Comments for Steve Cullen http://www.steve-cullen.com Miscellaneous ramblings of an IT Professional. Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:31:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Chase credit card accounts closing without warning by fausto412 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=55&cpage=1#comment-12778 fausto412 Sat, 07 Aug 2010 17:31:08 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=55#comment-12778 add me to the list people, i got a letter at least. butbut a reason given is too few accounts paid as agreed...every single one of my accounts is paid as agreed and they even gave me a credit like increase when i asked for it less than a year ago! the apr is a rip off anyways but they closing your account does bring down you credit score in almost all cases. and that is wrong. way to treat your customers chase. add me to the list people, i got a letter at least. butbut a reason given is too few accounts paid as agreed…every single one of my accounts is paid as agreed and they even gave me a credit like increase when i asked for it less than a year ago!

the apr is a rip off anyways but they closing your account does bring down you credit score in almost all cases. and that is wrong. way to treat your customers chase.

]]> Comment on Surgery – Inguinal Hernia Repair by MKE http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=32&cpage=1#comment-12739 MKE Fri, 16 Jul 2010 05:45:37 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=32#comment-12739 My friend is 78 years old and had surgery on an inguinal hernia back in January. Imagine the pain you guys are having, and then imagine being 78 and going through it. To make matters worse, I encouraged him to get it done. (It was so bad he had to stop whatever we were doing and lay down to "drop it back in.") Plus I was worried about strangulation. Well, after about four long months, he recovered almost fully. He's in excellent physical shape (except for the hernia), but after just a month of "back to normal," the hernia "came out on the other side." And this is even worse. Sometimes he can't even get it to "drop back in." Then eventually it does, but he is in agony. He is overseas right now, but I am hoping he will make it back safely, and we can take care of this...whatever the best solution is. My challenge is going to be convincing him to get surgery after that grueling recovery period. Frankly, I think the doctors who did it were hacks, and they messed something up. It was REALLY painful and REALLY bad. And this guy is not a whiner at all. Has anyone had a second surgery? Any older gentlemen out there? Does anyone recommend a hernia specialist in the Bay Area? What are the dangers if he doesn't have the surgery? My friend is 78 years old and had surgery on an inguinal hernia back in January. Imagine the pain you guys are having, and then imagine being 78 and going through it. To make matters worse, I encouraged him to get it done. (It was so bad he had to stop whatever we were doing and lay down to “drop it back in.”) Plus I was worried about strangulation. Well, after about four long months, he recovered almost fully. He’s in excellent physical shape (except for the hernia), but after just a month of “back to normal,” the hernia “came out on the other side.” And this is even worse. Sometimes he can’t even get it to “drop back in.” Then eventually it does, but he is in agony. He is overseas right now, but I am hoping he will make it back safely, and we can take care of this…whatever the best solution is. My challenge is going to be convincing him to get surgery after that grueling recovery period. Frankly, I think the doctors who did it were hacks, and they messed something up. It was REALLY painful and REALLY bad. And this guy is not a whiner at all. Has anyone had a second surgery? Any older gentlemen out there? Does anyone recommend a hernia specialist in the Bay Area? What are the dangers if he doesn’t have the surgery?

]]> Comment on Surgery – Pilonidal Abscess Removal by Mesha http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-12738 Mesha Thu, 15 Jul 2010 16:11:24 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15#comment-12738 Wow i thought I was the only one going through this horrible issue. I have a cyst right below my tailbone. I went to emergency and they so called numbed me and sliced me open with a scapel and i felt every last bit of it. i was literally crying. They packed it with some special packing and sent me on my way with some antibiotics. that was the 4th of july weekend. now after getting it packed 3 times which keeps coming out, i have to go in again and see why it has a small odor, i just finished all my antibiotics, im so scared of what the dr. might say, and it hurts to get it packed. to make matters worse i just had surgery on both my feet and am trying to let them heal and now this... Wow i thought I was the only one going through this horrible issue. I have a cyst right below my tailbone. I went to emergency and they so called numbed me and sliced me open with a scapel and i felt every last bit of it. i was literally crying. They packed it with some special packing and sent me on my way with some antibiotics. that was the 4th of july weekend. now after getting it packed 3 times which keeps coming out, i have to go in again and see why it has a small odor, i just finished all my antibiotics, im so scared of what the dr. might say, and it hurts to get it packed. to make matters worse i just had surgery on both my feet and am trying to let them heal and now this…

]]> Comment on Surgery – Pilonidal Abscess Removal by Ana http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-12733 Ana Sun, 11 Jul 2010 20:27:14 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15#comment-12733 I just had mine drained for the second time this week and i have packing in the opening, the doctor told me to take a bath with epson salts and pull it out myself, so my husband wanted to do it and i told him it would be ok, I am really scared that is going to hurt would you guys know if it hurts that bad? or is there something that i could do to to relief the pain?? I just had mine drained for the second time this week and i have packing in the opening, the doctor told me to take a bath with epson salts and pull it out myself, so my husband wanted to do it and i told him it would be ok, I am really scared that is going to hurt would you guys know if it hurts that bad? or is there something that i could do to to relief the pain??

]]> Comment on Surgery – Pilonidal Abscess Removal by Michelle http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-12724 Michelle Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:59:35 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15#comment-12724 My best friend has been dealing with this for 5 years. The first time he went in to the ER at Harborview in Seattle...they gave him a lotion and sent him home. I finally forced him to go to the ER at Swedish (again in Seattle) ... like last June. We then got referral to colo-rectal specialist (and I felt bad but couldn't help it -I cracked up when I saw the office sign). This specialist sliced him open in front of me, without warning and liquid poured and poured out. We were told to just let it drain, and this is the solution. A year later, my friend still has an open hole that never heals...it will scab up for a few days and then fluid builds up and has to be released. Is this normal for a doctor to cut you open and leave you with an open wound, and say live with it? We are going to the same speciality clinic tomorrow, but different doctor...this time a doctor from the pilonidal.org hall of fame. Hopnig this finally gets resolved, but worried that we'll be told again - to just live with it and it will continuously drain. The poor guy wears a band aid every day...when it gets to the point of you might as well buy stock in band aids...ya kinda have a problem. My best friend has been dealing with this for 5 years. The first time he went in to the ER at Harborview in Seattle…they gave him a lotion and sent him home.

I finally forced him to go to the ER at Swedish (again in Seattle) … like last June. We then got referral to colo-rectal specialist (and I felt bad but couldn’t help it -I cracked up when I saw the office sign).

This specialist sliced him open in front of me, without warning and liquid poured and poured out. We were told to just let it drain, and this is the solution. A year later, my friend still has an open hole that never heals…it will scab up for a few days and then fluid builds up and has to be released.

Is this normal for a doctor to cut you open and leave you with an open wound, and say live with it?

We are going to the same speciality clinic tomorrow, but different doctor…this time a doctor from the pilonidal.org hall of fame.

Hopnig this finally gets resolved, but worried that we’ll be told again – to just live with it and it will continuously drain.

The poor guy wears a band aid every day…when it gets to the point of you might as well buy stock in band aids…ya kinda have a problem.

]]> Comment on Chase credit card accounts closing without warning by Kailash http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=55&cpage=1#comment-12706 Kailash Mon, 28 Jun 2010 13:55:27 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=55#comment-12706 I got a letter from Chase last month stating that My chase buy.com will be closed based on the report from Experian that "InSufficient Credit Information" . Since I have good score and history I have called Experian to get details , Experian informed me that my report has enough information and they dint provide those kind of report to Chase who pulled report in the name of First USA as they use this company sometimes to pull the consumers credit reports . My Credit limit has been reduced from 4800 to 1100 after this letter and my credit score went 25 points immediately . When I talked to Chase stating the same they said they have terminated their relationship with buy.com , hence they are closing the account . I asked Chase then Why you are giving false reason . Chase Rep. told me that they have to give some reason related to credit history while closing the account . I have enquired with my friends ( Two ) who are using buy.com cards and they said they have nt recieved any communication so far . I argued with chase three or four times for continuing my account but they said it is not possible , then i asked them to send a letter stating the real reason , they refused it . I feel chase is the worst bank among the major financial institutions and they need people who default their payments to maintain their profits , Since I paid on time i think they dint get profits. How this Account Closure will be entered in my credit report ? This Chase closure really affects my credit history as this account is the oldest and the one with high limit , it affects the aging and revolving balance which in turn screw up the score . I have emailed to Credit Cards Director Gardon but no response as expected . Is there something I can do to avoid or somewhere I can complain about the attitude of Chase . I got a letter from Chase last month stating that My chase buy.com will be closed based on the report from Experian that “InSufficient Credit Information” . Since I have good score and history I have called Experian to get details , Experian informed me that my report has enough information and they dint provide those kind of report to Chase who pulled report in the name of First USA as they use this company sometimes to pull the consumers credit reports . My Credit limit has been reduced from 4800 to 1100 after this letter and my credit score went 25 points immediately .
When I talked to Chase stating the same they said they have terminated their relationship with buy.com , hence they are closing the account . I asked Chase then Why you are giving false reason . Chase Rep. told me that they have to give some reason related to credit history while closing the account .
I have enquired with my friends ( Two ) who are using buy.com cards and they said they have nt recieved any communication so far . I argued with chase three or four times for continuing my account but they said it is not possible , then i asked them to send a letter stating the real reason , they refused it .
I feel chase is the worst bank among the major financial institutions and they need people who default their payments to maintain their profits , Since I paid on time i think they dint get profits.
How this Account Closure will be entered in my credit report ? This Chase closure really affects my credit history as this account is the oldest and the one with high limit , it affects the aging and revolving balance which in turn screw up the score .
I have emailed to Credit Cards Director Gardon but no response as expected . Is there something I can do to avoid or somewhere I can complain about the attitude of Chase .

]]> Comment on Surgery – Pilonidal Abscess Removal by Greg http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-12701 Greg Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:19:41 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15#comment-12701 Great find and thanks to everyone for the great insight and information. I had my procedure done today and the surgeon used the lateral incision (Bascom Technique) which was approx. 3 inches. He scrubed the sac and left open to heal from the inside out. He also picked the pits. I feel fine today and really having no pain. Has anyone had this procedure done on them and what can I expect regarding healing time? Also, how many times a day do you change the packing and is it painful? When might I expect to resume my running? Thanks Great find and thanks to everyone for the great insight and information. I had my procedure done today and the surgeon used the lateral incision (Bascom Technique) which was approx. 3 inches. He scrubed the sac and left open to heal from the inside out. He also picked the pits. I feel fine today and really having no pain. Has anyone had this procedure done on them and what can I expect regarding healing time? Also, how many times a day do you change the packing and is it painful? When might I expect to resume my running? Thanks

]]> Comment on Surgery – Pilonidal Abscess Removal by Irish http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-12695 Irish Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:41:15 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15#comment-12695 Oh and Sierra, don't worry too much after the op, you'll be able to walk slowly at first round the house etc, will probably take a week until you can walk decent distances, so take it easy x Oh and Sierra, don’t worry too much after the op, you’ll be able to walk slowly at first round the house etc, will probably take a week until you can walk decent distances, so take it easy x

]]> Comment on Surgery – Pilonidal Abscess Removal by Irish http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-12694 Irish Tue, 15 Jun 2010 20:39:11 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15#comment-12694 Hi Sierra, Yes I had the packing first time round. Sure, the packing itself isn't pleasant but don't worry too much, it is usually done very quickly. The nurse I had always told me to take my high-strength pain killers about 40mins to an hour before her visit and this really reduced the pain! I also used to just grit my teeth while they were doing it and it does get less painful every day so i really wouldn't worry about it. I think the method you are having is the best first choice for surgery, if it heals up ok as it does for many people, you'll probably not even have a scar. The only other advice i would give is to not go back to work too soon, make sure it's fully healed, i was stupid and went back too soon. I went back about 2 1/2 weeks but really should have taken off until it was healed properly - maybe 3 1/2 weeks or so? Hope that helps, good luck with the op! I'm in on the same day having a closed op x Hi Sierra,
Yes I had the packing first time round. Sure, the packing itself isn’t pleasant but don’t worry too much, it is usually done very quickly. The nurse I had always told me to take my high-strength pain killers about 40mins to an hour before her visit and this really reduced the pain! I also used to just grit my teeth while they were doing it and it does get less painful every day so i really wouldn’t worry about it.

I think the method you are having is the best first choice for surgery, if it heals up ok as it does for many people, you’ll probably not even have a scar.

The only other advice i would give is to not go back to work too soon, make sure it’s fully healed, i was stupid and went back too soon. I went back about 2 1/2 weeks but really should have taken off until it was healed properly – maybe 3 1/2 weeks or so?

Hope that helps, good luck with the op! I’m in on the same day having a closed op x

]]> Comment on Surgery – Pilonidal Abscess Removal by Sierra Boutte http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15&cpage=1#comment-12670 Sierra Boutte Wed, 09 Jun 2010 04:52:09 +0000 http://www.steve-cullen.com/?p=15#comment-12670 I have the surgery next Monday and tge surgeon told me that it will have to be packed and heal from the inside out but packing hurts. Did anyone else have to go through this because he refuses to just remove the cyst drain the fluid and them stitch me up. how long are u on bed rest? Can u walk well or move properly? I'm extremely nervous and scared and the only reason I'm having the surgery is because I have been suffering with this n my mom is tired of paying hospital n doctor bills for drainage!!!!!! Can anyone please give me good advice that will help make me realize exactly what's going to be taking place after all this is over? I have the surgery next Monday and tge surgeon told me that it will have to be packed and heal from the inside out but packing hurts. Did anyone else have to go through this because he refuses to just remove the cyst drain the fluid and them stitch me up. how long are u on bed rest? Can u walk well or move properly? I’m extremely nervous and scared and the only reason I’m having the surgery is because I have been suffering with this n my mom is tired of paying hospital n doctor bills for drainage!!!!!! Can anyone please give me good advice that will help make me realize exactly what’s going to be taking place after all this is over?

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