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March 31, 2006
Friends
It's when you are in a situation like I am this week - trapped in a leg brace, in pain - that you find out just how good some of your friends are. My roommate has been exceptional - just going beyond the call of duty to make sure I'm taken care of and comfortable. Frankly, if it weren't for her I think I would have spent the last 48 hours crying nonstop!
Posted by smashmonster at 08:16 PM | Comments (0)
Pain
About all I can say today. Losing the pain pump the first night means excruciating pain now that the nerve block has worn off. Doc says I can lay off the cpm machine for a few days since the transition to and from the brace is the most painful. The ice cuff seems to be leaking so my dressing is getting wet - the Team Post Op people are supposed to come by at 1 pm to see if it is leaking and replace it.
In the meanwhile, I get a message our AdWords are down and it looks like click fraud to me, so I had to send a request to Google to investigate. We have some pretty scummy competitors so I wouldn't put it past them to get a gang of friends to click click click our budget away. We went from $6 a lead for one phrase to $109 spend one day with no leads. Clearly something isn't right. It's like they knew I'd be out of the office.
There is no such thing as time off with my job, even when you feel like someone is stabbing you repeatedly in the leg for hours.
Posted by smashmonster at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)
March 30, 2006
CPM Machine
I have to spend 6 hours a day on this continuous passive motion machine that bends my leg for me. Three 2-hour sessions. I am supposed to increase the angle of bend by 5 degrees each time I do it, as long as I don't get severe pain. My goal is 120 degrees.
Between this machine and the ice machine I keep pretty busy from my bed. The ice machine is an expensive gadget that you fill with ice, then wrap this special padding around the leg - it circulates cold damp air into the padding on my leg. I can control for temperature and pressure. I have to do this for half an hour every hour throughout the day. It feels sooooo good!
My pain pump got disconnected last night so I no longer have the benefit of the novocaine-like stuff that was dripping into my knee. The catheter pulled out. Oh well. So far it hasn't been too horrible without that extra pain relief, but I'm taking a lot of percocet to make up for the difference (not more than prescribed, but definitely the max suggested). Only a few times have I felt significant pain - usually after trudging to the bathroom.
So far this has not been the wretched experience I expected it to be, but I'm being very cautious because I'm sure the nerve block and anaesthesia are still helping with the pain. I expect those to fade today - so we'll see!
Posted by smashmonster at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)
March 29, 2006
ACL Surgery Went Well
My leg and TV - typical view for a while I expect.
Things started out a little rough at UCLA - adminstrative staff there tend to be pretty unprofessional and like to pretend as if they can't see you standing there waiting for someone to check you in. However, once you meet the nursing staff everything is rosy - fantastic bunch of people!
Details - I arrived on the surgical center floor where a woman with her hair looking like birds had nested in it recently, dirty shoes, is standing there chatting with a co-worker. She pretends I don't exist for a few minutes, then turns and says, "Yeah?" Since this is the check-in desk for surgery, she can pretty much assume I am there for that, so the "Yeah?" seemed weird. She was rather brusque until she noticed it was my birthday. She then told me about all the people she knows who were born in March. Not sure why I bring this out in people - they just start telling me "stuff" and go on and on.
She told me to take this clipboard and follow the blue line. I arrived in the pre-op area and two staff members were working there. They proceeded to pretend as if they couldn't see me standing there. Finally, one sort of tipped her head toward me and coldly said, "Someone will be with you in a minute."
It's strange that people don't realize how much nicer their jobs would be if they didn't create this climate of hostility. A simple smile and "Hi, the person who checks in patient is just with another patient right now. She'll be right back!" Would completely change the first impression. I stood there waiting, waiting, finally I started to get restless and look around for someplace to sit. The room has curtained areas each with a bed and a chair. The woman behind the desk who still had not acknowledged my presence noticed me moving toward them and said, you can go ahead and have a seat over there. Really? Thanks, I was going to anyway.
Fortunately, once the first nurse showed up the tone changed. A real sweetheart came over to go over paperwork and get me prepped. Then the anaesthesiologist, who looked too young to have finished medical school, popped in. She talked super fast, had a funny little giggle she added to end of every sentence, and was just fantastic. She used medical terminology that was clear and understandable and she was extremely thorough and professional as she walked me through the procedures she was going to do.
They decided to do a nerve block on the leg. This is a really weird experience. As they search for the nerve, you feel your muscles twitching - when they find the one they want to block the whole thing started spasming. It doesn't hurt - just feels a little bizarre.
She put in the catheter for the drip in my hand - expert job. Sometimes you get someone who has to dig around in the hands a little too much :-(
Soon I was feeling GOOOOOD and they wheeled me into the surgical room. Don't remember much after that until I felt them wheel me back to post-op. I think the surgery took about 3 hours because in my haze (and without glasses) I peered up at the clock and saw it was after 12 (I was wheeled in around 8:40 or so).
I get this reaction to anaesthesia of uncontrollable chills. This happened last time too. My teeth literally start chattering. They put warm blankets about me, but my whole body was shaking with chills still. They decided to give me some Demerol to stop the shaking, and that worked really fast. They wrapped a warm toasty blankie around my head - that felt great.
I was feeling quite a bit of pain in the knee (about a 7 on a 1-10 scale) but they gave me some liquid pain med by mouth and the pain subsided.
OK, too tired to tell more at this time... Will update later.
Posted by smashmonster at 06:20 AM | Comments (0)
March 28, 2006
Last Minute Prep for ACL Surgery
My continuous motion device - scary-looking contraption - was delivered, along with my pain pump and brace. Of course no one from the UCLA surgery center has called to confirm the time I will need a pick-up and the number on the form just rings and rings and rings. UCLA Medical seems to have a serious staff problem - long phone holds, phones just ringing and ringing, we are out to lunch messages that say 12-1 but it's 2 pm and the message is still on.
I am not impressed with the UCLA hospital customer service.
I am sure they will act like I should have known what time someone should pick me up even though they couldn't be bothered to give me this information.
They also had their finance people call to ask about me being a "cash" patient. Huh? Even though my doctor had faxed over the paperwork and pre-authorization weeks ago, some dimwit at UCLA had neglected to input this. They even had the wrong surgery time, which threw me into a panic that I was going to show up and be told I had four hours to wait.
I've never had a surgery center call me about bringing a co-pay upfront. Seems like one more thing to think about when I'm trying to focus on my surgery and recovery. Now since I can't call them back because THAT phone is also unreachable at this time, I guess that means bring a blank check. Just tried again - still busy. It will be funny if they ask why I did not return their call. Uh, because you guys SUCK?
Now I know why my doctor prefers to do surgery at another center, but they were out of my network and it would cost be $5000 out of pocket vs. $2500. And as many of you already know through experience, medical decisions are partly made based on what is important for the patient, but mainly made based on financial considerations.
Welcome to the New America.
Posted by smashmonster at 04:43 PM | Comments (0)
March 26, 2006
Annoying Practice - Sending E-mails with Return Receipt Requested
If you are tempted to turn on the "return receipt requested" feature in Outlook, hold your horses. First of all, this screams "amateur" on the web. Why is this such an annoying practice?
1. A person must manually approve each one. How annoying is this?
2. It implies that you don't trust people. I want to see if you read my e-mail! I want proof!
3. Some might say, you can set your Outlook to automatically send the receipt each time. Well, experience web folks know this is a bad idea because you could be sending confirmation to spammers/junk mail people that you received their unsolicited offer.
My new policy is to simply deny all of these return receipt requests. For others who are bothered by this cumbersome even insulting request, this is how you do this. In Outlook go to Tools > Options > Email Options > Tracking Options. Under how to respond to requests for read receipts, check off "never respond".
While folks may now "believe" I am not reading their email, the truth is, I am simply not deciding my work processes based on their paranoid need for confirmation. As someone who gets upwards of 100 emails a day (and that's on a light day), I don't have time to send this little security blanket to everyone.
Posted by smashmonster at 12:24 PM | Comments (0)
March 24, 2006
Oakley Utah Spring Snow
Below freezing at night but beautiful during the day. I'm already at the airport heading home - only to realize the flight back is on a propeller commuter plane. Ugh. Not my idea of fun.
Posted by smashmonster at 02:35 PM | Comments (0)
March 23, 2006
Park City
I arrived in Utah today - this is the lobby of the hotel in Park City.
Posted by smashmonster at 05:19 PM | Comments (0)
March 22, 2006
Faux News - Ted Baxter - Olbermann Has It Right
Media Matters covers a particularly obscene abuse of the airwaves by Bill O'Reilly - Laura Ingraham also contributed with plenty of misrepresentation of fact. She believes reporters in Iraq are all reporting from their hotel balconies. I guess she hasn't heard about the deaths, injuries, and kidnappings of many of these folks. It's truly distressing to see people whining about the media - claiming they only cover the bad news. If you live in a city where IEDs are exploding without warning on a sickingly regular basis you certainly would be focused on the negative too. Think about it - if you lived in a home with the walls crumbling, no heat, no running water, high crime, fear of walking the streets and a reporter came by, would you say, please cover the story of the pretty sunflower growing in my garden, don't just show all the bad stuff! It really is laughable that someone sitting in a Fox Studio would complain about reporters in Iraq showing the "bad stuff."
Keith Olbermann did a great segment on this - showing the ACTUAL NBC reporters in action, bombs going off, guns shooting in the background. Hardly seems as if they are all sipping martinis on their hotel balconies.
Posted by smashmonster at 06:37 PM | Comments (0)
March 20, 2006
So British - Pardon Me!
Another great TV ad - you'll love just how politely British the woman is upon being torn from her car.
Posted by smashmonster at 09:35 PM | Comments (0)
I Could Use the Money to Buy a New Brain
Really, people do fall for these. I heard about some old guy who'd fallen for this old old scam and lost over a million dollars - his son was trying to get legal control of the estate to stop the scammers from draining the poor old guy's last penny.
FROM: MR. CHRIST OTUNMBA
THE MANAGER INTERNATIONAL
COMMERCIAL BANK TOGO
FIRST LIGHT BRANCH
LOME TOGO
ATTN: DEAR,
I GOT YOUR CONTACT DURING MY SEARCH FOR A RELIABLE, HONEST AND A TRUST WORTH PERSON TO ENTRUST THIS HUGE TRANSFER PROJECT WITH.MY NAME IS MR. CHRIST OTUNMBA.I AM THE MANAGER OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK TOGO FIRST LIGHT BRANCH LOME TOGO. I AM A TOGOLIES MARRIED WITH TWO KIDS. THIS OFFER MIGHT SOUND UNBELIVEABLE (ya think?) TO YOU COUPLED WITH HIGH RATE OF INTERNET SCAM IN THE NET TODAY (oh, but not this one, no this is legit - oh ok), BUT HAVEN (the quaint misspellings make is so much more authentiky) WILL BEAR ME WITHNESS THAT THIS IS REAL OFFER.
I AM WRITING TO SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THE TRANSFER OF US$5,500.000.00.THIS FUND IS THE EXCESS OF WHAT MY BRANCH IN WHICH I AM THE MANAGER MADE AS PROFIT DURING THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED AN APPROVED END OF THE YEAR REPORT FOR THE YEAR 2005 TO MY HEAD OFFICE HERE IN LOME AND THEY WILL NEVER KNOW OF THIS EXCESS. I HAVE SINCE THEN, PLACED THIS AMOUNT OF US$5,500.000.00 ON A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT WITHOUT A BENEFICIARY.
AS AN OFFICER OF THE BANK, I CANNOT BE DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THIS MONEY THUS I AM IMPELLED TO EQUES T FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE TO RECEIVE THIS MONEY INTO YOUR BANK ACCOUNT. I INTEND TO PART 30% F THIS FUND TO YOU WHILE 70% SHALL BE FOR ME. I DO NEED TO STRESS THAT THERE ARE PRACTICALLY NO RISK INVOLVED IN THIS (other than you actually losing your money and getting nothing in return) TRANSACTION. IT'S GOING TO BE A BANK-TO-BANK TRANSFER. ALL I NEED FROM YOU IS TO STAND AS THE ORIGINAL DEPOSITOR OF THIS FUND.
IF YOU ACCEPT THIS OFFER, I WILL APPRECIATE YOUR TIMELY RESPONSE. PLEASE
RESPONSE TO THIS E-MAIL ADDRESS (christotunmba@yahoo.com)
WITH REGARDS,
MR CHRIST OTUNMBA.
Posted by smashmonster at 09:14 PM | Comments (0)
Getting a New ACL for My Birthday
Today was my last appointment with my orthopedic surgeon before the actual surgery on March 29 - my birthday. Scheduling issues necessitated my spending my bday getting the ACL replacement. Fun. My roommate pointed out I will at least be able to get "high" on my birthday.
To keep friends and family informed I will keep a diary here under the category "ACL Surgery" of my rehab. This should be barely even mildly interesting to most people, but when I was prepping for the day, I found the online stories of other people who had undergone ACL surgery really helpful in planning for my recovery. Since it is arthroscopic I shouldn't have any really grotesque pictures to post, although I'm sure the big old swollen leg will be nasty enough for the more voyeuristic of my readers.
Speaking of readers, my friend George says he is my only reader now because I don't update enough and everyone else has likely given up. Point well taken. I'll try harder. I promise, George.
Posted by smashmonster at 05:53 PM | Comments (0)
Classic Keith Olbermann
If you haven't discovered MSNBC'S Keith Olbermann, you don't know what you're missing. Today's worst person in the world (a regular feature) were two government employees (Federal Agents) who lied about their identity when scouting an area the President would be visiting. They claimed to be Fox journalists - Keith spells Fox News "Faux News" (god I love that). Later they came back to tell the man they were actually federal agents. Keith remarked, we shouldn't be alarmed. Faux journalists pretend to be journalists every day.
Posted by smashmonster at 05:50 PM | Comments (0)
March 03, 2006
I'm Rich!
Not.
E-mail scam I got today. Yeah, right.
MILTON ASSOCIATES AND CHAMBERS,
128 DESTMOND AVENUE KENT LONDON,
DESK OF BARRISTER MILTON JOE.
milton_associates_chambers@yahoo.co.uk
I am Barrister Milton Joe,a solicitor at law.I am the personal Attorney To the late Mr. Raymond Appleyard a national of USA.On the 21st of April 2002,my client was involved in a car accident.Unfortunately he lost his life.
I have contacted you to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the Bank where this huge deposit was lodged. The bank where the deceased had an account valued at about $3.8Million dollars has issued me with a notice to provide the next-of-kin or have the account confiscated.
Since I have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives,I now seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin Of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the Proceeds of this account valued at $3.8 Million dollars can be paid to you,subsequently to be shared among us if you agree,we can discuss your percentage. I have all necessary Legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make.
All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this transaction through.I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.
Best regards,
Milton Joe(Esq)
Really, people fall for these all the time. I just read about a guy who is trying to take over his elderly father's estate after finding out he sent about 1.8 million to the Nigerian scam that has been around for about 25 years - I remember my mother getting the Nigerian scam letter back in the late 70s - of course, the Internet has made it easier (and infinitely cheaper) to troll for fools.
Posted by smashmonster at 07:57 PM | Comments (0)
March 01, 2006
Indianapolis
Indianapolis was a very pleasant surprise - this was my first visit to this city. I first stayed at a wonderful boutique hotel in Zionsvile called the Brick Street Inn - a delightful place with exceptional service. The rooms were lovely, with comfy beds and classic furniture. The service was beyond reproach. Zionsville is a sweet town with, yes, a brick street through it. Everything seems to "Fit" in this area - no ugly strip malls. Unique homes, each with its own style, cute storefronts with speciality shops, and small restaurants and cafes.
I was taken out to dinner in downtown Indianapolis - what a nice city! I had no idea it was such a attractive place with interesting architecture and "artsy" sections - plus a great restaurant row. They seem to have a love of war memorials. They were quite impressive - such as the Soldiers and Sailors Monument build in 1902 and Indiana War Memorial Museum.
There seems to be a thriving cultural community - theaters, churches, and museums.
The only unpleasant time was a stay at the Radisson Hotel by the Indianapolis airport. It's a pretty delapidated hotel with rooms that just feel musty and old. Sound travels room-to-room - almost louder than the planes taking off and landing. Something started beeping in the hallway at around midnight. I thought it was some idiot's alarm clock they forgot to shut off, but after a few minutes I stuck my head out the door and realized it was some device out there. I had to call the front desk and ask them to investigate and it was fixed in about 15 minutes. Did I get back to sleep? Not really.
The service was substandard - confusion about the reservation upon check in ("You already checked in." "Uh, not unless I have a clone I don't know about.") and check out was impossible - one person at the desk taking their dear time. Considering the fact this is an AIRPORT hotel and people need to check out quickly and get their receipt, then get to the airport, it would seem like a wise move to have the front desk properly staffed in the morning. I gave up and dropped my key card on the front desk. Now I'm having a hard time getting them to fax me the bill - got a rather brusque and annoyed accounting person who claimed it would be faxed within the next 20 minutes. That hasn't happened...it's a shame the poor customer service continues beyond your stay at the hotel.
I have stayed at the Radisson in Piscataway and one outside Denver. The service is generally adequate, although usually a bit strained. This was definitelly a "worst of the three" experience.
However, this did not change my opinion of the city and its outlying areas - simply a delightful place and I'm glad I had a chance to see it!
Posted by smashmonster at 01:59 PM | Comments (0)