I've never understood why 'common' sense is called that; in my experience it is more like 'uncommon', even 'unheard of'.  *sigh*

In reply to Mystic-Scholar (msg # 909):

Hmm, I know allot of diabetics that are long distance drivers who's control is not the best (1 fellow has trouble getting it under 400 for any length of time).

Couple things I know. Avoid NutraSweet (aka Equal - the blue packets) it actually Aggravates diabetes (raises blood sugar) and it takes 3 months to get out of your system. I learned this a few years after being diagnosed insulin resistant, turned out to be the NutraSweet, it did so much damage that I am now on pills, and Lantis And insulin (small doses as needed).
I have run in to people though who think if you have diabetes then going in to coma's is a common occurrence (some of them in government jobs to - trying to reeducated these people on such things is like trying to teach language skills to a brick wall. [Hammer + chisel + wall - but the wall can't learn no matter how many times you hit it])

In reply to ShadoPrism (msg # 911):

I've never heard of anyone with a blood sugar of 400 driving, however, your personal physician can assist you in retaining your CDL. It requires his personal "okay" and you can only be qualified for a 6 month period.

Most DOT physicals are "good" for two years. In the case I'm discussing, they're only "good" for 6 months. So an independent doctor has to give you the physical and renew it in consultation with your personal doctor.

My former doctor up and disappeared a couple of months ago. Yes, no one's heard from him at the Walk-In Clinic where he worked. So I now have a new doctor, whose seen me once. Even if I get his "okay" in a few months, I still have the problem of financing the retraining.

I've since developed arthritis in my knees, so getting up and down into the truck -- especially into and out of the trailer -- is going to be a problem as well. I also have an unexplained weakness in my left arm. The doctor still hasn't figured that one out.

But it all started with the Diabetes.

In reply to Mystic-Scholar (msg # 912):

The arm weakness sounds to me like a form of nerve damage that can come from diabetes. Rare but not unheard of.
Of the guy with the 400 BS, I don't know how he keeps his liscence either, but he still drives his truck. (I suspect now illegally).

In reply to Mystic-Scholar (msg # 909):

This is the problem when two governmental branches share the same jurisdiction.  There is always conflict.  In your case, the state and federal government have different standards.  The state government controls the funding for your disability claim, while the federal government controls your ability to get a license to do the job you want to do (and did do).

The conflict likely arises because the state disability says you "can" work at a job, even if it is not the one requiring the CDL license that you previously held (and want to return to), and therefore requires you to go out and look for a job.  Unemployment benefits are supposed to cover you in the meantime. Typically, "disabled" in the state laws means you are unable to do a job, not the specific job you want to do.  "Disabled" in the federal laws might qualify you to collect social security payments.

Was looking at this. If you have paid in over 10,000 in taxes while working (provided it was not thru self employment, that rate is higher) you may be eligible to get Federal disability, which pays more and has fewer restrictions.
If I were you I would look in to it.

In my case I had a stress induced stroke - the state says I can go back to work Provided I can find a job with No Stress ! .
The levels of stress I was under were prodigious, Grandfather (who lived with me) died, lost my job and Finals in collage all hit at the same time, had the stroke on the last day of finals during the test in my computer science class.

Yes, there are federal benefits like SSI, disability tax credit, earned income credit, etc.

I filed for Social Security Supplemental Income. I didn't file anything with the State, though the State has given me the Medicaid I am receiving.

S.S.I. has the same requirements as "full" Disability, though it only pays out half as much in financial aid. To the best of my knowledge, I filed with the Federal Government, not the State, but I suppose I'll have to look into that aspect of it.

In reply to Mystic-Scholar (msg # 917):

If your working with an attorney make sure he knows which form of Disability your looking in to (had some confusion with that early on myself)

Dealing with different government agencies is not really different than dealing with multiple private agencies.

Or think of it in RPG terms: Each agency is its own "faction" in the game world.

They are aware of each other in the backstory, but when you work with a given agency (making phone calls, filing paperwork, schmoozing employees), your faction prestige only rises with that agency. Each faction's personnel and quest structure is a little different flavor-wise -- some are Elves, some are Gnomes, some (most?) are of Orcish ancestry.

Each faction has their own miniquests you can repeat X number of times to gain favor. SOME quests grant faction points for more than one organization, but those quests (documents) are rare.

Most quests though require complex Wizardry to complete (computers), while many others require grind-intensive time sinks (physical papers).

Sometimes you can find a walkthrough or add-on to help, but that may require its own series of miniquests to attain (someone to help you in the process).

In reply to kouk (msg # 919):

Good analogy.
amusing to.

Hey Mystic, this may be some bad news, but even more if your personal doctor OK's you, you will have to get the OK of a federally approved doctor who appears on a government list.  Back in May not of 2014, the feds changed the law stating all who wish to obtain a DOT physical must now have an approved doctor perform the physical.

On the upside, there are several companies out there who have their own training schools that will train you for your CDL, but you must give them so much time of employment in return.

In reply to tulgurth (msg # 921):

Did that, thanks. "They" sent to a Doctor of their choice. Interestingly, it was he who decided I had arthritis in my knees. My personal Doctor never made that diagnosis. He also suggested that my personal Doctor run test to determine just what's wrong with my arm.

Unfortunately, as I said, my Doctor disappeared. I saw my "new" Doctor's assistant a couple of weeks ago, just to get my prescriptions refilled one time; just enough to last until my first appointment with my new Doctor. I had only been seeing my "old" Doctor for about six months, only as long as I've been getting the Medicaid. I hadn't seen any Doctor about my condition for over four years before that: No job, no money for Doctors or medication.

The Physician's  Assistant seemed to share the opinion of the "State" appointed Doctor that saw me, in regards to my arm and knees. I see the "new' Doctor in a couple of weeks. Hopefully, he will endorse what the "State" Doctor determined and that will help my lawyer with the case.

We'll see.

So, I am going to need surgery again to undo poor healing from the previous surgery. To make matters worse, it appears gross medical negligence was involved in the incident as a whole, although not related to the surgery itself.

I confided in a couple of my female friends about the altercation I had with the admitting doctor. This doctor was performing tests without telling me what she was doing. The doctor only explained well after. It hurt a lot, and when I tried to stop her, her nurse held me down. This is coming from a person who frequently gets dental work done with minimal anesthetic, and has doctors break blood vessels (several times) when trying to find a vein. I know what constitutes pain and I know the physiology of nerves in relation to the brain's sense of pain. It hurt worse than when the pressure points in my throat and just under my cheekbone were deliberately pressed for the sole purpose of causing me pain. So that's a point of reference that was an intentionally malicious instance. I should have had some warning and been able to give consent, especially considering the sensitive nature of the test.

Anyway, because it hurt so bad and made me feel frustrated I complained to my two closest friends. I was just venting, but these two female friends of mine put it into perspective that if a male doctor did the equivalent to either of them it would be medical negligence or malpractice at the very least. So I should really consider legal recourse.

But I have no idea how to pursue it. I'll have to get a lawyer and go through this in more graphic detail...several times. A lot of people are telling me "It's no big deal" and "That just happens, V" but I just don't trust that over the voice in me that feels it was wrong.

The doctor gave no warning of what she was going to do, and the nurse physically restrained me when I tried to stop the doctor and I yelled "STOP!". Then when I coherently complained, the doctor said "ooh, poor baby" as if sympathetically and then just walked away. It wasn't until half an hour later she gave the flimsy excuse "Oh, well I had to do it that way to get the sample, honey." Well, I guess I'll be glad you didn't need brain tissue then. You might have just drilled my skull without telling me and we wouldn't be having this conversation. I'm really glad you called me honey too, that makes me feel so much better, especially because you know I'm upset. I thought.

It might have been too long to pursue recourse, and even if it's not I don't know if the continued stress will be worth the potential compensation, and prevention of this doctor possibly being unable to do it again.

The male nurse I saw when the wound looked infected was a jerk, but at least he actually did his job. Though he was a jerk when he said "Take one for the team, man. It happens to all of us" Really? Every man has to have a brown recluse bite him like that? I thought. Then he had the nerve to joke I was an exhibitionist. Yeah, next time I'll just let the wound fester, bubblegumwad. And people wonder why I'm loathe to seek medical attention...

As for the surgery, performed by another doctor, I've just been told it takes a long time to heal. That doctor, also a female, has at least been nice and understanding, although she has admitted her expertise isn't in wounds, just the region in general where mine happens to be. I feel like she's at least telling me "I'm not sure how to treat this" and getting my input on everything.

She gave me the option of more surgery, or seeing a wound specialist who would be yet another doctor that would not be specifically equipped to the sensitive nature of the injury.

So I'm really strongly considering more surgery, since I think the excision will be rather shallow and so can just be sewn up to heal.

Right now, I can't walk very well without tapping pain like a flickering light bulb. Any sort of physical activity, however brief--like taking out the garbage, gives me terrible stomach pains for several minutes after, that only fully fades in about an hour.

Because I internalized it though, I may have ruined any hope of getting acknowledgement of, or reparations for, it. So I'm peached.

The decision is yours, though that isn't the immediate answer you were hoping for. (smiles)

My point is, by today's standards, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and "the boys" were millionaires. They couldn't care one wit that King George wanted another nickel for making a pot of tea. They cared that they were being taxed without being allowed to have a say in the matter; i.e. their own "congressman." (In English terms: MP)

The American Revolution was fought for principle, not for some physical or financial benefit.

What do your principles tell you to do? Should this doctor be prevented from harming someone in the future? Do you feel an obligation to contribute towards that goal? If so, then you aren't truly "suing" for monetary gain, but to right what you perceive to be a wrong.

You have not reached any Statute of Limitations in this matter, you are free to pursue it at course. Personally, I would. No doctor may work upon you without permission. With my recent problems, I've signed those forms numerous times in the last couple of months.

Even if it is in the middle of a procedure, when you say stop they must stop. It is the Law.

As for your wound, I say see a wound specialist. All doctors are not "butt holes." You need treatment and a second opinion is always a necessity. No one doctor is a specialist in all things and your doctor is honest enough to admit it. Keep her for that reason, if no other.

All first consultations are free, I say, speak with an attorney about it.

Gender likely does not matter in a medical malpractice case. Find an attorney and get a free consultation, but do your due diligence in finding one first (read-don't just go to the first one you find in the yellow pages or on the Internet). You might not end up choosing to pursue a case for various reasons, but a good attorney should at least listen to your issues and give you an idea of the options you can pursue. At the very least, you should feel better knowing that you took steps to address it than regret not doing something.

In reply to JxJxA (msg # 925):

Yeah, that's a good way of looking at it. I wasn't looking at it from that perspective, but just do it all the way or not at all. If I'm paying this person (or they're just getting paid) to be an intermediary they should be able to help me understand the legal ramifications I can't conceive or comprehend otherwise. I mean that's the reason I'd be paying them, is to ease the process.

I am very, very careful about trusting someone at their word. In a case like this I'm extra careful. Any seller will be the last person you want to learn their own reputation from. I'm going to do some research and get some referrals.

I just didn't think about getting the consultation and then at least having peace of mind knowing I tried, even if I decided I didn't want to pursue it. You're right though, it would eat at me if I never did anything and then later thought about it.

I guess I'll just take it one step at a time, but with the intent of at least getting a consultation. I'm not going to do it today, as I'd like to have some frame of reference from my Sister and good friends, but I'll make it a priority now that I have a clear goal.

Gender shouldn't be an issue, no. It's just a stigma that occurs and like anything else it can bleed into the person, be it a lawyer, judge, or law official. People are people, whether that be in official attire or not.

So that makes me feel better, thank you. It's a more immediate and obtainable goal than my orignal one.

In reply to V_V (msg # 923):

I am assuming your American for this response.

In this country when you tell a doctor to stop or not do something TO You, and they do not, and if restraint is added to this, they are breaking the law. Malpractice is the tip of the iceberg in such cases.
They are required By Law to tell you what the test are for and you have the right to refuse such treatments even if it harms you in the long (or short) run.
I have been through it (lots) in the past few years.
I am the sort of patient many doctors don't like, Educated on the Laws that they are supposed to work by.
Legally your also allowed to have a copy of your medical files (Doctors for some reason don't like patients having these for some reason - used to drive mine nuts for reading over mine back when they still stuck them on the doors for visits.)

From what you have stated, I would see the wound specialist and get their opinion if nothing else. It's more information to work with and may be of help in the long run. Who knows, maybe they can do something out patient wise that will help you.
Getting an opinion never hurts (well not much, depends on how much prodding it takes to get you to go after all).

This message was deleted by the user at 17:15, Wed 01 Apr 2015.

Glad to have helped. ^_^

All of the above posts have valuable advice. Definitely get as much information as you can. I stress finding a good attorney because there are bad ones who are looking only to cash out on your misfortune.

So recently, due to the agency workers regulations, my role as a contractor is being terminated so it can be replaced by a full-time employment role direct with the company I have been working for.

I had to apply for the job I have been doing for 4 years.

And for some reason, in his infinite wisdom, my boss has hired someone else to do it.

And then told me today, before Easter weekend. So now my weekend is ruined so that he doesn't have to carry the burden of the decision while he is on leave next week.

I comfort myself with the idea that it's going to blow up in his face.

In reply to Tileira (msg # 930):

Wow, don't companies usually go the other way, permanent staff (usually with benefits) to contractors (no benefits included, easier to let go)?  Too bad you won't be there to see, the new person can't possibly be as good, at least until they learn the job.  Do you have to teach them?

Sometimes I feel like the only one who doesn't appreciate holidays.  I always end up with a lot of work to do, and inconvenienced because everything is closed. -_-

In reply to Silver_Cat (msg # 932):

I don't know what you are talking about. Most every store where I live is open, We are going to be there "just in case" and to "Power downstock". That means we all move about the store and restock every shelf in a giant herd of employees.

Then again a work in a "home improvement store" It always seems that there is a ton of plumbing issues right on holidays, but not the day before.

Are you in the US?  Because things tend to stay open on holidays more in the US, I think.

Though, even when I was living there it seemed like every time I needed something on a holiday it was closed.  I think it's just my holiday curse.  I need to have my own TV special where I learn a lesson about it or something.
This message was last edited by the user at 00:37, Sun 05 Apr 2015.