My Sad story

[penny]

I haven't been here for a while, obviously. I've been a bit busy. Again. That's not the sad story.
A few weeks ago I was desperately trying to get ready for the annual birthday extravaganza of youngest grand-daughter. This involves lots of sewing, way too much embroidery, and the cutting of many items to match this years themed party. (anyone remember the great Elmo search last year...I do) This year was Dora.
So..I'm setting up to cut a very simple little box design to put little candies in. Her mom can fold them all..not me..
and on the first cut.....
MY CRICUT CAUGHT ON FIRE

No, I am not kidding you. I am dead serious. And so is it. Dead, that is. Whatever it was that fried in there is fried good.

So, I call Provo Craft because I know I registered it when I got it for Mother's Day, last year. And sure enough...it was out of warranty by a whole month and a day. So, you know what they did to help me fix this problem?
That's right NOTHING. Zero, zip, not a darn thing. They won't repair them, they don't sell replacement parts.
Apparently, there are no repair shops.
So now I have this absolutely useless, rather expensive, "thing", sitting on top of it's cabinet where all my supplies are kept.
Nice paperweight? Expensive paper weight. Especially considering all the software (SCAL included) I bought to go along with it, and the carts I bought before I discovered SCAL, etc, etc. etc.
I miss my Cricut very much. I just want to weep.
No, I'm not getting a new one or any other cutter for that matter.
To top matters, a week after I lost my beloved Cricut Dr. tells me that my wrists and hands are hurting and mis-shaping NOT due to wear and tear arthritis as was orginally diagnosed but that I clearly have some sort of Auto Immune Disease. He has now eliminated all the but the two worst ones. Figures, huh.
So, the loss of the Cricut now matters not. I am already not able to do much of the sewing I did before (this is a great loss and saddens me very much) but now amonly able to work the mouse on the puter for about 15 minutes at a time. Very frustrating and the precursor to not being able to do it at all. Whatever it is it sure progresses fast.
Yep..he gave me the "good drugs" which last all of about 2 hours and then me and my new friend named Pain are in touch again.
I am older, I raise a grand-daughter. This is all so very not good.
And I will never, ever, use the phrase "crabby old person" ever again in my life. Mostly because now I am one and also because now I know why. Sheesh.
And I have already told Dr. I want the red scooter and I'm having flames painted on the front. Dh says I need a cow catcher too. I was not amused. I won't be able to use a wheel chair becuase my hands can't turn it...powered is where I'm going. Red, with flames and maybe a huge girly skull on the back. HERE She comes!!!
And so now those of you who've been here a bit and may (may not) remember me..this is why I've not been around.
What I'm trying to do is cram in as much crafting/sewing/ making pretty things time as I can tolerate. It's going to end.
And I want my Cricut back.....
Actually I'm here today because I was looking for some particular svg files, yep, it's Dora, and I know this is a good source and a great group. I found a way to convert svg's via inkscape and an embroidery digitizing program I have....I can make designs myself!! And while I didn't find what I was looking for, I wanted to let you all know why I popped in and out.
Happy cutting you all...I do so miss this!!!
Penny

[jrichards]

Just a word of caution; don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion. I was incorrectly diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis. I was treated with steroids for several years. No one told me that they would eat a hole in my bones. They ate a hole at the bottom of my tibia (the long bone of the leg) and even when it was discovered not one of three doctors said that we needed to do surgery and fill that hole before it broke through into the ankle. It did and my ankle is now fused. because of that ( and other reasons) I am now having difficulty with my opposite knee and just got a jell shot in it. Any time something like that happens it has a ripple effect on the rest of the body. So just be really, really sure. Ask, ask, and ask again. Make them prove it to you. No half-assed answers. You are the one who will have to live with the consequences. I am sorry for all of your pain and hope for a happy ending for you.
Jan

[talanhart]

I'm sorry to hear about your health. I agree with Jan about getting a second opinion. Dr.'s have mis-diagnosed me twice, so it does happen quite often.

[Deloris]

I'm so sorry for all that has happened to you. I can so relate to what you are going through. I have a similar story to the other posts. Was misdiagnosed by two doctors and suffered in pain for many years because of it. Cost me over $15,000 in wasted treatments that actually harmed me instead of helping me. Finally went to a new family practioner when insurance changed and got an accurate diagnosis as his wife has the same condition.

Sending you a big cyber hug!

[Funkay Monkay Mamma]

I am so sorry to hear of all your troubles/

Prayers are with you.

[penny]

Thank you all for your support!! I still think this is the nicest group on the net!!

You're all correct in encouraging me to seek second opinions. This doc IS the second opinion..and because we are retired military and have VERY good insurance, I am betting there will more specialists to follow....
they tend to over do things a bit with me...
this is, I think, the third really nasty bit of physical ailment related (insert bad word of choice) "thing" I've had to deal with over the past 5 years. We'll not go into the heart thing or the extremely rare genetic blood disorder , or the extremely, extremely rare genetic related lung thing....
Believe me...they over do with me and they always find the oddest, most interesting (insert bad word of choice) thing. I am waiting on only one test result, which I find out about on Monday. They've eliminated everything else. (that was a lot of testing!!!) And my suspicion is that he's headed for an RA diagnosis. If it's not.... ok, good, whatever and what is this then??? If it is...I'm getting the red scooter......
And I'm actually more upset about not being able to use my Cricut than whatever new physical ailment they've decided I have now..I deal with the others, I'll deal with this one too, whatever it is.
Today is a good day and my hands are working so I am off to digitize something. Probably something Dora related since 3 y.o. grand daughter is apparently enamored of her. This child has taken more than a chunk out of my heart and she knows just how to do it too....
and she's 3,000 miles away!!! I am her (and ONLY HER) Grandma-box because I am her only and ONLY HER Grandma and because I send boxes to her with pretties. This is according to her. I have 4 other grandchildren, I send them things too. She's 3. Gotta love em. Also gotta spoil em just a little. It's a grandparenting rule. I know it is. I saw it somewhere, I put it on a sign on my house, (Yes..with the cricut...
BIG SIGH ....ah well....) so I know it's true.
and there's only one rule: spoil em,give em back to mom
Again, thank you all for your support and your kind words. I do appreciate it. Anybody got any ideas about how to get through withdrawl from not being able to cut???
Penny

[cjbarclay]

Penny, I was so sorry to hear about your sad story and will keep you in my prayers.....But I am stunned that your cricut caught on FIRE!!!! OMG! what on earth is in there that is able to catch FIRE??? I think that Provo Craft ought to replace it on that basis alone!!! I read all my warranty papers and did not see anything that indicated that it might be a FIRE HAZARD!!! Good Grief, what is it about companies now that seem to think that they can sell hap-hazard equipment and not take any responsibility for the dangers? Just when I think consumers are getting crazy and requiring sticker that say "do not eat" on light bulbs.......then a company comes along that seems to be uncaring about the public they sell to. I also love my bug and would be lost without it, but in your instance I would send it back to them!!!! With a little note......

I hope you feel better and that your good days always out-weigh the bad.

Cheryl B

[pastda3]

Penny, first of all I want to say how sorry I am to hear of all your problems. Hope you get your health issues under control first and foremost. I wish you the very best.

Let me play devil's advocate here about your Cricut. Did you put the fire out yourself? Is there any way you can have a professional like maybe a fireman or electrician take a look at it to determine how or why the fire started? Maybe you can take some close up pictures of the damage. I would then go here and file a report.

http://www.cpsc.gov/

This is the first I've ever hear of a Cricut catching fire, but who's to say it won't happen again and cause some major damage? I would let PC know that you were going to file a complaint/ report and perhaps send them a copy of the pictures too.

I hate feeling like a helpless consumer being stuck with sub-par merchandise.

[TheresaTT]

Penny, first of all I want to say how sorry I am to hear of all your problems. Hope you get your health issues under control first and foremost. I wish you the very best.

Let me play devil's advocate here about your Cricut. Did you put the fire out yourself? Is there any way you can have a professional like maybe a fireman or electrician take a look at it to determine how or why the fire started? Maybe you can take some close up pictures of the damage. I would then go here and file a report.

http://www.cpsc.gov/

This is the first I've ever hear of a Cricut catching fire, but who's to say it won't happen again and cause some major damage? I would let PC know that you were going to file a complaint/ report and perhaps send them a copy of the pictures too.

I hate feeling like a helpless consumer being stuck with sub-par merchandise.

AMEN

[Sheila]

Hello Penny,

I second, third, forth whatever we are up to, the suggestion to get a second opinion, actually, I suggest 3 opinions. You need 2 out of three for sure. Doctors are human, can make mistakes, some are just plain uncouth, some are under educated, some are over worked, etc. etc. Don't just take one DR's word for it, like jrichards said, ask ask ask.

Craft form members, is there a way that we can keep bumping Penny's post to the top? If I knew how, I would. Maybe if more members see this we can get more info for Penny on conditions like hers. Maybe someone can recommend a Dr. or clinic. Worth a try.

Now for the Cricut, can you tell us what exactly caught fire? The machine it's self or the transformer? Cords? Any idea? Was it while you were using it? Or was it just sitting there? Need more info please.

This is just plain unacceptable! Perhaps a recall is in order. I'm no longer in love with my cricut, have found many things that I do not like about it, but it does what I need it to right now. But catching fire! That's not acceptable!! No how, no way. I think to be on the safe side until we hear from you, I shall unplug mine. Don't want to be an alarmist, but if you have ever been through a house fire, you will know where I am coming from.

I can not believe that they would not have you return your machine. Not that they need to believe every call that they get, (some folk are not so nice), but they should have at least offered to have you return it and to investigate it themselves. Take pictures, have a professional look at it and document everything. Keep copies of everything, then send it back if the professionals think it is okay to do!! Gosh this makes me so mad!

My thoughts and prayers are with you, Penny, keep you chin up!!