EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

This is probably going to be log winded and maybe a bit of rambling, so please bear with me.

I have been off work for almost three months now due to severe back problems and pain. But I had an 8am Dr appt yesterday and he finally cleared me to go back to work and I was there by 9:30. Having been back to work for two days has now confirmed what I have been thinking the whole time that I was off. I do not enjoy my job anymore. I have been in the same line of work(bodywork on cars) for 12 yrs now, pretty much since I started my working life other than a few other odd jobs when I got out of high school. In my early years, I truly really did enjoy my job, and got personal satisfaction out of it. But for the last year or so probably, I have woken up every morning wishing that I didn't have to go to work that day. Not coincedentally, that was about the time that my back pain started. And it is not a matter of my work enviroment either, as the shop that I have worked at now for 4 yrs is the best I have ever been at. Some of my best friends that I now have I have met through this employer. Everyone at work gets along great, and there is really no one that I dislike at my work from the head boss all the way down to the floor sweeper. Before anyone new gets hired, mngmt. asks everyone in the shop what they think about that person before they will hire anyone new on.  We truly have a family atmosphere at this shop. Almost every weekend someone from the shop will have a gathering at their house, and nearly everyone from work will show up and hang out together.

I believe that a large part of me feeling the way I do has to do to the physical aspect of my job. I am not opposed to or afraid of doing hard work, but I am only 32 yrs old and consider myself to be in fairly decent physical shape. But I work with or have worked with too many body men or mechanics who at 40-50 yrs old can barely get around and walk. Three people at the shop I work at now have already had to have back surgeries. I have had spinal injections recently which have helped immensely, but the next step for my issues involves surgery, which I want to avoid at all costs if I can. Most of the older bodymen I have worked with, either their back or knees are shot. With the issues I am already having with my back at 32yo, I DO NOT want to be that 50 yr old bodyman who hurts every single day and can barely get around.

I am at a crossroads now as I feel that I am still young enough that I could be able to start a new line of work, but I am quickly running out of time if I want to change professions. If I stick with what I have too much longer, I dont think that there is any way that I could get out. The older bodymen I work with are pretty much stuck with what they have. My issue is with having to start over again with a lower level of wages. I realize that I maybe could get a new job, and in maybe 10yrs be making the same money that I am now, but dont know if I could take that cut for that long.  I feel that I make pretty darn good money for the work that I do. I have been doing this for 12yrs, and every single year I feel my work and knowledge has improved and I have made more money than the previous year. Not to brag but I consider myself pretty smart, and I have the high school test scores to back it up, but without a college degree, I know it is hard to get a good paying job. And even with that said, I have friends from high School with college degrees that I make more money than they do.

After all this rambling what I am really wondering is if anyone at my age(32) or older has completely changed their careers and had it work out for them. Thankfully I have an amazing wife who is fully supportive of me no matter what I do. She tells me if I want to do something different, then I should go for it. I am just apprehensive as I know I can continue in my current line of work and make a good living for my family even though it is not what I want to do anymore. Providing for my family is my number one priority, but at the same time I would like to be happy when I go to work, and also not worry about being crippled up 20 yrs from now.

Anyone here have any advice to throw my way. I have discussed this issue with some of my co-workers, and all of my family as well. Just thought I would throw this out here to try and get all the opinions that I can. Thanks.

Brandon

Hey I think your where I was a few months ago I'm not 32 but I was a tech for ford and kept looking at the guys in the shop and decided the same thing you did I did not want to be broke down at ar 40-50. It may not be what your looking for and you may want to get out of it completely but there are options for your skill set. One would be try and look at a service advisor position at the shops around the pay is usually as good or better than the techs. Another would be looking into the insurance side of the business, with your experience you could be an adjuster real easy and that pays well to just a few ideas, may not be what your lookin for but I figure I would throw it out there.

Brandon , Ive been at the same place also many times in my life , I bet body work is hard on ya , but try concrete work for 20 years , you need to get right in your mind and dont let your pain get you down and also confess on how good you feel not how you are broke down or gonna be broken down , I also agree with hogsnatchers on the other options, I dont like work either but there no choice , I really wish the best for you and your family , everyone gets old  dont let that hold you up at all brandon , you can do anything you set your mind to ,

I know very few people that are able to get up everyday and do something they love or at the least truly enjoy.  Ive found that most people do what they can tolerate and grind away at that for about 30 years all the while disliking what they do only because it affords them the opportunity to do what they love and provides for their family.  It is a rich man that is able to wake up everyday and do what he loves and make a living doing it.

Very correct......IMO

x2! I Couldn't have said it better myself! To be able to do what you love, and make a living doing it used to be the American Dream! Now it's check to check man! Good luck to you and your family.

I am a firm believer that its never too late to change careers. You just got to want it bad enough. I am 36 and have totally changed careers twice in my life. Now I have never had to take a pay cut to do this because I worked on my new career path prior to quiting my current job both times.

Now as far as being completely happy and looking forward to going to work everyday.... I wish that were the case.. but its definitely bearable. I'd still like to win the lottery and be a hunting and fishing bum. LOL.

My dad worked for tdcj(Texas department of criminal Justice) for 25 years. He started workin there when he was 19 and he got full retirement when he was 44 he was a prison guard for em. And now he's a truck driver makin top pay for the company he's workin for and its lookin like he's about to get a supervisor position and he's only been drivin for 7 years. So in answer to your question. No I don't think its to late to completely switch careers but that's just my .02

 Brandon, I have been in the same boat for 14yrs. I statred out in field artillery in 97, did that for 6yrs and moved onto to helicopter mechanic. I did that for 8yrs and was gonna move onto heavy wheel mechanic, but that has fallen through as of now. My back is in the same boat too. I broke in on an air assualt mission my last tour in iraq. According to the army doc and the VA, I need surgery, but i would trust the worst animal vet before letting the VA butchers touch me. I am having to do the same thing and find a new career. I would like to get into law enforcement, but dont have the money to tide me over till I complete the academy even with my gi bill. good luck to you, and best of wishes. oh, maybe a degree in something may help.

To find what you seek in the road of life..leave no stone unturned. It's never too late to make a change! Good luck!

Charles the sugeons at the VA Houston are the same ones at the medical center. They are the best surgeons. I hate the VA but the surgeons are the best. They do rotations through the hospitals and the Houston VA is part of the Houston Medical Center as far as surgeons. The rest of the doctors suck and there are a few I would not take a stray dog to. But that is why the surgery clinics are only one day a week because the other days they are at the big hospitals.

I am in the same boat and starting over. I think it was Oprah that said the secret of being successful is doing what you love. She is fill of crap. If I had a job that made me one of the richest people I would sure love my job too. I am being forced to take a career I would never want. The only job that would be doing what I love is hunting and it does not pay enough. You can easily try to work for insurance companies in many ways. An adjuster or fraud department sound like they are something you can do. You may have to go to school but it is a related industry.

Charles, Dub beat me to it. I'm in Birmingham, and same is true as Dub stated in Houston. The University Docs work at the VA. In fact the two hospitals are connected with walkways. Check the list of VA neuro and orthopedic surgeons then see if any also are staff at the University hospital or other local hospitals in your area

 dub, my dad went to the houston va for his heart surgery and he had a raghead as a surgen, the doc i have for my primary care phasician is a rag too. I didnt get deployed to fight them just to have 1 try to provide health care or operate on me. I would rather spend the rest of my life in pain than take the chance and have 1 of them operate on me. I was shot on nearly every air assualt mission and got hit 3 times by a bunch of rags. I dont like my tax money paying for their medical schooling and their wages to now treat me. Its a shame as an american, its hard to get a grant or loan for schooling or business but some illegal can get it all! >:(

Charles, I completely understand that.  For that same reason, I use private healthcare.  But, for what it is worth, and it took quite a few sessions for me to realize this, we aren't there anymore.  Things are different here, and in so many ways.  And it is hard for anyone to understand how several months time can continue to dictate years of your life.  I'm not one to tell you your business, because I haven't lived your life.  But for me, things got easier after having some realizations.  They will give you a therapy counseling there at the VA in Houston.  And, if you ask, they are completely understanding if you want a white American to be the one evaluating you.  Only be careful dealing with them in what you say.  They seem to want to diagnose everyone with PTSD.  And, that (diagnosis alone) in itself is a pain in the butt to deal with.

Also, if you ever need to vent or want to talk to someone that knows where you are coming from and won't pass judgement, just pm me brother

 Much obliged to you texaslacy. Why should i be carefull of what I say? iv already been diagnosed with PTSD. I dont mind being diag with that, its drawing me 30% of my 60% rating which I earned every % of it. I dont trust the rags, our government pays them for schooling, now their wages just to possible help kill americans with legal drugs or turn us all into passifist zombies to be controled by the government to render us useless when it come times for the revolution.

Real sorry for your dad's experience, but that's what we all yave to look forward to. No one is training to be heart surgeons. Over half the spots for training heart surgeons go unfilled every year. So guess who is training? You guessed it! Importing physicians from middle east to fill some of the slots. But no one wants to go into debt you'll neve r be able to repay, open yourself to lawsuits from every lowlife with a lottery mentality, pay 90,000$ a year for malpractice insurance and get paid less for for doing someone's coronary's than a dentist gets for a full mouth extraction. The best and the brightest are going into other fields

My dad started hid body shop when he was 17 years old,hes been at it for 40 years and hates every minute of it,his knees were shoy many moons ago and both required surgery,i cant remember how many nights i watched him lay on the couch in agony over his back,if you feel deep down that it could affect you that badly in the future then you really should try to find something a little more body friendly,good luck to you in any venture you take on. You are very lucky to have a supportive wife that will back you whatever you choose.

Case in point man, we are two diff people. I did mind being diagnosed.  I hardly tell people I meet about my service, and I come up with excuses for the scars when I'm wearing board shorts or am swimming.  For me, it was like admitting a weakness accepting the diagnosis, and in every aspect of my life, I strive to show nothing but strength and power.  Getting diagnosed was like not being strong enough to deal with the mental aspect of everything, and admitting it.  

-48 Day to the Work You Love
-Fired to Hired
-The Power of Who
-Quitter


Damn Matt..... thats depressing. I truely enjoy my job(s).

Charles I have had more than one surgery at the VA in Houston and they have all been born in the USA. You get to see your doctor before surgery and if you don't like them you can walk away. I contacted my Congressman and never had to deal with the doctor I did not like again. My primary is alright but when I walked in they sent me to one I would not take my dog too. The next time I walked in they tried to send me to her. I told them I did not want to see her and the people at the counter told me that was the only one I could see or I could leave. I said good by and went down to consumer affairs in the basement. I saw another doctor. If you don't like your doctor you can get another one. There are also patient advocates at the hospital. Organizations like Disabled American Veterans DAV help too. When I am about to hurt someone I go get help. I have got one person fired because I don't take their cr@p. I am up there at the Houston VA a few times a month so if you need help just let me know and I will be happy to show you who to talk to.

 the houston va wont help since i live with in 20 miles of a va hospital, the temple va. Im not saying houston will NOT provide health care, im saying its a long a$$ drive. I look at it like this. I shouldnt have to find another doc bc my government decides to give them my tax money and then tell to piss off when i go in for education and benifit assistance. If I cant see an US born american doctor and not some immigrated highly educated sack of horse crap, then they can get out of my country. we have our family and friends and family of our friends dieing for a bunch of human rejects and then we pay for them to come into ur country and slowly kill and passify us. I shouldnt have to go see a paitient advocate of seek assitant from our congressmen/women to get proper health care. I sought assitant from sen cornyn's office when the VA decided to change my direct deposit acc and then wouldnt let me change it bc i didnt know the acct number that they changed without my approval. then they STOPED my payments untill they could unscrew their screw up. by the time my so called elected official responded to me, i had already received my back pay and the current payment. they were a day late and dollar short. the tx vets commission, even though not suppose to, helped me out after i blew up and he said to stay where i was, bc he worked in the same building and wanted to be able to go hm safely. I am sick and tired of immigrants forced down our throats and all we as good ole americans can do is sit back and take it from behind.

Thanks for the advice and opinions from everyone.

Deep down, I know it is not the actual work that I can not stand anymore, but rather the effects on me that it will have on me and my body down the road that has me thinking the way that I am. I have worked at 4 shops in my 12 yrs of doing this line of work, and have worked with too many 50+yr old body men who are some of the most broke down, grumpiest, most bitter old men (both physically and mentally) you would ever care to meet.  I absolutely DO NOT want to be that person. Truth be told I still do enjoy and take pride in the fact that I work in a skilled trade that not anyone off the street could come in and do well.  Also, while working, I used to wake up every morining coughing and hacking for a few minutes every morning. In the time that I was off work, after a week or so, I didn't cough one time. Now, having been back to work for less than a week I have already started the coughing and hacking again when I wake up in the morning. Just goes to show how breathing in bondo dust and paint fumes isnt good for you. I just know that I still want to be able to get around good to be able to enjoy my children as they get older, and one day my grand children as well. I realize that we all have to get old at some point, but if I can do anything to prolong that process than I am all for it.

One of my biggest issues right now is that I really have no clue as to what the heck else I would like to do with my life. I worked a data entry job for about 6 months out of high school and that already convinced me that I am not going to be happy riding a desk job anywhere. I have already looked at going into the bodyshop estimator or insurance adjuster side line of work, as I would obviously have the skills for that. I actually had a job offer with an ins. company two years ago as an adjuster, but they started off paying 1/2 of what I made this last year, and that just wont cut it. I am going to look into more oppurtunities along those lines and see what I can come up with.I have had discussions with my mngmt about taking a front office estimating position where I am at now. And While I like the idea of that kind of work, I dont want to do it where I am at now. I like everyone I work with, but I work at a corporate dealership and there are too many office politics that go on in the front office side of my job. If I were to go into the shop estimating side of my business, I believe I would have to move on to another shop. And I told my boss this same thing yesterday. I told him within one year, that while I do not know what I will be doing, I know I will not be doing the same thing that I am now.

For the time being until I get it all figured out I guess I will just try and make the best of it and take the Dr's advice. Haha!!

(http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j64/mod93dirt/manup.jpg)

I've been an auto tech for 14 years now, got hurt on the job almost 2 years ago, finally had shoulder surgery and got fired a month later. Worked for that company for almost 9 years.

Even though I lost my job and relized the people I surrounded my self with for that long were crap heads - I'm a happier man right now.
Almost have my strength back now - gonna work on cars on the side for myself, I don't ever want to work for someone else again. Thinking of starting a dog poop pick up and removal business, lol

Charles I understand exactly what you are saying. But if you need surgery you should be able to get the help you need. Texas Veterans or any other service organization can help quicker. If you notice I did not say conatact a Senator. As far as I am concerned they both are not worth the time to contact and do not care about Veterans. I have had one person fired at my VA and working on another because both flat out did not care about vets. One an immagrant the other born here and they both should not be working at the VA.

But would you get the surgery at a hospital in Temple or somewhere else? The VA does not keep surgeons on full time staff. So the surgeon will be from a nearby hospital. If you would not go to the local hospital then don't go to the VA for sugery either. The VA's are not conected the way they should be. Each one keeps its own records. So just figure out what hospital you would go to and use the VA next to it.

Mod93

It is seldom too late to have a do-over, or even to re-invent yourself.  Just figure you out and figure out what you think is your road to fulfillment and happiness.  I wish you luck in your search.

Charles,

I find your post unneccessarily offensive.  I sympathize with your PTSD and hope you are seeking help.  Your posts reek of anger.

we are intitled to our own opinions. if your disability was suspended bc of no fault of your own, but at fault bc of somebody who fatfingered a key or what ever the reason. then you cant change your acct bc you dont know the acct # they changed with out your authorization and you dont get mad, then you must be a person of no emotions or care. i sacraficed to much to have a va rep screw up my household. i dont need help with my ptsd, i just dont like stupidity or people who could care less if you have an issue, as long as they are getting their paycheck. you can find it offensive all you want, but it aint gonna change my mind of feelings. in general and NOT!!!! pointing fingers at anyone, if you are part of the solution, then you are part of the problem and a colaberator.

DUB, i used cornyn before and had great results while a soldier, but now its who gives a dang about a vet as long as they get their electorial votes. we as americans that pay our taxes, pay their salaries and they are suppose to be our mouth piece for issues, but neglect their job discription. sure wish i knew how to work the system better and become an elcted official. I could do better or atleast make a better attempt till i get peered out by the other crooked officials

I would bet that you are not a disabled vet. I am sitting here in a VA hospital a benefit I earned the hard way. Being treated like crap by some $&*# that never served one day. I finally got someone that is a vet and got taken care of. So RL I hope you are offended.

I know I speak for myself, and I believe I speak for EVERY other vet on this forum, and in America when I say "you're welcome."  We have fought and bled, killed and died, gone without hot food, sleep, the love of a woman, and hot showers for you to have the right to sit on a cushion, in your air conditioner, on your computer, connected to the internet to post that you are "offended."  BUMP THAT.  I'm glad you are!  Keep right on being offended.  Enjoy your ability to be offended.  Relish in your offense.  Be an offend-able indiviual.  BUT DO NOT EVER FORGET THAT AMERICAN FIGHTING MEN AND WOMEN PROVIDE YOU THE RIGHT OF OFFENSE!

If you can ever do half of what we've done and not be angry, I'd be surprised.


"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." - George Orwell

The fact is 90% of people going to work don't like the job. Remember the saying find something you really like and will never have to go to work a day in your life. I'm sure you've heard a number of rag to riches story but 1 that come to mind is Myer -Robinson. The man started this company when he was 62 and was a millionare by 67. He used the  Ross Perot motto " find a void and fill it" I was in sales my entire career and I got tired of depending on the back office for support. I mean I could bring the business in but we would lose it out the backdoor. I decided to head into a entire diffrent industry "transportation" or some call logistics . They took a look at my resume and said I would be great at sales. I told them no more traveling, knocking on doors, cold calling what else do you have?   Dispatcher which pays 1/3 of what they were offering as a sales rmgr. I took the pay cut with 4 days on 3 off. Within six months 2 promotions and a nice raise. It was'nt all me I just happen to take a chance at the right time. Let me add you're still a young man with plenty of upside so take a chance and don't look back. My 2 Good Luck  

dub,texaslacy,charles.i cant think of no higher honor than to serve the usa,u have the right to speak ur mind more so than me or nebody who has not served.its guys like u that make this country free,if u call it free,sometimes i wonder.but think u for ur service,u guys r the real heros.good luck with ur back.

I'll start by saying thank you.  But, I have done nothing more special than anyone, and I did not join for any other reason than my country needed our help, and I knew we could fight them there, or fight them here, and my family lives here.  If I had to name a reason for joining, I would have to say just that, to protect my family from being involved and keeping them safe.  It was not for anyone to say thank you or to hold me in some sort of higher regard.  I'm just a normal guy.

I will disagree with you on one thing though, we all have freedom of speech, no one has more, no one has less.  The only difference between a veteran and a civilian is that 9 times out of 10 the veteran knows the price of freedom and is grateful and appreciative of it and more often than not more respectful of other's rights than a civilian. 

I could tell you about many many instances of incredibly ungrateful civilians spitting, picketing, shouting, cursing, throwing things and doing several other generally hateful things to us at the base entrances.  It is nice to hear gratitude instead of hate.  So, let me say to you, "thank you for the welcome back."

I just saw where a company called PRECOAT is hiring. Not sure if its ONLY in the B'ham Al area, but they have a website.
Also, i thank all vets for their service and sacrifice for our country. I worked at a major teaching hospital in Birmingham and the VA decided to start their own open heart surgery program. The nursing was contracted out to my hospital and i basicly set up tye program at the VA. To say I was appalled at the attitude many, not all, but very many of the employees had towards vets burned my AZZ up!!!! And to boot, they absolutely could not be fired. I saw things i had never seen before or since, ,,, our vets should get the BEST, PREMIUM CARE AVAILABLE, not politicians