The Vent and Rant Thread

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

My (grown) nephew was playing an informal game of indoor soccer last night and fell badly on his knee. When he tried to lift his leg, the lower leg and foot just dangled at a very strange angle. They had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital and he's still there tonight, with an absolutely wrecked knee. Dislocated, fractured at the point where the lateral collateral ligament attaches, ruptured ACL -- and that's what they can see BEFORE the MRI (which they are doing right now.) I hate this. On the other hand, the surgeon said today that with such a severe injury, we should just be thankful that the artery wasn't ruptured and that the nerve seems to be intact. Hopefully the rest of it can be fixed, although it will probably take more than one surgery. And...he DID score as he went down.

*sigh* a ruptured MCL AND ACL simultaneously in a skiing accident is what started me down this road. healing luck and energies to him

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

Oh, that is just awful! Ow! I hope he heals quickly.

My congestion and scratchy throat stuck with me and got worse and I went to the Dr. and got antibiotics. *Sigh*

They are working, which is good, but I have to take them for TEN DAYS. My stomach is somewhat unhappy about this but not too bad. What I really hate about it is no alcohol. For ten days. I promise I am not an alcoholic, though that makes it sound like I am. I'm just Irish and French Creole.

I always ignore the "no alcohol" with anti-biotics, hasn't hurt me yet!

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

My (grown) nephew was playing an informal game of indoor soccer last night and fell badly on his knee. When he tried to lift his leg, the lower leg and foot just dangled at a very strange angle. They had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital and he's still there tonight, with an absolutely wrecked knee. Dislocated, fractured at the point where the lateral collateral ligament attaches, ruptured ACL -- and that's what they can see BEFORE the MRI (which they are doing right now.) I hate this. On the other hand, the surgeon said today that with such a severe injury, we should just be thankful that the artery wasn't ruptured and that the nerve seems to be intact. Hopefully the rest of it can be fixed, although it will probably take more than one surgery. And...he DID score as he went down.

owwwwwwww! poor baby.

healavibes ...Vv~WW~^vw~^^^vv~VW~ww^^~

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Healing energies to Betty's nephew, for a speedy recover.

I just got the 'good news' that my bike is back from Inspection and I don't have to pay $1,000! Only $798.00! Can you imagine how much money the government makes from this silly law? It's fortunate that I keep the bike in perfect running condition or I would have had to shell out lots more for repairs... I tend towards preventative repair or replacement during the year as any mechanical faults just reduce the safety factors. There are only two tires so they'd better be in good shape. And only three brakes so they'd better be working at 100% rather than 75%... Only safety concern now is the nut behind the wheel...

Stitchawl

yay! only $798

what? 'ow much? (in Birmingham accent)

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

I always ignore the "no alcohol" with anti-biotics, hasn't hurt me yet!

I think the alcohol hurts the anti-biotics, (makes them less effective) rather than hurting you...

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

yay! only $798
what? 'ow much? (in Birmingham accent)

Could have been worse... If I needed new front brakes and roters, that would have been another $900... Tires would be about $500. Exhaust system... we won't even go there.... I got off lucky... They could have told me that I needed to put fresh air in my tires.
(Stitchawl does not use 'air' in his tires. He uses Nitrogen instead.)


Stitchawl

[SneakySnake]

There goes your ability to use your tyres as an emergency air supply in case of running off the road into a lake!

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

There goes your ability to use your tyres as an emergency air supply in case of running off the road into a lake!

I'm a certified DiveMaster. We carry extra air in our lungs for just such emergencies.


Stitchawl

[wodin]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I think the alcohol hurts the anti-biotics, (makes them less effective) rather than hurting you...



Could have been worse... If I needed new front brakes and roters, that would have been another $900... Tires would be about $500. Exhaust system... we won't even go there.... I got off lucky... They could have told me that I needed to put fresh air in my tires.
(Stitchawl does not use 'air' in his tires. He uses Nitrogen instead.)


Stitchawl

Last time I was in Yokosuka, there were a lot of three or four year old cars running around on the Naval Base. It seems that the Japanese laws regarding inspections makes it not practical to repair a car after a certain point, so the Japanese people just replace them. This causes the price of used cars to be virtually nil, and they get recycled.

BUT!!! The US status of forces agreement with Japan exempts US servicemen from having to comply with the inspections, so they can and do scoop up those relatively new used cars for a song.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by wodin

Last time I was in Yokosuka, there were a lot of three or four year old cars running around on the Naval Base. It seems that the Japanese laws regarding inspections makes it not practical to repair a car after a certain point, so the Japanese people just replace them. This causes the price of used cars to be virtually nil, and they get recycled.

BUT!!! The US status of forces agreement with Japan exempts US servicemen from having to comply with the inspections, so they can and do scoop up those relatively new used cars for a song.

The cost of the National Inspection increases each year with the age of the car. As you say, after a certain point, it isn't financially practical to keep them. Plus, YOU have to pay to get the Junk Yard to take a car, not the other way around, so it's expensive to get rid of them too.

Japanese companies makes a lot of money shipping 5-8 year old cars and motorcycles to Third World countries. Every month or so, companies leave flyers on windshields and tucked into motorcycles offering to buy them. Just to see what was up, I called one and asked how much they would give me for my bike. Understand, at that time my bike (a BMW) would 'Blue Book' for about $5,000 and was in absolutely perfect condition. They offered me Sixty dollars...


Stitchawl

[kindlekitten]

it was that way in Germany, many young soldiers driving around in nice Mercedes', beemers and audis, of course it was financially injurious to try to bring them to american standards and try to ship them home, they had to meet the standards BEFORE they were shipped (primarily emissions and windows)

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

it was that way in Germany, many young soldiers driving around in nice Mercedes', beemers and audis, of course it was financially injurious to try to bring them to american standards and try to ship them home, they had to meet the standards BEFORE they were shipped (primarily emissions and windows)

That's probably why the Japanese companies ship them to Third World countries. No standards at all... They take a busted up bike or car, make it functional...barely, and ship it out.

You see a LOT of old Mercedes on the roads all over S.E. Asia BUT... they have old Toyota engines inside of them! The fit is exact without any modification and Benz engines can be sold separately for a LOT more money!


Stitchawl

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

My (grown) nephew was playing an informal game of indoor soccer last night and fell badly on his knee. When he tried to lift his leg, the lower leg and foot just dangled at a very strange angle. They had to call an ambulance to take him to the hospital and he's still there tonight, with an absolutely wrecked knee. Dislocated, fractured at the point where the lateral collateral ligament attaches, ruptured ACL -- and that's what they can see BEFORE the MRI (which they are doing right now.) I hate this. On the other hand, the surgeon said today that with such a severe injury, we should just be thankful that the artery wasn't ruptured and that the nerve seems to be intact. Hopefully the rest of it can be fixed, although it will probably take more than one surgery. And...he DID score as he went down.

Rant, continued:

The surgeon came in this morning and said that he's not in B.'s insurance network and he was unable to get approval to do the surgery. They had to transfer his case to another doctor who works out of another facility. They sent him home today and he'll follow up with the new doctor next week. It's not unusual to delay the ligament work until the swelling has subsided, but the fracture needs to be dealt with pretty soon. As it is right now, until the head of the fibula is wired back on, the ligament on the side is unattached -- the doctor said to picture it as a tent peg that has been pulled out of the ground.

We had hoped the initial surgery would have been today, but no, the insurance company gets to make that decision...

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I'm a certified DiveMaster. We carry extra air in our lungs for just such emergencies.


Stitchawl

Me too! Not the divemaster thing because I don' think my card says master, but the extra air in my lungs.

I usually have 145% lung capacity for someone my size, except for now <rant> because even though the infection appears to have gone, I am still coughing up my lungs till I get a headache, and I am ready for this diease to $%^& off! </rant>

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

Rant, continued:

The surgeon came in this morning and said that he's not in B.'s insurance network and he was unable to get approval to do the surgery. They had to transfer his case to another doctor who works out of another facility. They sent him home today and he'll follow up with the new doctor next week. It's not unusual to delay the ligament work until the swelling has subsided, but the fracture needs to be dealt with pretty soon. As it is right now, until the head of the fibula is wired back on, the ligament on the side is unattached -- the doctor said to picture it as a tent peg that has been pulled out of the ground.

We had hoped the initial surgery would have been today, but no, the insurance company gets to make that decision...

owww! Is it horribly expensive to just do it? Or are you not even allowed that option?

God Bless America's health system.

[bjones6416]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

owww! Is it horribly expensive to just do it? Or are you not even allowed that option?

God Bless America's health system.

Oh, yes. Horribly expensive.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

The surgeon came in this morning and said that he's not in B.'s insurance network and he was unable to get approval to do the surgery. They had to transfer his case to another doctor who works out of another facility.

I'd be furious too! I hate the insurance 'nets,' HMO's, etc., that tell you what you can and can't do regarding one's own health!

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

Me too! Not the divemaster thing because I don' think my card says master, but the extra air in my lungs.

If you've only taken one set of dive classes, it doesn't. The first certification is 'Open Water Diver.' You need to take five sets of courses, with certification in each to be certified as a DiveMaster. However, after the fourth level of certification, if you have five 'specialty' certifications such as 'Nitrox Diver,' Underwater Search and Recovery,' Underwater Naturalist, 'Wreck Diver,' etc, (there are 27 to choose from) you can be certified as a "Master Scuba Diver." Take the last course, which is roughly 14 days and nights, and you can be certified as a "DiveMaster."
1. Open Water Diver
2. Advanced Open Water Diver
3. Medic/First Aid
4. Rescue Diver
5. Dive Master
The first three are easy, and almost no work. The fourth is work, but a valuable skill to have. The fifth is really HARD work, and where you really learn about diving.

I usually have 145% lung capacity for someone my size, except for now <rant> because even though the infection appears to have gone, I am still coughing up my lungs till I get a headache, and I am ready for this diease to $%^& off! </rant>

I hope you heal up quickly. I too have larger than normal lung capacity. My doctor told me that it was probably because I've been a 'whistler' since I was a little child. I whistle when I'm walking, driving, even hunting the Internet. He said that all the 'back pressure' created by forcing air out from between pursed lips helped to create more lung space. I'm not sure I believe that entirely, but it's an interesting concept.

Stitchawl

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by bjones6416

Rant, continued:

The surgeon came in this morning and said that he's not in B.'s insurance network and he was unable to get approval to do the surgery. They had to transfer his case to another doctor who works out of another facility. They sent him home today and he'll follow up with the new doctor next week. It's not unusual to delay the ligament work until the swelling has subsided, but the fracture needs to be dealt with pretty soon. As it is right now, until the head of the fibula is wired back on, the ligament on the side is unattached -- the doctor said to picture it as a tent peg that has been pulled out of the ground.

We had hoped the initial surgery would have been today, but no, the insurance company gets to make that decision...

OMG! poor kid! I hope at least they are managing his pain! my sequence of events was; ambulance off the mountain to closest ER, x-rays, nothing broken, obvious soft tissue damage, lots of pain pills, sent home (this was a Saturday night) stayed on couch in my library until Monday morning, called a surgeon that had done a surgery on my arm the previous year, he got me in that day, "yep soft tissue damage" more pain meds, schedule an MRI 2 days later, back to surgeon next Monday "tore the MCL and ACL" scheduled the surgery for that Wednesday, non-weight bearing for the next 2 months. my life has never been the same (not in a good way). additionally, I have a "good news/bad news"... I have incredibly dense bones... they don't break... I've had some horrendous soft tissue (life altering) injuries