[ 12-20-2002: Message edited by: cetiya ]

I'm sure you aren't the first or last one who, after having taken a course, is feeling like this isn't the thing for you. Even those of us who have done it for many years have days and sometimes weeks when we get sick of hearing the same droning day in and day out and tired of typing the same thing day in and day out as well. Then there are days when we can say "I love this job".

Coding and billing might be a consideration for you. It's a very challenging field and much of the learning you have gained from your course with M-Tec would be applicable to billing (disease processes, terminology, anatomy, etc.) Does M-Tec also offer a billing/coding course? Perhaps you could transfer to that from MT. Talk to them and see what else they may be able to offer you.

Good luck.
Chris

But I notice when I am tired, my ears don't work and I can't hear really basic things. I'm not the most patient person in the world anyway, and it's even worse for me when I'm sleep deprived.

Just a thought....you may in fact hate the transcription, but I just thought I'd ask.

My first thought was the same as JenMT's. Sleep is an important thing. It's hard to type for hours with little sleep and not loose patience.

Also, when I was in the early 2nd part of my course I thought--Oh Lord! What am I doing?! I HATE this!--Well, by the time I was in the last stretch, I loved it. Everything started coming together.

I still have days when I'm tired or sick that I really start to hate the dr. who is dictating the report. I hate the same ol', same ol'. I hate sitting in the chair for hours on end. It doesn't last though.

Maybe you would enjoy coding. I think that is excellent advice if you don't start feeling better about transcription by the end of your course.

I just wanted to let you know that I had the same experience early in my course too.

I hope you start feeling better.

[ 12-20-2002: Message edited by: oldwoman ]

If you get done and find there is just no way you want to work all day, maybe you could do clerical types of work for a transcription company or possibly marketing for one. You wouldn't be in a spot to edit without experience. Those are just a few options.

What I would really suggest is to give it your all. A lot of the fatigue you are having (aching wrists and such) is probably due in part to the tension of transcribing things that are not comfortable yet. As you settle in to the normal terminology, develop the tricks to understanding the mushmouths, and build a rhythm, you will find that you lose some of the tension and things go more easily.

Another couple tips I have had to work on a lot lately....A good brisk walk (I use five-pound weights in each hand) can do a lot to get the blood circulating. The weights help me to keep my shoulders down, because I carry A LOT of tension in my shoulders.

Also, if you want to use a wrist rest, I have a slightly different idea for that. You take a clean, long tube sock, fill it about halfway (or more if necessary depending on firmness desired) with dry oatmeal and tie off the open end. This gives you a soft wrist that can be thrown in the microwave for a minute or two for warmth. I have also taken these and thrown them on my forearms warm (again, the circulation thing gets me first). You can use this sock thingy for your neck too. If you need it cold, just make more and keep them in the freezer. Just don't get them wet!

Also try trading your foot pedal foot from right to left for a bit. It will help distribute the uneven pressure points in your body a little bit.

There is a point you hit when all of a sudden you come out of the fog and into the clearing where at least you can find your way again. I swear that MT is like that. You may be struggling now, but one day it will just all hit you. This will happen soon for you, either about the end of schooling or shortly into working, but it should happen for you too. A few people still find that just don't like the job and, if that happens to you, you just start exploring other options at that point.

I wish you the best of luck and am sure you will see things differently in a few months!

So, I decided to ask about trying Ambien. It worked pretty well. I was concerned about getting dependent on it, but just tried to keep that in mind. I wanted to use it long enough to get out of the insomnia pattern - but not too long.

Anyway, after about a month, I cut back to half a tablet and then quit completely in another week or so.

I have occasional insomnia episodes now, but nothing like before.

So... if you haven't already tried it, and if the sleep study doesn't show anything specific, you may want to check into it.

Good luck!!! (both with the medical issue and your schooling...)

I would definitely try all the things others have posted here first, but if those don't help, and you really don't like MT, here's a couple more suggestions.

I would definitely finish the Basic part of the course. Talk with Susan and Kathy, you might be able to stop there and get the difference between Basic and Premier refunded back to you. But I doubt there is that big of a difference, so personally, I would finish the entire course. If, by the end of the course (or close to it), you still can't stand it, talk to Linda at Andrews. They have both MT and Coding courses there, and you could probably get into the Coding course fairly cheaply, because you wouldn't have to repeat all the terminology, anatomy, etc. that you learned thru M-TEC. The first half of the courses are the same, pretty much, so you would only need to pay for the coding part, I would think. At least, it would be worth it to talk to Linda about it. But at least finish the Basic part of M-TEC, if nothing else, then see where you want to go from there.

Good luck, hope it works out for you!

Judy Ann