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.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)