Scared about future
Posted By: MT4eight on 2007-10-18
In Reply to:
Hi all, I've been wondering this for some time and especially these past couple of weeks when work has been low, I'm 33 years old, do you all think MT is a profession I could retire from? Or do you think that MT'ing is going to be phased out before my retirement age? I'm just worried about in the near future when I'm in my late 40s, early 50s, I will no longer have a job and then what will I do, it will be too late to start over. Does anybody else think about these things or am I just being crazy? 
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That was a nice, uplifting post. Good luck to you. I am 49 and a little scared of the future. SM
My DD is in college, 25 YO son moved back in with me after losing his job. I feel stressed, not making the money I used to make. You have made me feel hopeful today.
Which one scared you the most? Night of the Living Dead - still scared
 nm
Really scared now.
I have accepted a position with the initials PS. I have just left another national with which I was not happy, and lied to make it a smooth transition. I will keep looking until I find the right fit.
Now I am scared
I just applied to make the same switch - thinking now maybe I should not. Hope it gets better for you.
Scared off
Scared off? More likely disgusted with the narrow minded, hate filled posts on this subject.
Just Scared
I have about 2 years' experience in MT but I do not have much experience in ESL dictators. I am just scared that I won't be able to hack it if/when I finally do find an MT job. Plus, I cannot get DSL or high speed internet and am stuck with dial-up and that hurts me a lot too. Right now I have a DA-126 (C-phone compatible) but no one seems to use them anymore! 
RE: Just Scared
On the job seeker's board on this site, this job is available - Transcend Services - Acute Care Using Lanier For Voice - Transcend
The doc is probably scared, but...
I had a cholecystectomy done and had to sign stating that I understood the risk of liver damage, spleen damage, etc., but nothing happened, but had to sign the consent. Hope your cousin gets better.
Like you I was scared at first but then
my boss back in the 80s got really upset with me and she put me on straight operative reports. Did she ever do me a favor! I love them, my favs and the easiest really to do. Repetative type dictations. On the account I have can just breeze through most of them. I am really grateful to her.
Now I am scared......
Can we get a 'virus' by logging into the MTStar.com website? So many members with viruses running around. I really want to know! Scary!
scared of the MQ pay plan
I think its going to be a raw deal for those of us who have been here awhile. Only because it will be based on higher pay for harder work. In all honesty, I do not see them paying more than 10 cpl, and if they hand pick the worst of the worst, all day every day for those of us who can eek by and do them, we will be screwed. Honestly would rather have lower pay (no lower than 8 cpl) for easier work to keep my line count up. I've already been told many times that they give me the harder work because I can do it, but all day every day I would lose money.
They should base pay on experience, period the end! Keep the pool completely open to whatever work comes up, do not special assign harder work to those of us who can do it, because it slows us down incredibly! I agree, newbies need a chance to get their foot in the door with some easier dictation, but how are they going to learn if thats all theyre getting, and how about those of us who have been around the block, how are we going to earn a living for paying our dues in this business. Thats why i'm scared. Buh bye experienced MTs or what? What do you guys think?
I'd rather be scared & safe than sorry!
I have surge protectors & an APC battery back-up system; however, I have those so I will have an alarm & time to close my applications safely without loosing info during a storm (Hopefully). That being said -"I will not work during a thunderstorm/bad lightening." When my APC beeps - I backup & close what I've been working on, close all applications, log off & unplug everything!
NO - it's not safe to work during a thunderstorm/bad lightning!! Your time and/or comittment at work will have to play seconds to saving your life - & I'm not kidding that this is a possibility. Anything plugged into an electrical socket, including a phone, has the potential of being hit with lightning. I just won't risk playing with Mother Nature !! I've read of too many who have and have lost !!
I kept waiting to be scared on that one
but it never happened. The ending was SO incredibly stupid that I can't believe I wasted $2.99 renting it.
scared to death...what to do
Okay, now that I have job offers, I have to figure out what to do. 
Right now: I am employed on site as an admin asst with great insurance, good pay, people I like, and job security. The downside is missing my family--I only see them about four hours in the evenings and most of that is bathtime, cooking supper, you get the picture. I also have quite a drive to work and parking is HORRIBLE. I feel I work LONG weeks and then have little to show in the way of my emotional outlook and cash left over after buying gas, etc.
What could be: I have job offers to come back home and type full time. I would be here to see my children and be close to their schools if something happened. Also, my husband has built me a gorgeous office by closing in a porch, so there's a big three-paned picture window that overlooks my garden. I can envision myself at home, but there's a tremendous amount of fear that's holding me back. I am AFRAID because I remember how long it took to get lines in every day. I worry about the security of benefits, PTO, and just the job itself. I don't want to be sitting in this office 7 days a week from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. I hope I'm more capable than that, but sometimes it's not the MT, it's the conditions, and if I give up my other job...
I guess I am just venting and worrying and wondering. After a two-year break, can I come back home and be productive and accountable as an MT? Can I count on the industry? I really wanted to come home, but now I'm afraid.
TIA for any and all suggestions!
Supposed to be scared?
I went to a dermatologist's office about a week ago. The PA saw me, guess physician on vacation. Lesion on face, was told possibly to have morphens and PA wanted to do biopsy. Have been MT for over 30 years but had never heard this diagnosis. When asked what it was, was told "possible connective tissue disorder," could be one of several things and not to look it up "because it would scare me." Then is when I was really scared, thinking malignancy, worst thing that came to mind. I went back this week for results of biopsy (not diagnostic of morphens) and told PA I did not look up as she did scare me. She then said that was what she and the physician "were supposed to do, scare the patients." I shook my head no, saying she was the first person in the medical field to have ever scared me. I had lots of lab work done to make sure this is not the diagnosis and go back next week for those but was given a hand out - if I had read this from the start would have thought did not fit most of the criteria listed and would have slept a lot better for the week. By the way, hope they don't give this to lay persons. Asked my husband to read a paragraph to see if he could comprehend it and he said absolutely not. Apparently morphens of the face supposedly sometimes related to scleroderma (which I did know) but mild form and this is the one I really love, when people die, usually die from something other than that. Know would not do any good to say something to physician about the "scare part" - would never be believed, my word against hers but after the lab work think that will be the last visit there.
Who is scared? Who has bitterness on their
sleeve? Not me, thank you! I am trying to point out, as were other posters, the legalities of your profession. You are an IC - obviously you do not know what that means, or you would not be asking about working hours - YOU make your hours. You also are obviously sorely lacking in knowledge on legalities of medical records in your home. Do you think I am referring to your cats reading them? Not at all - but there are laws to follow regarding how long you are to keep the records YOU transcribed - your copies - how and where you have to format them, etc. Nothing to do with your cats - I am not scared of my job - just because you don't get the answers you want or are expecting doesn't mean we are afraid. I am not worried about my job or any of my professional peers - but do think there will be some regulations for others who are IC down the road as long as there are those who do not know what they are doing when they think they are an "IC"... And by your original question of wondering if you have to work, you are not savvy on your own company. If I had to sum up my feelings with an adjective as you have chosen to do first, I would say disgusted sums it up - at first, amused, but at this point, disgusted.
I have too been scared to turn them in....sm
Some reports just have to have some blanks if you aren't clear what they are saying. But it still makes you feel like you are like you are just not adequate and you hate to send it in. You know, also they may want to see if you are gonna guess to try to figure it out and guessing is worse than the blank. When you aren't familiar with a doctor to begin with and he is slurring and unclear they can't expect you to just know what he is saying.
Gastro MT or any others that would know . . . I'm scared . . .
My mom had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy a couple of weeks ago and she read me the results over the phone and is very upset. It showed "Atypical lymphoid infiltrate with features highly suggestive of MALT lymphoma of distal esophagus. Also present prominent band-like infiltrate lymphocytes subjacent to the squamous epithelial." She's very scared and I haven't had time to look everything up yet, but is this serious? Does she have cancer? I/she are really scared. She's only 61.
Her doctor says she has to pump up on antibiotics and they are going to do a repeat gastroscopy in December.
Help me out here . . . .
Thanks!
Oh yeah, I am soooo scared!
What are you gonna do, ride your horse over here and get me???????
Candyman and the Exorcist scared the cr@@ out of me. nm
x
The last man on Earth scared the dickens out of me when I was a kid.
i
scared into trying harder or leaving?
 Why do some QA folks think they can really make you feel this way? It will eventually lead to leaving, I think. I have never QAed or feel qualified, but geez, leave the poor transcriber a little positive feedback to go on. Anyone else share this thought?
scared into trying harder or leaving
Well, it is simple things really, more style than anything. I am not a newbie, I have 5 years under my belt. Gosh, what co. do you work for?
scared into trying harder or leaving
I forgot to add: it is the way the make the feedback, like are you attempting to look anything up... or I can't believe you didn't hear what I heard....ugh!
Thank goodness... I was scared there for a minute (sm)
I WISH I was fast enough that I could estimate with the "add a zero" thing. 300 lines in 30 minutes... WOW! I have also been doing MT about 1-1/2 years, and I find that 60 minutes of dictation = 3 hours. I am in a neurosurgery clinic, though, so it's pretty tough stuff. I have all American docs, though, so that helps a bit.
As a note: I do want to point out that -- according to my QA reports -- I have not fallen below a 99% accuracy rate since my 60-day probationary right-out-of-school period and I usually maintain a 100% accuracy rate. I have VERY rare blanks (1-2 a month). I take the time to research anything that is not totally familiar to me. In other words... I may not be fast, but I'm definitely GOOD. (When I go on vacation, my doctors tell my MTSO to hold their work until I get back, because they don't want anyone else doing it for them.) 
If I could be this good AND super-fast, I'd be in heaven!
Congrats from here, also! 2 years -- I have 14 and have been too scared!
You must be awesome!
Hi, I used to be so scared of Ops, grew to LOVE THEM.....SM
Have you gone to the MTDaily website? On the homepage, they have a link to loads and loads of samples of all kinds of operations and procedures, or you could go to MTDesk, samples there also that you can print out. I also think there may be samples at MTBot.com, but sure, though, many links there...hopes this helps, good luck, you'll learn fast!
Oh, please, most children have to be scared into submission. sm
I've never used a shock collar, but there are settings. It may just depend on the breed of the dog. Akitas are so head strong that an invisible fence won't even hold one. A little negative reinforcement has saved the lives of many dogs.
Ever get scared to turn in a job test?
I want and need the job I am applying for so badly, but I am scared to turn the test in because I don't want to fail it. I just keep checking and checking the test over but not sending it in. Three were easy, and one was hard because of a slurring doctor, so I had had to leave a lot of blanks and am scared that I might not get it because of that.
I was scared that was going to happen when the first Gulf War
unless the Stock Market allowed buying stocks on credit, like they did back then, it probably won't come to that. I do think things will continue to get gradually worse, though, until (a) the US can kick the foreign oil habit, and (b) the words "Made in The USA" mean something once again.
put scared penis...should have been scarred.
Can you get the picture in your head?
Neither one scared me because they're both fiction!! (Sigh)
I know what ya'll will probably say. I am scared right now. For the past 2 weeks or so sm
I've been having chest pain off and on or waxing and waning as they say?
Anyhow, it is just a tad bit to the right of my actual heart which is why I am thinking possibly GI. My right arm hurts a bit too, almost a numb feeling, but I am attributing that to typing all morning. Mild case of carpal tunnel.
2 years ago was told for 1st time I have a weird kind of heart murmur. When I went walking up a long hill to get exercise a year ago I became dizzy, almost fell down, sweating profusely, sat down, rested, and it went away.
What do you think these signs are showing? Oh! My history. I am a 31-year-old female, mother of 3 young children, height 5'2, 155 pounds, not under too much stress (or should I say I deal with it well). Right now, it's hurting pretty bad. DH is out of town and I don't want to call an ambulance! I have 2 of my kids home right now. What would you do?
PS:This is not a joke. I don't want to make a big deal out of all of this, but I am so scared that I might be sorry for not taking action. Heart disease, heart attacks VERY prevalent in family history, but in older relatives! Thanks guys~!
I'm scared to death for my 29 yo beloved neice!
Her insurance will not pay for a first, baseline mammogram even though strongly ordered (and fought I might add) by her ob/gyn because of some cystic type lumps in her breast, so we (uncles, aunts and her dad) are paying for it and she goes tomorrow.
Now, her insurance co, BS, has all the info and would rather "deal with it" if she has an issue later on? We did a family tree of sorts when she went to this new ob/gyn and it looks more like a family time bomb!
Paternal side: 1 cousin and 2 second cousins diagnosed with breast CA in their early 30's, grandmother had it, great aunt died from it, great grandmother died from breast and cervical CA, great great aunt died from breast CA and uterine CA. I am her only paternal relative not diagnosed and the rest were before the age of 50 & I have mine yearly (also having mine with her tomorrow) just because of my side of the family but hers gets multiplied!
Maternal side: Her mother was diagnosed at 39, fought for 5 years and died 3 years ago from breast CA. One cousin (26) with fibercystic disease is closely watched, and went into POF, premature ovarian failure at 24 causing infertility. Aunt won her battle with breast CA only to lose it to ovarian CA at 42. Two other aunts went into premature menopause in their 30's (which the doc said is a red flag to watch) Then her grandmother died from it, great aunt died from breast and brain CA, great great grandmother died from breast CA.
After the mammogram, her ob/gyn wants to seriously talk about elective mastectomy's with reconstructive surgery to just not even give this God awful disease a chance to hit her because of having 13 relatives total diagnosed. After watching the devastation in her mom and aunts, she has no problem with surgery but the uphill battle will be the insurance company.
She's still my baby and it just scares me to no end the inheritance she's been cursed with!
Not scared - I've already been doing acute care
for 7 years and would like to go to clinic. Personal preference.
NO child "needs" to be scared into submission
how ignorant to suggest such a thing.
Kind of scared of Ebay, no experience with them.
The cost differential makes them quite desirable. My only concern is reliability, but at these prices, I'm willing to give ebay a try. Thanks for your responses.
She is scared about turn around time of her business. Prob nothing you can do other than what you d
She does understand, just frustrated and wanting to prob, poke, intimidate, make you feel bad. Just stay calm, when giving her choices just stay calm and say which would you want me to handle for you. Say, I can HELP YOU with thus and thus. She knowwwws just scared and just remain calm, stick to your "Calm Guns" and don't take personally. Say, I know you are worried, this is how I can help, which will it be (so to speak, she will soften and might end up apologizing a bit. Remain at least another month and see how pans out.
Health question-liver enlargement? Scared to death
GYN ordered MRI of abdomen and pelvis without contrast due to pelvic pain and previous uterine resuspension suspecting I might have cyst, etc. I am 44 and have been healthy all my life (never smoked or drank or used drugs, exercise, not overweight and eat very healthy) just perimenopausal and using bioidentical progesterone last 1-1/2 years and last 6 months started on thyroid supplementation (low dose T3/T4) for hypothyroidism. Since starting these 2 things, I have been feeling great compared to previous lack of energy, etc. Got results of the MRI today but haven't seen doctor yet. Everything looked fine on abdominal scan (gallbladder, pancreas, adrenals, bone marrow, etc) except report said liver was ''upper limits of normal (borderline)'' and spleen was ''relatively small'' bordering on hyposplenism. Okay, now I am totally freaking out. On routine screening, my LFTs have always been within normal (latest 10/2005). I did use oral contraceptives up until about 6 years ago and used them from ages 18 to 25 and then 28 to 38. I haven't been able to transcribe at all today, just sitting here in tears. Keep thinking of all the reports I have typed which seem to indicate liver enlargement indicative of very serious matters. MRI doesn't mention anything about lesions, nodules, etc., but it was noncontrast so I am wondering whether it would pick this up or not. I am obsessing and wondered if anyone could give me some insight. I have been ''Googling'' all afternoon and everything I read sounds awful. Is it possible to just have a slightly larger liver than what the normal range is? Can the reading of an MRI be influenced by the skill of the radiologist or affected by artifacts (it did begin report saying motion artifact noted but I think this is common on all MRIs from what I have read)? I did do the ''breath-holding technique'' when doing the scan. I am wondering if my years of contraceptives could have predisposed me to this and possibly the absolute worst, liver cancer? I really don't have digestive problems except sometimes it seems like my food sits heavy on my stomach and takes a few more hours than usual before I am hungry again; this is usually around ovulation or right before menses. Sorry this is so long. Just need some insight before I lose my mind here.
future of VR
My personal opinion is that for now only some companies will use it but eventually it will become more predominant like all technology, i.e., cassettes to mini-cassettes to C-phones, etc.; as well as manual typewriters to electric to memory typewriters to computers. It seems to be something people either love or hate, but I do believe it is here to stay, though not take over.
Future-Net - NM
X
In the future you should try
doing a catchy flyer with pertinent info and faxing it. This works much better. Most of your mailers probably went in the trash without being opened. If you do a flyer, try using phrases like -will beat your current Transcriptionist rate- you WILL get calls. You can bargain from there.
I have a friend who works in a doctor's office and a drug rep gave them a list of phone numbers and fax numbers for all physicians in the area. If you can get one of these, just go down the list and fax 10 or 15 back to back at a time. I got several calls.
MT future
I have ben doing transcription for 7 years and ASR editing for about 6 months. From what I see, it will be a very, very long time before it is perfected. Honestly, transcription has not been lucrative for me in the past and although pay is slightly lower than transcribing, I have not seen much of a diffence to my bottom line.
MT future
sorry about typos, been a long day!
future
unfortunely, seems to work well for radiology...hospital probably a safer bet for future work.
there is editing needed, but personally would rather type thanlisten and correct. and many self edit anyway.
no future in MT
I agree. Itis the same old crap everywhere you go. Lousy pay, no raises, etc. I've worked for several agencies and it is only same old routine.
since i'm not sure about the future of MT
I've gone back to school as well. I'm completely torn as to what I want to do, i'm back and forth, and the past two years have been taking courses for nutrition and psychology, and cannot decide between the two. When I was a soph in HS I knew I wanted to do something with psychology, but here it is 15 years later, when I've decided to go for it, and its just brutal, the studying, the work on top of a full time job. I SOOO wish I would have just started 15 years ago, in that direction. I've always had a full time job and moved out at a young age, so just took the technical college route and learned MTing.
I'm looking at about 10 years of college because I can only go part-time, to be a clinical psychologist. I'm thinking of just going for the nutrition. I love working with food, time flies when i'm in the kitchen and I love watching people enjoy what i've made. I just know its a stressful job, you're on your feet a lot, and its more about speed than anything. I went to the library today and bought a book "can you stand the heat" all about the working conditions of a chef. I know I do not have it in me to be in school the next 10 years, i'm sorry, maybe if I were independently wealthy and could just focus on that. Becoming a chef will take less than three years. I will do MT'ing as long as its around though, as I enjoy working independently.
Go to the library, there are books that fit your personality type with a specific job, and then a list of the pros and cons, the money you would make. Just really research it. If its what you want to do the rest of your life, make sure its something that will make you happy.
Future-Net
I do work for Future-Net and this is what they do.
I'm sure your future will be
xx
Is there a future for me as a IC MT...
Hello! I'm new here but any advice would be welcomed. I haven't worked as a full-time MT in nine years. Mostly I've done Pathology at a hospital in Las Cruces, NM. I would like to get back into the MT field so I've purchased the SUM Advanced CD, which I am currently working on, and 19 practice dictation tapes from "Absolute Experience". I have also just started a workbook entitled, "The Language of Medicine." After I've finished all this, is there a future for me as an independent contractor MT? This is really the only job that pays well that I can do from home. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks in advance! Shelley P.S. I took a test this week through a company called StatIQ in Albuquerque and I was surprised that I scored 94% (since it has been so long). However, you must score 98% to secure a job.
Why not? Don't you think that even future - sm
programmers, code writers and technical engineers are warned that a lot of U.S. work is being sent to other countries?
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