skydiver30960

You'll be fine. People freak out about lumbar punctures because we don't like needles in general and REALLY don't like the idea of a needle in our spinal column, because we know how important it is to us. But LPs are done all the time, all over the world, on people of all ages. The headache comes from the loss of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). When you stand up, more fluid moves out of the cerebral space and the headache worsens. It takes about an hour for your body to make all new CSF, so a minimum of an hour flat on your back is the standard. You may need longer, it'll be up to you and your practitioner(s). Definitely let someone else drive home. Hang in there.... Elvisio "don't worry you won't have to watch" Rodriguez

I've never worked in one or gone to one but I'm an RN and my fiance used to do a lot of sales work with folks who had been to sleep clinics for diagnosis of sleep apnea. What do you want to know? I can forward some questions to her if you have anything in particular you want to know. Basically, as I understand it from working with other patients, they're going to watch you sleep. Sundry monitoring devices may be used, some of which may even be able to be used at home rather than in a clinical setting. Again, I've never been. But forward me any particulars and I'll see if the fiance can lend a hand... Elvisio "not been there nor done that" Rodriguez

After going a couple rounds on this same issue, the only advice I would have is that if you do any kind of funky mailbox, make sure you have a regulation-sized mailbox inside it for the mailman to deliver to. I've heard that they're real sticklers about having an "approved" box to put the mail in. You can do pretty much anything you want to around the outside of the box, as long as the regulation box is intact. The whole "why didn't they sue when they fucked themselves up" thing is a good point. It's a litigation age, as any skydiver knows. One thing that would help would be to make it obvious that it isn't just a normal mailbox. Doing the "normal looking bigger mailbox filled with concrete with a smaller mailbox inside, " could be considered "setting a trap" in a court case, but if it was a welded steel box with a normal mailbox inside then you'd have a better chance of fighting 'em off. The e-mail thing is a good point. In a decade or so this'll all be moot, no more mailboxes. As it is, I only check mine about once a week. But, in the meantime, crank up the MIG welder and have at it! Elvisio "never did this when I was young, but surely guilty of similar stupidness" Rodriguez

The plan: Repeal ALL traffic laws. Insure your own vehicle for as much as YOU want to protect YOUR OWN investment. No liability insurance (for vehicles or personal injury) will be offered. Hang old tires all around your vehicle. Get a good helmet. Hit the streets! Elvisio "my plan rocks" Rodriguez

Today, while killing time at the firehouse, I saw an episode of the American version of the show where a woman got booted on the SECOND question. When asked what form of punctuation was used to start a list, she said a period. I thought it was funny at first, but was actually kinda sad. The whole audience and the hostess were just speechless. Elvisio "no matter where you go" Rodriguez

I feel your pain: I used to take Midrin for migraines (I'm lucky, I outgrew them) and that stuff would RUIN me for the rest of the day. I knew I was going to be out on the couch or in bed for a while. No headache, but no conscious thought either, it was kind of a tossup. I used to run on about that much sleep for about a year or so at my last job. I found that I adjusted after the first month or so. I noticed that I fell asleep much faster and slept deeper. Some nights, I would wake up in the same position I feel asleep in, the bedcovers wouldn't even be ruffled! I know its easier to say than do, but trying to minimize the sugar and caffeine will probably benefit you in the future. You just crash later on, and I'm sure it isn't helping your headaches either. Instead, eat several small meals through the day, so your blood sugar stays normalized throughout the day and you don't get that afternoon "oh, I'm so full from lunch that I need a nap" feeling. Get regular exercise, try to find time (as you are already) to get up and away from your desk periodically, and schedule your most mentally demanding tasks for the morning when you'll be your sharpest. Leave the filing and stapling kind of duties for the afternoon. Elvisio "I almost sound like I know what I'm saying" Rodriguez

While I agree with your sentiment and what you're getting at (I'm about to marry my girlfriend of ten years, and we've never even CONSIDERED homeownership together before this point) keep in mind that people who aren't married buy houses together all the time. Especially in an expensive/ high-rent community (i.e. "the big city" for us rednecks), two people who are just roommates could work together to buy a home that would mean a lower monthly cost, as well as a better investment when compared to renting. The key, as hammered to death above, is to make sure everything is legal and both parties are represented appropriately. Elvisio "one more whack with the hammer" Rodriguez

DON'T CALL IT A CELL PHONE! According to the commercials, you'll get eaten by a shark. Elvisio "had to chime in" Rodriguez

Truth of the matter is, we're ALL stupid. At some point in our life, no matter who we are, we ALL have been the dumbass. The difference is not whether or not we're (ever) stupid, but the frequency with which we fit into that category. Elvisio "higher batting average than I would like to admit to" Rodriguez

To interject a bit of the original thread, the reason we as a society are building law schools rather than nursing schools is that (while nurses do make good bank, relatively speaking) the school can siphon a HELLUVA lot more money out of a law school grad than they can a nursing school grad. Elvisio "we don't get paid THAT well" Rodriguez

Spending money at the school level is part of the problem right now: there are a ton of people who want to be nurses, and a huge need for nurses. There is a palpable lack of nursing programs in our area, and one of the biggest problems is finding people willing to teach for community college-level pay. Most RN's are working three or four days a week making really good bank (ESPECIALLY the ones with enough experience to be decent teachers). Why would they bail on their sweet work schedule and fat paycheck to get paid peanuts to deal with rooms full of whiney college students who feel their having paid tuition should guarantee them a degree and a passing grade on the NCLEX? Elvisio "just got my RN, see ya!" Rodriguez

that you felt dizzy afterwords? My head was spinning for a while. My hypothesis is that it relates to a sudden drop in blood pressure from the drop in abdominal and intrathoracic pressure. Wadaya think? Should I refrain from burping while driving to avoid passing out at the wrong time? Elvisio "feel another one brewing" Rodriguez

Of course the FAA blames the pilots. Isn't that the way it always works? Pilot error, that must be the cause. Because, according to them, the whole reason for the FAA existing is to keep everything perfectly safe and efficient, and if there was a cause OTHER than pilot error that would mean the FAA had done something wrong and we just couldn't have that, now, could we? Plus, we NEED the FAA to protect us from all those error-laden pilots... Elvisio "no fan of da man" Rodriguez

[replyHey, look at one end it's eliptical So that means it'll turn faster in one direction than it will in the other?

This is pretty much how it's done. And you're right, it's a small price. The really cool part is how the marrow is "installed" in the recipient. No needles, other than the one necessary for an IV. The marrow is mashed or blended or whatever to make the particulate size small enough and it just flows into the circulation like any other blood product (whole blood, PRBCs, plasma) and the body just knows where to put it to make it work. Elvisio "Still better to be the donor" rodriguez

I had a pair of Boba Fett Underoos where the front of the shirt was made to look like is armor or whatever it was he was wearing. They were simply the bomb. Elvisio "no matter how sure I am, I never risk the Fett-man" Rodriguez

"Ow! I should've just stayed inside and licked my balls..." Elvisio "or is it bullocks" Rodriguez

One of my favorite websites, I think someone from dz.com turned me onto it. I'm not into IT or computers so much so I don't get the tech-based ones too often, but most of them are awesome. Elvisio "the ones about his girlfriend's sister hit too close to home" rodriguez

I still HAVE my first bicycle, well... I still have my first tricycle at least. It was always special to me and my mom because putting it together was one of the last things my grandfather (her dad) did for me before he passed away. It has been with me ever since, never quite making it out to the curb or garage sale. I don't plan on having any kids to pass it on to, and I really don't think it'd be safe enough to let anyone else's kids have it, but I figure I'll hold onto it for a while longer... Elvisio "misty watercolor memories" rodriguez

That's nasty dude, sorry to hear you're 10-7 from it. We see a bunch of cases each day in the ER, I'm really not sure how I've managed to dodge that bullet for so long; thank heavens for universal precautions! Hope you're feeling better soon... Elvisio "hand washing rocks" Rodriguez

A full 10 points out of 10 for the Monty Python reference at the end. Sensory overload is a major problem in acute care wards. So many bells and whistles that are designed to make patient care easier (and therefore better) actually make it harder for the patient to rest and heal. Elvisio "yeppir" Rodriguez

Where's PhillyKev when we need him? Elvisio "calling" Rodriguez

Have they faked it and I've known? Yep. Have they faked it and I didn't know? Probably. Have they faked it and then later on I brought them a real one and it was obvious to BOTH of us that she had faked it earlier on? Yep. I got a kick out of that one. I, like I suspect most men, would prefer it to be genuine rather than faked, but I'm also not a mind reader. Every woman is wired a little differently and needs slightly different treatment. Let me know what you need: Faster, slower, harder, softer, lick this, put it there, move the Shetland pony over here, whatever. Help me help you... because if you don't then it's your loss because I GUARANTEE you I'll be getting mine! Elvisio "long winded" rodriguez

Corona. ...sniff. Chortle... SNORT... BWAAAHHAAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHA! Sorry. Complete joke. Just had to see how long I could go without laughing after saying it. Elvisio "wipes tears from my eyes" Rodriguez

I went into this wanting Penn to win, so I was happy up until the end. Things that Penn did that pissed me off: 1.) He toyed with Pulver. He had the chance to finish it, but kept letting him go. Some said it was because he wanted it to be a good fight, I don't think he was doing it with good intentions. Poor form. 2.) He held the final choke WAY past the tap. Even the ref was pulling on his arm. Hell it looked like the tightened down MORE after the tap. That was piss poor form. 3.) In the post-fight interviews, Pulver was very gracious and and almost eloquent. That shit Penn pulled... INCREDIBLY piss poor form. Folks I was watching with said this is par for the course for Penn. I didn't know that, he seemed a pretty decent guy through the season; I was really disappointed. Elvisio "not ready for the cage" Rodriguez