I suppose so, but she seemed to be the only one running with the general.

I have two friends in the Army, well really only one now, who are both full bird colonels. At their level, it's hard to find a female peer to run with. But they avoid running with their male counterparts, and vice versa, because it is totally one of those things people talk about.

Not in DC, but on an Army base everyone is running from 6:30-7:30 am. I know mny people who used that time for other than actual running.

I am enjoying the P4 gossip and speculation more than I usually do such matters, and I haven't a clue why. My only guess is good timing for distraction. It is likely that I would be most excellent at conducting affairs or spying, in my most non-humble opinion. Alas, I don't really feel any interest in doing either. I'll keep the spying option open.

I'm watching an episode of The Cosby Show where an ethnically ambiguous-looking person is encouraging people to play a guessing game to figure out what she is. This does not correspond with any reality I have ever experienced.

I see this repeatedly among the HS set here. We do have some wild combinations and it seems to amuse the kids to both guess and share.

I needed the distraction, because I got in the middle of a (white American) poster telling a (black African) poster that her reaction to the blanket descriptor of "Africa" in scenarios where the European country would probably be specified was prejudiced and problematic.

I do wish I had edited at least the headline, because really, isn't the more amazing point that they are teenagers? I think so. (Like I did change the headline on the elephant who can say words, because it's not more impressive that they are Korean -- the elephant is in Korea!)

I am composing a letter to my neurologist. I'm not sure if it needs tweaking:

They are admitting me again today, the second weekend in a row, because the single dose does not get me to a level where I can start the week. And I'm being told that the admitting doctor will not administer the regimen either, so I have no idea what is going to be done so that I can work five days next week.

I need a new plan, and I need it today. Just when I thought the botox might be able to make things more bearable, I have no breakthrough pain remedies, so I'm further back in the hole than I've been in months if not years.

I don't know how else I can make my plight more clear, and I don't know how I can find people who are willing to help me cope in the short to middle term, I am entirely at a loss.

Please help me.

Oh god.

If you're looking for feedback, I might reiterate that you're talking about the regimen that the neurologist (?right?) developed and put in your file, because it's the only thing that's shown to help.

Jesus, ita ! I am thinking you should go ahead and bring a medical lawyer with you to the ER each week.

This is Stoppardesque levels of absurd.

I don't think you're describing an affair.

You're right -- it sounds awful, and not exciting or erotic, which is why I wouldn't do. It would be fun in other instances, though!

Damn, ita !, what has the neurologist said about the refusal to follow his prescribed regimen in the past? What is his relationship in the hospital/ER powers that be hierarchy? If your treatment can only be administered in the ER would it possibly have more likelihood of being successfully administered on a weekday, perhaps in the evening, thus avoiding weekend staff?

Sorry, more questions than answers, but just trying to explore potential solutions. It is so insane to have to deal with the pain and the bureaucracy at the same time.

I've heard zero from the neurologist in the past couple visits. I need to check and see when the next appointment is.

Now, the ER doc came in and said it would be one dose, gave me the dose, and then discharged me. Instead of signing those papers I said I would like my pain treated, and whatever they needed to do to get me going was fine, but I'm not leaving until then.

She left and came back and told me I'd be admitted, but no IV pain meds there either. At which point I wrote the above email.

The admitting doctor just left. She, like the resident I just saw, is new to me. She took my history, AND THEN SAID SHE'D GIVE ME THE RECOMMENDED DOSAGES WITHIN THE EFFECTIVE TIME PERIOD.

Why did the ER resident tell me that wouldn't happen? Why did she come back and tell me a doctor had decided on a course of treatment for me without talking to me and assessing me her herself?

I don't know. But I have no flattering way to describe that. At best it seems mildly spiteful behaviour to put drugseekers in their place. Sometimes the second doctor does do what the first said they would. Sometimes they don't. But I was clear to the ER doc--I'm just here to get back on my feet, and whatever effective breakthrough treatment they have is fine by me.

I don't feel I overreacted by sending that email to my neuro/migraine specialist. The way the doctors in the ER are acting should be on record--being admitted more often than not is ridiculous--no one is treating me, then. They're just reading off a piece of paper, and I don't know where that paper came from.

So, flat out, that's it.. I'm here, each time, until they do a good faith effort (based on doctor recommendation and information in the file) to help my pain. I know it doesn't always work well. But it pretty much *never* works if you don't try. That's why I'm here. The graham crackers are good, but overpriced.

I don't think the weekday would be any better, and this day gives me the most work days in good condition. I get about 5 days of good behaviour out of this, so I have to start that as late as possible. But I also can't always work (certainly can't drive) for 6 or so hours after being discharged.

ita, I think it might be worth contacting the social worker at the hospital again, just to have someone who's supposed to be advocating for you aware of what's going on.

I don't feel I overreacted by sending that email to my neuro/migraine specialist.

Not at all! Not knowing what kind of ordeal you will have to endure each week is not acceptable. A solution that does not involve having to go to the ER each week would be much better, but if that is the protocol at the moment then the treatment needs to be consistent. I hope the doctor has some thoughts on compelling the ER to follow his orders.