Today I finally tracked down the nutritionist and had a conversation in his office. I left angry and disappointed. I don't know why expected any less. He looked at my labs and apparently apart from the severe anemia, I am healthy. All the things he looked at were at very good levels so my nutrition is good on paper.
I spoke with him about the bariatric surgery and how I am not able to eat very much of what they serve. He said they give us plenty of food and that I did not qualify for snacks. I spoke with him about the fact that a gout diet does not contain beans as they aggravate the condition. He pulled up the Mayo clinic gout diet which recently said beans are ok. I replied with the Mayo clinic may think they are ok but I am telling you that eating beans at almost every meal will bring on attacks like no tomorrow. Again not his problem.
Towards the end of the conversation, he stated that I was still overweight and that since I had lost almost 15 pounds since entering Carswell, I am obviously doing something right and whatever I am doing, it is working. Basically he was proud of the fact that I was losing weight quickly and Carswell was helping me to lose all that extra weight. I smiled, thanked him for his time and left angry and irritated.
Later in the afternoon, he must have found something in my records to indicate I was eligible for a snack after dinner cause I was told that by our unit guard. We will see what happens when I try and actually get the snack tonight. From what I hear, the snack will be a piece of bread with cheese or peanut butter. I am still baffled how this is called a Medical center. Medically they have their heads in their butt when it comes to treatment! Bariatric patients eat 6x per day or we don't get enough calories. How hard is this to understand?????
Monday, March 5, 2018
Another Day, Another Fight/The Rules Don't Apply To Anyone But Me by Inmate #1
Blog Post: Another Day, Another Fight
Today was interesting and horrifying at the same time. The weather was nice enough to go out yesterday (overcast but not raining) so a lot of people were in the main open outdoor area called compound. Of course, this lead into a huge fight over someone's girlfriend and jealousy that almost turned deadly. The one girl beat the bejesus out of the other girl with some hard object (heard it was either a rock or a lock) and that girl was sent to the Dallas hospital because of the severity of the hits to her face. She had to get an MRI done. They brought her back and of course put both of them in the shoo. From what I hear, she will be ok but her entire face is black and blue, she has wounds and her mouth may never be the same. Nice place to live huh?
Blog Post: The rules don't apply to anyone but me
On a totally unrelated subject, I decided that today was the day I was going to take over a washer when someone wasn't washing and was late. The rule is if you are more than 5 minutes late, you lose your wash time. The wash time was at 645, I found the washer at 657 empty. I put my stuff in there and start washing. About 710, someone is screaming in the common area, who took washer 3? I fessed up quick and they were like, I was running late. Ok.. so then they ran complaining to the person who assigns the wash time about how they lost their wash. So began the lecture on ME that I should not have done that and it's not acceptable. Ummm... she was 12 minutes late, where is her lecture????
She officially lost that wash. I explained, I needed to wash clothes desperately as my lack of clothing + 1245AM ONCE per week wash time was not enough especially being assigned to the smallest washer. I haven't been able to wash my blanket or sheets since I got here cause of this issue. They let me finish the wash and dry my clothes but it was definitely under anger. Again, the ONE time, I take advantage of the rules, I get yelled at. The lady who was late got no repercussions. I was told never to just grab a washer. Really?? The Hispanics who CHARGE people to wash their clothes do it ALL the time. Against the rules but that's how they get commissary money.
Have I mentioned how much I hate this place?? In total, we have 3 washers for 300 people. Everyone with a job (which I don't have yet) gets 2 wash times.. All others get one. That would be fine EXCEPT for the lack of clothing that I have (mentioned in an earlier post). You want me to wash one time per week but ONLY assign me 5 pairs of underwear and 4 shirts!!!!
Today was interesting and horrifying at the same time. The weather was nice enough to go out yesterday (overcast but not raining) so a lot of people were in the main open outdoor area called compound. Of course, this lead into a huge fight over someone's girlfriend and jealousy that almost turned deadly. The one girl beat the bejesus out of the other girl with some hard object (heard it was either a rock or a lock) and that girl was sent to the Dallas hospital because of the severity of the hits to her face. She had to get an MRI done. They brought her back and of course put both of them in the shoo. From what I hear, she will be ok but her entire face is black and blue, she has wounds and her mouth may never be the same. Nice place to live huh?
Blog Post: The rules don't apply to anyone but me
On a totally unrelated subject, I decided that today was the day I was going to take over a washer when someone wasn't washing and was late. The rule is if you are more than 5 minutes late, you lose your wash time. The wash time was at 645, I found the washer at 657 empty. I put my stuff in there and start washing. About 710, someone is screaming in the common area, who took washer 3? I fessed up quick and they were like, I was running late. Ok.. so then they ran complaining to the person who assigns the wash time about how they lost their wash. So began the lecture on ME that I should not have done that and it's not acceptable. Ummm... she was 12 minutes late, where is her lecture????
She officially lost that wash. I explained, I needed to wash clothes desperately as my lack of clothing + 1245AM ONCE per week wash time was not enough especially being assigned to the smallest washer. I haven't been able to wash my blanket or sheets since I got here cause of this issue. They let me finish the wash and dry my clothes but it was definitely under anger. Again, the ONE time, I take advantage of the rules, I get yelled at. The lady who was late got no repercussions. I was told never to just grab a washer. Really?? The Hispanics who CHARGE people to wash their clothes do it ALL the time. Against the rules but that's how they get commissary money.
Have I mentioned how much I hate this place?? In total, we have 3 washers for 300 people. Everyone with a job (which I don't have yet) gets 2 wash times.. All others get one. That would be fine EXCEPT for the lack of clothing that I have (mentioned in an earlier post). You want me to wash one time per week but ONLY assign me 5 pairs of underwear and 4 shirts!!!!
Entitled Starvation at Carswell by Inmate #1
I have to track down that nutritionist this week. In all seriousness, the food situation needs to be resolved. Lunch today was powdered eggs, oily baked potatoes and pancakes. I did not go. All I would have been able to eat was the eggs.. Half a cup of cold powdered eggs is not worth the walk let alone the stress of standing in line. The line most times takes 15 to 20 minutes because of the people who cut in front of you with no regard for what they are doing wrong. On average, 30 people cut in front of me in the line EVERY meal. You cannot say anything for risk of a fight.
You tell the guards and they don't give a f--k. Apparently it takes 3 of them at the front of the line to check if you have your ID with you but not one of them can be bothered to do their actual job which is patrolling the line. That would of course take them away from their conversation amongst each other. Do you flipping job!!! In all seriousness, all you are as a guard is an overpaid glorified babysitter and you cannot even get that right.
Dinner was roast beef. I was given ONLY one piece that was 50% fat (no exaggeration) and razor thin. The strip I ate was about 4 inches by 1.5 inches. Side dish was a half cup of green beans and a cup of rice. I didn't eat the rice. I am flipping starving!!!! My meal ended up being less than 100 calories. This is ridiculous and not sustainable. I now need to cook something from my commissary pantry to supplement this meal like I did lunch. I looked ahead for the rest of this week and there is not a day that does not contain large amounts of beans!!! I cannot eat those. So frustrating.....
You tell the guards and they don't give a f--k. Apparently it takes 3 of them at the front of the line to check if you have your ID with you but not one of them can be bothered to do their actual job which is patrolling the line. That would of course take them away from their conversation amongst each other. Do you flipping job!!! In all seriousness, all you are as a guard is an overpaid glorified babysitter and you cannot even get that right.
Dinner was roast beef. I was given ONLY one piece that was 50% fat (no exaggeration) and razor thin. The strip I ate was about 4 inches by 1.5 inches. Side dish was a half cup of green beans and a cup of rice. I didn't eat the rice. I am flipping starving!!!! My meal ended up being less than 100 calories. This is ridiculous and not sustainable. I now need to cook something from my commissary pantry to supplement this meal like I did lunch. I looked ahead for the rest of this week and there is not a day that does not contain large amounts of beans!!! I cannot eat those. So frustrating.....
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Sanitation by Inmate #2
It seems amazing that during cold and flu season there is no visible means to combat germs. There are 2 sanitary hand dispensers in the cafeteria but one is empty. There are NONE in the units. People crouping, coughing and sneezing but no sanitary measures. There are no sanitary wipes available on commissary - no Lysol wipes, no Clorox wipes nor any off the wall brand.
So the contagion goes on and on from one person to another and one room to another. And if you go to sick call with the flu (and you have a fever) your entire room goes to the SHU for quarantine. And while you are gone nothing is done to sanitize the room to kill the germs that put you in the SHU to start with so you come back in 3 days with the same germs you left with.
Other medical facilities would be appaled and the sanitation of these units. While people are sick they wander around the unit coughing and sneezing and breathing on other people, using chairs and tables, facilities and all railings and walls that make up the unit with no way to sanitize the unit. Another amazingly stupid way things are done here.
So the contagion goes on and on from one person to another and one room to another. And if you go to sick call with the flu (and you have a fever) your entire room goes to the SHU for quarantine. And while you are gone nothing is done to sanitize the room to kill the germs that put you in the SHU to start with so you come back in 3 days with the same germs you left with.
Other medical facilities would be appaled and the sanitation of these units. While people are sick they wander around the unit coughing and sneezing and breathing on other people, using chairs and tables, facilities and all railings and walls that make up the unit with no way to sanitize the unit. Another amazingly stupid way things are done here.
Duct Tape and Cardboard by Inmate #1
My housing unit has many many inmates with walkers and wheelchairs. Obviously, this makes walking around or rolling around difficult to say the least however there are obstacles put down by staff adds to the difficulty. Since it has been raining a lot this week, the entire entrance of our housing unit in the doorway has cut up boxes on the floor. They are unavoidable and you have to walk or roll on them when entering and exiting. Most of the time, they are wet and falling apart.
I don't understand how this is safe for either the able bodied inmates or the special needs one. If this was a corporate building and the same action was taken, then OSHA would be here in a heartbeat.
The other favorite solution to things here is duct tape. In the outside world, I love duct tape just ask my husband. If I need to fix something and duct tape may do the job, it is my first choice.
Here they use it to mark borders on the floor of where you can and cannot go and for some reason in the bathroom on the floor to cover cracks. The problem is that the duct tape is peeling and rolling up in places due to so many people walking on it daily. This is a OSHA hazard as people can trip easily on the duct tape. Sticky side up in places and your foot can stick.
Another hazard is when the ice machine freezes up. They take the entire front cover and leave it off which exposes ALL of the machinery. This was left like this multiple days for 6 hours plus at a time. Super crazy dangerous but not surprising for this place.
I don't understand how this is safe for either the able bodied inmates or the special needs one. If this was a corporate building and the same action was taken, then OSHA would be here in a heartbeat.
The other favorite solution to things here is duct tape. In the outside world, I love duct tape just ask my husband. If I need to fix something and duct tape may do the job, it is my first choice.
Here they use it to mark borders on the floor of where you can and cannot go and for some reason in the bathroom on the floor to cover cracks. The problem is that the duct tape is peeling and rolling up in places due to so many people walking on it daily. This is a OSHA hazard as people can trip easily on the duct tape. Sticky side up in places and your foot can stick.
Another hazard is when the ice machine freezes up. They take the entire front cover and leave it off which exposes ALL of the machinery. This was left like this multiple days for 6 hours plus at a time. Super crazy dangerous but not surprising for this place.
Recreation Classes by Inmate #1
At Carswell, they love to list all of the "fun" activities that they have going on in the recreation department. The list includes arts & crafts classes, outdoor tournaments, exercise classes etc. I just want to dispel the myth that any of these are actually what they seem. The arts & crafts classes are not actual classes.
I would classify them as time to use the arts & crafts classroom to do whatever the activity is. If you want to learn to crochet in the class, that is not possible but if you want to sit there while everyone crochets and listen to the radio, then you will be fine. Its like supervised activity time.
The exercise classes do run for the most part which is good but the outside rec activities suck. The tournaments never get enough players or for some unknown reason it gets postponed. All in all very disappointing.
I think they make the rec calendars to make themselves feel good and like they are offering something when the reality is polar opposite. Like everything at Carswell, it looks good on paper but the reality is not even close.
I would classify them as time to use the arts & crafts classroom to do whatever the activity is. If you want to learn to crochet in the class, that is not possible but if you want to sit there while everyone crochets and listen to the radio, then you will be fine. Its like supervised activity time.
The exercise classes do run for the most part which is good but the outside rec activities suck. The tournaments never get enough players or for some unknown reason it gets postponed. All in all very disappointing.
I think they make the rec calendars to make themselves feel good and like they are offering something when the reality is polar opposite. Like everything at Carswell, it looks good on paper but the reality is not even close.
Orientation by Inmate #1
I have been here at Carswell for almost a month now. One month down, five to go. I finally had what the call A&O which is basically a way to parade all the head honchos who run departments here in front of you to explain what they do, what they can help you with and some of your responsibilities. It takes 4 hours and our new class had 80 people. At the end of it, you sign a paper that you attended so that at some later date you break the rules, then they can pull this paper out and say that you signed stating you understood everything.
Most people in that room probably had no idea why they had to sign anything but being in the real world and corporate environments, I knew exactly why. Its like when you sign you read the corporate harassment policy and if you harass someone, they parade that paper out and fire you. Same kind of thing but instead of being fired, you would just be put in the shoo (aka lockup) and have privileges like commissary, email and phone taken away for 30 days..
I really wish these people had a reality check between what they think this facility is like and what actually happens. I almost burst out laughing when we were told that we are getting the best medical care. Really??? From what I hear, 1 in 10 people who come because of medical needs only actually die.. 1 in 10 and that's a statistic you think is good??
So many people every day that I meet and hear the horror stories of what this place has NOT done for them.. I think all of the head honchos should live here for one week in my dorm and get their medical care for them and their family for one year and maybe the light would go on about how horrible this place is. Don't preach your awesomeness to me - you are like one of those travelling evangelists who take peoples money by performing fake miracles. Same kind of hustle but with a different spin.
Most people in that room probably had no idea why they had to sign anything but being in the real world and corporate environments, I knew exactly why. Its like when you sign you read the corporate harassment policy and if you harass someone, they parade that paper out and fire you. Same kind of thing but instead of being fired, you would just be put in the shoo (aka lockup) and have privileges like commissary, email and phone taken away for 30 days..
I really wish these people had a reality check between what they think this facility is like and what actually happens. I almost burst out laughing when we were told that we are getting the best medical care. Really??? From what I hear, 1 in 10 people who come because of medical needs only actually die.. 1 in 10 and that's a statistic you think is good??
So many people every day that I meet and hear the horror stories of what this place has NOT done for them.. I think all of the head honchos should live here for one week in my dorm and get their medical care for them and their family for one year and maybe the light would go on about how horrible this place is. Don't preach your awesomeness to me - you are like one of those travelling evangelists who take peoples money by performing fake miracles. Same kind of hustle but with a different spin.
Laundry by Inmate #1
I have been here 22 days and lost almost 15 pounds. I am swimming in my shirts so I was told to go to laundry trade in. This takes place ONLY on Tuesday mornings at 6AM. I brought all my shirts (4) dress shirts and (4) tshirts to trade. They had NO dress shirts in my size and the the 4 tshirts, they did have a stack but not for trade. You have to be here 6 months to get those size large tshirts, we are out of all the other tradeable ones.
I was HEATED but I calmly took one of the dress shrits, put it on and asked, "so you want me to look like this?" My shirts look like I am wearing a circus tent. To add to the whole sutuation, I ONLY have ONE wash time a week (1245AM on Tuesdays) and only enough clothes total for 4 days of clean clothes. 4 shirts, 4 pants, 4 tshits, 5 pairs of underwear 4 pairs of socks and 3 bras.
The last time I checked there are 7 days in a week right???? You cannot get more clothes and are expected to always have clean clothes. We all wash our underwear in the shower so we can have clean ones everyday. WHAT THE F**K IS WRONG WITH THIS F***ING PLACE????
I was HEATED but I calmly took one of the dress shrits, put it on and asked, "so you want me to look like this?" My shirts look like I am wearing a circus tent. To add to the whole sutuation, I ONLY have ONE wash time a week (1245AM on Tuesdays) and only enough clothes total for 4 days of clean clothes. 4 shirts, 4 pants, 4 tshits, 5 pairs of underwear 4 pairs of socks and 3 bras.
The last time I checked there are 7 days in a week right???? You cannot get more clothes and are expected to always have clean clothes. We all wash our underwear in the shower so we can have clean ones everyday. WHAT THE F**K IS WRONG WITH THIS F***ING PLACE????
Violation of Personal Rights by Inmate #2
When I self surrendered I had to argue with the guards that check me in to keep my PRESCRIPTION sunglasses because i am not supposed to be in the sun and bright lights without them. I have cataracts, MS and diabetes (fortunately no retinopathy so far). My civilian optometrist said I was not to be out in the sun without sunglasses - no exceptions.
On Nov 13th a guard (Lt. Griffin) confiscated my sunglasses and when I went to his office with the paperwork he told me I had the paperwork backdated so I wasn't getting them back - strangely the date on the form was the date I surrendered - and then he called the medical Director Dr Langham ( a sorry excuse for a medical director who sent me an email at home that said - "we will succeed" and when I asked him succeed at what he didn't answer) who ordered him to confiscate the glasses until I saw the optometrist - but he didn't make the appointment to see the optometrist. I finally went to Ms McMannis (head off Health Services) and she made sure the appointment was made but it wouldn't be until January because (to them) me being without my prescription lenses wasn't an emergency (certainly not for them) but because I was without them - when sun was out I had to walk with my head down and my eyes almost completely closed.
Several times my walker caught in the pavement and almost pitched me head first onto the pavement or the grass. On January 25th I saw the optometrist and he ordered my glasses to be returned to me but it took another 9 days to get them back. I had to go back to the optometrist office (a week later because he is only here on Thursday)
Then the medical records had to call the lieutenants' office order them released. I spent several hours at the lieutenants' office because then they couldn't find them even though one of the officers dealing with them was the LT that called me to their office to see about shipping them home at which time I told them the were to retain them until I saw the optometrist. It was a nightmare. Fortunately (if in this case there really is a fortunately) I was moved from the room of bright lights and 10 beds - the infamous bus stop - (my landing point) to a first floor room with 4 beds and roommates who want the lights left off. A great pressure of relief from the bright lights. This facility is not very good at do no harm. They make it a practice to make life as difficult as possible.
The Prisons Core Values are correction excellence, respect and integrity - I find any of that hard to find in this place concerning anything.
On Nov 13th a guard (Lt. Griffin) confiscated my sunglasses and when I went to his office with the paperwork he told me I had the paperwork backdated so I wasn't getting them back - strangely the date on the form was the date I surrendered - and then he called the medical Director Dr Langham ( a sorry excuse for a medical director who sent me an email at home that said - "we will succeed" and when I asked him succeed at what he didn't answer) who ordered him to confiscate the glasses until I saw the optometrist - but he didn't make the appointment to see the optometrist. I finally went to Ms McMannis (head off Health Services) and she made sure the appointment was made but it wouldn't be until January because (to them) me being without my prescription lenses wasn't an emergency (certainly not for them) but because I was without them - when sun was out I had to walk with my head down and my eyes almost completely closed.
Several times my walker caught in the pavement and almost pitched me head first onto the pavement or the grass. On January 25th I saw the optometrist and he ordered my glasses to be returned to me but it took another 9 days to get them back. I had to go back to the optometrist office (a week later because he is only here on Thursday)
Then the medical records had to call the lieutenants' office order them released. I spent several hours at the lieutenants' office because then they couldn't find them even though one of the officers dealing with them was the LT that called me to their office to see about shipping them home at which time I told them the were to retain them until I saw the optometrist. It was a nightmare. Fortunately (if in this case there really is a fortunately) I was moved from the room of bright lights and 10 beds - the infamous bus stop - (my landing point) to a first floor room with 4 beds and roommates who want the lights left off. A great pressure of relief from the bright lights. This facility is not very good at do no harm. They make it a practice to make life as difficult as possible.
The Prisons Core Values are correction excellence, respect and integrity - I find any of that hard to find in this place concerning anything.
Guards by Inmate #1
The guards in our housing unit are ok most of the time but there are a few that are total and complete jerks. I will not name any names but our Friday daytime guard is a total and complete jerk. The rules say as long as our rooms our clean and our blankets etc are correctly folded and placed, we are allowed to go back to bed after 730am. This guard likes to be a jerk and still pound on bunks telling you to get up and do something today. Some people sleep cause they are sick or tired from their very early morning jobs, he doesn't care and breaks the rules. Add to that, he loves to open the door for the move 8 minutes late and says the door is not my priority.. Ummm.. it is for us - we need to get to somewhere else and you are stopping us from going even to medical appointments, Add to that his random inspections for no reason and harassment of inmates and I think he needs to just be reassigned to something else.
The main guard we have at night Monday thru Friday is better about that stuff but likes to make speeches and yell allot. Ironically she will scream quiet time however she does nothing about the noise. The inmates say she is one of us dressed up in guard clothes cause she loves to also chat with the inmates and definitely has a color preference.
In terms of color, I would like to state I am NOT in any way shape or form a racist. However being the least prevalent race in here does have its disadvantages with the guards. Most of them are African American and so is a large part of the inmate population. I have seen them let inmates break rules and not say anything but if another race does it, they get written up. The rest of the inmate population is made up mostly of Latin persuasion and the very small Caucasian population.
As with everything Carswell needs to flip over its staff. They need to have guards who do their job without harassing the inmates. Guards who will open a damn door on time cause they are required to not because we beg.
The main guard we have at night Monday thru Friday is better about that stuff but likes to make speeches and yell allot. Ironically she will scream quiet time however she does nothing about the noise. The inmates say she is one of us dressed up in guard clothes cause she loves to also chat with the inmates and definitely has a color preference.
In terms of color, I would like to state I am NOT in any way shape or form a racist. However being the least prevalent race in here does have its disadvantages with the guards. Most of them are African American and so is a large part of the inmate population. I have seen them let inmates break rules and not say anything but if another race does it, they get written up. The rest of the inmate population is made up mostly of Latin persuasion and the very small Caucasian population.
As with everything Carswell needs to flip over its staff. They need to have guards who do their job without harassing the inmates. Guards who will open a damn door on time cause they are required to not because we beg.
Today's Dance by Inmate #2
Today was the pool dance. It has rained for several days here and it rained again this morning so by the time we went to lunch and the sidewalks were full of small lake size puddles - deep enough to soak your feet and shoes and get your pant legs wet. Not on just one sidewalk but on EVERY sidewalk leading from the building to the main building where chow is.
On the one sidewalk you can pass the garbage can in the circular on the left but then you stand a chance of getting run over by returning traffic. So you stop and wait or plow through, On top of which they have laid cardboard on the floor in front of the doors to soak up moisture, which curls and shreds, gets caught in the walker and you have to pick the walker up and carry it over the wet cardboard. Carrying the walker isn't much of an aid to steady your walk if you have to carry it. I have also noticed today that there are more holes in the sidewalks and the cracks of the sidewalks than before with rebar showing which makes walking with a walker dangerous.
If the walker accidentally hits a chuck in the sidewalk and my balance is off it could throw me over the walker and I could be injured rather badly. I've had several close calls with uneven sidewalks but was able to regain my balance when the walker fell over. I was very athletic before I had the stroke and my body balance is pretty good even when the vertigo is acting up (fortunate for me).
On the one sidewalk you can pass the garbage can in the circular on the left but then you stand a chance of getting run over by returning traffic. So you stop and wait or plow through, On top of which they have laid cardboard on the floor in front of the doors to soak up moisture, which curls and shreds, gets caught in the walker and you have to pick the walker up and carry it over the wet cardboard. Carrying the walker isn't much of an aid to steady your walk if you have to carry it. I have also noticed today that there are more holes in the sidewalks and the cracks of the sidewalks than before with rebar showing which makes walking with a walker dangerous.
If the walker accidentally hits a chuck in the sidewalk and my balance is off it could throw me over the walker and I could be injured rather badly. I've had several close calls with uneven sidewalks but was able to regain my balance when the walker fell over. I was very athletic before I had the stroke and my body balance is pretty good even when the vertigo is acting up (fortunate for me).
Water Quality?? by Inmate #1
Here at Carswell, there are not a lot of drinking options. We have one water fountain in our unit that everyone shares plus an ice machine (which breaks down OFTEN) and a hot water dispenser. Besides those options, there are no other liquid options unless you buy at commissary. You are provided something to drink with meals but that is the meal hall.
I cannot drink soda due to the bariatric surgery so ALL I can drink is water. My water comes from melted ice and the water fountain. I believe with all of my being that the water is NOT purified or has something wrong with it. My stomach since entering Carswell has been a mess to say the least. I have 3 to 5 violent stomach episodes EVERY day WITHOUT fail. I have NEVER had stomach issues like this before here. I am at the point of almost 3 weeks of these episodes. I took a look at what I was eating and I don't think I eat enough food to be causing this so by deduction I have traced it to the water. The water is the ONLY thing that makes sense!
Some readers might wonder why I have not chosen to go to the sick call with this issue.. simple - if Carswell doesn't have medical help to maintain my iron levels (much more important) they definitely will not give any attention to my stomach is on fire and has been for almost 3 weeks. Remember, I had blood tests 2 WEEKS AGO - and still have NOT seen a doctor since arrival. Calling this place a medical facility is like calling a flying pig - Superman.
I cannot drink soda due to the bariatric surgery so ALL I can drink is water. My water comes from melted ice and the water fountain. I believe with all of my being that the water is NOT purified or has something wrong with it. My stomach since entering Carswell has been a mess to say the least. I have 3 to 5 violent stomach episodes EVERY day WITHOUT fail. I have NEVER had stomach issues like this before here. I am at the point of almost 3 weeks of these episodes. I took a look at what I was eating and I don't think I eat enough food to be causing this so by deduction I have traced it to the water. The water is the ONLY thing that makes sense!
Some readers might wonder why I have not chosen to go to the sick call with this issue.. simple - if Carswell doesn't have medical help to maintain my iron levels (much more important) they definitely will not give any attention to my stomach is on fire and has been for almost 3 weeks. Remember, I had blood tests 2 WEEKS AGO - and still have NOT seen a doctor since arrival. Calling this place a medical facility is like calling a flying pig - Superman.
Bunkbeds by Inmate #1
Bunkbeds SUCK especially as an adult. They are super damn uncomfortable and the climb up and down is a total pain in the ass especially in the middle of the night for a restroom visit. I have to keep my sneakers up there with me and put them on whenever I go up and down since the round bars you balance on are small and hard to manuever up on without slipping.
Every room at Carswell has a set of 2 bunkbeds for a total of 4 places to sleep. Upon arrival, you will be assigned an upper bunk. You need to have a medical reason to receive a bottom bunk as they are at a premium. The reasons vary though since I cannot figure out why one of my roommates has a bottom bunk except she's fat when other inmates I have spoken with need them so much more. Two quick examples of people who are begging for a bottom bunk: This inmate is on SEIZURE medication and is prone to go into seizing episodes - Carswell gave her a bottom bunk but then denied the renewal.
I heard her ask medical staff, what they want her to do if she seizes in the upper bunk - the reply was "I don't have an answer for you." She left in tears. Second inmate requesting a bottom bunk said a metal rod in her leg BROKE and she is ON the list for SURGERY and she still has an upper bunk. WTF??? Essentially she has a broken leg, but she still needs to climb up the ladder just to sleep???
Every room at Carswell has a set of 2 bunkbeds for a total of 4 places to sleep. Upon arrival, you will be assigned an upper bunk. You need to have a medical reason to receive a bottom bunk as they are at a premium. The reasons vary though since I cannot figure out why one of my roommates has a bottom bunk except she's fat when other inmates I have spoken with need them so much more. Two quick examples of people who are begging for a bottom bunk: This inmate is on SEIZURE medication and is prone to go into seizing episodes - Carswell gave her a bottom bunk but then denied the renewal.
I heard her ask medical staff, what they want her to do if she seizes in the upper bunk - the reply was "I don't have an answer for you." She left in tears. Second inmate requesting a bottom bunk said a metal rod in her leg BROKE and she is ON the list for SURGERY and she still has an upper bunk. WTF??? Essentially she has a broken leg, but she still needs to climb up the ladder just to sleep???
Bathrooms and Showers by Inmate #1
The bathroom situation needs to be addressed at Carswell. As with everything here, it is not right. When it gets humid here, the toilets sweat and the floor is SOAKED. The solution is cardboard on the floor around the back of the toilets. The floor in front of the toilets is wet and slick as ice.
The shower situation is the one that grosses me out the most. I have shower shoes - thank God but holy moly its still disgusting. The paint in the showers is PEELING everywhere and there is some sort of black crap that is forming. The handicapped shower is the WORST with this crap. Would you want to take a shower standing on black gunk and a peeling paint floor?? Me either but this is Carswell - it is the norm.
The sinks for washing your hands are clean however the soap is significantly watered down and the paper towels they provide are constantly minimal in amount and gone thru fast.
After the morning shower and bathroom rush, in my unit, half the bathroom is cleaned and not to be used until 2:45pm. This means three less stalls to use, 3 less sinks and 3 less showers for almost 300 people!!!!!! I am not sure if other units do this but ours does this every day without fail. We are left with 5 bathroom stalls, 4 showers and 3 sinks when that ban is in effect. One of our showers is permanently down as it was leaking and they did the biggest half ass fix that left a hole in the wall that you can see thru from the other side where people walk back and forth. I say hole but what I mean is about a 12" x 2" section of missing wall.. no one will take a shower in there. Would you??? I understand this is prison but these are SIGNIFICANT health hazards that need to be addressed.
The shower situation is the one that grosses me out the most. I have shower shoes - thank God but holy moly its still disgusting. The paint in the showers is PEELING everywhere and there is some sort of black crap that is forming. The handicapped shower is the WORST with this crap. Would you want to take a shower standing on black gunk and a peeling paint floor?? Me either but this is Carswell - it is the norm.
The sinks for washing your hands are clean however the soap is significantly watered down and the paper towels they provide are constantly minimal in amount and gone thru fast.
After the morning shower and bathroom rush, in my unit, half the bathroom is cleaned and not to be used until 2:45pm. This means three less stalls to use, 3 less sinks and 3 less showers for almost 300 people!!!!!! I am not sure if other units do this but ours does this every day without fail. We are left with 5 bathroom stalls, 4 showers and 3 sinks when that ban is in effect. One of our showers is permanently down as it was leaking and they did the biggest half ass fix that left a hole in the wall that you can see thru from the other side where people walk back and forth. I say hole but what I mean is about a 12" x 2" section of missing wall.. no one will take a shower in there. Would you??? I understand this is prison but these are SIGNIFICANT health hazards that need to be addressed.
2 Weeks and 10 Days by Inmate #1
I have been here since Feb 06th, exactly 15 days ago was my self surrender. When I came in, I let them know about my 2 MAIN medical issues. I had bariatric surgery 14 years ago and need to eat like 6x per day and it needs to be nutritious or I don't get enough calories. I am anemic due to the surgery and I cannot absorb iron thru eating or over the counter pills. I have yet to meet with a nutritionist yet and my 2 meals a day (which I do supplement with commissary) is not giving me enough to eat. I have lost 10 pounds in 2 weeks.
I did meet with a Physician's Assistant who doesn't understand bariatric anemia and would barely order an iron blood work test for me until I almost demanded it. I need an iron infusion demit but their solution at FMC Medical Center fraud Carswell was to hand me a bottle of iron pills!!!!! REALLY? I don't want to goddamn die in here cause they are so friggin stupid.
Add to that the blood pressure medicine they changed me to which increased my blood pressure instead of lowering it. I took myself off and my BP readings dropped from the 170s to the 130's. I think they are giving either the wrong medicine or expired medicine cause I have NEVER had that happen.
I hear medical horror stories all the time here.... at some point this place needs to be SHUT DOWN.
I did meet with a Physician's Assistant who doesn't understand bariatric anemia and would barely order an iron blood work test for me until I almost demanded it. I need an iron infusion demit but their solution at FMC Medical Center fraud Carswell was to hand me a bottle of iron pills!!!!! REALLY? I don't want to goddamn die in here cause they are so friggin stupid.
Add to that the blood pressure medicine they changed me to which increased my blood pressure instead of lowering it. I took myself off and my BP readings dropped from the 170s to the 130's. I think they are giving either the wrong medicine or expired medicine cause I have NEVER had that happen.
I hear medical horror stories all the time here.... at some point this place needs to be SHUT DOWN.
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