Posts by Jeffrey Sullivan11

It feels like the rules for medical safety are being rewritten right in front of us. If a committee is just approving stuff specifically for the person who picked them, what does that mean for everyone else? Do you think this is just a one-off or a sign of how things are headed?

silvercanyon10 said:Hey everyone! Does anyone have some solid advice on where to go or how to handle wedding planning in Pasadena? I'm looking for recommendations on everything—photographers, florists, cakes, even invitations. Any tips would be amazing!

Got a photographer if you want his number, just holler. For flowers, I always hit up my local shop in the suburbs, and for cake—seriously, there's this bakery on the main strip that's killer. You can pretty much customize everything, and they'll even deliver it all set up at the venue. Their sweets are amazing.

Any tips on where to go for hair and makeup in a small town, USA? Haven't lived around here in forever, so I'm totally out of the loop

My mom's hemoglobin is at 63, and her iron is only 1.1.
Does anyone know how dangerous this actually is? And could it be linked to hair loss?

Anonymous said:Hey Jeffrey Sullivan11, just checking in... So, here’s my situation: I had my first surgery back in 1998, and then a second one in 2004. Both times, I was treated at Saratoga Springs. Honestly, I don't quite get how you qualify for disability; because of my spine issues, I’m on early retirement from my career, but I don't actually have an official disability rating, even though two of my discs are gone. Apparently, they won't grant disability status based solely on spinal issues. The only thing that counts is when I had my uterus and ovaries removed in 2007—that gives me a 60% impairment rating—but even then, I don't receive anything for it. They tell me I don't have any special rights, no medical cards, and not even a single extra cent added to my pension (which is currently $327). I'm basically stuck with nothing. If you happen to know anything that could help, please let me know—I would be so incredibly grateful. Best regards.

Look, you don't get a disability percentage just for the surgery itself, but if you have nerve damage in your legs—like foot drop or something—that counts. I had paralysis in my right leg, which I still deal with, plus a brain lesion, so I managed to get some benefits from those. If you really do have that 60% rating, take those papers down to the nearest local disability association. Once you get a membership card, they can file a request so you can get half off your phone bill and stuff. As for the actual cash benefit for physical impairment, you can't claim it yourself, but whoever takes care of you—like a spouse or kids—can. That usually comes out to about $200 depending on the percentage. Some things take forever because they try to stall, but seriously, DON'T GIVE UP. Let me know if any of this is confusing, hope I covered it all.

Anyone know where Smith's private clinic is? Need an ortho from the new hospital but the wait times are brutal.

Oh, also totally forgot to mention—if enough people are down to team up, I’d love to start a disability advocacy group in Washington, D.C.

So, I’m one of those people. Been living with a disability since my first spinal surgery at 15. I'm 19 now, just waiting on a call from the hospital to schedule my third one. There are tons of us out there, but honestly, you don't hear much about our lives here in the States. That's why I figured I'd start this thread. Feel free to share your stories or whatever you're going through. If you ever need advice, hit me up—I'm active in three different disability advocacy groups, so I spend a lot of time at seminars and meetings and know my rights pretty well. Just ask if you need anything. Also, please jump in and share your highs and lows, how you're holding up, or how your family is coping. Not sure if I covered everything, but the main thing is just to join the conversation. Thanks, everyone.

Anonymous said:Hi Jeffrey Sullivan11. I don't have the exact same situation, but I'm in the same boat as you—I've had two surgeries myself. So far, I'm managing, though the pain can be pretty intense sometimes, but I just push through it. If you're from a small town, then we might actually be neighbors; I'm from a different part of the country. We might have even seen the same doctor! I can't offer much advice, but I just wanted to reach out and say hello. Wishing you all the best.

My first surgery was with Smith, but for the second one, I headed to Washington, D.C. to go to the Mayo Clinic. Honestly, I had such a bad experience at the local hospital that I wouldn't even send a mouse there. When did you have your surgery? And did you ever try visiting Saratoga Springs?

guys help!!!!!!!! please help me! i'm freaking out

Hey guys, I’ve already gone under the knife twice, and now they’re saying it's time for round three. They want to do a disc fusion-insertion and screw everything in place, and honestly, I'm pretty terrified. Anyone here dealt with this before?

Scott Allen10 said:It really depends on where you go and how long the wait times are, so honestly, it's best to just check for yourself... Just one little tip though—don't even think about surgery without getting a General Electric scan first. Any smart neurosurgeon isn't going to touch an operation without those results, even if they have ten MRIs sitting right there on the desk.

Thanks for the heads up. I've been through two surgeries already, so I know the drill. They always run the General Electric tests before they even look at an MRI.

Had two spine surgeries already and now I'm dealing with issues again. They're sending me for an EMG, but the waitlist is a nightmare. Does anyone know where I might get seen sooner, or maybe how much it costs at a private clinic like Mayo Clinic?