Electricution should be illegal

When I was sick a few months back (yes when I got my spinal tap) I had some weird symptoms which the ER doc had no explanation for. Debbie and Jody bugged me again and again about going to see a neurologist to see if they could figure out what was wrong and if there were deeper issues then a high fever. Uncharacteristically I gave in and made an appointment.

I talked to the doctor, told him my story and symptoms, and he examined me. Without him giving any explanation of theories or thought and without talking much he had me close my eyes and walk in a line, touch my nose with alternating hands... that kind of thing.

When he was done he cracked a toothpick in half and jabbed my hand in places with the sharp edge. Now my normal inclination after the first poke or two would have been to sock the guy I was interested in how this could possibly have anything to do with why I was there. After a few painful minutes it was over. and he finally talked to me.

He told me that he had no idea why I had these symptoms but they could easily be related to the high fever I had....He also told me that I likely had carpel tunnel in my hands. Now at least the annoying hand poking was explained. He wanted me to schedule a date for carpel tunnel testing. When I asked if carpel tunnel would explain any of my symptoms in the hospital he asked if I had numbness or pain at the time... *SIGH*

So I politely made the next appointment with full intentions to cancel it later.

I went home and share my story with my wife and my step mother, what a waste of time it was. I wanted to burst out with my annoyance for the medical field and my irritation that I had listened and gone, but I didn't. They were only trying to help me after all. It was this logic that caused me much pain later.

At the end of my story my wife and stepmother suggested I keep the appointment. "What could it hurt?". Why did I listen?

So I returned for the testing. Upon arrival I was told it would be Electrodiagnostic testing. Now I knew what electro-stimulation was, those little pads they put on your back, it feels good. Well that is not Electrodiagnostic testing.

The testing lady had me lay down next to a monitor, took out what looked like a large Y looking device with two bulbs at the ends about 3 inches apart and placed it on my arm near my funny bone. When I asked what she was about to do she replied simply, "stimulate the nerves." Next thing I knew I was receiving a terrible Electroshock.

Now I have a very high pain tollerance, but this was different pain. It felt like my muscle was forced to react (like a knee jerk), accompanied by pain in every muscle fiber shooting up and down my arm, and the area where the shock hit was later bruised. I immediately though of my wife and wicked step mother and what I would say to them when this was over.

This went on for almost 20 minutes in both arms. Just when I was about to quit and walk out the testing lady said we were done with that part. I breathed a sigh of relief; she smiled a knowing smile... then took out a needle with wires connected to it and jabbed it into my arm, sending electric shocks up my arm and neck. Then while the needle is still in she wiggles it around in a circle...

Needless to say I'm never ever listening to those two again when they say "go to the doctor, it can't hurt."

Oh yea, the end result of the testing.... I have minor carpel tunnel, but it is not bad enough to do anything about it yet. Man, I love doctors...

Funny thing... Weeks after the testing I noticed that I'm getting a lot of nerve pain. Maybe this electroshock caused it!

You have a Job...Sike

My company was sued out of existence, through no fault of my own or my team, and I was left without a job. We were given 3 months before it would all end.

My team and I came together and negotiated a deal to join a European company and continue to do the superior job we were doing before.

We had the full 3 months until we would join the new company. In the mean time the economy got really bad, housing market collapses, credit crisis occurred, the stock market plummeted, the bail out plan was rejected the first time, the presidential candidates blamed everyone else, and everything looked bleak. But at least I had a job to look forward to.... Well, not so much...

Just 2 weeks before we would join the new company didn't like the numbers anymore and decided to drop us. Now I have no time to get a job before my time runs out and the economy is in horrible shape. But at least I don't need another spinal tap.

Spinal Taps Suck!

I was very sick a few months ago and they had no idea what was wrong with me (boy I love the medical community). My symptoms included a very high fever (104.5+), neck pain, and a lot of other weird stuff (dizziness, weakness on one side, inability to focus/think).

My wife took me to an urgent care and they sent me to the hospital. They were worried about meningitis. So of course once we got there the ER Doc did some work and wanted to do a spinal tap to check for meningitis.

Now if you every have the choice between a spinal tap or sitting on a flaming cactus, look into that second and less painful option. These things suck.

For those of you who don't know, a spinal tap (also know as Lumbar puncture) is where they make you sit up in the fetal position, expanding the space between vertebrae, and then they slowly stick a huge and long needle in your lower spine!

After the needle has penetrated your back muscles, with a powerful snap, it has reached your spinal fluid. Then they open up the back of the needle and allow spinal fluid to slowly drip out and they collect the stuff for testing. See more here: Wikipedia

Of course I didn't have meningitis, nor anything else they could test for with blood work or a head CT. Now my symptoms included major headaches (from spinal fluid loss), muscle bruising (from the spinal tap), and lots of other pain.

They eventually sent me home and I suffered for a few days until I got better. That is of course until I saw the hospital bill of > $10k.

Service Math: Good work + Bad Service = Unhappy Customer

So, it has been a while since I blogged here on my complaint board. My absence is not due to life being all roses though, no no no. The list of things that have driven me out of my mind this last year include: Wake County School Head Start Program, Potty Training, Car parts going bad just after warranty expires (batteries, starters, etc), a trip from hell to PA (cold weather, puking Aiden, cleaning puke off a car seat in the bitter cold, though the family was awesome as usual), Work issues, my projector dying (that sucked), and now... The grand prize goes to....

The Play set Contractors

Yes! What a special team of individuals they are. They do excellent work, stick to the design well, and offer creative solutions when problems arise. But that is not the best part. They are also slow, don't call to say when they will show up, don't call when they don't show up, bring their kids to my house where they broke my wind chimes and tried to play with my dogs (blood shot out of my ears on that one), and miss deadlines that they keep updating; all the while offering excuses such as phones died, bad traffic, babysitter issues, crew members not showing up, working long hours, other personal commitments, and even the weather. Well weather I get as they work outside, but there was one day of rain. True, one day was Memorial day, but two did show up, the other three didn't. This project which was quoted to take one to two days, has taken a week and is still not done. Of course my wife is all over them and even I'm past my tolerances. I know that contractors around here are not the most "professional" at least not what I'd consider professional coming from NY, but this is by far the worst contracting experience I've had.

My Silver lining, I ran the numbers; they are loosing money on this deal.