Health and Wellness Chit-Chat: Your Primary Care Topic

[Gramto6]

2 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I early voted yesterday. Thankfully it was unseasonably pleasant because I waited in line for half an hour. My son-in-law waited in line on Saturday for almost 2 hours. I'm not sure what I'll do next time. Maybe mail-in.

I have voted Absentee for about 15 years. That way I can take my time and not feel rushed at the polls. I would never go back to in person. I mailed my ballot last week and it is done. 

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, Gramto6 said:

3 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I early voted yesterday. Thankfully it was unseasonably pleasant because I waited in line for half an hour. My son-in-law waited in line on Saturday for almost 2 hours. I'm not sure what I'll do next time. Maybe mail-in.

I have voted Absentee for about 15 years. That way I can take my time and not feel rushed at the polls. I would never go back to in person. I mailed my ballot last week and it is done. 

Oh dear. I shouldn't have posted about voting in this thread. 
Feel free to take this to the Chit Chat thread.
This is why I didn't want "Chit Chat" in the Health thread title, but I guess that's just my problem.

[Absolom]

Thanks for the reminder. I almost posted about voting following the crowd.

[annzeepark914]

On 10/31/2024 at 9:20 AM, shapeshifter said:

😆

I early voted yesterday. Thankfully it was unseasonably pleasant because I waited in line for half an hour. My son-in-law waited in line on Saturday for almost 2 hours. I'm not sure what I'll do next time. Maybe mail-in.

I did mail-in several weeks ago. So easy. I was planning to do early voting, but just the thought of maybe having to stand in line changed my mind (makes my back ache just thinking about a long line 😸). 

[Absolom]

Mail in every time for me unless I dawdle and decide to do a ballot drop off on election day.  I know if it's postmarked that day it still counts, but I'm not that trusting of the USPS.  I've already been informed the ballot was counted.

[PRgal]

Had my mammogram yesterday.  Because of the surgery I had in June, it was A LOT more uncomfortable than normal (and it normally is due to my itty bitty ones).  I swear the surgery took a little bit of tissue out too..... :( 

[PRgal]

Trigger:  bodily fluids alert!!!

I did my 24 hour urine test.  Good news:  my creatine levels are normal again (though on the low end).  Nothing's wrong with my kidney function and it was all due to low muscle mass (which was kind of on the "duh" side...they literally TOOK MUSCLES OUT OF MY BODY when I had my surgery!!!  And combine that with not training for three months and barely doing anything with dumbells above 5 lb).  

[AheadofStraight]

On 10/21/2024 at 3:00 PM, shapeshifter said:

 

Tomorrow is my weekly equipment washing day.
I am also going to switch to a different mask (F&P Solo, with the hose connector in front of the nose) that I was using with moderate success with those horrible, deceptively-named nasal "pillows."
I will be replacing them with a nasal cushion, which the PA recommended to me at my visit after 3 months and countless wasted efforts with the DME folks. 

 

Wondering how you are doing with the F&P Solo cushions? I got a CPAP 12 nights ago and that's exactly what I have. Been wondering if I should explore other options. I like it but I find it difficult as a side sleeper to get a position that I really like without it feeling like the cushions are pinching my nostrils shut. I bought a CPAP pillow that has cut-outs to make it easier but I'm not sure how much it has helped.

[shapeshifter]

24 minutes ago, AheadofStraight said:

Wondering how you are doing with the F&P Solo cushions? I got a CPAP 12 nights ago and that's exactly what I have. Been wondering if I should explore other options. I like it but I find it difficult as a side sleeper to get a position that I really like without it feeling like the cushions are pinching my nostrils shut. I bought a CPAP pillow that has cut-outs to make it easier but I'm not sure how much it has helped.

I'm glad to have someone else here to commiserate with!😉

The nasal cushions were much better than the so-called nasal pillows, even though the F&P nasal pillows are not as stabby as the the others. 
But the tension on the Solo headgear made it too tight. I had a crease on the "columella"(?) of my nose in the morning. Not painful or red, but I figured there had to be something better.
When I stretch the Solo, it just goes back to the same tightness.
Does yours do that too? Or is the one they gave me for free in the office defective?

I'm now using the ResMed AirFit N30 with a nasal cushion (not nasal pillows).
I finally got the "new"(2023?) version of the mask frame without 35 holes around the nose that blow gale force winds all night. I guess in lower-economic areas they just keep discontinued stock to pass out to patients???

I like that the N30 just a bit of elastic cloth on the side of my face.
You might like that too? (https://eshop.resmed.com/products/airfit-n30-complete-mask-system)

While I was waiting for the new N30 frame to arrive, I alternated between the Solo and the N30i, both with nasal cushions, not pillows (can you tell how much I hate the nasal pillows, LOL?).

And I'm still loving this bed pillow. I plan to get more:

On 10/20/2024 at 11:21 AM, shapeshifter said:

Just so you don't think everything is going to hell, I finally found wonderful pillows: amazon.com/gp/product/B0BX2Q4RC2

[AheadofStraight]

@shapeshifter Interesting - no creases on my face at all. Though I feel like I have to reposition the straps on my head back into place at least once or twice per night. Wondering if my head is just larger than normal lol. I do feel that it gets tighter if I move, esp on my side and then I have to pull it out to loosen it a bit again. I'm claustrophobic so just this much of a mask has been a challenge, to say the least. The nasal pillows terrify me though I read with a deviated septum they might help (and I do have one). It's funny that you mention the n30 - I just purchased a p30i with some n30i cushions. (The mask is interchangable between the two.) The "i" version is with the hose overhead I guess. Hmmm, I hadn't seen the one you mentioned. It is frustrating that there are so many choices and they aren't cheap. I found a fb group where people sell them at a discount so I may try a few that way. 

Edited November 12 by AheadofStraight

[shapeshifter]

7 hours ago, AheadofStraight said:

. It is frustrating that there are so many choices and they aren't cheap. I found a fb group where people sell them at a discount so I may try a few that way. 

Were you given one or more masks to start that were covered by insurance?
I did buy one mask part through Amazon, but quickly realized my insurance covers most of it, and the sleep doctors' office has some to spare for trying too. 

This YouTube video does a pretty good job of describing the different types if you still need an overview: 
https://youtu.be/6qNmIzVpr4Q

I don't know what I'm going to do with the extra masks I've accumulated once I'm sure which ones are "extra." I wish I could donate them, but I don't think that's advisable for health reasons, even though I'm a clean freak. I'm surprised people are selling used masks on FB, if that's what you meant?

 

[AheadofStraight]

13 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

Were you given one or more masks to start that were covered by insurance?
I did buy one mask part through Amazon, but quickly realized my insurance covers most of it, and the sleep doctors' office has some to spare for trying too. 

I was given 1 mask (after telling her my preferences and trying a couple on) and told that in 30 days I'm allowed to switch once. Not very useful! I have to say though that I've slept pretty well the past 2 nights with the Solo so maybe that will work out okay. Thanks for the video!  On facebook, they seem to be new masks in sealed packages - I have no idea on the sourcing of them though!

[SoMuchTV]

So our daughter (age 30) came by and showed us this horrible looking rash (series of bumps, actually) on her torso. We were talking through what it might be - fleas from her cat? Possible mold reaction from recent water leaks into her apartment? New laundry detergent? Probably not measles or chickenpox since she had the vaccines. And oh yeah she was in a hot tub at a friend’s house last weekend. 

So with our encouragement she went to the urgent care, and the doctor’s first question was, have you been in a hot tub lately?  Apparently Hot Tub Folliculitis is a thing! And yes she has alerted her fellow hot tubbers. 

So, the more you know…

[Absolom]

It used to be a regular topic of discussion when hot tubs first came out. 

[PRgal]

On 11/14/2024 at 9:43 PM, SoMuchTV said:

So our daughter (age 30) came by and showed us this horrible looking rash (series of bumps, actually) on her torso. We were talking through what it might be - fleas from her cat? Possible mold reaction from recent water leaks into her apartment? New laundry detergent? Probably not measles or chickenpox since she had the vaccines. And oh yeah she was in a hot tub at a friend’s house last weekend. 

So with our encouragement she went to the urgent care, and the doctor’s first question was, have you been in a hot tub lately?  Apparently Hot Tub Folliculitis is a thing! And yes she has alerted her fellow hot tubbers. 

So, the more you know…

I once got a weird rash shortly after downing some Mike's Hard Cranberry Lemonade, a vodka based cooler.  But I'm not sure it was because I was allergic to the drink itself, since I'm not allergic to cranberry, lemon OR vodka!  Or I was just allergic to BAD vodka.  Note:  the drink is actually really gross.  You're better off mixing your own lemon Cosmopolitan.  

[Browncoat]

I had a bone density scan today, and learned that I have osteoporosis.  Dammit.  My numbers are *just* in the osteoporotic range, but still.  I have chosen, for the time being, to attempt to make things better with diet and exercise, but the doc was kind of pushing medication.  Apparently I'm a good candidate for the one where you have to give yourself a shot every day.  In the stomach. For a year.  I noped out of that one right quick!  The others are a once-yearly infusion, which sound less bad, but I always worry about side effects.

Anyone here using any osteoporosis meds?  Any opinions on them?

Edited Tuesday at 12:01 AM by Browncoat

[Absolom]

I did Forteo (daily injections) and you do get used to it.  It's a teeny tiny needle. I had jelly legs over doing it at first but did get over it.  The worst part was traveling with medication that had to be kept chilled.  Of course, I did more required travel that one year than I usually do in five.  I had no reactions to it after the first three days or so.  My bone density did respond very, very well to it.  The pills don't work on me so I have to do injections.  Right now I'm on Prolia which is twice a year and I do it myself.  

[shapeshifter]

1 hour ago, Browncoat said:

Apparently I'm a good candidate for the one where you have to give yourself a shot every day.  In the stomach. For a year.  

I started the injections for osteoporosis in 2020 because they said it was just for a year. Then I moved across the country, and they (docs) said after that year, I'd have to take the oral version of the same medicine for the rest of my life. 
I had taken the oral version 20 years ago for 2 years and went off because of side effects, which I told the first doctors in my previous town. 
So I went off the injections. 
My local doctor here said to increase my calcium and D3 supplements, so I did, and my bone density improved. 
More recently she said I should get my calcium from food sources. 
That's not possible. I cannot consume the amount of food necessary to do that.

BTW, I hate needles, but I got over the injection thing. If you do it right, you don't even feel it. I needed to do daily injections for a month after abdominal cancer surgery in 2016 so I wouldn't have a fatal or stroke-inducing blood clots. The doctor who taught me how to do it was really good at his job, especially dealing with people with a fear of sticking needles in themselves.

[Browncoat]

1 hour ago, Absolom said:

The worst part was traveling with medication that had to be kept chilled. 

Oh, that would absolutely be a problem.  I like to travel a lot -- headed to New Zealand in a week!

47 minutes ago, shapeshifter said:

My local doctor here said to increase my calcium and D3 supplements, so I did, and my bone density improved. 
More recently she said I should get my calcium from food sources. 
That's not possible. I cannot consume the amount of food necessary to do that.

I had blood drawn today to test my D3 levels so I'll have an idea what level of supplementation I need.  I hope to have that info before leaving the country, and can either take the supplements with me, or purchase them in NZ.

And you are right -- it takes a lot of food to get the RDA of calcium.  I'm trying not to gain weight!

[Absolom]

34 minutes ago, Browncoat said:

Oh, that would absolutely be a problem.  I like to travel a lot -- headed to New Zealand in a week!

At the time I was on it, the company gave me an insulated travel case and freezer pack. I also had a spot for a copy of the prescription.  We had to watch where we stayed so I'd have fridge with a freezer and also make sure we were back in the room or someone's home at close to the same time every night.

Edited Tuesday at 12:42 AM by Absolom

[StatisticalOutlier]

6 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

More recently she said I should get my calcium from food sources. 
That's not possible. I cannot consume the amount of food necessary to do that.

I couldn't agree more.  And it's not just calcium--it all nutrients.  If I ate enough food to provide all the nutrients they say my body needs, I'd be as big as a house, and miserable, because I'd be stuffed all the time.  So I decided many years ago to eat whatever I want without regard to nutrients, and take a multivitamin and calcium. 

Although according to Johns Hopkins calcium supplements may not work and may actually be harmful.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/calcium-supplements-should-you-take-them

Which leads me to the second prong of my approach:  avoid going to the doctor.  I might be a rotting mess inside, but I look and feel pretty good so I'm not going to look for trouble.

 

[Yeah No]

I don't have osteoporosis but I have read in a few places about not taking calcium. So I take a lot of other supplements recommended to help prevent it and strengthen bones.

I take a quite a few of the ones on this list (thanks to Google AI):

Vitamin D: Helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus into bones 

Vitamin K: Works with vitamin D for bone health, and vitamin K2 is especially effective for improving bone density 

Magnesium: Helps the body absorb calcium and use it properly, and also helps convert vitamin D into its active form 

Boron: Can reduce the amount of calcium lost from bones and teeth each day 

Isoflavones: May reduce the risks of excess estrogen while still providing some of estrogen's benefits, such as preventing osteoporosis 

Vitamin C: Promotes bone renewal by suppressing cells that destroy bone and stimulating the body to produce bone-building cells 

Other supplements that may help strengthen bones include:

Copper

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)

Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12

Manganese

Silicon

Strontium

Zinc 

The ones I don't take are copper, boron, folic acid, silicon, strontium, manganese, isoflavones, DHEA, EPA and DHA

[Browncoat]

And of course, my D3 levels are low, so it has been recommended that I take a supplement for that, as well as a calcium supplement.  <sigh>

@StatisticalOutlier makes a great point.  I was a lot happier before I found all this out!  I wasn't afraid of falling last week, but now I kind of am, knowing my bones are extra fragile!  

[Yeah No]

3 hours ago, Browncoat said:

And of course, my D3 levels are low, so it has been recommended that I take a supplement for that, as well as a calcium supplement.  <sigh>

@StatisticalOutlier makes a great point.  I was a lot happier before I found all this out!  I wasn't afraid of falling last week, but now I kind of am, knowing my bones are extra fragile!  

I hear you. My fear of falling is growing all the time as I get older.

I fell on Friday the 13th of September and I was surprised at how well I did overall. I tripped on the last step up to a wood porch but I know it probably would have been tragic if it happened on concrete. I barely bruised my right shin but my leg swelled up a lot, and even after it healed and the swelling went way down my right leg is still swelling a bit more than it did before. I know I have mild lymphedema in my legs as it is, but this made it a little worse in my right leg. So now it's a little fatter than it was before and my pants leg feels tighter, especially up at the top of my thigh. People say they don't notice it but the doctors and I do.

So early tomorrow morning I'm going for a CAT scan to see what's going on in my abdomen and pelvis and if there's a blockage causing the lymphedema. (I've already been told it's a lymph drainage issue, not a vascular one). They and I already suspect the large fibroid in my uterus of causing or at least exacerbating the lymphedema as well as a urinary urgency issue. So depending on what they find I might want to try uterine artery embolization to shrink the fibroid, which is the least invasive procedure or hysterectomy if they think that would work better.

Also, on Thursday I'm going for lymphedema therapy in my legs, which will involve evaluation and lymph drainage massage as well as fitting me for compression stockings and garments. I've already been wearing the stockings for years but now I'll get the professionally fitted, more expensive ones through Medicare, and probably other things. I hear that people generally report at least a 30% reduction in the swelling as a result of this therapy and in milder cases like mine it can be permanent. So here's hoping. At least I'm close to making progress now!

Anyway, the moral of the story is that even without osteoporosis, falling after 65 can cause other problems, so it's always something! I'm usually so much more careful and I rarely fall but there is always a chance of it happening so I continue to be afraid. 

BTW I take 2,000 mg. of D3 in the Summer and switch to 5,000 mg. in the Winter. That higher dose helps my SADS, which I also suffer from. Since I've been taking that dosage my SADS has gotten a lot better. When I had my D level tested several years ago it was at the low end of normal toward the end of the Summer and that was before I took supplements. So I'm pretty sure it dips lower in the Winter and I need all I can get.

[shapeshifter]

On 11/12/2024 at 10:19 AM, AheadofStraight said:

I found a fb group where people sell them at a discount so I may try a few that way. 

What is the name of the fb group? 
I see several. 

BTW, Did I mention that I've stopped using water?
The first time was by accident and I slept better.
I checked with the doctor and she said it was only "for comfort."
WTH? I wish I'd known that when I started in the most humid part of the summer.
 

[AheadofStraight]

1 hour ago, shapeshifter said:

What is the name of the fb group? 
I see several. 

BTW, Did I mention that I've stopped using water?
The first time was by accident and I slept better.
I checked with the doctor and she said it was only "for comfort."
WTH? I wish I'd known that when I started in the most humid part of the summer.
 

Good news on lack of water making things better! We're heading into winter which is typically dry so I'm keeping it on but will keep that in mind if I have issues. Can I PM you with the FB info - can give you info on the seller I was recommended and she did deliver and I got what I paid for. Not sure it would be ok to put that stuff on there.

[shapeshifter]

8 hours ago, AheadofStraight said:

Can I PM you with the FB info - can give you info on the seller I was recommended and she did deliver and I got what I paid for. Not sure it would be ok to put that stuff on there.

I had actually started a PM to you but then decided to post here first in case you preferred sharing more broadly
— figuring you'd suggest PMing if that was better.😉
So. Yes, please.😊

I'm going to look into further tweaking the settings on my machine too, probably following this guy's methods: https://youtu.be/qKN4pW3qYEs
My son-in-law has an SD card I can put in the machine to gather the more detailed data than is reflected in the feedback you get from the machine which does not reflect what I'm experiencing, like when it says I had "no mask leaks." 

 

[AheadofStraight]

10 hours ago, shapeshifter said:

I had actually started a PM to you but then decided to post here first in case you preferred sharing more broadly
— figuring you'd suggest PMing if that was better.😉
So. Yes, please.😊

I'm going to look into further tweaking the settings on my machine too, probably following this guy's methods: https://youtu.be/qKN4pW3qYEs
My son-in-law has an SD card I can put in the machine to gather the more detailed data than is reflected in the feedback you get from the machine which does not reflect what I'm experiencing, like when it says I had "no mask leaks." 

 

I will send a PM in a few minutes! I heard there is a free program we can load on our PCs called "Oscar" that allows all kind of detailed info. I have the tab open but just haven't attempted it yet! May be what your SIL is using?

[shapeshifter]

2 hours ago, AheadofStraight said:

I will send a PM in a few minutes! I heard there is a free program we can load on our PCs called "Oscar" that allows all kind of detailed info. I have the tab open but just haven't attempted it yet! May be what your SIL is using?

I did download OSCAR (Open Source CPAP Analysis Reporter), but haven't used it yet because I needed to get an SD card and wasn't sure it was worth it. My SIL doesn't use CPAP, but he does have a spare SD card I'm going to get this weekend. My daughter used to snore* when she was a kid, so maybe the stuff I'm learning will be useful to them some day — or maybe by then they'll have technicians trained to make these adjustments for CPAP users instead of just shrugging and reminding us that 50% of CPAP patients give up.
*I don't snore; I just stop breathing.

This CPAP YouTuber has some other free software that I might try first instead of OSCAR: https://youtu.be/qKN4pW3qYEs
After watching about ½ of the video (before falling asleep as I do since starting CPAP, which it's supposed to prevent) I figured I could at least make the range between my high and low pressure settings smaller, which I did in the "Clinical Home" settings on my ResMed Airsense 11 machine (was 4-9, I changed it to 4-7) and slept much better without air whooshing me awake like he explained in the video.

At 13.50 in the video, he suggests turning on the EPR (Expiratory Pressure Relief), which I think(?) I had turned off in an effort to stop the noisy expiratory wind whooshing, but maybe with the Pressure setting Range tighter, I can turn it on again. 

I try to make changes during the day or when first going to bed, but sometimes it has to be in the middle of the night, because the alternative is to rip off the nasal mask, which means I'm just going to be waking up several more times choking. 

 

 

Edited 13 hours ago by shapeshifter

[AheadofStraight]

Interesting! I saved your video links to watch after work! I have the same machine.