Things have just been loaded with ups and downs recently.Last Thursday, I bit-the-bullet and purchased the Acer 10.1 "netbook" computer from Costco (good return policy and 2-year warranty). It was like Christmas when we were little kids - huge smiles and practically vibrating with excitement. It is so cute! And it's really fun to use! I couldn't be happier with the purchase!
Unlike most toys, you do have to set up computers before you can really play with them. Thursday night was spent making the recommended factory-restoration-discs and beginning to get the Windows Updates loaded (which I finished up on Friday). Everything was working like a charm with no indications of any problems, and even the office tech-guy agreed that I got a good one. [This is good, because these units have a reputation that you either get a really good one right off the bat, or you get one that starts off with boot errors severe enough for instant replacement or shipping back to the factory for a new hard-drive.]
Over the weekend, Hubby and I began to load on the stuff that would make the unit usable for everyday stuff (Bible software, Microsoft Reader, games, etc.). Because this unit does not have a CD/DVD drive (which allows for the small size) I also wanted to load some digital movies onto it and Hubby's external DVD drive came with software to allow for my machine to play DVDs. Everything was good up to this point. Installed, everything was fine. Playing the DVDs from the independent drive was FANTASTIC - great picture and sound! [The digital installs wouldn't go on because we needed internet to get it started, so we had to wait on that for a bit.]
After the DVD software installed, THEN I started having hang-ups in my boot process. Both Hubby and the tech-guy agree that it's a software issue and not the hard-drive. If it persists, we can uninstall stuff (and/or restore back to the factory build). However, it's like eating an apple. You enjoy it up to that point when you see that there is a worm-hole on the other side. It really takes all of the "happy" out of it. So, for now, I'll play carefully and keep testing things, hopefully things will calm down. Just in case, on Sunday afternoon, I backed up everything that I didn't want to lose. If it does become necessary, I can get it back to factory-fresh and not lose anything.
Ups and Downs... continued...
The next immediate hurdle to get past is my neurologist appointment today at 4pm. I'm really quite nervous about it. This is a completely new doctor who knows nothing of the last 4 years of hard work and misadventures we've gone through just to get my migraines identified, let alone trying to find treatments. But, I've prepped my current notes and charts to give her a fresh start (if my former neurologist did not organize his notes). I'm also nervous because of the basic reason I'm seeing her. I need to get "official" documentation of the existence of my migraines for my employee records.
This involves dredging up everything I've sought so hard to suppress (so I don't get fired) & escape since the beginning of February. [i.e. I've had a surge of perfume triggered migraines because of a required work station relocation into a higher traffic area (and about 12 feet from the water-cooler). The company can do nothing 'official' without documentation. Until then, I'm just harassing other people if I ask them to 'chat elsewhere'... and I've been semi-officially warned not to talk to perfumed sources at all because of it.] For over three months, I've worked hard to create defensible spaces in and around my new work area in addition to finding safety zones to which I can escape (as necessary) if I'm forced away from my desk by someone's fragrance(s). [I also have a mask and fans that help for the lighter stuff.]
This appointment is the first step in getting that "official" documentation. Getting it could very well change the dynamics of my whole office. I should say "again", since the initial explosion caused me abundant emotional grief when I found out just how many 'friends' were not my friends after all. [However, I found half-dozen who are 'the real thing', and they have shown that they are watching my back. I thank God so much for them!] And I'd almost bet real money if anything changes the 'status quo' (like perhaps the physical relocation of that water-cooler), that I'll be ticking-off even more people than I already have, and the 'leper-treatment' that I already receive will reach new proportions. [Although, I've found a significant portion of my work-life has gotten dramatically less stressed with those individuals no longer sharing my lunch table. Go figure.]
That's it (in a large convoluted nutshell). I'll have let you know how the appointment goes, and I'll keep tabs on the new computer (like when I submit my first post with it). However, if anyone out there is so inclined... I'd be grateful for any prayers that God's Will would be done in this situation... and some extra peace in my heart and mind would not go amiss, either. Thanks!
UPDATE: 6:30PM
I thought I would go ahead and update this post. The appointment was a bit of a test, but went well overall. My blood pressure was embarrassing, but my 4pm turned into a 4:30 before I got in, and during that time, I had an engaging and friendly conversation with another patient and her husband. The unfortunate side being that she had on some sort of fragrance that was setting up my 'flee the area' preparations. It wasn't horribly strong (so I could still be polite), but it wasn't good for my head. Once in for the actual appointment, the doctor was pretty nice and she seemed to listen well (always a good start). In addition to going over why I was there, she did a smattering of basic neurological 'base-line' tests (nerve reactions) so she could see where things met up with my old doctor's notes.
End result: She asked me to give her a week, but she will put together a letter documenting my condition. It will also be mailed to me directly so I can give it to the people in my office and retain a copy for myself.
P.S. This update was done on my netbook. It booted up without any issues! Yea!
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God Bless and Godspeed
4 comments:
Well, aren't you a busy squirrel these days!
Yikes, I'm so sorry for the non-compassionate types at work. Yuck.
How was the new neurologist?
I hope this doesn't come across as bossy or know-it-all, but after working in a Dr's office and after dealing with a variety of specialists to do with Tate's hearing issues, I've learned something.
Keep your own medical records.
I keep Tate's all in a big 3-ring binder (actually, now it's two binders!) which I bring to all his appointments.
Whenever we see a doctor I put my name first on the Information Release form and have them send hard-copy to ME (as well as the other specialists) of everything that goes in his file.
That way, when I'm down at Children's Hospital and they want to see the latest Audiogram we had done at the university (in our town) I can whip out a copy immediately. Even though they should have been sent a copy (or very well may have been sent a copy that hasn't found its way to his file yet...), if I have it with me it saves everybody time.
I have all the documentation right there. Then when we see someone new, we don't have to reinvent the wheel.
Sometimes doctors act high and mighty (or downright godlike), and they only want to release the info to another doctor, but it's your medical information and you have a right to it.
Actually, almost all the docs I have interacted with have been more than happy to cooperate, especially when they realize the benefit to them.
Just my .02 ...
Julie
What a wonderful idea! [and not bossy at all!] Thank you so much for sharing!
I hadn't even thought about the possibility of doing something like that. [And none of the 'professionals' I've dealt with would have suggested or advertised it.] However, I have always been the one to give copies of my stuff to the doctors (so I have the originals of all that stuff), but there are things that I would like to have (like my own hearing test records when they thought my dizziness was related to my inner-ears). 3-ring binder is also a good idea. [Or a scanner option for long term archive stuff.]
I may need to do some furthing thinking on that... Thanks again!
[Note: There is now a small update about the appointment added to main post.]
:)
Yea :0)
for your computer, but mostly for the doc listening and documenting your condition.
Good grief, it should not have to be so complicated!
Julie
I'm glad the appointment went well....Hope you feel better.
And hooray for new computers!!!!
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