They don't feel I need IV pain medication, and talking to my neurologist didn't change that. I asked her what was a better idea, and she suggested oral dilaudid. I asked her why she thought my doctor requested I get given 6 mg of IV dilaudid if there was any amount of oral dilaudid that worked. Why she thought we hadn't actually tried every prescription and this was a last resort....

And then she told me I was welcome to come back at any time.

I was raised well enough to not spit in her face, but it was close.

I will wait for them to take the portacath IV access out, I will go home and send off that status report I've been working on, and then I'll send my manager a note that I won't be back in the office until further notice, because I am far enough gone to not be able to drive. Or think.

FUCKED UP--I had a neuro appointment Monday morning that I cancelled because I thought I had a deployment Sunday. So now I needn't have cancelled it, but they haven't rescheduled it, and I really need to talk to him (I sent an email, but he rarely replies to those). I may just cab it to the doctor's office first thing Monday morning and hang out until someone takes pity on the woman jabbing a penknife into her thigh.

I'm so sorry, ita. That's so maddening and fucked up.

Can you go to another ER?

Jesus christ. Are all nations this fucked up when it comes to pain ontrol?

Jesus, that's incredibly fucked up.

No ER is going to give a stranger the recommended dosages I need, That's why I'm here, and that's much of the problem.

And it's a problem someone else is going to have to fix, because I have neither knowledge nor power. All I seem to have is snot.

The nurse was really apologetic, but...

Was there no one there who knew you today, ita? I can't believe they can just disregard standing orders. I'm so sorry.

So I broke a fluorscent tube trying to change the light. I've, so far, done everything wrong in cleaning up.

How likely am I to get mercury poisoning?

Also I found information in one place that says to throw out any bedding, clothes, or throw rugs that came in contact with mercury. This happened in my living room, where I have a huge pile of clean clothes, throw rugs, and yarn. Should I throw out everything that was touched by broken glass or everything in the entire room? Or does it matter.

As I said in Bitches, it's a very tiny amount of mercury. Don't worry about it.

askye, the most important thing you can do is the easiest. Open the windows and leave the room with the broken bulb until any vapors have dissipated.

While you are in another place waiting, read an online guide to clean-up.

I called poison control. The woman assured me I wasn't going to make myself sick from this (more than likely). I didn't even think "oh there's mercury in this" I just thought - damn there's glass everywhere this is going to be a mess. I'm throwing everything in a trash bag that I'll then triple bag.

She said throwing out bedding and clothing was over kill. The main worry is washing it in warm water, but I washed stuff in cold water.

It's been over 15 minutes since the tube broke but I guess if I'm vacuuming I'm stirring up more vapors.

There was a bit of glass in some yarn, but the only thing I'm throwing away is the trick or treat bag I made for Evander.