The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[Corin Stormhands]

You in some third world hospital out there? Parked in the hallway?

Happened to me too. I've had a couple of episodes of chest pains, which usually turn out to be nothing (I've had them checked). But last spring/summer I was sitting at my desk and my heart started racing. It's done that before and usually stops after a few seconds, this time it went on for 15-20 minutes and I was having chest pains.

A co-worker walked me over to MCV (Medical College of Virginia Hospital) to the ER. Since I was a 40-something overweight man with chest pains, they rushed me to the top of the list. Still, I was there for 8 hours, and a good part of that time I was in the hall way on a bed waiting for the test in nuclear medicine.

$8,000 worth of tests (insurance paid) and they found nothing. My regular doctor said it was probably acid reflux and that makes sense to me.

[HairOfTheDog]

I depend on emergency rooms if I ever have something happen! - I don't have any ongoing relationship with a doctor. (my vets know me better). I am just low-maintenance. The only time I need doctoring, it is cuz something happened, like when I almost cut my finger off with the hedge hog.

Always had a good experience though! - But we have two big hospitals and several emergency clinics in a fairly small town. Might be a buyer's market.

[Corin Stormhands]

..., like when I almost cut my finger off with the hedge hog.

I would consider that an appropriate event for a visit to the ER.

[HairOfTheDog]

I cut the tendons on one side... Said I couldn't be a concert pianist now.

[Corin Stormhands]

Were you before? ;-)

[HairOfTheDog]

I'm only 30, but I do smoke and take BCPs, which is a big medical no-no

I will let others lecture you on that. Did you have to lie to get them? - I had a friend that did... Went to a new clinic and denied that she smoked because her doctor cut her off.

I would look into the other methods if you aren't gonna quit soon!

[HairOfTheDog]

No, but nevertheless, a door has been closed to me.

[Corin Stormhands]

Yeah, my car wreck a few years back pretty much wiped out my career with the Metropolitan Ballet...

[HairOfTheDog]

Do you miss it? ;~D

[carton253]

When I was in a car wreck, I was taken back for x-rays and forgotten for about 90 minutes. Finally, I had to say, "what about me." The techs had no idea I was there. Then they wanted me to move around like I wasn't injured.

I sympathize with you Ruthy!

[HairOfTheDog]

Speaking of concert pianists! - How are ya Penny?

[carton253]

I'm only 30, but I do smoke and take BCPs, which is a big medical no-no.

I guess if I said STOP IT! that wouldn't work... well just in case... STOP IT!! RIGHT NOW!!!

[RMDupree]

I just have very little patience and that is the problem. I like to be looked at, checked out, tests run and diagnosis given without having to sit around and watch more and more folks getting wheeled in ahead of me.

I understand that an emergency room MUST prioritize, but geesh! Why not tell the person whose been lying there for 8 hours that they are OK or not? Why not open up that gurney for someone else?

Baptist Hospital is one of the best, but their emergency room is always a zoo.

I just called the cardiologist my mom and family go to, and he doesn't accept my insurance (BCBS PPO! HUH?!), so I'm back to square one.

Do I go back to the ER at Baptists and let them finish the tests or do I go elsewhere?

[RMDupree]

He never asked me if I smoked or not!

I do need to either quit smoking (I have a patch on now) or change BC method. *sigh*

[carton253]

You go elsewhere because the ER is just going to send you to another doctor anyway.

[Corin Stormhands]

Everything was beautiful at the ballet...

[RMDupree]

heheheheee.. Your words have been received and noted.

It is NOT easy to quit smoking. Especially when my boss, my mom, my sister and my best friend all smoke.

[2Jedismom]

I'll post his picture when they get it posted on the website. It's "Sooner Golden Retriever Rescue"...

http://www.sgrr.org

[Corin Stormhands]

I understand that an emergency room MUST prioritize, but geesh!

I broke my leg when I was in college. I was during basketball playoffs. I had to wait until half-time of the UK game for the doctor to come and put my leg in a cast.

[HairOfTheDog]

BAD BAD BAD 2J!

Do not link me to dog rescue websites! ;~D