u/SandiRHo

Hello,

I have known how to swim since childhood, but I’m new to lap swimming as an adult. I’m finding that the only parts of me that is ‘tired’ are my lungs. Even when I try to swim faster and longer to work myself more, I don’t get arm or leg fatigue. Am I just at a stage where I don’t have enough stamina to work those parts super hard? I’d like to get stronger in my arms and back during my swims along with the cardio benefits.

Thank you all for your wisdom!

Hello all,

On externship, are you allowed to actually ‘do’ anything? Like suctioning, feeding, etc. I was told by my externship SLP that I’ll do nothing except watch things. I was hoping I could learn the skills. My sister is an OT and in her externship, she was allowed to learn and expected to work directly with patients towards the end of it.

Is it really true that you do nothing but watch during externship for months?

Hello all,

I’m 31F and it’s just like the title says. I can’t play hockey anymore due to injury, but want to try figure skating. I have only basic skating skills, I’m a new Adult Level 5 (USA). I want to eventually learn basic jumps and turns.

I got measured for skates and I was told to get Ellas in size 8. The person who sized me debated between Ellas and Evos. I know of some used Evos that are size 8.5. I know we shouldn’t buy obviously wrong sizes, but it’s just a half size difference so I’m unsure. If I turn out to really love figure skating, I’m willing to spend the money on new Ellas.

Thoughts?

(Edited to add the level closest to what I can do)

Hello all,

I do my externship at the end of next year. I requested a medical opportunity at a hospital. I understand those are competitive. I am doing everything I can to make myself competitive and am willing to relocate for the best opportunity. My school is giving me a SNF in another state. I live in a highly populated area with over 80 SNF facilities but only a few hospitals. I understand schools have contracts with places and you don’t always get what you want. Totally get all that.

My sister in her grad school asked for a placement at a place and the school worked hard to find one to match her. I don’t know what to do. I would rather stay local and not pay double rent for an opportunity that I could get locally.

Additionally, the SNF they want to send me to has horrific reviews about elderly abuse, dirty infestations, and poor treatment quality. I don’t want to be at a place like that.

Is there anything I can do?

Thank you

Hello all,

I’ve posted here a couple times about my procedure back at the end of April. On August 1, I was cleared to stop wearing a back brace and start PT. I had my first appointment with PT today and he was very impressed by my recovery so far. He said I’m much farther along than most. When he saw me do a squat his eyebrows went up and he went “Wow okay guess I’ll figure out something for you to do” and we had a laugh. My real goals of PT are three major concepts: do motions I haven’t done in three months so I can build in the gym, re-strengthen my core, and re-establish my hamstring flexibility.

I can go back to all gym exercise except for anything that involves twisting or puts weird stress on the lumbar spine like lying hamstring curls and back extensions. Stuff like RDLs are off the table for now but I can practice the motion. In terms of weight, I can do the weight I did before cut in half and then build from there. I obviously can’t do anything that hurts me or makes me uncomfortable. I can swim causally and start doing freestyle swimming in a couple weeks.

For PT exercises I have to work on core strength and hamstring flexibility since I lost all of those things after surgery recovery for 3 months. I had built up core strength and other strength before surgery, but 3 months of only walking in a back brace means no strength and no flexibility. When I told him all the strengthening and flexibility work I did before my surgery he told me that it’s why I will be successful.

Despite being approved for 12 sessions of PT, I only need 4-6 due to my success. I’m sharing this so that people know it’s possible to be successful. I feel amazing. The only truly bad day was my post-op wake-up when the block wore off too fast. After that, I worked with an amazing team at the hospital who took my pain seriously and motivated me every day. Unironically, the hardest part of hospital recovery was getting myself to poop lol

I hope everyone is continuing to heal and grow!

Hello, all!

I am only lightly in the metal scene and I am the partner of a guy who just tonight expressed interest in making a battle jacket. I’m super crafty, so I will help.

He was inspired to play bass by Cliff Burton (RIP). So, I want to surprise him with a Cliff patch since Cliff was so inspirational to him. I really want something either iconic or unique if possible, not just generic.

Does anyone know any resources?

Thank you!

Hello all,

I am a current grad student who is learning about dialects. In a lecture video, a professor says that using your own dialect can influence a child away from their own dialect and make them think yours is ‘correct’. I can understand this concept. My issue is: what is the solution? It would make me feel mocking to imitate their dialect if it’s different than mine, but I wouldn’t want them to think something is wrong with theirs. The professor is less than helpful in general with this class. What do real SLPs do with this? I didn’t post on the grad school because it’s more a question for what is done out in the field.

Hello all,

As the title says, I’m a current new grad student and I want to do medical SLP in a hospital or outpatient clinical setting. Specifically scoping. I am wondering if anyone has any tips for finding a CF like that and also if there’s any job/volunteer experience I could try and look for. I have a ton of experience with kids, but I don’t want to work in schools, homes, or speech clinics. I really want to work with adults, but I’d open to pediatric in a hospital setting.

I’m in San Diego, CA.

Thank you all!

Hello all, I had my L5-S1 fusion 4 weeks ago. I had intense symptoms that sometimes left me bedridden and I had pain every day. Since surgery, I have been doing fantastic. I walked stairs a couple days after the operation and have been off painkillers entirely for 3/4 of my recovery. If it was up to me, I’d be going on hikes and all sorts of shit because I feel great. I can kneel, squat, and do many motions easily. I go on regular 30+ minute treadmill walks. Truthfully I’m bored of them now and wish to walk on a nature trail or just do other exercise.

That out of the way, let me share a large part of my success: working out a lot before surgery.

I knew that the stronger I was, the easier recovery would be. I worked on practical movements that I’d need to be good at during recovery and beyond. Yes, doing this stuff is unpleasant and it did hurt me. But, it made me strong.

Obligatory messaging:

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. FOLLOW THE RULES SET IN PLACE BY YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER! I AM NOT YOUR MEDICAL PROVIDER! IF THIS STUFF DOESN’T SOUND GOOD TO YOU, DON’T DO IT!

Here’s some stuff I did a couple times a week:

-squats focusing on upright spine (doing wall sits also helps with the posture)
-deadlifts with a backpack filled with progressively more weight
-hip abduction for strong glutes
-lunges with a backpack on
-going from kneeling to standing and back down again
-Bulgarian split squats (yes these are the devil)
-log rolling back and forth with a plate clutched to my chest
-holding a plate above my core while doing hollow holds on the floor
-cat+cow+puppy
-bird dogs
-push ups

For some cardio strength you can walk or swim for ease on your joints. Stationary bike can be good, but I found it painful on my sacrum.

I focused A LOT on legs, butt, and core. Getting strong at these movements makes recovery movement easier. You can do all the exercises with no weight if you want. You can also get a waist trainer online for cheap to imitate a back brace if you want to try stuff with that on. A strong core is the most important one out of all because your core assists your spine.

Anyways, I understand everyone has different pre-surgery bodies and different types of surgeries and all sorts of stuff. But, if you sense you’re in a similar boat to where I was, maybe give what I am saying a go.

It’s better to be strong and in pain, than weak and in pain. Happy recovery to all and to all some cool scars!