The Vent and Rant Thread

[cromag]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I've never had an MRI. Had a few CAT scans that didn't bother me, but I don't think you're as totally as enclosed in one of those as you are in an MRI. I don't think an MRI would bother me. I've only had one experience with what I'd call claustrophobia and that was while working on a ship several compartments deep inside an enclosure so cramped that there was no room to fully stretch in any direction. That's when the thought hit me that if I had a heart attack inside that space that rescue workers would have a heck of a time recovering my body. I had to crawl out through several similar enclosures, each filled with one worker each, to get a breather. It didn't help that I was wearing a full face respirator, ear plugs, and ear muffs at the time. Once having settled down, however, I returned to the work I was doing, which was needlegunning paint off the enclosure (hence both the ear plugs AND ear muffs). I've always been a big believer in the proposition that if a horse throws you, the best thing to do is get right back on. Did the same thing on a 30 foot ladder once. Looked down, got scared, got down, took a few deep breaths, went back up, looked down again, and dared that fear to repossess me.

For me it was working on an offshore oil rig. The bunks were four high, so not enough room to sit up -- you had to slide in and out sideways. Even then, the claustrophobia didn't hit until the rig ran into some problems.

[wodin]

I've spent several years cumulatively on US submarines, underwater; am I claustrophobic? Well, not so much. But the couple of times I've had MRI's done liked to do me in!

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by cromag

For me it was working on an offshore oil rig. The bunks were four high, so not enough room to sit up -- you had to slide in and out sideways. Even then, the claustrophobia didn't hit until the rig ran into some problems.

I had a somewhat similar experience - we visited an actual whaler moored on the CT coast - and went below decks - the crew bunks were barely 5' long and you had to slide in & out sideways - the bunks looked like those shelf-drawers you see in the high end haberdashery shops.
[And I'm not even mentioning the smell once you've slid in & your brain tells you that you're trapped!]

[cromag]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I had a somewhat similar experience - we visited an actual whaler moored on the CT coast - and went below decks - the crew bunks were barely 5' long and you had to slide in & out sideways - the bunks looked like those shelf-drawers you see in the high end haberdashery shops.
[And I'm not even mentioning the smell once you've slid in & your brain tells you that you're trapped!]

That wouldn't be the Charles W. Morgan, at Mystic Seaport, would it? We've been there a couple of times with the kids, over the years.

http://www.mysticseaport.org/visit/explore/morgan/

[covingtoncat73]

Well, EKG, Echo, and meet with Cardio today. Wish me luck.

In other news, I'm trying really hard not to be bitter but it seems like everyone but me has gotten to escape summer in the Gulf South except for me. EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON.

Mom - In B.C., Canada for two months.

Bro - In Colorado for 3 weeks.

Cousin Shannon and her family - road trip to the Pacific N.W. for a month, ending with a week on the island with Mom.

Cousin Kelly and her family - Vermont

My friend Julia - Vermont

My friend - Ashley - Colorado

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!! I mean, LOOK AT THESE TEMPERATURES and add humidity like you wouldn't believe.

[eschwartz]

Sorry to hear it!

We are only averaging about 70 to 90, but at least we get lots of rain.

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Sorry to hear it!

We are only averaging about 70 to 90, but at least we get lots of rain.

Heh! Yeah. When we get a proper afternoon thunderstorm here, it actually does help a great deal, especially if, like it is supposed to, it happens around 3-4pm. We haven't really been having them, though, at least not right over my general vicinity.

[eschwartz]

I don't actually mind heat so much, I am a well-known lizard! Rain is one of my big pet peeves, though.

[covingtoncat73]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I don't actually mind heat so much, I am a well-known lizard! Rain is one of my big pet peeves, though.

I have always hated the heat. I remember being 4 years old and throwing an incredible tantrum because I didn't want to go back to the "hot place" after summer in B.C.

[CRussel]

Well, Caitlin, even though the BC temperatures are nowhere near what you're dealing with, they're still really hot for us. And unlike where you are, we generally do NOT have air conditioning except in large buildings. So your mom may net get as much of a break as would normally be the case.

I hope all goes well with the "EKG, Echo, and meet with Cardio today".

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Well, Caitlin, even though the BC temperatures are nowhere near what you're dealing with, they're still really hot for us. And unlike where you are, we generally do NOT have air conditioning except in large buildings. So your mom may net get as much of a break as would normally be the case.

I hope all goes well with the "EKG, Echo, and meet with Cardio today".

AND, speaking of heat....it's been 110F° (in old money) or 43.33C° here. No problem, right? Dry heat and all that s**t?

Right. And, whose air-conditioner decided to crap out at about 8-9:00 p.m. last night? And who didn't realize it until an hour or two later, when she thought she was roasting, and realized that it was 86F inside the damn house? So, of course, as we have the furballs, (and especially poor Zep, as he's big and furry as a husky), we can't just decamp and spend the night at a local hotel, and have that as an option, because you can't leave furballs in a house that will heat up to over 120F, with the air-conditioner off, and there aren't any hotels/motels remotely nearby that will take pets.

And, natch, let's not forget, Mr. Hitch had his heart attack not 3 weeks ago. SO....had to call a 24-hour a/c service; they promised to get here between 10:00 and 2:00 a.m.; they did; (around 11:30, which wasn't so bad), but of course, by then, the house was even warmer, so it took hours to cool back down enough for sleeping (until about 3:00 a.m.). I feel like I got hit with a bloody hot sledgehammer today, and don't ASK what it cost. URGHGHGHGH. I swear, these past few months have been absolutely hell. One bloody thing after another.

Hitch

[cromag]

Best of luck with the EKG, Echo, and Cardio appointment, covingtoncat73!

On the one hand, too bad everyone else has fled. On the other hand, maybe that could be a vacation of sorts for you!

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by cromag

Best of luck with the EKG, Echo, and Cardio appointment, covingtoncat73!

On the one hand, too bad everyone else has fled. On the other hand, maybe that could be a vacation of sorts for you!

Oh, YES, I'm sorry, CovCat--the heat must have scrambled my brains. I meant to wish you the best of luck and GREAT results today with your tests and meeting. GOOD LUCK!

Hitch

[eschwartz]

Good luck, covingtoncat.

@Hitch -- I'm afraid even I might balk at those temperatures...

[covingtoncat73]

Thanks, CRussel, Eschwartz, Cromag, and Hitch. It went as well as can be expected. The cardio doesn't like the size of my aorta but it is not quite at surgery levels yet and the good news is that the size didn't change at all from last year. This means that next year, as long as the Echo for next year also shows no change, I don't have to have an MRI next year.

Hitch - That is awful! I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. To have the AC go out in heat like that is so dangerous.

CRussel - Mom is one one of the "Discovery Islands," so it is not as bad as inland. Her cabin, of course, has no AC and in the really bad heat, she will sleep downstairs. The heat and drought seems to have broken, too.