I hope your 70 MTs know how fortunate they are (sm)

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as mine only flares up a couple of times a year, so far, but you change see the changes in my fingers, etc. I'm very stubborn about everything in my life, like Frank Sinatra.....I did it my way.....don't take meds, don't follow any particular diet, etc. I do live in Florida which of course helps with the Raynaud's which was a problem when I was in Virginia a few years ago. Medications do not like me at all, they always cause some kind of problem, so when the pain is really bad I'll just take good ole Bayer aspirin that seems to help a lot. I'm about 60 years old now and one day will probably have to do more but for now, just aspirin and ignore it. Stupid maybe? Who knows. Look at all the bad things they are finding out about certain meds now. I'd rather just trust in the Lord for now; will do meds when absolutely necessary. As for typing, it takes an hour or two before my fingers really fly anymore but they do still have wings!!!

Do as I say and not as I do....make sure your friend has a GOOD rheumatologist...they can do wonders for those who find themselves really incapacitated!!!! If you are in Florida, go to Dr. Norman B. Gaylis in Aventura, Florida. He really helped me with my first flareup before I moved!!

I know very well the difficulty of taking vacation and while I do not take a vacation every year, I have taken time off for a cruise for my 20th anniversary and for three major surgeries.

I have taken my laptop with me on trips and done what I can while away but it's not the same quantity as when I'm home. I tell all my offices several weeks in advance the dates that I will be gone and that I will do what I can while I'm out but they will have to wait until I return for my undivided attention. I have not had any problems with this arrangement. I did not take the lapto on the cruise and everything was waiting when I returned. Yeah, it's kinda of tough getting caught up but I consider it even tougher not getting away at all.

When I had the surgeries, I made arrangements to have other friends take some of my work while I was recuperating; all of the offices have been very compassionate and understanding so I've been very fortunate in this regard.

It's not easy to take a vacation but I have found that if I explain what is going on and give them plenty of notice, they are very understanding. Everyone in the office gets a vacation, including the docs, so they understand when I'm due for the same.

to get started in this field when it was possible to be hired and trained on the job. Some of us started right out of high school in the transcription department of a hospital where OJT was offered.

After retiring from another career, I took an aptitude test given by MRC, and did well enough that they basically let me train myself in medical transcription. I spent the next several years with my nose in books, looking up every other word and for the first year listened to every report twice just to make sure my work was okay. It took a long time to train my ear for ESL dictators. It was slow going and not very profitable at first, but eventually I began to make fairly good money at it. I've worked for MTSOs ever since, and currently make $20-$25 an hour - depending. But now these companies are really putting the screws to us.

Many employers now demand a ''certificate'' from a ''school'' for serious consideration. Some years ago, with over 10 years of experience with MTSOs, I interviewed with a local medical practice (the type with a staff of physicians and a stuffy professional practice manager). He did not really understand how I could be doing this without any ''formal training.'' I offered to demonstrate my ability, but once he realized I had no ''degree'' I was not allowed to test for a position. I have sent my resume to other local practices over the years, but never got an interview. So it was much easier to keep working for MTSOs, who at least would hire me based on experience and testing.

Anyone who has been in this profession very long realizes that it takes years of experience to become any good at it. However, I don't think a newbie has any way to get a foot in the door without some silly piece of paper from some funky school nowadays. Am I missing a way that the neophyte can get hired, work at MT and ''hone the craft'' without attending some rip-off school?

So many newbies can't find work and I have tried in house in my area, gues what they mostly outsource their work, I know Spheris does a few hospitals in the area, So I will try this IC for awhile but I am deffinatley going back to work, I cant live off of this yet and I am not doing this for (stay at home mother) I do not have children... Yet...

the fact that we have no debt but our house. There are those people who just have to have everything right now, no matter what the cost. We have 1 fairly newer SUV, paid for, and DH drives a paid for, older commuter Subaru that has over 200,000 miles that he drives 66 miles a day round trip to work. We don't have kids at home anymore, don't pay for college, still manage to save a bit. I'm always amazed at the couples with kids who have an SUV or mom van, a big truck for dad, boat, RV, flat screen TV, etc, and all the payments to go with them and then complain that they are broke. If people lived below their wage there would be no problem. Our next big crisis in the US is going to be credit cards...imagine buying $100 worth of groceries and paying 19% interest forever!

it! She seems to be doing ok with them so far...she is so young we were worried about her, but so far so good! We live in the country, cats get dumped here all the time..so unfortunate because not all cats can survive as some people think. We live on a very heavily traveled road, there are coyotes, and other hazards for them to avoid! We will keep her and her babies, actually have someone who wants one of the kittens. Mom will get spayed ASAP, babies when ready. We also have 7 other cats, all male, who were stranded out here also, they are getting neutered next week. We have a barn cat/feral cat program in our county so it is a reasonable price for spaying and neutering, plus I am hoping to get a quantity discount!

My other two pregnancies were totally different. I had energy throughout the entire nine months. However, this is the first pregnancy that I am actually working from home so I believe that is the difference.

I don't know why it would matter which cable my internet comes through as long as I have DSL, which I do.

personal PC for this - you could get a nasty virus. At least with the company PC, they can fix it or replace it!

I have been an MT a little over a year. I have multiple acute care accounts ... some easier than others, but usually get a lot more of the ones that slow me down. I have many dictators and still haven't typed for all of them to date.

With all the various things that I see as a problem from night to night (tired, foggy brained, fumble fingers, etc.) From what I can tell, it mainly comes down to the report content and which dictators I happen to get that determines how many lines I can type.

I have trouble with some dictating in a goofy rhythm, changing their minds continuously, saying things in the wong place (and having to figure out where I should put it), being just plain difficult to understand, etc. (Also getting a bunch content I am not familiar with and having to look a lot up.) I know time and experience is a big factor, but I have been told by an authority figure in the company that many people are faster at this point into their career.

I just don't know how to get past all that and have a consistent line count, and I am losing all motivation when day after day my line count is pathetic.

I use lots of expansions and tweak them when I see a better way. I am at a loss here and would love any helpful, ecouraging advice.

Thanks!