Okay, I have to share this because…well, not sure, but it amazed me. I’m weird with medical knowledge stuff. Technical term there. 😂 So here goes. When they do an ACDF, which is essentially an approach to your cervical discs from the front of your neck, the surgeon has an assistant, in my case an ARNP, hold your esophagus with a retractor while he works. Explains why I still sound like Bonnie Tyler. 😆 And why my throat is still uncomfortable. I’m glad I didn’t watch an actual procedure before my own. I’ve been in the OR during an open heart surgery, but I wasn’t planning on having one afterwards!