Entries tagged as friends
Tuesday, August 19. 2008
Finally recovered.
It took over two weeks of agony but I finally got over my wisdom teeth removal. 
In the process it took many visits back to a heartless surgeon, and only the persistence of my family that saw me through.
The result - massive doses of painkillers, anti-inflammatories and even valium to see me through.
Why the valium you might ask?! It was used primarily as a muscle relaxant.
In the process of removing my wisdoms and the pre-molar (5 teeth in total), the surgeon tore the ligaments in my lower jaw and in the process dislocated my jaw.
A couple of visits to a physiotherapist that specialises in jaw conditions, and the valium saw me recover.
The actual holes left from the extractions were never a problem (though the cleaning process and mouth washes are a drag, they weren't painful after the first few days). The rough treatment whilst under a general is what did all the damage.
If you need your wisdom teeth out, some words of advice:
If you're in Western suburbs of Melbourne, and needing such work done... let me know. I'll ensure you don't end up with her and actually are seen by someone who I would class as competent.
I hope I never see her again. It won't be by choice if I ever do.
In the process it took many visits back to a heartless surgeon, and only the persistence of my family that saw me through.
The result - massive doses of painkillers, anti-inflammatories and even valium to see me through.
Why the valium you might ask?! It was used primarily as a muscle relaxant.
In the process of removing my wisdoms and the pre-molar (5 teeth in total), the surgeon tore the ligaments in my lower jaw and in the process dislocated my jaw.
A couple of visits to a physiotherapist that specialises in jaw conditions, and the valium saw me recover.
The actual holes left from the extractions were never a problem (though the cleaning process and mouth washes are a drag, they weren't painful after the first few days). The rough treatment whilst under a general is what did all the damage.
If you need your wisdom teeth out, some words of advice:
- Ensure you get it done under a general if more than one.
- Remove them in your teens or early twenties. Leaving them longer the teeth roots are much larger, harder to extract and the actual jaw bone is more solid. This makes for a difficult extraction.
- Expect to be out of action for some time. Have plenty of heavy painkillers on the ready. You'll need them at least for the first few days (ie: A Panadeine Forte or likewise)
- If you don't see any improvement, keep pestering your dental surgeon, don't get flipped off. Their charged to look after your well-being - before, during and after your procedure.
- If you still have problems with your surgeon who is more than likely quite flippant; go back to your GP and inform him... it's not uncommon for these 'supposed surgeons', to not give a rats ass after they are paid and the surgery is performed
- A second opinion is always a wise choice if you're not happy with your treatment. Surgeons have no loyalty to you, so don't feel you owe them any.
If you're in Western suburbs of Melbourne, and needing such work done... let me know. I'll ensure you don't end up with her and actually are seen by someone who I would class as competent.
I hope I never see her again. It won't be by choice if I ever do.
Friday, July 18. 2008
At wits end
It's now approaching 3:00am...
It's almost 7 days since I had 5 teeth surgically removed, yet the pain seems to be increasing not decreasing.
Two nights this week has seen me head in to the emergency department looking for some form of pain relief.
Currently the Panadeine Forte only manages to take the tip of the edge off the pain. I now have pain from my lower jaw that heads right up to my temple on the left side.
I've gone back to the surgeon twice already, yet I'm told that 'all looks good'. However, from speaking to others the pain normally subsides by now or at least is on the decrease. The pain itself doesn't appear to be in the gum, it appears more in the jaw bone itself.
So I'm back to see the surgeon again tomorrow. I'm wondering if x-rays should be looked at now (could my jaw have been fractured in the process of the tooth removal?). Do I have an infection in the bone?! Do pain killers no-longer have any effect on me?!?!
Something is seriously amiss... I'm going to perch at the surgeon's office and not leave until some further investigation is done. It's crazy, this pain is about 3 times that of the pain I had pre-surgery.
I can't even knock myself out with some heavy shots of alcohol due to the large amounts of codeine I've taken; for fear of the possibility of respiratory failure. (Hence why you should never drink and take heavy pain killers). I'm wondering if it's prudent to come off them (the drugs) and soley use alcohol for pain relief?!? At least I could pass out and get some sleep.
I haven't had a decent night's sleep for over 3 weeks now, and tonight appears it's going to be one more night that I either sit killing some time in front of the computer, or lie awake in bed watching the digits on the clock tick past.
I originally intended on heading back to work on Wednesday (that boat has already sailed). I am hoping I can get back on Monday, though some serious head-way is going to need to be made if that has any likelihood of happening.
Dear lazyweb, if any of you out there have some ideas how to relieve some serious pain I'm all open to suggestions. To be honest, I'm pretty desperate.... feel free to leave a comment. As the topic states... I'm at my wits end.
It's almost 7 days since I had 5 teeth surgically removed, yet the pain seems to be increasing not decreasing.
Two nights this week has seen me head in to the emergency department looking for some form of pain relief.
Currently the Panadeine Forte only manages to take the tip of the edge off the pain. I now have pain from my lower jaw that heads right up to my temple on the left side.
I've gone back to the surgeon twice already, yet I'm told that 'all looks good'. However, from speaking to others the pain normally subsides by now or at least is on the decrease. The pain itself doesn't appear to be in the gum, it appears more in the jaw bone itself.
So I'm back to see the surgeon again tomorrow. I'm wondering if x-rays should be looked at now (could my jaw have been fractured in the process of the tooth removal?). Do I have an infection in the bone?! Do pain killers no-longer have any effect on me?!?!
Something is seriously amiss... I'm going to perch at the surgeon's office and not leave until some further investigation is done. It's crazy, this pain is about 3 times that of the pain I had pre-surgery.
I can't even knock myself out with some heavy shots of alcohol due to the large amounts of codeine I've taken; for fear of the possibility of respiratory failure. (Hence why you should never drink and take heavy pain killers). I'm wondering if it's prudent to come off them (the drugs) and soley use alcohol for pain relief?!? At least I could pass out and get some sleep.
I haven't had a decent night's sleep for over 3 weeks now, and tonight appears it's going to be one more night that I either sit killing some time in front of the computer, or lie awake in bed watching the digits on the clock tick past.
I originally intended on heading back to work on Wednesday (that boat has already sailed). I am hoping I can get back on Monday, though some serious head-way is going to need to be made if that has any likelihood of happening.
Dear lazyweb, if any of you out there have some ideas how to relieve some serious pain I'm all open to suggestions. To be honest, I'm pretty desperate.... feel free to leave a comment. As the topic states... I'm at my wits end.
Saturday, July 12. 2008
It lives! (aka out of surgery)
Yesterday I had surgery under a General Anesthesia to remove 5 teeth (4 wisdom teeth, and a baby pre-molar that never got a secondary tooth; but had decided it had hung around long enough 
).
The day surgery saw us arrive at 12:30pm to 'sign-in' though I didn't actually get the pre-med until just after 5:00pm. So a mind numbing wait of 4.5 hours was undertaken. (Even worse was the fact that my last food and any form of liquid was 7:30am, and it seemed the only thing showing on the blaring waiting room TV was food shows.). That resulted in a nice headache by mid-afternoon as my blood sugar levels dropped.
The surgery itself was a success, I left the operating theatre just after 7pm, and it took just over an hour in the recovery room. There I was treated to food that makes everything better (icecream and jelly), as well as a glass of apple juice and another of water.
Pauline took good care of me, and kept me company during the long wait before hand (though she ignored my pleads to head off and not blow her whole afternoon waiting around in the waiting room). Whilst I was in surgery she headed home (only 5 mins down the road) to attempt a bite to eat (that didn't happen as they called her back as she was about to commence eating), but she did have time to wash some bed sheets, feed the dogs and get ready for my return (buying/making some additional yummy goodies that I could eat/drink).
Swelling is well down (I expected to look like a bullfrog this morning, but it's quite minimal).
I'll continue using ice-packs on either side of my face every few hours, to lessen it further.
It appears that besides the general, that the surgeons also applied a local to my bottom jaw, to aid in pain relief. The local worked extremely well, although it gave the sensation I had a bear's tongue and not my own for most of last night.
Since waking this morning, the local has long worn off, and I'm in relatively good spirits. I'm using the Panadine Forte for pain relief (in fact the pain is minimal at this stage -- which is brilliant!).
I came home brandishing a swag of mouth rinses, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs for the next few days; I should be hopefully back to full steam in a short time.
This will be a weekend of rest and time to re-assess early next week. I'll potter online a little, but it's more from boredom than a burning desire to be on the computer (I'm not much value above useless at present!).
A big thanks to all the well-wishes I've received over the past few weeks... it's great to know others are thinking of you. Thankfully this saga appears to be quickly drawing to a near and I'll be my annoying, harassing and cheeky self in no-time (so beware!).
). The day surgery saw us arrive at 12:30pm to 'sign-in' though I didn't actually get the pre-med until just after 5:00pm. So a mind numbing wait of 4.5 hours was undertaken. (Even worse was the fact that my last food and any form of liquid was 7:30am, and it seemed the only thing showing on the blaring waiting room TV was food shows.
). That resulted in a nice headache by mid-afternoon as my blood sugar levels dropped. The surgery itself was a success, I left the operating theatre just after 7pm, and it took just over an hour in the recovery room. There I was treated to food that makes everything better (icecream and jelly), as well as a glass of apple juice and another of water.
Pauline took good care of me, and kept me company during the long wait before hand (though she ignored my pleads to head off and not blow her whole afternoon waiting around in the waiting room). Whilst I was in surgery she headed home (only 5 mins down the road) to attempt a bite to eat (that didn't happen as they called her back as she was about to commence eating), but she did have time to wash some bed sheets, feed the dogs and get ready for my return (buying/making some additional yummy goodies that I could eat/drink).
Swelling is well down (I expected to look like a bullfrog this morning, but it's quite minimal).
I'll continue using ice-packs on either side of my face every few hours, to lessen it further.It appears that besides the general, that the surgeons also applied a local to my bottom jaw, to aid in pain relief. The local worked extremely well, although it gave the sensation I had a bear's tongue and not my own for most of last night.
Since waking this morning, the local has long worn off, and I'm in relatively good spirits. I'm using the Panadine Forte for pain relief (in fact the pain is minimal at this stage -- which is brilliant!).
I came home brandishing a swag of mouth rinses, painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs for the next few days; I should be hopefully back to full steam in a short time.
This will be a weekend of rest and time to re-assess early next week. I'll potter online a little, but it's more from boredom than a burning desire to be on the computer (I'm not much value above useless at present!).
A big thanks to all the well-wishes I've received over the past few weeks... it's great to know others are thinking of you.
Thankfully this saga appears to be quickly drawing to a near and I'll be my annoying, harassing and cheeky self in no-time (so beware!).
Thursday, July 10. 2008
Out of action for the time being
I will be out of action for just under week as I go in to have 5 teeth removed.
I must say a big thanks to Pauline for pampering me leading up to it. (and the big slushy cook-up she's undertaking!) I think I've got soup for a year!
She's also pureed up a roast, so that will be an exciting 'experience' through a straw.
With those and jellies, and tinned fruit on the ready it should be a pleasant culinary experience. I guess I can probably throw in some warm custard as well.
I go in tomorrow, so I'll be drugged up heavily over the weekend (I am going to attempt to sleep through the weekend), but hope to make a speedy recovery (fingers crossed). I'm hoping I can be back to work on Wednesday if all goes well... though I'll see how we go.
It will be great to get off the painkillers after this all... sucking heavy painkillers every few hours hasn't been fun over the past fortnight.
I have learnt some great tips on dealing with mouth/teeth pain along the way:
It's been a revelation to me, as I have only ever had one filling in my life, and never suffered toothache before. Hopefully some of these remedies/tips I've discovered over the past couple of weeks will be of benefit to someone else.
I must say a big thanks to Pauline for pampering me leading up to it. (and the big slushy cook-up she's undertaking!) I think I've got soup for a year!
She's also pureed up a roast, so that will be an exciting 'experience' through a straw.
With those and jellies, and tinned fruit on the ready it should be a pleasant culinary experience. I guess I can probably throw in some warm custard as well.
I go in tomorrow, so I'll be drugged up heavily over the weekend (I am going to attempt to sleep through the weekend), but hope to make a speedy recovery (fingers crossed). I'm hoping I can be back to work on Wednesday if all goes well... though I'll see how we go.
It will be great to get off the painkillers after this all... sucking heavy painkillers every few hours hasn't been fun over the past fortnight.
I have learnt some great tips on dealing with mouth/teeth pain along the way:
- Use regular salt mouth washes every few hours. Directions: One tablespoon of table salt, to a glass of warm water. Rinse your mouth with it, and spit. Repeat until the glass is empty.
(Believe it or not, after the 3rd time -- you get used to it.) - Applying either two whole cloves (place between gum and cheek above the tooth in question), or clove oil onto the affected tooth/gum is a great natural painkiller. It works extremely well!
- Keep out of wind or any chilly air. This also includes whilst sleeping, you may need to warm the room you are sleeping in to avoid a painful night sleep.
- Cold drinks nuked for 10-20 seconds in the microwave ensures a pleasant experience, works with water and fruit juices especially well.
- Use a dental mouth wash like Listerine or the like after eating if painful, as it will numb the area.
It's been a revelation to me, as I have only ever had one filling in my life, and never suffered toothache before. Hopefully some of these remedies/tips I've discovered over the past couple of weeks will be of benefit to someone else.
Sunday, July 6. 2008
Microblogging and Planets
I recently posted a subtle article in relation to microblogging. It may have been a little too subtle for many.
It seems a few other Linux Australia Planet readers also feel the same way about microbloggings from sites like twitter, delicio.us and the like.
I like reading the posts of what others are upto in the Linux community, even when not directly related to Linux per say. (it's a great way to discover new gadgets, general thoughts/opinions, and general useful information). We truly are a diverse community!
I find that microbloggings offer no substance of value to anyone but the author. That said, they are best left not syndicated. It appears that both Tim Connors and Andrew Pollock share my view.
Mary Gardiner has an interesting spin on the concept particularly when it comes to syndicating in a blog, actually her idea does have merits.
It's good to see that Michael Still has recognised it is an issue for people and provided a non-microblogged version of his feed. Though that didn't come without a retort.
Let's hope that PLA picks up this version... others that want the microblogged version can still then get it directly from him.
People that know me realise I'm not overly fond of the so called 'social' websites. Why?
Not because I'm anti-social (I'm far from it). I personally however find my time on the web is used more as a tool for research and my personal enjoyment. You won't find me Linked In, Facebooked, Twittered or MySpaced. I don't even have a delicio.us account (I have used a system very similar to delicious on our internal LAN for years prior to delicio.us so I have no need). I also don't feel the need for web-based group hug sessions which these so called 'social' websites appear to be all about. I'm also not in it for the popularity contest.
If someone wants to contact me, there are plenty of avenues available to do so. (I sit multiple IM and IRC networks and find these much more personal anyway) I keep in contact regularly with those that matter and really aren't that interested in chatting aimlessly to someone three-friends removed.
Personally, I feel microblogging has it's place. However it's best confined to the bounds it was created for (on twitter, facebook, etc). Microblogging needs context to make sense to the outside reader, and as such doesn't make sense to have it syndicated to planets. If I feel the need to pick up such microbloggings I can go directly to those sites.
Sure I can skip or filter it, but should I really need to?
The mobile connectivity we're starting to see now 3G is starting to become more widespread, will ensure microblogging will become more popular. I still see it in it's infancy and not too advanced. I suspect that future microblogging generations will allow people to use it to automate tasks (microblogging -> Home automation anyone?!). I suspect a microblog to a bank may in future also give me my account balance and other useful things (Microblogging -> street directions returned, etc). However, we're not there yet.
All in all, if you are happy with microblogging, more power to you. Ditto goes for social websites. For me, it doesn't meet my needs and something I choose to exclude myself from. I don't feel I'm missing out, in fact I feel empowered not being caught up in the hype that surrounds them all. I also find I can better use my time.
Anyway that's my $0.05 on the topic.
</rant>
It seems a few other Linux Australia Planet readers also feel the same way about microbloggings from sites like twitter, delicio.us and the like.
I like reading the posts of what others are upto in the Linux community, even when not directly related to Linux per say. (it's a great way to discover new gadgets, general thoughts/opinions, and general useful information). We truly are a diverse community!
I find that microbloggings offer no substance of value to anyone but the author. That said, they are best left not syndicated. It appears that both Tim Connors and Andrew Pollock share my view.
Mary Gardiner has an interesting spin on the concept particularly when it comes to syndicating in a blog, actually her idea does have merits.
It's good to see that Michael Still has recognised it is an issue for people and provided a non-microblogged version of his feed. Though that didn't come without a retort.
Let's hope that PLA picks up this version... others that want the microblogged version can still then get it directly from him.
People that know me realise I'm not overly fond of the so called 'social' websites. Why?
Not because I'm anti-social (I'm far from it). I personally however find my time on the web is used more as a tool for research and my personal enjoyment. You won't find me Linked In, Facebooked, Twittered or MySpaced. I don't even have a delicio.us account (I have used a system very similar to delicious on our internal LAN for years prior to delicio.us so I have no need). I also don't feel the need for web-based group hug sessions which these so called 'social' websites appear to be all about. I'm also not in it for the popularity contest.
If someone wants to contact me, there are plenty of avenues available to do so. (I sit multiple IM and IRC networks and find these much more personal anyway) I keep in contact regularly with those that matter and really aren't that interested in chatting aimlessly to someone three-friends removed.
Personally, I feel microblogging has it's place. However it's best confined to the bounds it was created for (on twitter, facebook, etc). Microblogging needs context to make sense to the outside reader, and as such doesn't make sense to have it syndicated to planets. If I feel the need to pick up such microbloggings I can go directly to those sites.
Sure I can skip or filter it, but should I really need to?
The mobile connectivity we're starting to see now 3G is starting to become more widespread, will ensure microblogging will become more popular. I still see it in it's infancy and not too advanced. I suspect that future microblogging generations will allow people to use it to automate tasks (microblogging -> Home automation anyone?!). I suspect a microblog to a bank may in future also give me my account balance and other useful things (Microblogging -> street directions returned, etc). However, we're not there yet.
All in all, if you are happy with microblogging, more power to you. Ditto goes for social websites. For me, it doesn't meet my needs and something I choose to exclude myself from. I don't feel I'm missing out, in fact I feel empowered not being caught up in the hype that surrounds them all. I also find I can better use my time.
Anyway that's my $0.05 on the topic.
</rant>
Saturday, July 5. 2008
Down but not out.
Some of you have probably noticed I haven't been around as much as usual in the recent week.
Last Saturday night I discovered a large painful lump in my mouth, just under my eye tooth facing towards my tongue. To say it scared the life outta me is probably is an understatement.
I headed off to the doctor to get it checked out on Sunday, and he immediately referred me off to an Oral and maxillofacial Surgeon on the Monday.
She examined me and all my tooth and diagnosed it as a Tori (Lingual) Mandibularis which is basically a bone growth that attaches to your gum. It unfortunately can get quite inflamed and sore if bumped or eating hard food. This is probably what caused the initial pain. The thing isn't small either, and is probably about the size of a peanut M&M (for comparison).
Whilst there she gave me my entire mouth a good once over. She noted that I was in immediate need to remove my two left wisdom teeth, and wanted me to go off for an xray. (The xray is to confirm how close the facial nerve is to the roots of the wisdom teeth.) Something you don't want to hit!
So off for x-rays on Wednesday and back to see her for the results on Friday.
It appears that all 4 of my wisdom teeth need to come out, in addition the upper left maxillary first pre-molar. The pre-molar is still my baby tooth (I didn't get any secondary tooth -- and it's long past it's expiry and it's root systems have long given way.) This is also the cause of the severe tooth/gum pain I've been experience (but first put down to the tori). A closer inspection of the x-ray has revealed that 3 out of the 4 first pre-molars are baby teeth! One I've already had removed as a teen (upper right), so that probably leaves one in my bottom that will need attention in the future.
I've been scheduled in for surgery under a General Anesthesia for the removal of all 5 teeth on Friday (11th July). The surgeon explained that having my wisdoms out latter in life normally ensures the gum bone is much tougher and the root systems much more advanced than that of a late-teen (when many people have them removed). This is why she recommends a general over doing them with a local in the chair. (I'm all for knocking me out for the procedure!) Luckily for me the facial nerve is quite a distance away from the tooth so it shouldn't pose any problem.
So at present -- it's been a week of heavy painkillers to take the edge off the pain, that with salt mouth washes and only luke-warm drinks to avoid aggravating it further.
Pauline's also grabbing some full cloves as we've been told that placing them on the tooth also works well for pain relief. At this stage, I'll try anything. Dosing up on codiene based pain killers for any length of time is never the best solution.
So whilst I'll be out of it for a little while, I am hoping after the operation I'll be back to my normal self shortly there after. I've been advised that it will take about 5 days to recover post-op, but I'll pay it by ear. I've already missed a fair bit of work this week. Luckily it falls on a Friday so I'll at least have the weekend to help in the recovery.
So it looks like soups, pureed meals, tinned fruit and jelly will be on the menu later this week! I wonder what a steak and 3 vegies are like through a straw?!
Update: The tori will stay in place. It's apparently extremely painful to remove (they have to drill/chip it away from the bone of the gum), and something they only wish to do as a last resort. The hole created is normally quite large and requires weeks to heal. So this will stay in place. As such I'll have to just be more careful with a toothbrush (so I don't crash into it when brushing) and when eating hard food. It basically just feels like stubbing your toe badly when hitting the tori...besides the unpleasant pain, it's not much to worry about.
Last Saturday night I discovered a large painful lump in my mouth, just under my eye tooth facing towards my tongue.
To say it scared the life outta me is probably is an understatement. I headed off to the doctor to get it checked out on Sunday, and he immediately referred me off to an Oral and maxillofacial Surgeon on the Monday.
She examined me and all my tooth and diagnosed it as a Tori (Lingual) Mandibularis which is basically a bone growth that attaches to your gum.
It unfortunately can get quite inflamed and sore if bumped or eating hard food. This is probably what caused the initial pain. The thing isn't small either, and is probably about the size of a peanut M&M (for comparison).Whilst there she gave me my entire mouth a good once over. She noted that I was in immediate need to remove my two left wisdom teeth, and wanted me to go off for an xray. (The xray is to confirm how close the facial nerve is to the roots of the wisdom teeth.) Something you don't want to hit!
So off for x-rays on Wednesday and back to see her for the results on Friday.
It appears that all 4 of my wisdom teeth need to come out, in addition the upper left maxillary first pre-molar. The pre-molar is still my baby tooth (I didn't get any secondary tooth -- and it's long past it's expiry and it's root systems have long given way.) This is also the cause of the severe tooth/gum pain I've been experience (but first put down to the tori).
A closer inspection of the x-ray has revealed that 3 out of the 4 first pre-molars are baby teeth! One I've already had removed as a teen (upper right), so that probably leaves one in my bottom that will need attention in the future.I've been scheduled in for surgery under a General Anesthesia for the removal of all 5 teeth on Friday (11th July). The surgeon explained that having my wisdoms out latter in life normally ensures the gum bone is much tougher and the root systems much more advanced than that of a late-teen (when many people have them removed). This is why she recommends a general over doing them with a local in the chair. (I'm all for knocking me out for the procedure!)
Luckily for me the facial nerve is quite a distance away from the tooth so it shouldn't pose any problem.So at present -- it's been a week of heavy painkillers to take the edge off the pain, that with salt mouth washes and only luke-warm drinks to avoid aggravating it further.
Pauline's also grabbing some full cloves as we've been told that placing them on the tooth also works well for pain relief. At this stage, I'll try anything. Dosing up on codiene based pain killers for any length of time is never the best solution.
So whilst I'll be out of it for a little while, I am hoping after the operation I'll be back to my normal self shortly there after. I've been advised that it will take about 5 days to recover post-op, but I'll pay it by ear. I've already missed a fair bit of work this week. Luckily it falls on a Friday so I'll at least have the weekend to help in the recovery.
So it looks like soups, pureed meals, tinned fruit and jelly will be on the menu later this week! I wonder what a steak and 3 vegies are like through a straw?!
Update: The tori will stay in place. It's apparently extremely painful to remove (they have to drill/chip it away from the bone of the gum), and something they only wish to do as a last resort. The hole created is normally quite large and requires weeks to heal. So this will stay in place. As such I'll have to just be more careful with a toothbrush (so I don't crash into it when brushing) and when eating hard food. It basically just feels like stubbing your toe badly when hitting the tori...besides the unpleasant pain, it's not much to worry about.
Friday, May 30. 2008
Pimped out tech support
I think the recent Dilbert comic is something many computer geeks often face.
Whilst I personally haven't experienced the 'date and dump support' that Dilbert refers to hear, I do see close resemblances of it enough to annoy me.
First off let me explain the personal tech support I don't mind.
I don't mind helping friends and family out. Indeed I enjoy it. This brings me a sense of accomplishment and I love watching the light-bulbs go on when I explain a technical concept or show them how to resolve the same issue in future.
For me, family tech support is not a burden at all and something I don't mind.
Those close enough to me to receive support, don't normally just have their issue 'fixed', but an explanation of what occurred, how to resolve it in future and how to mitigate it from ever happening again.
I only recently moved my Aunt from Windows (which she's quite proficient on) across to Linux. She's now running a dual boot Windows XP and Ubuntu 8.04 system.
She has been going great guns! She's got all her peripherals working correctly (monitor/video, card reader, printer and scanner). The only bug bear we currently have is her Palm Zire 21. Though it appears a little more tweaking we will have Palm USB Syncing sorted out.
She's already finding replacement applications under Linux to do away with those she's used under Windows. And we're in the process of moving her data over.
In the long term, we'll probably remove most of the applications off Windows XP and then shrink the partition size down so she can have a larger Linux partition. There will be a few applications that are Windows only and for that she'll more than likely keep a Windows XP partition for those legacy applications (that or we migrate them into a Virtualized Windows machine using something like KVM or VMWare). Some of her 3-D FPS games however are Windows only (and not even available under Wine) -- so Windows on a real partition does have some merit here.
In that sense my Aunt has taken the lead, she's done a lot of ground work and is experimenting and learning at the same time. I love to encourage that and assist her when needed. It's fantastic watching the journey of self-discovery in relation to Linux.
It's these types of jobs (Windows or Linux) I love to see...
Those who can be bothered to take ownership of their own problem and want guidance on how to resolve it, I'm more than happy to assist!
Now, onto the types of personal support I don't like.
How many of you attend a social gathering of someone you know and whilst mingling you're introduced to someone you have never met before?
You're either introduced by your common acquaintance as the 'computer insert phrase here like guru/genius/geek/nerd'. The conversation then quickly swings to one of the following themes:
I have learnt over the years how to brush these off. Not because I can't help. Not because I'm an angry person but mainly if I don't I would find that every waking hour I would be doing personal technical support.
Anyone who works in tech support in any capacity knows that their most precise item is time (Something sadly we appear to have less and less of these days).
These naive people (it's not really there fault, granted ... but some thinking prior to speaking would help!) don't realize just how offending it can be.
Seriously, I didn't study for years and hone my skills over thousands of countless hours so I can be your walking technical wizard that you can wave over "your" issue at your whim!
Those that expect me to sit down and fix their computer for hours at a time... they are the ones I want to drop, they end up becoming multiple offenders, and never actually learn.
So is this a common occurrence for others as well?
Have you learnt how to shake of those needy tech support whores that never want anything more than you to solve their problem and aren't interested in fixing it themselves?
Seriously, what is it with computer tech support? I have friends that are plumbers, mechanics, electricians, chiropractors, lawyers and a range of other professions. I don't get them to fix my taps, car, lights, back, etc all on their personal time and for free. Why is tech support expected to be?
Seriously, I don't want to do it outside hours for a fee anyway. I'm busy enough with work, homelife and attempting to build a house anyway.
Whilst I personally haven't experienced the 'date and dump support' that Dilbert refers to hear, I do see close resemblances of it enough to annoy me.
First off let me explain the personal tech support I don't mind.
I don't mind helping friends and family out. Indeed I enjoy it.
This brings me a sense of accomplishment and I love watching the light-bulbs go on when I explain a technical concept or show them how to resolve the same issue in future.For me, family tech support is not a burden at all and something I don't mind.
Those close enough to me to receive support, don't normally just have their issue 'fixed', but an explanation of what occurred, how to resolve it in future and how to mitigate it from ever happening again.
I only recently moved my Aunt from Windows (which she's quite proficient on) across to Linux. She's now running a dual boot Windows XP and Ubuntu 8.04 system.
She has been going great guns!
She's got all her peripherals working correctly (monitor/video, card reader, printer and scanner). The only bug bear we currently have is her Palm Zire 21. Though it appears a little more tweaking we will have Palm USB Syncing sorted out. She's already finding replacement applications under Linux to do away with those she's used under Windows. And we're in the process of moving her data over.
In the long term, we'll probably remove most of the applications off Windows XP and then shrink the partition size down so she can have a larger Linux partition. There will be a few applications that are Windows only and for that she'll more than likely keep a Windows XP partition for those legacy applications (that or we migrate them into a Virtualized Windows machine using something like KVM or VMWare). Some of her 3-D FPS games however are Windows only (and not even available under Wine) -- so Windows on a real partition does have some merit here.
In that sense my Aunt has taken the lead, she's done a lot of ground work and is experimenting and learning at the same time. I love to encourage that and assist her when needed. It's fantastic watching the journey of self-discovery in relation to Linux.
It's these types of jobs (Windows or Linux) I love to see...
Those who can be bothered to take ownership of their own problem and want guidance on how to resolve it, I'm more than happy to assist!
Now, onto the types of personal support I don't like.
How many of you attend a social gathering of someone you know and whilst mingling you're introduced to someone you have never met before?
You're either introduced by your common acquaintance as the 'computer insert phrase here like guru/genius/geek/nerd'. The conversation then quickly swings to one of the following themes:
- I am thinking of buying a new computer...
- Can you get me a new computer cheap?
- Do you have a copy of insert either a Microsoft product or other proprietary software?
- Something is wrong... (goes on to explain how they have
porn advertsadverts popping up on their screen). - I clicked on this link/Email. (goes on to explain that ever since his computer does weird things -- basically infected by a virus/trojan/is now part of a zombie network).
- Where can I download (goes on to say they want pirated software/music/videos).
I have learnt over the years how to brush these off. Not because I can't help. Not because I'm an angry person but mainly if I don't I would find that every waking hour I would be doing personal technical support.
Anyone who works in tech support in any capacity knows that their most precise item is time (Something sadly we appear to have less and less of these days).
These naive people (it's not really there fault, granted ... but some thinking prior to speaking would help!) don't realize just how offending it can be.
Seriously, I didn't study for years and hone my skills over thousands of countless hours so I can be your walking technical wizard that you can wave over "your" issue at your whim!
Those that expect me to sit down and fix their computer for hours at a time... they are the ones I want to drop, they end up becoming multiple offenders, and never actually learn.
So is this a common occurrence for others as well?
Have you learnt how to shake of those needy tech support whores that never want anything more than you to solve their problem and aren't interested in fixing it themselves?
Seriously, what is it with computer tech support? I have friends that are plumbers, mechanics, electricians, chiropractors, lawyers and a range of other professions. I don't get them to fix my taps, car, lights, back, etc all on their personal time and for free. Why is tech support expected to be?
Seriously, I don't want to do it outside hours for a fee anyway. I'm busy enough with work, homelife and attempting to build a house anyway.
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