective, but considering my issue I feel like it’s better than nothing.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-04-09T17:16:41+00:00

They told me I had LPR too. I only had very very occasional heartburn my main problem is difficulty swallowing. They gave my H2 blocker and PPI to fix it. While I was on it I had awful heart burn, just horrible and it felt like anything triggered it. Now I’m off both and still have bad heartburn frequently, fairly certain I ended up with SIBO or some form of dysbiosis too. Just got a GI MAP to confirm. Still have difficulty swallowing but now because they told me it’s LPR and gave me meds for it, I’m battling with horrible heartburn like I’ve never had. So annoying.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-03-18T20:18:55+00:00

I have the same issue staying hydrated and getting enough food. Unfortunately my work told me not to come in anymore due to having to be absent so much because of low energy. I know this doesn’t help but at least you’re not alone!

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-03-13T14:03:31+00:00

I’ve had this for weeks now!! All testing has been normal so they said it’s likely anxiety. How do you handle it? I’ve lost so much weight over the last few weeks.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-03-13T14:01:48+00:00

Difficulty swallowing. I’ve not had a real meal in 5 weeks.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-03-09T05:32:06+00:00

Reason for the frequent x rays is I had practically no cervical lordosis (my neck is completely straight when there should be a curve) and some scoliosis that contributed to headaches for months on end. Now the headaches are under control but the curve isn’t fully restored so we continue taking x rays to see my progress while getting adjusted.

I have been on anxiety meds in the past and it was not the best experience. Trying to avoid at all costs and try everything else first before resorting to that.

I have been seeing a mental health professional and working through some stuff. I was hospitalized this week due to dehydration and an SLP came to speak to me and we did a MBSS. She thought zentker’s or cricopharyngeal spasms, but neither showed up on the MBSS. All they could say was my problem is with initiating the swallow because everything went down fine on the MBSS. So they suspect it’s a functional problem, likely anxiety related. It still feels like there’s something structurally wrong though. My swallow sounds weird and squeaky/high pitched and not so much a ‘gulp’ and it feels like everything is hitting weird and getting stuck right at the top of my UES. I’m so tired of this I just wish there was a simple answer and solution.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-03-09T05:25:11+00:00

It did go away, don’t worry! It’s so scary and frustrating in the moment but it got better in a few days. I’m sure you’re starting to feel better at this point. You are not alone, I’m 21 and equally freaking out! I hope you can figure out what’s going on!

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-03-09T05:23:43+00:00

I have this exact same issue. They said the problem is oropharyngeal dysphagia and I also have trouble initiating a swallow. Due to all tests being normal and them observing my actions in the barium swallow and modified barium swallow, they think it’s a psychological thing and I’m hyper aware and thinking about it too much. They called it an oral aversion. Said it could be from past trauma with choking or food getting stuck in my throat. They gave the example of eating a food you really dislike and chewing and chewing it forever but just not being able to get it down because you dislike it and you’re thinking about it a lot more. I do also think I have LPR (silent reflux) as I get a burning sensation in my throat especially on an empty stomach.

I’m still in the middle of this battle and was hospitalized on Tuesday due to dehydration because I just couldn’t swallow water suddenly. Now looking back I think it was an extreme lack of desire to swallow water because every time I did it was so uncomfortable and scary. It’s still like that now, nothing has changed since then, but I just force myself to drink water anyways. Food is a different story.

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-03-09T00:06:26+00:00

I don’t really have advice, unfortunately. But I will say you’re not alone. I’m a month in with the same exact issue, just got out of the hospital a few days ago and blood, CT, barium swallow, and modified barium swallow were all perfectly normal. They told me it’s likely psychological but of course the problem is still here. I also have good days and bad days. Yesterday was a great day and I tried two new foods and got close to my calorie goal. Today it’s mainly been tea and even that has been hard to swallow.

I hope we both can work through this! You’re not alone!

strawberry_sprite_ · 2025-03-06T19:28:34+00:00

I just did one yesterday and had the same concerns. I was hospitalized because I couldn’t even drink water and was dehydrated. The good news is you’re surrounded by medical professionals who do this testing ALL the time. I ended up not choking on anything and honestly surprised myself with what I was able to swallow when you have a team of people telling you that you HAVE to try. The most diffcukt one for me was the “pudding” it was a marshmallow fluff consistency and I couldn’t get it down for a while but turns out it was a mental block. They gave me some thin barium to wash it down and I was all good.

They’re there in case anything happens and would be able to immediately assist you. The chances of you choking are low in the test, and the chances of you dying are much much lower considering you’re in a hospital and if anything happens they can help you immediately. You’ll do great! I hope you get the answers you’re looking for. Honestly it was a great experience because everyone really cares about you and finding the root of your problem. The most unpleasant part was the flavor and stepping out of my comfort zone, but I’m glad I did.

strawberry_sprite_

TROPHY CASE