We saw that note taped to our favorite Chinese restaurant a few years ago and it sure was appropriate for us a couple of weeks ago.
My husband owns a lawn and landscape business and has more business than he can handle sometimes (which is a good thing, right?) Anyway, Mondays are his "off" days from his City job so he still works on Mondays, just not for "the man". He has 6 yards in and around our home he cuts on Mondays in addition to his other cutting jobs all over town the rest of the week.
He was cutting our neighbor's yard and I had gone out to open our back gates so he could pull his truck and trailer into the back yard when he finished. As I was going to open the gates, I noticed one side was open, and he was running up the driveway yelling for me to move my car, which was parked on our driveway parking pad. You know how things happen and it seems like it's in slow motion...that's how I felt. I thought I noticed one of his riding mowers on fire at the end of the driveway but it was just a little flame. He was trying to get to the water hose but it wouldn't reach where the mower was. I jumped in my car and moved it to the back yard. About that time I heard a "whooosh" and the mower was engulfed in flames! The gasoline was running down the curb toward his new truck parked there and I was terrified it would catch on fire and explode! I ran in the house and called 911 but the fire seemed to get worse. He was able to move his new truck across the street but there was no containing the fire. Finally, after what seemed to be a looong time, the fire department got here, but in reality it was probably no more than 5 minutes or so. They were able to contain and put out the fire quickly.
While that was bad enough, what we have experienced with our insurance company has been a nightmare. I'm pretty familiar with how they work as one of the attorneys I worked with was also an insurance adjuster and we represented insurance companies for years. They have a number they are authorized to offer but always start low, hoping you will take the first $$ offered. Without getting into that nightmare, we finally got our "offer" this week and it's a joke! My husband had to go replace the burned out lawnmower the next day and let me tell you, those things aren't cheap at all. It's part of his livelihood so he had to replace it quickly. Thank goodness we had the resources to do that and not have to wait for the joke of what they are offering for "replacement" cost. He has a lot of equipment insured with this company and I believe they will either (a) raise his rates or (2) cancel us but they need not worry, we won't be staying with them after this experience. He has never filed a claim before. Even the adjuster who called us with the replacement cost was surprised his "boss" offered such a low ball figure. We have not agreed to the offer yet and naturally have not signed a release at this time.
When something happens like this it makes you aware of how quickly things can escalate into a tragedy. Although we lost a mower, things could have turned out a lot worse if we'd lost the truck or our home had caught on fire.
Now back to my health update. I'm not going to get into the whole story, but try and give a brief synopsis of what's been going on. Back last fall I started having a lot of problems with my left leg and foot. I went to see my orthopaedic in November and he said he couldn't tell what it was. Since then I've been to my regular doctor for blood work, a vascular surgeon for an ultrasound, my neurologist for nerve testing, then back to my ortho and regular doctors two more times. All tests turn out negative and they are at a loss as to what it is. I've been prescribed some pretty powerful pain medications, none of which help. I don't like taking medication at all so since they haven't helped I don't take them. I went back to my regular doctor this week and insisted on him referring me for an MRI which I will have this Friday. I'm am extremely claustraphobic and although it's supposed to be an "open" MRI I've had that before and it's still scary to me.
My doctor has prescribed an anxiety Rx that I will take, and my husband will be in the room with me talking to me and helping to calm me down. My doctor said he thinks the problem might be with my back so we'll see. If the MRI doesn't show anything, I have no idea what my next step will be. All I know is my leg/foot is getting worse and I'm unable to do things such as housework, shopping, exercising, etc. without being in extreme pain. This has got to stop!
If you've read this far you get a star today because I know this has been a pretty boring post. But I haven't been around in a while and just wanted to check in with ya'll.
Hope to be back soon with a little outdoor project I'm hoping get started on soon.
My husband owns a lawn and landscape business and has more business than he can handle sometimes (which is a good thing, right?) Anyway, Mondays are his "off" days from his City job so he still works on Mondays, just not for "the man". He has 6 yards in and around our home he cuts on Mondays in addition to his other cutting jobs all over town the rest of the week.
He was cutting our neighbor's yard and I had gone out to open our back gates so he could pull his truck and trailer into the back yard when he finished. As I was going to open the gates, I noticed one side was open, and he was running up the driveway yelling for me to move my car, which was parked on our driveway parking pad. You know how things happen and it seems like it's in slow motion...that's how I felt. I thought I noticed one of his riding mowers on fire at the end of the driveway but it was just a little flame. He was trying to get to the water hose but it wouldn't reach where the mower was. I jumped in my car and moved it to the back yard. About that time I heard a "whooosh" and the mower was engulfed in flames! The gasoline was running down the curb toward his new truck parked there and I was terrified it would catch on fire and explode! I ran in the house and called 911 but the fire seemed to get worse. He was able to move his new truck across the street but there was no containing the fire. Finally, after what seemed to be a looong time, the fire department got here, but in reality it was probably no more than 5 minutes or so. They were able to contain and put out the fire quickly.
While that was bad enough, what we have experienced with our insurance company has been a nightmare. I'm pretty familiar with how they work as one of the attorneys I worked with was also an insurance adjuster and we represented insurance companies for years. They have a number they are authorized to offer but always start low, hoping you will take the first $$ offered. Without getting into that nightmare, we finally got our "offer" this week and it's a joke! My husband had to go replace the burned out lawnmower the next day and let me tell you, those things aren't cheap at all. It's part of his livelihood so he had to replace it quickly. Thank goodness we had the resources to do that and not have to wait for the joke of what they are offering for "replacement" cost. He has a lot of equipment insured with this company and I believe they will either (a) raise his rates or (2) cancel us but they need not worry, we won't be staying with them after this experience. He has never filed a claim before. Even the adjuster who called us with the replacement cost was surprised his "boss" offered such a low ball figure. We have not agreed to the offer yet and naturally have not signed a release at this time.
When something happens like this it makes you aware of how quickly things can escalate into a tragedy. Although we lost a mower, things could have turned out a lot worse if we'd lost the truck or our home had caught on fire.
Now back to my health update. I'm not going to get into the whole story, but try and give a brief synopsis of what's been going on. Back last fall I started having a lot of problems with my left leg and foot. I went to see my orthopaedic in November and he said he couldn't tell what it was. Since then I've been to my regular doctor for blood work, a vascular surgeon for an ultrasound, my neurologist for nerve testing, then back to my ortho and regular doctors two more times. All tests turn out negative and they are at a loss as to what it is. I've been prescribed some pretty powerful pain medications, none of which help. I don't like taking medication at all so since they haven't helped I don't take them. I went back to my regular doctor this week and insisted on him referring me for an MRI which I will have this Friday. I'm am extremely claustraphobic and although it's supposed to be an "open" MRI I've had that before and it's still scary to me.
My doctor has prescribed an anxiety Rx that I will take, and my husband will be in the room with me talking to me and helping to calm me down. My doctor said he thinks the problem might be with my back so we'll see. If the MRI doesn't show anything, I have no idea what my next step will be. All I know is my leg/foot is getting worse and I'm unable to do things such as housework, shopping, exercising, etc. without being in extreme pain. This has got to stop!
If you've read this far you get a star today because I know this has been a pretty boring post. But I haven't been around in a while and just wanted to check in with ya'll.
Hope to be back soon with a little outdoor project I'm hoping get started on soon.
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11 comments:
Judy, so sorry that things have not been going well! Glad the fire was not worse; but, I know it had to be scary! Hopefully, the doctors can pinpoint what is going on with your leg and foot; and you can get some relief! Praying for you!
Oh my, how scary. Glad it wasn't worse. And yes, totally understand as my brother owns a landscaping company. Praying the MRI will reveal something, so they can treat it. My mom is claustrophobic too, but has done ok with the open ones.
Oh my goodness! I'm happy to hear that the fire wasn't worse, though it was bad enough! And insurance - what a hassle! I'll be praying the MRI gets to the bottom of things! xo
That's an expensive piece of equipment to lose!! So glad to hear no one was hurt and there wasn't any other damage. Hope you find out something from the MRI. My husband has had both closed and open-sided and always takes a relaxant before the procedure.
Good thing you and your husband were able to replace the equipment and not your home. Stay strong and firm with your insurance company. There's most likely an incentive to the manager to push a low payoff as they probably had larger amount claims filed during their fiscal year which has skewed their margins. Your objective is to receive fair compensation for your losses in exchange for the premiums you've been dutifully paying to cover possible future damages.
Regarding your health issue, based on my personal experience with three occurrences of severe pain, I highly recommend exploring acupuncture. I used it to control debilitating migraines and after 6 treatments, I haven't had a headache of any kind in over 25 years. I've also used the treatment to help ease other joint pains successfully. If you can handle getting your eyebrows plucked or waxed, acupuncture will be a breeze!
All the best to you!!
Judy, we can sympathize with each other...I hurt my back and have went to my PC, Ortho Dr., a back MRI, still continuing PT and next week I go in for a neck MRI. Yesterday, about 3 hours after PT (and I felt so good) I turned my upper body to get a piece of paper and now I have tremendous pain in my back again. Even though it is painful and annoying, what really wants to make me cry is doing something simple and it goes out of whack. I don't want to live like that. So my friend...I hear ya. Pray for me and I'll pray for you that we can get better.
So glad you all and the house and truck are ok. Mowers can be replaced. My husband is a volunteer fireman and yes I am sure it seems like forever til they get there. Stand your ground with the insurance company. Hope you find some answers on your medical issues. HUGS to you all!!
Judy... last time I went for an mri - 30 secs after the machine started I pressed the emergency button and ran out of the place. My doc office called and offered anxiety meds but I refused. I had a sore shoulder and it took 3 years for it to feel better. Hope yours goes smoothly and they figure out the cause. Enjoy your weekend.
Another vote for acupuncture here. Ditch the doctors and the meds they push and just try it a few times. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. My first experience with acupuncture was about 8 years ago when I had a partially torn tendon in my shoulder. The orthopaedic doctor could only offer cortisone shots and prescription drugs, which I adamantly refused, so I decided to explore other options to control the pain, which led me to acupuncture. I was amazed at the results I got. Then, in 2012, I was hospitalized for some heartbeat irregularities that the electro-cardiologist wanted to implant a defibrillator to correct. However, I'm so glad I didn't passively agree to that. In spite of much eye-rolling from the regular cardiologist, I elected to try acupuncture instead and my heart issues have been non-existent since. I've also been using acupuncture to deal with a variety of other more minor physical complaints including headaches and neck/back pain. It amazes me every time I lay down on the table with neck or back pain and then get up after an acupuncture treatment and note the pain is either significantly better or completely gone. Your results may not be that instantaneous but with repeated treatments, I have no doubt you will get relief.
Hope things are going better this week!! I nearly backed the mower into hubby's new truck this past weekend....that was nothing compared to what you two faced...oh my!!! and yes, insurance coverage (lack of)is disgustingly bad news.
Blessings to you and I'm praying for your leg!!
J
I agree with alternative medicine. Do you see a chiropractor? I never believed they could help until my dr was ready to send me to a surgeon for shoulder pain and out of desperation I went to see one. Best decision I ever made. She has helped me with so many issues that come up as I get older (I'm 60). Turns out I didn't need surgery after all!
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