The Vent and Rant Thread - Page 2385

CRussel · 02-06-2023, 10:28 AM

No, really Hitch. Don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel!

Hitch · 02-06-2023, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

No, really Hitch. Don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel!

You guys should be glad that I don't tell you how I REALLY feel. It's Day, what, 24, and I'm still dealing with this? NO THANKS. There's some sign of subsidence, but not a crap load and it's just...man. I cannot imagine and hope I never learn what these folks with recurrences and these folks that never get rid of the pain, the PHN folks, experience. (That means something like Post-herpetic neuralgia pain. It means that the rash and other stuff goes away, but the nerve pain does not.) I confess I am waiting rather...tensely, for the pain to go on the nerves, for that reason.

Hitch

isarl · 02-06-2023, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

This has been insane and I'm now well into week 3 without a crap--ton of relief. Nope, nope thank you.

Hitch

That's so awful; sending extra well wishes today! Hope you beat this soon!! <3

Hitch · 02-07-2023, 06:26 AM

So, folks...Day 25. (sigh)

It turns out that the doctor that has been caring/prescribing for the dreaded Rash from Hell, has to abruptly leave town for a week. Oh, frabjous day, but of course, she's just GOTTA see me, have an app't with me, before she goes--me and 200 other patients.

Now, we've had a series (kinda) of TeleMeds--one the day before the ER visit, (night of the 16th, witching hour of the 17th) when I thought I simply (ha ha ha) had a BAD muscle spasm in my back, no visible rash yet; (that one was not at my request--it's because they did not have adequate staffing in the office); then one the morning (following day) when I was discharged from the ER, because the ER doc said that she (my regular doc for spinal arthritis) had to write the pain meds. She wanted to try something and said, we'd have another appointment, that Friday, 3 days later and again, we'd discuss by phone. Of those 3, really, none were my request or doing; they were all hers.

Now, her practice doesn't smile down like beneficent gods on TeleMed; they want to see you in the flesh and all that. Okay, normally, FINE.

But right now, still, my ribcage appears (seems/feels) to be in the Vise of Carcinus (Karkinos), on the left side (the Shingles side). It feels like...did you ever run, as a kid and get that "stitch in the side" thing? It feels like that, 24/7, and if I touch it, move, fabric slides across it, etc. yup, speaking of Gods, I get Mjolnir, replete with Daddy's (Zeus') lightning bolts.

Or, hell, the lightsaber of a Jedi, take your pick. I still can't drive, fuhgeddaboudit (crap, can't get in the damned car!) and oh, yeah, did I mention that her office is, quite literally, not one furlong of hyperbole, 75 miles away from us, each way? It's a 150-mile round trip?

Add to that that I am apparently very susceptible to prednisone, which I'm taking to reduce the swelling of yon favorite rash. My feet have swollen up to about 4x their normal size, but don't really come down, in swelling; there isn't a slipper, a flip-flop, a medical "shoe" or glove-y thing or anything into which I can put the cursed things. They look like rounded Hormel canned hams, and walking on them is agony. (Sorry for all the whingeing, but there's a reason for it in this rant...) I guess the swelling goes down in one place and pops up in another? (Oh and yeah, can't stop eating, either...)

So, they want me to show up, tomorrow morning. I'm...honestly, I'm deranged a bit. I can't walk readily, don't have shoes or foot coverings that will remotely allow me to walk not-barefooted on their floors; I'm using a cane, to help support the really bad foot (in the swelling, I mean); my ribcage is like a firethrower without an off switch; and oh, yeah, that means that Mr. H, Mr. Sunshine (snort) will need to tote my sorry ass 150 miles, in his truck, which is very nice, don't get me wrong. Still, bygod, it's a Ram 2500 Diesel truck, not a Caddy or Lincoln or Bentley or Beemer, etc. It's NOT SMOOTH.

He's getting more and more upset, about how he's supposed to schlep his wracked-up old beat-up wife around. I finally called them and left them a message, send them a fax, left another message, and finally, got through to them and said "HELL NO, you gotta do a telemed."

Which they didn't want to do, as I'd "had" 3 TeleMeds. HAD 'EM? What the bloody hell were my choices? Die??? Writhe in pain and go back to the ER? Or...

“(@･｡･@)/ ???

They finally relented, and yes, now, huzzah, I have a Telemed in the morning, but, what, they don't have anyone THERE that has ever had Shingles, either? Sh*********t, that's vexing. No other patient, or practitioner, nurse, etc.?

How's that possible when most of what they do is pain management for folks like me, with arthritis in the spine and all that? I do not doubt that most severe/acute Shingles are managed by Pain Mgmt folks/docs, not regular GP's. No GP I know would have written the horse-level opiates I've been stuck on here.

So why the hell all the kerfuffle and all that, over something this bloody obviously simple? For the...I sent them images of the Rash. I sent them images of the rash now. I sent them images of the Hormels (canned ham feet, mind you). With date and timestamps and objects next to them for perspective. What the hell else do they need? Who thinks that making someone in that shape, travel 150 miles, sounds like a plan? Or five bloody miles, for that matter? I do realize, don't get me wrong, they are having major staffing issues (like everybody else); they've had this come up before, and it's causing chaos in their office, but honestly...this keeps happening with them, in different ways/levels. Although I LOVE that Doc, I'm starting to think, it's just not worth it.

I also realize that I may not be my normal, cheery, sanguine, upbeat, optimistic self. (stop laughing, Charlie, I can hear you from here.) And yes, I am probably a bit crankier about this than I would normally be, but given everything I've been through with them overall; everything in the last 21 days; and all that, this just seems...I don't have good words for it. Or even nasty ones. Just...head-shakers.

GRRR...this is a two-emoji post, sorry:

ლಠ益ಠ)ლ

(Sorry, I SWEAR, I will try to stop monopolizing this damned thread soon and if this did NOT get your ass moving on the vax, don't make me die and haunt you.)

Hitch

CRussel · 02-07-2023, 09:31 AM

I wouldn't dream of laughing, Hitch.

. You've always been (now what was it? Oh, yeah, "cheery, sanguine, upbeat, optimistic". ) Yup, that's you. And I've never been snarky or sarcastic.

Seriously, Hitch, I hope it gets better. If only so we can all commiserate on your latest customer from hell. (You do seem to find them!)

Hitch · 02-07-2023, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I wouldn't dream of laughing, Hitch. :P. You've always been (now what was it? Oh, yeah, "cheery, sanguine, upbeat, optimistic". ) Yup, that's you. And I've never been snarky or sarcastic.

Seriously, Hitch, I hope it gets better. If only so we can all commiserate on your latest customer from hell. (You do seem to find them!)

Oh, I'm sure that it really is getting better, Charlie, but DAGNABIT, it seems to be the uber-Tardis--it slows down time so that 3 weeks or whatever feels like 3 months. Sorry, I'm going away now, to not continue to suck up this thread. I hate that.

/Grump.

Hitch

badgoodDeb · 02-07-2023, 04:50 PM

Hitch: that’s what this thread is FOR. Heck, we haven’t had this good a Vent and Rant in a long while. Anybody annoyed can skip over your posts. The rest of us are empathizing with you, though not actually wishing we could take the pain for you (thank heavens we can’t).

Maybe fax the doctor’s office a few of your eloquent rants about the pain? Then they’ll have dealt with someone who has shingles, by gum!

Hoping it heals as quickly as possible, and that the doctors cut you some slack!!
bgDeb

ownedbycats · 02-07-2023, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Some idiot tried to steal copper wire from a power substation and it ended up knocking out power to a good part of northern Nova Scotia.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4691mls

Good grief.
I hope they managed to shock themselves in the process.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

I really wish the dumb-butts who keep stealing copper wire from the substations and knocking out the power would stop.

Another copper thief caused an outage. This one managed to get himself electrocuted. Shocking!

isarl · 02-07-2023, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Another copper thief caused an outage. This one managed to get himself electrocuted. Shocking!

Darwin award nominee?

Hitch · 02-07-2023, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Hitch: that’s what this thread is FOR. Heck, we haven’t had this good a Vent and Rant in a long while. Anybody annoyed can skip over your posts. The rest of us are empathizing with you, though not actually wishing we could take the pain for you (thank heavens we can’t).

Maybe fax the doctor’s office a few of your eloquent rants about the pain? Then they’ll have dealt with someone who has shingles, by gum!

Hoping it heals as quickly as possible, and that the doctors cut you some slack!!
bgDeb

Omg, the doc's office. I spoke to her today. Didn't see the three (3) faxes I sent them, Didn't see the email. Didn't see the images. Didn't see my canned-ham footsies. Why the hell did I bother?

Good news is, at least they have some ideas for treatments if the Lava Motion of the Ocean doesn't stop very damn soon. Some sort of Lidocaine injections. Of course, that assumes I can walk on my own feet and GET there. And don't get me started (warning: gross) about how terrified I am of showering right now; I'm afraid of the water needles hitting my skin! That's how sensitive the crap is...even a soft water needle from a shower head is like...agonizing.

Oish. I can't say "worst crud/disease/condition ever," because it's not flipping cancer. It's not killing you. You won't DIE from it (although wishing you would is at the top of the list). But Jesus, what a pita.

Thanks, BadGood. I mean it.

Hitch

badgoodDeb · 02-07-2023, 11:41 PM

Hitch: while pondering how to get TO them, will a lidocaine lotion do anything? Just cuz they mentioned lidocaine. It’s not the most powerful thing out there, but maybe different stuff works better on it than others.

Not that you have lidocaine in your closet (I do) AND if you do, I bet you’ve already tried it.

Ask them, or your primary if their nicer, how soon you can get the shots …
Well wishes, cuz they hurt less than hugs!

badgoodDeb · 02-07-2023, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Another copper thief caused an outage. This one managed to get himself electrocuted. Shocking!

Quote:

Originally Posted by isarl

Darwin award nominee?

And didn’t I just hear that Baltimore, MD arrested some bodies for plotting to take down their electrical grid? Not for anything as profitable as stealing the copper, just for the ***ts and grins of it. Sheesh.

CRussel · 02-08-2023, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Another copper thief caused an outage. This one managed to get himself electrocuted. Shocking!

Quote:

Originally Posted by isarl

Darwin award nominee?

Definitely Darwin award material.

CRussel · 02-08-2023, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Hitch: that’s what this thread is FOR. Heck, we haven’t had this good a Vent and Rant in a long while. Anybody annoyed can skip over your posts. The rest of us are empathizing with you, though not actually wishing we could take the pain for you (thank heavens we can’t).

Maybe fax the doctor’s office a few of your eloquent rants about the pain? Then they’ll have dealt with someone who has shingles, by gum!

Hoping it heals as quickly as possible, and that the doctors cut you some slack!!
bgDeb

Agree. Best V&R we've had in months. We're here for you, Hitch. And anyone else with a vent or rant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hitch

Omg, the doc's office. I spoke to her today. Didn't see the three (3) faxes I sent them, Didn't see the email. Didn't see the images. Didn't see my canned-ham footsies. Why the hell did I bother?

Good news is, at least they have some ideas for treatments if the Lava Motion of the Ocean doesn't stop very damn soon. Some sort of Lidocaine injections. Of course, that assumes I can walk on my own feet and GET there. And don't get me started (warning: gross) about how terrified I am of showering right now; I'm afraid of the water needles hitting my skin! That's how sensitive the crap is...even a soft water needle from a shower head is like...agonizing.

Oish. I can't say "worst crud/disease/condition ever," because it's not flipping cancer. It's not killing you. You won't DIE from it (although wishing you would is at the top of the list). But Jesus, what a pita.

Thanks, BadGood. I mean it.

Hitch

I don't know how to make them read their bloody email, but maybe it will take Mr. Hitch driving to their office and putting the things in their [expletive deleted] hands. And making them sign that they've actually received it. (And no, I'm NOT actually kidding. I'm dead serious.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgoodDeb

Hitch: while pondering how to get TO them, will a lidocaine lotion do anything? Just cuz they mentioned lidocaine. It’s not the most powerful thing out there, but maybe different stuff works better on it than others.

Not that you have lidocaine in your closet (I do) AND if you do, I bet you’ve already tried it.

Ask them, or your primary if their nicer, how soon you can get the shots …
Well wishes, cuz they hurt less than hugs!

I've been experimenting with a thc/cbd topical lotion as a possible replacement for the 10% Diclofenac gel that I have been using for several years. Anecdotally, it appears to work as well as the diclofenac, and given that cannabis works on different receptors and is better at nerve pain management, it might be an option. Certainly worth a try. And you'll go around smelling like something out of your spice cabinet -- or at least the one I've been using has all kinds of herbal ingredients. Not sure if you can follow this link, but if not, here's the details:

Spoiler:

Rumpelteazer · 02-08-2023, 02:21 AM

I usually set my alarm at 7am. For as long as I can remember one of the restaurants sharing a wall with my bedroom gets noisy just after 7am. It sounds like they are moving furniture around. I have always assumed it's the cleaners cleaning the floors.

However, it seems that since I've been on vacation their schedule has changed. Both yesterday and this morning I startled awake just after 6am. It's not because the noises are loud. But it seems my body assumes that when there's that sound it's past 7am my alarm hasn't gone off and I'm waking up late.

I do not appreciate waking up an hour too early. I'm too awake to go back to sleep again. Tonight I'll put in my earplugs and hopefully that'll block the scraping sound enough for me not to wake up at 6am again.

02-07-2023, 06:26 AM	#35764
Hitch Bookmaker & Cat Slave Posts: 11,503 Karma: 158448243 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Phoenix, AZ Device: K2, iPad, KFire, PPW, Voyage, NookColor. 2 Droid, Oasis, Boox Note2	Life In the Rash Lane, Day 25 (The Shingles Saga),gonna make me lose my mind... So, folks...Day 25. (sigh) It turns out that the doctor that has been caring/prescribing for the dreaded Rash from Hell, has to abruptly leave town for a week. Oh, frabjous day, but of course, she's just GOTTA see me, have an app't with me, before she goes--me and 200 other patients. Now, we've had a series (kinda) of TeleMeds--one the day before the ER visit, (night of the 16th, witching hour of the 17th) when I thought I simply (ha ha ha) had a BAD muscle spasm in my back, no visible rash yet; (that one was not at my request--it's because they did not have adequate staffing in the office); then one the morning (following day) when I was discharged from the ER, because the ER doc said that she (my regular doc for spinal arthritis) had to write the pain meds. She wanted to try something and said, we'd have another appointment, that Friday, 3 days later and again, we'd discuss by phone. Of those 3, really, none were my request or doing; they were all hers. Now, her practice doesn't smile down like beneficent gods on TeleMed; they want to see you in the flesh and all that. Okay, normally, FINE. But right now, still, my ribcage appears (seems/feels) to be in the Vise of Carcinus (Karkinos), on the left side (the Shingles side). It feels like...did you ever run, as a kid and get that "stitch in the side" thing? It feels like that, 24/7, and if I touch it, move, fabric slides across it, etc. yup, speaking of Gods, I get Mjolnir, replete with Daddy's (Zeus') lightning bolts. Or, hell, the lightsaber of a Jedi, take your pick. I still can't drive, fuhgeddaboudit (crap, can't get in the damned car!) and oh, yeah, did I mention that her office is, quite literally, not one furlong of hyperbole, 75 miles away from us, each way? It's a 150-mile round trip? Add to that that I am apparently very susceptible to prednisone, which I'm taking to reduce the swelling of yon favorite rash. My feet have swollen up to about 4x their normal size, but don't really come down, in swelling; there isn't a slipper, a flip-flop, a medical "shoe" or glove-y thing or anything into which I can put the cursed things. They look like rounded Hormel canned hams, and walking on them is agony. (Sorry for all the whingeing, but there's a reason for it in this rant...) I guess the swelling goes down in one place and pops up in another? (Oh and yeah, can't stop eating, either...) So, they want me to show up, tomorrow morning. I'm...honestly, I'm deranged a bit. I can't walk readily, don't have shoes or foot coverings that will remotely allow me to walk not-barefooted on their floors; I'm using a cane, to help support the really bad foot (in the swelling, I mean); my ribcage is like a firethrower without an off switch; and oh, yeah, that means that Mr. H, Mr. Sunshine (snort) will need to tote my sorry ass 150 miles, in his truck, which is very nice, don't get me wrong. Still, bygod, it's a Ram 2500 Diesel truck, not a Caddy or Lincoln or Bentley or Beemer, etc. It's NOT SMOOTH. He's getting more and more upset, about how he's supposed to schlep his wracked-up old beat-up wife around. I finally called them and left them a message, send them a fax, left another message, and finally, got through to them and said "HELL NO, you gotta do a telemed." Which they didn't want to do, as I'd "had" 3 TeleMeds. HAD 'EM? What the bloody hell were my choices? Die??? Writhe in pain and go back to the ER? Or... “(@･｡･@)/ ??? They finally relented, and yes, now, huzzah, I have a Telemed in the morning, but, what, they don't have anyone THERE that has ever had Shingles, either? Sh********t, that's vexing. No other patient, or practitioner, nurse, etc.? How's that possible* when most of what they do is pain management for folks like me, with arthritis in the spine and all that? I do not doubt that most severe/acute Shingles are managed by Pain Mgmt folks/docs, not regular GP's. No GP I know would have written the horse-level opiates I've been stuck on here. So why the hell all the kerfuffle and all that, over something this bloody obviously simple? For the...I sent them images of the Rash. I sent them images of the rash now. I sent them images of the Hormels (canned ham feet, mind you). With date and timestamps and objects next to them for perspective. What the hell else do they need? Who thinks that making someone in that shape, travel 150 miles, sounds like a plan? Or five bloody miles, for that matter? I do realize, don't get me wrong, they are having major staffing issues (like everybody else); they've had this come up before, and it's causing chaos in their office, but honestly...this keeps happening with them, in different ways/levels. Although I LOVE that Doc, I'm starting to think, it's just not worth it. I also realize that I may not be my normal, cheery, sanguine, upbeat, optimistic self. (stop laughing, Charlie, I can hear you from here.) And yes, I am probably a bit crankier about this than I would normally be, but given everything I've been through with them overall; everything in the last 21 days; and all that, this just seems...I don't have good words for it. Or even nasty ones. Just...head-shakers. GRRR...this is a two-emoji post, sorry: ლಠ益ಠ)ლ (Sorry, I SWEAR, I will try to stop monopolizing this damned thread soon and if this did NOT get your ass moving on the vax, don't make me die and haunt you.) Hitch

02-07-2023, 09:31 AM	#35765
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,297 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	I wouldn't dream of laughing, Hitch. . You've always been (now what was it? Oh, yeah, "cheery, sanguine, upbeat, optimistic". ) Yup, that's you. And I've never been snarky or sarcastic. Seriously, Hitch, I hope it gets better. If only so we can all commiserate on your latest customer from hell. (You do seem to find them!) Last edited by CRussel; 02-07-2023 at 12:34 PM.

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02-06-2023, 10:28 AM	#35761
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,297 Karma: 80074820 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), iPad Air M3	No, really Hitch. Don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel!

02-07-2023, 04:50 PM	#35767
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,555 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Hitch: that’s what this thread is FOR. Heck, we haven’t had this good a Vent and Rant in a long while. Anybody annoyed can skip over your posts. The rest of us are empathizing with you, though not actually wishing we could take the pain for you (thank heavens we can’t). Maybe fax the doctor’s office a few of your eloquent rants about the pain? Then they’ll have dealt with someone who has shingles, by gum! Hoping it heals as quickly as possible, and that the doctors cut you some slack!! bgDeb

02-07-2023, 11:41 PM	#35771
badgoodDeb Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,555 Karma: 64462893 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harrisburg outskirts Device: Palms, K1-4s, iPads, iPhones, KV, KO1	Hitch: while pondering how to get TO them, will a lidocaine lotion do anything? Just cuz they mentioned lidocaine. It’s not the most powerful thing out there, but maybe different stuff works better on it than others. Not that you have lidocaine in your closet (I do) AND if you do, I bet you’ve already tried it. Ask them, or your primary if their nicer, how soon you can get the shots … Well wishes, cuz they hurt less than hugs!

02-08-2023, 02:21 AM	#35775
Rumpelteazer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,348 Karma: 27919658 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Utrecht, the Netherlands Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition	I usually set my alarm at 7am. For as long as I can remember one of the restaurants sharing a wall with my bedroom gets noisy just after 7am. It sounds like they are moving furniture around. I have always assumed it's the cleaners cleaning the floors. However, it seems that since I've been on vacation their schedule has changed. Both yesterday and this morning I startled awake just after 6am. It's not because the noises are loud. But it seems my body assumes that when there's that sound it's past 7am my alarm hasn't gone off and I'm waking up late. I do not appreciate waking up an hour too early. I'm too awake to go back to sleep again. Tonight I'll put in my earplugs and hopefully that'll block the scraping sound enough for me not to wake up at 6am again.