u/Dependent-Hat4223

I’m at a career crossroads, i’ve been off work for a year and a half due to an injury to my back, protruding/herniated discs, (which I also need to factor in to this decision if the water treatment maintenance position is extremely physically demanding with lifting heavy stuff) but I am now looking, have been an auto mechanic my whole life. I am now 39, in Michigan. Have thought about getting out of the field, but over the years of doing that I never dreaded going into work for the most part, so that says something. I like to solve challenging problems.

I have a final interview with a good independent auto Shop tomorrow. The city I live in close to Lake Michigan, the large DK Shine Water plant (not wastewater) wants me to come in next week for an interview for a maintenance tech. I am intrigued by both, and I’m wondering if anybody has any experience working as a maintenance tech for a drinking water plant? I have a feeling that the Shop is gonna offer me a position tomorrow, and my interview for the water plant wouldn’t be for another week, so I’m torn up about what to do if they offer me a position tomorrow with a good wage, and then have to wait a week before I can even get an initial interview with the city of Wyoming, and potentially lose the opportunity with the auto technician shop because of the time I’d have to wait.

TLDR Does anyone have any advice or experience in working for a drinking water plant as a maintenance technician? Located close to Lake Michigan in the state of Michigan. I’m a 20 year auto technician ready to get back to work after an injury and torn up between the two choices between the DW maintenance and an independent shop auto tech. I never hated going into work as an auto tech, as I enjoy new challenges and can’t stand monotony. Which is also what intrigues me about a maintenance position.

Thanks for any advise.

I’m at a career crossroads, i’ve been off work for a year and a half due to an injury, but I am now recovered and looking, have been an auto mechanic my whole life. I am now 39, in Michigan. Have thought about getting out of the field, but over the years of doing that I never dreaded going into work for the most part, so that says something. I like to solve challenging problems.

I have a final interview with a good independent auto Shop tomorrow. The city I live in close to Lake Michigan, the DK Shine Water plant (not wastewater) wants me to come in next week for an interview for a maintenance tech. I am intrigued by both, and I’m wondering if anybody has any experience working as a maintenance tech for a drinking water plant? I have a feeling that the Shop is gonna offer me a position tomorrow, and my interview for the water plant wouldn’t be for another week, so I’m torn up about what to do if they offer me a position tomorrow with a good wage, and then have to wait a week before I can even get an initial interview with the city of Wyoming, and potentially lose the opportunity with the auto technician shop because of the time I’d have to wait.

TLDR Does anyone have any advice or experience in working for a drinking water plant as a maintenance technician? Located close to Lake Michigan in the state of Michigan. I’m a 20 year auto technician ready to get back to work after an injury and torn up between the two choices between the DW maintenance and an independent shop auto tech. I never hated going into work as an auto tech, as I enjoy new challenges and can’t stand monotony. Which is also what intrigues me about a maintenance position.

Thanks for any advise.

Prescribed this for chronic back pain, and some depression and anxiety, and an overactive sympathetic nervous system. I don’t have any extreme depression or anxiety issues but my back pain can get pretty bad, and I’m guessing some of that is triggered by my nervous system. I hate taking meds, but nothing has helped my back pain, I’ve only taken 2 doses, and after this mornings dose, I feel like complete crap. I can’t focus on anything, my attention span is about zero, I am nauseous and have diarrhea, very tired and zero motivation, and I feel extremely hungry even tho I don’t need to eat.

To me, especially with the nausea and diarrhea, it’s like my body is thinking it’s been poisoned and is “evacuating”. If this is going to continue for weeks possibly, then I’m done. I have things I need to do and I can hardly even find the energy or drive to function. As of now I just want to dump these on the toilet and move on. I know day 2 is way to early to know how it will feel and I’m guessing most will recommend waiting 3 days to see if it goes away.

It’s difficult for me to think about pushing through this just to see if it works, when I already don’t like taking medication because I’m worried about long-term effects with the brain. And that’s compounded because I also have temporal lobe epilepsy, i’m already terrified of Alzheimer’s or dementia. I’m not sure if I had a debilitating enough condition where this drug will be worth it or not, unless it really really helps with my back pain, which is due to disc issues in my thoracic.

I made a post about 6 months back about getting away from Chrysler because I am sick of their crap vehicles and how difficuly everything is to get apat now, and because of the amount of trucks I had to work on, wagoneers, and Having a bad back, its too difficult and warranty is abysmal. Ive been looking around, I have an offer from a very nice VW dealer, so I know the vehicles are smaller, more cars and less massive trucks and constant suvs, I know VW will have plenty of challenges as well, I am just wondering about anyones personal experience, with flat rate, difficulties etc. I am not a tech that wants to turn 60 hrs. I am satisified at 40.

I also have a pretty generous offer from a nice independant shop, more generous that VW by a fair margin, but I am hesitant on that because I would be doing some trucks and heavy diesels again. I am trying to save my back any further trauma as much as possible while still doing what I am good at. I live near GR Michigan so every dealer brand there is is within driving distance for me. and indy garages are ridiculously plentiful. I am open to all options but I looked into this VW dealer first since the facility is extremely nice, and I like sticking to one brand. I want to make a decision by next week where I should go for the most part.

I am good with electrical and its where I prefer to concentrate my future expertise on since its not so physically demanding. Having 4 disc problems in my upper back is no fun and I certainly dont want to make it worse. I would prefer to not work on cars anymore but its a job I can do and not hate going into work every day for the most part, so that says something.

Thanks guys

Currently really struggling with some thoracic disc protrusions/herniations, I have meloxicam, but I’m always very hesitant to take medication like this because I’m worried about dependency and then the long-term side effects they may cause…. Same reason I’ve figured out how to get off of my antacid PPI which I took for over 10 years, but started reading it could cause neurological problems if taken long-term, and I already have epilepsy …. wondering how long some of you have been on this medication, if as continued to work, if you had any side effects things like that. And most of all, did it help. I REALLY want to try and get this fixed/tolerable and back to my life without having to rely on medication, but I’m getting desperate. Currently doing physical therapy and plan to possibly start Pilates, but my back muscles are always so tight all the time and many times close to spasm even with lots and lots of heat. I’m just not sure what to do anymore.

Nvidia 3080, LG C3 with EARC, and a Sony Star-dn1080 with EArc. Pc hooked to tv hdmi 4, tv hooked from earc port (hdmi 2?) to receiver earc port. No matter what I try I CANNOT get 5.1 to pass through, I only ever have stereo sound in games or movies. EArc is enabled in the tv and receiver, as well as hdmi cec, and bitstream, and pass through. I’ve searched for hours with no success. Is this just not possible?

I tried of to receiver to tv but wasn’t able to use 120hz with VRR, and I think I had some other glitches.

I lifted something too heavy out of frustration (and hate myself for it) almost 2 years ago, to an already not so great back, but since that, its basically taken away everything I could and enjoy doing. I had to quit my job as an auto tech, I cant ride me snowmobile anymore, and now cant ride my motorcyles I could a year ago so something is worsening or im getting weaker) mri showed I have protrusions from t7-t10 I believe, and also around t4. Ill get wrapping pain in my ribs and chest pain at times, I am just trying to do whatever I can to get some semblance of my old life back, since at this point I cant do hardly anything I used to be able to do, work or recreation. My dr didnt even talk about surgery (which I dont want anyway) which makes sense with that many issues.

I have a steroid injection comin up in 4 days and am a bit nervous about what to expect, and if I even should do it. I know it only masks the issue, But I want to figure out how to beat this, whether that be some form of training, or I have heard pilates can work well, any advice? should I still get the injection and then try to strengthen my back/core? I am open to anyones suggestions and stories of their issues, I am severely depressed lately, because I cant do anything I love to do anymore and I havent been able to work for over a year. I feel defeated and frankly hopeless for anything long term. It would be great if my body could heal this and I could get back to being me, but it look so bleak to me at the moment.

I went for a short motorcycle ride a week ago, and got on one road that was kinda rough, and the jolts to my spine had m waking up with a lot of pain, and my muscles clamped right down, and its a week later and they are still extremely tight, despite me trying light stretching and walking. (also, the long walks I used to enjoy flare it up also, im guessing due to the repeated small impacts to thr spine of one step to the next) I dont know what to do anymore.

I lifted something too heavy out of frustration almost 2 years ago, to an already not so great back, but since that, its basically taken away everything I could and enjoy doing. I had to quit my job as an auto tech, I cant ride me snowmobile anymore, and now cant ride my motorcyles I could a year ago so something is worsening or im getting weaker) I have protrusions from t7-t10 I believe, and also around t4. Ill get wrapping pain in my ribs and chest pain at times, I am just trying to do whatever I can to get some semblance of my old life back, since at this point I cant do hardly anything I used to be able to do, work or recreation. My dr didnt even talk about surgery (which I dont want anyway) which makes sense with that many issues.

I have a steroid injection comin up in 4 days and am a bit nervous about what to expect, and if I even should do it. I know it only masks the issue, But I want to figure out how to beat this, whether that be some form of training, or I have heard pilates can work well, any advice? should I still get the injection and then try to strengthen my back/core? I am open to anyones suggestions and stories of their issues, I am severely depressed lately, because I cant do anything I love to do anymore and I havent been able to work for over a year. I feel defeated and frankly hopeless for anything long term. It would be great if my body could heal this and I could get back to being me, but it look so bleak to me at the moment.

I went for a short motorcycle ride a week ago, and got on one road that was kinda rough, and the jolts to my spine had m waking up with a lot of pain, and my muscles clamped right down, and its a week later and they are still extremely tight, despite me trying light stretching and walking. (also, the long walks I used to enjoy flare it up also, im guessing due to the repeated small impacts to thr spine of one step to the next) I dont know what to do anymore.

I’m considering switching from Chrysler auto/diesel (22 years doing it professionally) to possibly working for my local BMW Motorcycle dealer as a tech. I know the pay won’t be as good, but I hate the direction cars are going and how hard they’re getting to work on, and the flat rate is terrible, and I don’t see it getting easier. Plus, and this is a big one, my back has some disc issues that will be an issue with automotive again, (I’ve been off work for a year from it) and bikes will be a lot easier on me.

I am wondering if anybody here is a tech for BMW and can share their experience. My local dealer is offering me a hybrid pay system which I think I could tolerate, and it sounds like they want me there pretty. BUT my biggest issue is working every Saturday. Because that’s the ONLY day I have a social life, and can ride with friends. 39 and single with no kids, so the Monday off doesn’t affect me in a positive way much.

Hoping to get somewhat of an inside scoop. Learning about the new bikes and new tech and going to school for all that interests me a lot more the. Anything automotive.

I’m considering switching from Chrysler auto/diesel (22 years doing it professionally) to possibly working for my local BMW Motorcycle dealer as a tech. I know the pay won’t be as good, but I hate the direction cars are going and how hard they’re getting to work on, and the flat rate is terrible, and I don’t see it getting easier. Plus, and this is a big one, my back has some disc issues that will be an issue with automotive again, (I’ve been off work for a year from it) and bikes will be a lot easier on me.

I am wondering if anybody here is a tech for BMW and can share their experience. My local dealer is offering me a hybrid pay system which I think I could tolerate, and it sounds like they want me there pretty. BUT my biggest issue is working every Saturday. Because that’s the ONLY day I have a social life, and can ride with friends. 39 and single with no kids, so the Monday off doesn’t affect me in a positive way much.

Hoping to get somewhat of an inside scoop. Learning about the new bikes and new tech and going to school for all that interests me a lot more the. Anything automotive.