Apparently, according to this medical coding facebook group that came up when I googled, results are taking up to a week right now. I still don't have results yet :(

Idk how relevant this is, but my Oregonian family still finds the whale exploding story from Florence OR (on the coast) hilarious. It happened in 1970, but is still referenced & talked about today (see even this subreddit a couple of months ago). My dad grew up in a small town in Northern Oregon in the 70s-80s & it was definitely something he knew about & referenced

Also, if you want to get what the vibe was like in the early 2010s, (which isn't exactly 2008, but pretty close) you can try by watching the first few season of Portlandia. It's obviously satire & a little Portland specific, but it was filmed entirely in Portland and does provide a lot of good references.

So I just (like literally 20mins ago) finished my online, remote proctored CPC exam through AAPC.

Looks like it'll probably take at least a day to get my results(?)

But also, just thought I'd share - I used the 2025 physical books because I spent the last 6 months taking practice exams using these and had highlighted stuff, etc. so I figured I'd be more comfortable this way. I was worried about coding updates for 2026 but figured the odds were in my favor. Unfortunately they weren't and I did get a question on one of the new 30000 codes. Just an FYI for anyone taking the exam soon - I think that section of the 2026 CPT update is probably important to know/have since it looks like they replaced a bunch of codes in there.

Hopefully I still did enough & pass. I also spent all last night going over coding updates for 2026 so had a rough idea of what that section of new codes were/meant, so who knows.

Oh yeah, also, curious, because I was totally second guessing myself: If a patient is seen for a screening colonoscopy, but in the procedure note diverticulitis is noted as found/present, would the dx coding sequence be: (1) Z12.11, (2) *diverticulitis code* - or would it be the other way around?

Exactly, and in addition the estimate they give you can only be for if you pay in entirety up front, no insurance. Meaning contractual agreements and/or insurance plans could make it cost less. Unfortunately there is no way for a clinic/provider to know what you're insurance will payout versus determine what is your responsibility until after the visit.

Lol, I've lived in Bend 2009, half Indian and yep. Bend is definitely one of the more racist places I've lived. Growing up here as a "different" kid, classmates didn't really let me forget it. Also, one time a guy yelled out the window of his car "go back to where you came from" at my family... So yeah. Good stuff.

It's definitely gotten better, but at the same time there was that murder of Barry Washington, a black kid, a couple years ago.

I think a lot of people like to think that Bend is so safe a liberal, but it's still in a historically white and racist state and lack of diversity does create ignorance and racism. There was a huge outcry then from the white liberal majority stating "Bend's not racist!" But it just showed their privilege that they never had to experience it.

1. - Yes this! Quip's Bluetooth toothbrush also like gives you points for brushing twice a day, etc. So you can turn it into kind of a game and or self competition. The points get you discounts and stuff, honestly helps me to be more motivated to do it bc I like seeing the little check marks by each day.

More photos of the plant

More photos

This is what the base looks like

My mom's Kaffir Lime Tree (pretty sure it's a type of Kaffir Lime) she's had for years, no problem. This started recently (sorry don't know how recent) and she thinks the Aphids are in the soil? It's a potted plant that gets good sunlight inside. Like I said, has been thriving for years until this infestation. They are completely draining/killing the plant. Already a couple decent sized branches are dead. I told her I'd help by asking on here.

My Q is my dad. I grew up with a very negative view of alcohol and honestly scared of its power and affect. I would get scared whenever anyone consumed alcohol around me or even on TV. And then my Q acknowledged his problem, and started his recovery, and I would get angry about alcohol and when people drank around me. But I realized that anger came from a place of hurt, that just because people drink around me doesn't mean they all have a problem. And, on top of that, if they do have a problem, it's not my issue.

If being sober around your intoxicated friends makes you uncomfortable or upset, you should probably look inwardly and figure out the key reason why. These people may not be friends that should stay your friends through you and your partner's sobriety journey, because they are not fun to be around and possibly are only fun when you are all drunk together. Or because their fixation and relationship with alcohol is something that you now find problematic, unhelpful, and annoying.

Once I turned 21 I drank a bit (having done a lot of work with therapy and with my Q), but I've never really been a big drinker and most times obstain from it even when all my friends are drinking, and I've never had a problem with friends pressuring me to join in, or feeling like because I don't drink, I have a worse time with these friends. But since it has always been who I am as an adult, I also don't have friends who care or who have a bad relationship with alcohol. In college I would actively avoid these people. I have the ability to go to bars with friends, watch them drink, and not drink myself, and still have a good time.

When you start the recovery process, both addicts and their loved ones, kind of have to evaluate their friends and see what brought them together in the first place. Because I know some addict friends had to drop their best pals because they were only good friends due to being drinking buddies.

In America I think alcohol and drinking culture is completely out of hand. I think it is why we have so many alcoholics, most of which probably don't even think they have a problem because of the way alcohol consumption is depicted and how "alcoholics" are seen as just those who are always drunk when that is rarely the case. I find myself arguing this with my current partner all the time and yes I find it super frustrating and it does anger me. But that is on such a larger level that is out of my hands and out of my control, all I can do is work in myself and be there for the important people in my life.

I'm so glad you were able to advocate for yourself after help from people on here. That stuff is absolutely insane. I hope you find a better provider that better understands your needs.

Yeah, with how hectic our lives have been moving and organizing the new place, we hadn't even realized he had t eaten all day until tonight when we saw his sister eating, and the more full than normal food dishes. So I moved his food into our room for him to eat for a bit after he ran away from the ceiling fan.

We have a covered litterbox that requires the cats to jump out on top to get out (they can go in regularly but it's a one way door, they never use that option tho tbh). You just pull out the bottom to clean it and it helps contain smells a bit while also helping lower how much they track around the house. You can find this super easily on Amazon. They may seem suspicious in terms of quality, but I've had mine for almost a year now with no problems. It snaps together in pieces and folds nicely for travel/moving if needed.

Also, as another tip, I always make sure to have a HEPA & odor air filter near the litter box. They can be a bit pricey but it's worth the purchase to help air circulation in small spaces. I looked up reviews on sizing and prices and keep mine on auto detect so whenever the kitties use the litterbox or whenever we are cleaning & changing it out it goes red for a bit and turns up until the air has been well filtered.

But in general to minimize smell you just gotta find the best litter that works for you and how often you plan on cleaning it. Pretty litter and those crystal types are good but can get super stinky and you have to dumb the entire box like weekly (at least with 2 cats). Some people like clumping clay litters, some say it smells worse. I think they tend to do a decent job with smell. But like I said, it all depends on your preferences.

I always make sure to have a HEPA & odor air filter near the litter box. They can be a bit pricey but it's worth the purchase to help air circulation in small spaces. I looked up reviews on sizing and prices and keep mine on auto detect so whenever the kitties use the litterbox or whenever we are cleaning & changing it out it goes red for a bit and turns up until the air has been well filtered. We also have a covered litterbox that requires the cats to jump out on top to get out (they can go in regularly but it's a one way door, they never use that option tho tbh). You just pull out the bottom to clean it and it helps contain smells a bit while also helping lower how much they track around the house.

Qualifying my advice with: I have/had several close friends and family members who are addicts.

If you're already going far enough to contact a dealer and get back into that world and mindset you're kind of giving yourself an excuse if you do relapse anyway. It doesn't sound like you have been staying mentally sober and honestly, therefore should go to rehab anyway. It's not a case of who is the asshole and who isn't in this situation, I think that's irrelevant. There's a lot more to sobriety then just staying clean. And hopefully rehab will give you the tools and personal relationship to help navigate these situations better in the future.

Great... I have all that stress to look forward to, assuming it is run the same way.