u/Gloomy_Implement_537

Edit: I don’t put any bandages on after today’s shower and I feel amazing. Freedom!!!!!

I’m 4 weeks post-op and my incisions are almost completely closed. I have no problem washing them in the shower and I can even let the water from the shower head hit them now.

I’m still putting on adhesive bandages just out of habit at this point, I guess. I’m just not sure I need them anymore. They are also causing unbearable skin irritation at this point so I’m fed up.

When did you guys just let the incisions free?

Ps: I’m waiting on a reply back from my doc, of course. They usually take a while, unfortunately. I figured I’d ask here in the interim.

Just had an unemployed throw an apocalyptic tantrum and purposely afk so we lose. Unfortunately, I did not report before the shuffle ended. Is there any way to report this player? Right-clicking on their name does not give me the option and Blizzard's vibe coded AI articles say that it has to be their portrait and won't give the option to make a ticket.

Look, I'll be honest. It's almost like a meme at this point for an adult on Reddit to mention the fact that they are a full-time working parent and don't have time to play video games as much as they used to. Well, that's me (lol). It's a fact of life.

I used to be incredibly good at shooters but I now suck. It's like this with anything, though. You get better at anything the more you have the opportunity to practice and actually do that activity. When you can only play an hour or two an evening, or if that, you aren't going to perform as well as those that can engage more.

That said, I avoid most multiplayer shooters now despite how much I still enjoy the genre. It's just brutal. I hold my own and always try to have a positive K/D and play the objective, but I suck infinitely more than the folk that have a lot of time to dedicate to being good. This sucks, though, because even though I want to play, getting constantly outplayed isn't fun. Battlefield is also a series that has been around for so long that it's full of dedicated players that dominate.

I bought BF6 during the most recent sale because I've always wanted to try it and gave it a whirl. Regular multiplayer was insane. I was barely getting any kills and would die constantly on the objective. The only way for me to get any points was to play support and run around reviving people and throwing packs.

So I tried casual breakthrough. WOW. I wish EVERY SINGLE modern shooter had a mode like this. I can actually play and hold my own. I don't even care that XP is neutered. I can play the damn game. In fact, I can play the damn game so much that I am probably getting equal XP to normal multiplayer... MAYBE even more.

I have played every single night and am having the time of my life. Easily the most fun I have had playing a multiplayer shooter in years.

That's it! I just wanted to gush about how happy casual breakthrough makes me and how I wish a mode like this was in other shooters. Sometimes dads just need to have some bots to enjoy a game. Nothing wrong with that.

Edit: OH, and while I’m at it, if you know of any other shooters that have a mode just like casual breakthrough, please let me know.

Hey, all. I figured I'd share my experience with my L4, L5 S-1 spinal fusion surgery.

Why I got the surgery: I injured my back in the Army after nearly ten years of service and medically retired because of it. This was over four years ago. Between then and now, I have seen countless neurologists, pain clinics, physical therapy, books, lifestyle changes, exercises, orthopedists, you name it. I am sure all of you know the struggle of trying to find what helps and having a physician ACTUALLY LISTEN to you (most don't).

Last year, I got fed up with being in my 30s, active from being able to do the few, but unable to live life. I couldn't lift my daughter, help with groceries, ride roller coasters, sit on most chairs, stand more than a few minutes, sit for more than a few minutes, lift weights, and run. Basically anything normal. I used to be an ultra marathoner before my injury. I went through a massive bout of depression when that came to a halt.

So, what did I do? I started aggressively advocating for myself. I would see a physician of some sort, give my history, and request updated imaging. I had not had imaging in four years, and I knew I was 100% worse. For some reason I will never understand, no physician wants to order an MRI. I was practically begging but they just won't do it. If they wouldn't do it, I would move on to the next one.

FINALLY I saw a neurosurgeon. I didn't even know I could go directly to one, but I did. I sat down and he wasted no time at all and got an X-Ray on the spot after hearing my history. The X-Ray showed enough that he ordered an MRI immediately and saw me as soon as the next week. We reviewed the MRI together (never had this before, either) and he said there is severe degeneration and he highly recommends a spinal fusion based on my age and goals. I accepted without hesitation. I wanted to cry. To have a physician actually listen to me and waste no time didn't feel real.

I am now three weeks post-op and doing great. An X-Ray showed that my hardware is exactly where and how it's supposed to be. I don't have actual pain anymore aside from general surgical discomfort. If I could describe the pain, it's soreness and the feeling of wanting to stretch REALLY bad. I have a seroma above one of my incisions which is very annoying when sitting or laying down, but it's getting smaller and my surgeon said it's normal to get one.

My incisions are healing wonderfully and I am able to wash them with soap/body wash now using my hands and gentle motions. Up until my follow up, I wasn't washing them directly. I still don't turn my back to the shower and let the water hit them. I don't think I will do that until they are nearly completely healed. On the topic of showers, I was advised not to shower for five days. I enjoyed sponge baths until then.

I go on a daily walk for a max of 30 minutes but the actual duration is how my back tells me how it feels. I had to cut it short yesterday at around 15 minutes just because it was getting uncomfortable. It happens. Aside from a daily walk, I make sure to sit no more than an hour at a time before getting up and walking around the house or doing a quick chore for 3-5 minutes.

I got a referral to physical therapy and will start that next week. I am looking forward to this as it's going to break my fear of not being able to stretch without messing everything up and the like.

It's not all sunshine and roses, though. The first week was brutal. I got mad at myself constantly for getting the surgery and wished I could go back in time. The pain and discomfort was unbearable and I hated the fact that I had to take my narcotics because my goal was not to (family history of habitual prescription drug use). Luckily I didn't need any more once I finished the bottle.

The first 24 hours were awful because I had an abhorrent reaction to anesthesia and am also diagnosed with vertigo. I couldn't eat or walk without vomiting. I take Meclizine for my vertigo but the anesthesia tore right through it. The hospital also released me too early, I think, because I was not able to urinate. I was sitting on the toilet with a bladder so full that I was in pain, but my body refused to let me urinate. I was incredibly distraught because I knew that it meant I would have to go back to the hospital to get a catheter. However, I ended up being able to urinate a small amount at a time once the anesthesia started wearing off nearing 48 hours. By the time the anesthesia was completely out of my system, I was urinating normally.

On that note, for poop (lol), I did not poop until I completely finished my narcotics. I tried everything, too. Everything you read about stool softeners and all the tips and tricks. Nothing worked. Those narcotics just straight up don't let you.

The night of the second post-op day was the worst, by far. I was in so much pain even with narcotics and tylenol that I rotated what felt like every 15 seconds between laying down and getting up to dry heave. I ended up crying myself to sleep in pain after my wife spooned me and forced me into a position on my side that provided enough relief.

I think I could write about my experience here forever but I will stop. I am happy to answer ANY questions you may have if you are about to or thinking of having a spinal fusion surgery, especially if it's the same spinal area.

I will say one thing: I profusely read Reddit threads about people's experiences post-op. A lot of people say that they were able to walk, go back to work, and other active things within the first 72 hours. Please know that this is absolutely not the case for everybody and I am proof. I followed my recovery instructions to a T, had an amazing support system, am young and active, and it did not matter in the least bit. I was completely shattered for a full week. I took a full six weeks off work and may even take more. I am still not able to drive per my surgeon until six weeks because I have some numbness from my lower back to my right leg. He said this is completely normal because all the nerves that were compressed and such are figuring out that they exist again, lol.

Do not let this scare you from getting the surgery. At three weeks now, the most important thing is evident: The brutal sharp, nerve pain that I had the surgery for in the first place is GONE. The new pain is surgical recovery. I know that the recovery for the next year will be very bumpy and am keeping my expectations realistic.