My PT recommended changing the height sm

• Not used to working 40+ hours and my back is - breaking. Any helpful hints? nm
  • Try moving your monitor up or down, too. sm - mlstoo
  • My PT recommended changing the height sm - CL
  • Try leaning back in your chair and typing with your keyboard in your lap. I had terrible neck sm - vtmt
    • Same here. Lap is definitely the best position - for this old dog!! NM
  • Walking 30 minutes per day sm - mlstoo

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It seems my keyboard is just a bit too high (or my chair is just a bit too low), as I am developing wrist extensor problems and ending up with a weak right hand, making it difficult to type.  (I have been massaging it, but can't keep on top of it.)

I tried putting the keyboard on my lap, which really helped my arms but caused more trouble with my legs (I have circulatory problems in my legs).  I also tried sitting on a pillow to boost me up higher, which, for some reason, also caused more trouble with my legs.

I have my keyboard on a tray below my desk and my chair at the highest it can go. - Any other ideas out there?  (Can't afford one of those cool desks where you can sort of recline and no husband to rig up something for me.) 

Thanks for any tips! 

Actually, AAMT has restructured the CMT exam, and MTs are no longer required to have 2 years of experience to sit for the exam.  However, they strongly recommended to have at least 2 years of experience in the acute arena. 

Check out the AAMT web site - they are working on a new certification exam that is geared more towards those new to the field and new graduates.  I believe this is the RMT credential already discussed here.  According to the web site, those eligible are recent graduates, MTs with less than 2 years' acute experience, and MTs working in single- or multi-specialty clinics.

Hope that helps....

Theresa Leppert, RHIT, CMT

Microsoft Comfort Curve keyboard.  I bought it last week and love it. 

I have also had a problem with RSI.  I went to a chiropractor and he fixed the problem.  I had a disk compression at C5-6, and it was causing my hands to hurt. 

I found that using an ergonomic keyboard, making sure that I sat with correct posture, getting chiropractic adjustments, and doing yoga and stretching all helped a great deal. 

The previous version (2002) still has some valuable information and the newest version, 2008, came out at the end of April/first part of May.  Not sure if you can get it on amazon.com but you can get it from their publisher rayve (google it or the book title) or you might be able to find it on half.com.

I got the 2002 version on interlibrary loan from my local library, read it cover to cover TWICE and it was a wealth of information!!!!  I strongly recommend this book to anyone thinking about starting out on their own.  :)

Well, after the reading and research I have done, I think I agree with one writer that stated that at the rate things are going now in the transcription world that in 5 years 80% of us will be out of jobs!!  Either through technology and/or offshoring!!

So, instead of waiting for another axe to fall on me...I have been chopped up enough by the MTSOs...... I am hoping to decorating cakes for a living!!!

I am waiting to hear back from a local bakery where I just interviewed. 

I have taken all the Wilton cake decorating courses and have done quite a few birthday, wedding, and mother's day cakes in the past...I definitely am not Duff or anyone at Charm City Cakes, but it is something I truly enjoy doing and it was my "therapy" that got me through a divorce about 10 years ago. 

So, I will be working 8 hours a day only, get immediate feed back, paid hourly and not production, and hopefully will be able to transition into this job permanently....

So, I hope and pray that I am wrong about the future of this profession for which I have worked so long and hard....but the stress now is almost unbearable and ain't worth it no more!!!        

What about birds?  If people had a bird that they had in a cage, and not let FLY for exercise, is that a bad pet-owner?  Most bird owners that I know of, have birds in a cage and they let their birds poo in a cage on the paper in the bottom of the cage. 

What about cats?  Cats are domesticated animals just like dogs and some people NEVER let their cats go outside.  They let their cats do their business in a litter box. 

I just don't see any difference in this and using the potty pads, and like I said, I have used potty pads with previous dogs I have had.  They do not smell if you pick up the dirty pad right away, which I do when at all possible.  It's the dog hiking his leg on the furniture which is NOT acceptable to me and I agree--it stinks and I have a terrible problem going on with this---I try to clean it up as soon as I can, but he is definitely ruining my floors and thus why I was asking for advice on the hiking of the leg. We need new floors (carpet) in our house anyway and we are planning on replacing them soon but I need to get the dog re-trained somehow before we get the new flooring or else I'll still be in the same boat I'm in now.  I've just got to figure out how to retrain him back to the potty pads.  Wish me luck!

Have a nice day!

Does anyone know of a really good hair product for the "frizzies" ?

With summer coming, I'm dreading my hair curling and frizzing with the heat and humidity, have tried a lot of products without success.  Any tried and true methods? thank you  in advance ! 

There are very few places now that have no ESL doctors.  When I changed jobs last November I thought I would lose my mind because there are so many ESLs on the accounts, but honestly after getting the same ones over and over, they should get easier.  I actually miss the days when I was just starting out getting 5 cpl typing nothing but ER reports.  Yeah, it got boring sometimes, but I was bringing in more money then than I am now making 8.5 cpl.  Ah, the good ole days!

If you are an IC, it would not matter as you do not have to say "who" you work for - just prove your income.

I have been an MT my entire life.   I had no formal training - just had a knack for it and always had a job doing transcription.  I was sought out many times. However back about 1993 I started hearing rumors about voice recognition. I at that time decided to go to school and get a nursing degree as I wanted to stay in healthcare. I obtained my LPN- RN - then BSN in 1999.   Took me awhile but I did it.  Since that time I have done some coding, worked as a nurse and been promoted to transcription supervisor in 2000.  I also teach transcription at our local college.  Since I have such a broad range of experiences in all the things you are looking at I would suggest nursing - you are going to get the most valuable education in that field - with many opportunities.   If you don't like it you would have the bulk of your education and could easily slip int to coding or transcription.  Just my opinion.

Hi Moderator:

Can you please direct me how to enter my new email addy?  Either on line and send it to me at my new one? or what? Thanks so much

It seems a lot of people are feeling the same crunch.  I have been an MT for 10 years  I too used to have a excellent hourly plus incentive with great bennies in-house jobs which was outsourced to an Indian Company. I worked from home and make ok. Now it's hard to even find a decent line count with benefits at all. I am working as an IC at 9 cpl and no bennies. As a single Mother I simply cannot do this anymore.  There companies who offer employee status and bennies but the line rates are so low or they want you to work 2nd or 3rd shift and with my family situation this is not possible.

I too am making a career change plans.  It seems that nursing is all the rage with the high paying jobs and plenty of them. But as a former nursing student years ago before MT I know it's not for me.  Too high pressure and the bullying in nursing school is unbelievable as is the 2 year committment to school full time.

I decided to try Assocaites degree Accounting/CIS. I hope to enter as a clerk or bookkeeper and work towards the Bachelors degree once working as a clerk.  In the meantime I have been brushing up on Powerpoint, Excel, etc and applying for secretarial and admn assistant jobs. 

 I had considered medical billing but I am somewhat soured on the healthcare system and outsourcing.  I figured Accounting is much broader and can work for more than one industry, but have seen accounting positions in healthcare systems too. 

I wondered if people would share what fields they were considering.

For new MTs... the field IS dying between VR contsantly improving and outsourcing/offshoring our jobs are dwindling as are the pay and benefits.  If you are a married-stay-at-home type of Mom with luxury of a second income and your husband's benefits MT might still be ok for a little extra money on the side.  But for anyone trying to support either themselves or their family on MT -- forget it.   Its a good part-time Mom job these days and that is about it. 

Sad.  There are many excellent and quality MTs who have a ton of knowledge.  I wondered how they intended to transfer skills to another profression.  The writing is on the wall.  I hope to be out in 2-1/2 years tops.