Dave

March 1st, 2008 by dave

For over ten months now I have had a bad back, at first it was a little back pain here and there, but I knew about it. I went to the doctor who prescribed me some pain killers. After that it was pretty much left and I started a course of mild pain killers. A month or two later, the back pain seemed to have got worse and I started having problems when standing up and sitting down.

I went back to the doctors who decided to give me even stronger pain killers, he felt the area where the pain was coming from, poked and prodded it and came to a decision that the muscle was tight and the cause was due to being sat at a computer for too many hours and not doing enough exercise. So, the story continues………

I was now taking 30/500 co-codamol which were making me drowsy and caused a loss of apetite. Another trip to the doctors and another set of tablets. I had been given some anti inflammatories and told to take them with paracetamol. So, I left again and started doing as he asked. Within a few days I had a bad stomach pain and had problems going to the toilet, not to mention the drowsiness again, not to mention the pain was getting worse by the day.

I went back to ther doctors again, who referred me to a physiotherapist. Six weeks later I had my first appointment and we went through a few basic exercises. I was told to do them as often as possible and try and stay active and then go back once a week. Over a period of about six weeks, the pain just got worse and the physio could not understand what was happening so referred me back to the doctor who then referred me to the hospital.

More time went by and the pain got worse and worse, there became times when I could not stand up without being in severe pain, walking became difficult, sitting down at my desk was painful, nothing seemed to be getting any easier and the pain killers were not working in the slightest.

Within a few weeks a letter from the hospital dropped through the door with an appointment date, in the meantime I saw the doctor again who gave me some diclofenac which he claimed “would help this time”. By the time the appointment came round the pain had moved into my right leg and was affecting my sleep.

Due to Kings Mill Hospital waiting list being too long I was sent to Bassetlaw. The doctor there was fantastic, he did a few checks on my back and leg and soon found out that I had a slipped disc and requested that I have a MRI scan to see how bad it was. I was told to wait for a letter which would confirm the date. This came within a few days and told me that I could go back in about four weeks time.

Ok, next was the MRI scan, nothing to it, went in, laid on a long bed and stuck some earplugs in and laid there for about 20 minutes whilst the machine scanned me and made some strange noises.

A few weeks later I went back for the results and as the doctor thought it was a slipped disc, and a bad one at that. He said the disc was quite big and sticking out quite a bit which is what was causing all the pain. Stronger medication was prescribed and an appointment to come to the hospital for a caudal epidural was made for a few weeks time.

This diagram shows exactly what happens:

I was now on Gabapentin, a large orange capsule. After a fews days of taking these the pain did not ease at all, I just became really drowsy and spaced out. Following two trips to A&E as the pain became unbearable they tried me on some different tablets, which again have not really had an effect. They did give me some crutches though which were helping with walking until they too became useless.

Next was the caudal epidural, the idea was to inject steroids into my spine which could take away some of the pain, the doctor said that it may not work because of how bad the slipped disc was but it was worth a try. Failing this, he would need to operate. I went to Bassetlaw Hospital @ 7.30am one morning and was in the operating room for about 11am. After giving me a local anaesthetic they proceeded with an injection into the spine, which was the most weirdest feeling ever, I felt pressure along the bottom of my back and down my right leg, it was horrible. A few hours later I was back at home, feeling numb and drowsy, as for the pain, it was still there. The doctor has now prescribed me with some morphine patches and told me to carry on taking the pain killers. One patch was applied to my shoulder and within a few hours the pain had eased off a little.

The following morning came round, and the pain was still there but was not as bad, as instructed I rested and spent a few days in bed and tried to stay as still as possible. The following couple of weeks went by and the pain became unbearable which meant an increase in painkillers and another morphine patch. I went back to the hospital and was told that an operation was needed to cut away a part of the disc, first I must go for a pre-assessment then the main op a couple of days later, at the time I was told that the waiting list was not that long. A few days later I got a call and was asked to go in for the pre-assessment then if that went ok could have the operation two days later.

Thats where I am at at the moment, this Monday for the pre-assessment and the operation on Wednesday, fingers crossed that it goes ok and that I can get back to normal. What a long wait it has been.

February 11th, 2008 by dave

For over a year now I have had an issue with British Telecom. Firstly we set up a business telephone line and broadband service which at first seemed ok. As soon as the bills started coming in is when the problems began. In the past year we have been billed twice for periods paid for on previous bills, charged various fees that we were not made aware of, over-charged on phone calls and lied to by customer services on various occasions. Not only this, everytime a complaint is lodged, I have been promised a call back, and not once has this happened.

BT Internet was also provided and from day one we had problems with the router, to which we complained straight away. They have tested the line on various occasions, sent us a new router but still we had the problem. Throughout the working day the router would reset itself upto ten times a day, sometimes even more. When it eventually flicked back to life the PC’s would have to be reset as there was normally an IP conflict.

For over a year, this caused a massive interruption to the business. It is only now that we have managed to get away from BT, even though they have threatened us with more charges for leaving a contract early, even though the broadband was on a one year contract, they now claim that it was a two year contract. We have had no choice but to make an official complaint but as usual we have not heard a whisper. Now onto the house phone line. A phone line was ordered online, a call from BT came through asking for a deposit. This was paid and an installation date was given. So, the day that they were coming we called to see where they were.

To our amazement, they had a problem. For some reason they had cancelled the order and not told us and had no explanation, the only thing they could tell us is that the engineer would not be coming out today and a new order must be placed. After being on the phone for over an hour, being passed from person to person and probably from country to country we get put through to the sales department who decide to keep us on hold for even longer. By this time, enough was enough. We hung up and filed a complaint through their website.

Why does BT have the whole country over a barrel?

Why is everyone forced to have a BT line and put up with the useless call centres and systems they have in place?

If only something could be done?

Maybe if enough people pulled together the Government could do something?

February 2nd, 2008 by dave

Thought I would blog about this as I am (or was) severely annoyed at these guys. A few days ago I took a car into them to get valued with the hope that they would buy it. A guy came and had a good look around the car and within ten minutes sent me into see the owner.

He had a brief chat with me and soon told me that he would be looking at buying the car for £5500 if not a little more (baring in mind that the car if sold privately would be sold for at least £6995). Anyway, I was happy with the price and said that I would come back with the owner of the car in a few days.

We called them up just to confirm all this and was told to come down before 1700 a day later. So, the car was given a quick clean and taken down to Sales Assistance (What a waste of time). Upon arrival, we went straight into the manager office, the keys were given to one of the guys who took it out for a test drive. Whilst the guy was out, the manager started to tell me how he now wants to give no more than £4500 for the car and cannot remember giving me a price of £5500 plus. Now, I know for sure that the car is worth alot more than that and would be put on the forecourt for at LEAST £6995. He went on to tell us all the normal car salesman bullshit about how the car is not that desireable, blah blah blah….

Anyway, I decided to take a walk back outside to get the keys ready to leave. What did I walk outside to find? Two guys stood with the bonnet up revving the tits off the car, baring in mind that the car had not been running long, so was more or less cold, and could have caused some damage to the engine. I was in shock.

I asked the manager if they always do that to which he just turned his back and kinda shrugged and totally ignored the question. Shortly after that we took the keys and left, pretty pissed off.

So, the story goes, if you are going to sell a car, don’t go to Sales Assistance, in fact, I wouldnt buy a car from there after how we got treat.

January 12th, 2008 by dave

Since I made my IKEA post last year, my blog seems to have received a high number of hits when people have been searching for Ikea in Nottingham.

I do not know how many people actually read the whole post and took in what was said but if they did then they would probably have either gone elsewhere or been very weiry about buying furniture. I won’t go into it again but all I will say is that I was disgusted with the customer service department. Ill highlight the main issues in bullet points and then move on.

1. New bed broke
2. New bed was then discontinued
3. Refund/Exchange was not an option, so it was tough luck and a new bed had to be bought.

Anyway, this is another company that have 0870 numbers (as if they don’t make enough money)

Here are the alternatives: 0115 9551505 - Home Card & 01159 791636 - Financial Services

January 11th, 2008 by dave

Do you hate ringing 0870 numbers like me and being charged a stupid rate per minute when you are wanting to get information about something?

I have had to call Sky recently to organise an installation so was annoyed when told to call an 0870 number.

I have found an alternative number which is 01506 677000

Don’t help them make even more money and USE this number.