I think you can *easily* have a dress code that's not financially burdensome, and not at all gender-normative. Does that mean every dress code out there isn't? Of course not. But the last few places I worked were business casual, and the dress code was not at all gender specific. It just addressed things like making sure shoulders were covered (works for men and women), no shorts (again, men and women), no flip-flops (still gender neutral), no jeans, etc. I'm not sure how that's more expensive?? Non-flip-flop shoes and non-denim pants don't usually cost more than their alternatives.

I have definitely tried Purell in such cases, though didn't find it that effective. I therefore now always keep an extra deodorant at work in my desk. I'm lucky in that I have an office, so I can put it on right there and then, but I have been known to do that even without even getting up or closing the door (that my desk is in full view of) by just sneaking a glance in the hall to see if anyone is out there, and then quickly putting it on. Let's just say I'm glad I have that spare one about twice a week.

For Halloween in 2009, I dressed up as a health care Town Hall protester. My hand-markered protest sign said quite prominently to "Keep the government out of my Medicare!!" along with a hammer & sickle for Obamacare, and other mis-spelled lovelies. It was glorious, and the best was seeing people at the bar party I was at try and figure out if it was in earnest. One older gentleman approached me and said it was so wonderful to see young people involved in "the cause". **shudder**

Hm, yes, well when I was speaking about "the latest thinking", I was actually referring to the pain specialists I've spoken with, not the policy makers. Again, I noted in my original comment that plenty of people take opioids to manage chronic pain, and they aren't addicts, and they get relief and are able to have a life because of it.

That still doesn't address the research though that for some types of chronic pain, opioids can create a feedback loop of increasing tolerance (NOT ADDICTION), I mean just actual physical tolerance where a higher dose becomes needed to manage the pain as time goes on.

Why do we have such a drastically higher rate of their usage in the States than in European countries? How are they managing chronic pain? We certainly shouldn't ban use of opioids wholesale or anything, but I think some examination of the current situation by the healthcare community is certainly warranted.

I'm so sorry you're having so much pain--chronic pain is just awful and exhausting (I had it for about a year, mostly better now thankfully). I've been working in the policy area around opioids lately, and the latest thinking is that they really aren't suited to treat chronic pain, and can for some people actually cause a feedback loop where the pain gets worse in the long term as a direct result of the opioids. That doesn't mean there aren't many many patients who take them appropriately for chronic pain and are able to have some semblance of a life as a result--I want to make sure it doesn't sound like I'm vilifying those folks!

I should note that Tramadol is not considered in the same class as percocet, oxy, etc--I am not a doctor or scientist, but I was told by an expert that it has a different mechanism, but also carries its own risks (I guess there is a decent risk of seizures in long-term use).

So yes, there are times it's okay and appropriate to take opiates, but there's a massive swing of the pendulum coming where they will be recommended to be more used in targeted, acute situations (post-surgery, broken wrist, etc). Also, other nations with advanced medical systems don't use them nearly as much as the US does- -http://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/27/americans-consume-almost-all-of-the-global-opioid-supply.html

It sounds like you're doing all things you're supposed to to try and manage pain--only other thing I'd ask is if you've tried OMT or other manipulation? You mention PT, but osteopathic manipulative treatment can make a world of difference for some (but can cost some $ out of pocket upfront, until you are reimbursed by your insurance if you're in the States).

I did the exact same! I wonder which book we read that referenced it? I found it on my parents' bookshelf among the old-timey books, and then proceeded to try and read it, but it was painfully dull, so then I just leafed through looking for the sex scenes, and was pretty disappointed in them (or missed the actual good ones?).

Oh my god, I did too! It was on the shelf of our vacation cottage, and always looked intriguing, so I finally caved and read it at about 11 or 12 years old at the very oldest. Of course I read Clan of the Cave Bears at age 10 (and learned what rape was!), so I was long ruined by then...

(Sophia from Golden Girls voice) Picture it, Namibia, 2007--I was on a tour of southern Africa, and we camped out every night after driving from place to place in an off-road type bus. We camped at a really cool spot in the Kalahari one night, with an outdoor bar nearby with a chandelier made from beer bottles.

We sat down to dinner around the campfire, and proceeded to be dive-bombed by swarms of huge moths, each the size of my hand. Giant, brown, disgusting moths. They kept flying at our mouths while we were trying to eat (I assume the heat from our breath??), and I remember one got partially in my mouth. I lasted about 15 minutes, then freaked out and had to run to the tent to hide. I still had to come out and wash dishes (by a light-bulb, ugh) and use the bathroom (more lights, ugh). Just UGH. Still scarred.

Yes on the time thing! My best friend and I call it Guy Time. As in, it's been 5bdays since I heard from him, so he must be on Guy Time.

This also seems to apply to how long a guy thinks a relationship has been going on. "Oh yes, formergr@yahoo.com and I met about 3 months ago, she's great!" formergr:"Um, it's been like 11 months actually? "

I think it was a poorly worded way for them to describe "feelings of impending doom". At least from when I was an EMT, it was described as an actual Medical Thing. That a patient in pretty severed shape will sometimes know it and tell you. I've felt it twice myself-- once when I was in anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction before I knew I needed an epi pen on me at all times), and another time when I had high altitude cerebral edema (brain swelling) in Nepal that got a little too advanced before I was brought back down to a lower altitude.

It's hard to describe how it was different from that feeling of "Oh god I might be dying" when you have the stomach flu, or are terrified by a weird sudden symptom that you research on the internet at 3 am (hey, we've all been there!), etc, but it just somehow is. But that's entirely unhelpful to just list on a fact sheet since many might interpret it as these latter kind of examples.