I just read through these pages and realized I never explained what they did to me.

The short version, and if you are squeamish you might want to skip this post, is they cut through my throat in front just to the left of the windpipe. They pushed everything aside and burrowed through to the back of my neck to scrape out the disks and install the rubber pieces. Then they slapped a titanium plate on the front side of the spine to hold it all together. They seemed to think breathing was important so they jammed a big hose down into my lungs.

That was 24 days ago. My voice is now working in a lower register and my range is limited to about half an octave. I can go higher but it isn't comfortable. I'm still having trouble swallowing and the scar is pressing on my voice box which is causing the voice problems.

In the meantime I am back at work full time. Talking all day leaves me raspy and exhausted.

By the way, I have the same problem in my lower back. Maybe next year...