26||0|950|0|
0|0|0|||1||a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||23:43:25|04/13/2023|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-23 AT 01:12 AM (EDT)]I%27ve had a lot of random medical things going on the last few weeks%2C which is not all that unusual%2C although most of the actual things aren%27t the usual kind of stuff.  OK%2C my left arm seems to be suing for divorce%2C which is most likely just MS being MS.  Can%27t have MRIs with contrast any more%2C so we%27ll never know for sure.  Neuro is throwing gabapentin at it%2C we%27ll see if that eventually does something.%0D%0A%0D%0AWas diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in early January.  Again%2C not a huge surprise%2C I mean%2C my lifestyle up to that point was pretty much optimized for it.  Still%2C it responded really well to first-line treatment for the first couple of months and things were looking great on that front%2C so great I wasn%27t even going to mention it...%0D%0A%0D%0A... until in early March I randomly had some blood work done for something completely unrelated %28my MS med can cause liver damage%2C so I have to get that checked monthly%29%2C and my neurologist%27s nurse called and said %22your liver function is fine%2C but your platelet count is really low%2C go to the emergency room right now.%22%0D%0A%0D%0ASo I did%2C and they gave me a four-day burst of my old friend dexamethasone to push the ol%27 platelets back up.  Now%2C one thing you may not know about corticosteroids is that they make blood glucose go %5Bi%5Dnuts%5B%2Fi%5D%2C even if you%27re %5Bi%5Dnot%5B%2Fi%5D diabetic.  So we were expecting those numbers to go way up%2C and they did.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd never came back down.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo much for responding well to first-line treatment%21%0D%0A%0D%0ASo that%27s... a thing.  I haven%27t seen an endocrinologist yet%2C but I think that%27s on the way%2C because people don%27t normally go from %22OK%2C this is in the bag%2C we don%27t even need to talk about insulin%22 to %22what do you mean you %5Bi%5Dcan%27t%5B%2Fi%5D get below 200%3F%22 in a week like that.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh yeah%2C and while that was happening%2C my resting heart rate decided it wanted to be 90 bpm.  Resting.  I spend every moment now feeling like I just arrived at a flat-out sprint%2C even if I%27ve been sitting still for an hour.  My blood pressure %28which is normally low enough to annoy nurses%29 is similarly %22oh wow%21%22-inspiring now.  This is great%21  It%27s amazing experiencing the movie %5Bi%5DCrank%5B%2Fi%5D in person for %28checks watch%29 three weeks straight and counting.  My chest feels like an animal is trying to escape.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs an early stage of trying to figure out what the %5Bi%5Dfuck%5B%2Fi%5D is going on%2C I went up to my local hospital to be fitted with the gadget for a 48-hour heart monitoring session today.  When I got there%2C the nice cardio lady had this amazing cyberpunk-looking stuff all laid out on a table.  She asked me to sit down and said she and her assistant were going to get me set up for my 30-day monitor.%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Thirty days%3F%21%22 I squeaked.  %22They told me it would be 48 hours.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%22Really%3F%22 she said%2C and called my doctor%27s office.  After some confusion%2C they confirmed that yes%2C they meant for it to be 48 hours%2C they must have pushed the wrong button ordering it.%0D%0A%0D%0AVisibly crestfallen%2C the cardio lady dismissed her assistant%2C put the cyberware back in its box and stashed it away in a cupboard%2C and got out a battered 1980s portable-radio-looking thing with a big sheaf of wires attached instead.  The electrodes itch%2C I look like a suicide bomber%2C and I can%27t get wet until Saturday afternoon.  Maybe I should%27ve just kept quiet and let them go ahead with the 30-day cyberware install instead.%0D%0A%0D%0ANah.  My luck%2C the insurance would have refused to cover it because it%27s the Wrong Thing and I%27d have to pay for it.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C next month I have to shlep to Bangor two days in a row to have a Myocardial Perfusion Stress Test%2C which involves radioactive substances and a simulated dinosaur attack%2C yet is nowhere near as cool as any of that sounds.  I%27ve had one of those before%2C a few years ago when I thought I%27d had a heart attack but it turned out I just had a terrible manager.%0D%0A%0D%0AIronically%2C this complete and unprovoked health collapse comes as I%27m taking concrete and otherwise successful steps to get control of other aspects thereof.  Last spring I looked into bariatric surgery and was %5Bi%5Drejected%5B%2Fi%5D for same on the grounds that--I swear I am not making this up--I was too fat for it.  Seriously%2C that%27s a thing%21  A person can have a body mass index so high the surgeons will turn you away for the operation that is the last resort of people with high BMI.%0D%0A%0D%0AWell%2C fine.  BMI is fucking voodoo anyway.%0D%0A%0D%0AUpshot is%2C at the time the hospital in Bangor where I was looking at having the procedure done had a medical weight management program they shunted the rejects from surgical weight loss into%2C either as a way of getting their weight down to surgical candidacy levels or just as a straight-up alternative to surgery.  So%2C after spending %5Bi%5Dthe entirety of last summer and fall%5B%2Fi%5D waiting for a referral that got botched once and had to be repeated%2C I finally entered that program early this past winter and started working with a nice doctor who specializes in non-surgical weight management%2C as well as an equally nice clinical psychologist.%0D%0A%0D%0AI don%27t want to get into specific numbers%2C but based on the scale time I cadged at the hospital today%2C I think I%27ve taken off about 17 percent of what I really ought to%2C and a quarter of what I%27d be pleased with%2C in the last... say four months%3F  So that%27s pretty decent%2C except for the fact that I have all these other things that are now trying to%2C if not kill me%2C at least seriously piss me off for no obvious reason.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C I said the hospital %5Bi%5Dhad%5B%2Fi%5D a medical weight management program because no sooner had I finally gotten through that interminable referral process than the management of the hospital group decided to get rid of it.  The whole practice is closing next week.  I had my last appointment with that doctor yesterday.  The hospital has offered zero alternative support to the patients being dispossessed.  I guess someone in upper management decided that Daddy%2A needed a new S-class more than MWM%27s patients needed care.%0D%0A%0D%0AFor the record%2C I%27m not fishing for sympathy or support with this%2C I just thought you might like an update on what the heck%27s going on over here.  It%27s a mix of the usual crap and some brand new crap%21  Life%3A it both comes at you fast and takes its time doing it. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%222%22%5D%2A or Mommy%2C let%27s not be sexist%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
1|1|0|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Sofaspud||00:33:56|04/14/2023|I am not a doctor and wouldn%27t advise taking my advice even if I was inclined to so advise %3AD%2C but a lot of what you mention -- and have mentioned%2C in the past -- sound %2Aeerily%2A like what my wife goes through.  Suspected heart attack%3F  Check.  MS and%2For MS-like symptoms%3F  Check.  Left arm being all %22fuckit I%27m out%22%3F  Check.  Annoyingly low blood pressure except when it%27s%2C y%27know%2C not%3F  Check.  Heart doing the masochism tango in your chest%3F  Check.  Etc and so on.%0D%0A%0D%0AThey just started her on gabapentin a couple months ago and it%27s%2C rather surprisingly%2C making a difference.  So I%27m hopeful it%27ll have similar positive effects for you%2C even if they don%27t have clue one as to why it%27s working in her case.  Her doc -- not the neurologist%2C the neurologist just shrugs and says everything checks out%2C whatever she%27s got isn%27t in their department %28arrgh%29 -- her doc is trying it because one of their theories is that she%27s having microseizures%2C so maybe it%27ll calm those down a bit%3F  Seems to be working a little at least%2C which is nice.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs for the diabetes... she doesn%27t have that %28thankfully%29%2C but %2AI%2A do.  Late-onset type-2%2C and for the longest time I couldn%27t keep my blood sugar below mid to high 200s.  These days I%27m sometimes spiking that high%2C but averaging a much better 130 - 150.  Which I wouldn%27t be if my doc hadn%27t got me on a regimen of Trulicity%2C it%27s roughly identical %28as I understand it%29 to the Ozempic that%27s been making the news for weight-loss reasons lately%2C and has the same side effect -- namely%2C aiding weight loss.  As well as regulating my blood sugar.  Again%2C IANAD and all that%2C but talking with your doc about options can%27t hurt.%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A--
2|2|1|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||00:56:18|04/14/2023|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-23 AT 01:01 AM (EDT)]Funnily enough%2C I didn%27t want to bog the narrative down with fiddly details%2C but %28at the behest of my weight management doctor%2C due to the interesting convergence of %22hey%2C it treats two things you have%21%22%29%2C I took a grand total of one dose of Trulicity%2A in the course of all of the above--exactly six days before the Platelet Crisis.  There... wasn%27t a second dose.  My primary care doctor doesn%27t really think it caused said crisis with a single dose%2C but since it was the only thing that changed that week%2C the correlation was kind of too obvious to ignore.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh yeah%2C also%2C he wasn%27t my primary care doctor when the crisis started.  He %5Bi%5Dbecame%5B%2Fi%5D my primary doctor because the ER called downstairs to the practice where the doctor who %5Bi%5Dwas%5B%2Fi%5D my primary doctor works%2C asking if he could send me down to follow up on this rather urgent business%2C and they said %22uh yeah%2C the doctor can see him in July%3F Maybe%3F  or he could see the PA next month.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%28note%3A this was all happening at my small local hospital%2C not the huge hospital in Bangor that 86ed the weight management practice.%29%0D%0A%0D%0ASo they sent me across the street--literally across the street--to the other PC practice the hospital runs%2C whose doctor could see me the next day.  He was Dr. Decisive about a bunch of stuff%2C including getting hold of a %28as we thought at the time%29 temporary supply of insulin to knock down the steroid-induced sugar spike.  He and I both thought this would be a problem%2C since we couldn%27t envision MaineCare just dispensing that stuff without a prior authorization and it was a Friday%2C so he handed me a card with his cell number on the back saying%2C %22If the pharmacy says MaineCare is giving them a hard time about this%2C have them call this number and I%27ll pay for it myself.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%28In the end%2C he didn%27t need to.  Amazingly%2C they were able to just dispense it%2C like it was an ordinary prescription for a statin or something.  In a far greater quantity than anyone thought I needed%2C at the time%2C which is how I came to have a bunch of it lying around handy when we realized%2C a week and a half later%2C that my levels weren%27t coming back down despite the steroids being long since over.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AAs I was leaving I asked the receptionist%2C %22Uh%2C is he accepting new patients%3F  I mean nothing against the other folks%2C but it seems like they%27re having some serious availability problems over there and DAMN%2C%22 or words to that effect.  She said not really but she%27d ask%2C and then called back an hour later like %22yeah%2C he%27s your doctor now.%22%0D%0A%0D%0ASo that was nice%2C albeit the weirdest possible time to change horses.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C where was I%3F  Oh yeah.  Due to a bizarre accident of timing%2C Trulicity is possibly-unfairly suspected of having somehow caused the %5Bi%5Dentire thing%5B%2Fi%5D at this point%2C although I%27m willing to revisit it later.  I mean%2C I%27ve still got three of them in the fridge.  Dr. Decisive and I will probably talk about it%2C among other matters%2C when I see him next Thursday.%0D%0A%0D%0AAs an aside%2C did you know the test strips for a OneTouch glucose meter don%27t work with a TrueMetrix meter%3F  I didn%27t%21  And neither did the pharmacy.  They %5Bi%5Dlook%5B%2Fi%5D like they would%2C I mean%2C they%27re exactly the same size%2C shape%2C and layout.  The meter even %5Bi%5Dacts%5B%2Fi%5D like they will.  If you plug one in%2C it does its little self-test%2C tells you the lot number of the strip%2C and then shows the %22OK gimme blood%22 screen.  Not until you actually give it blood does it think for a second and then put up a code that%2C when you look it up in the book%2C means %22wrong brand of strip%2C shit for brains.%22  You%27d think it could maybe tell you that BEFORE you puncture yourself%2C but no... no.  Of course not.%0D%0A%0D%0AI get all the %5Bi%5Dbest%5B%2Fi%5D conditions.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%222%22%5D%2A she actually prescribed Ozempic%2C but MaineCare said %22yeah no%2C you can ride bandwagons on your own money%2C when you%27re spending ours you%27ll take this other drug and like it%2C%22 because that%27s how MaineCare rolls%5B%2Ffont%5D%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
3|3|2|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||01:05:44|04/14/2023|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-14-23 AT 01:07 AM (EDT)]Also%2C I have to say one thing.  The MS treatment I was on for the first nine years after my diagnosis was %5Bi%5Dhorrible%5B%2Fi%5D.  It had deeply unpleasant side effects that lasted a full day after each weekly shot %5Bi%5Dand%5B%2Fi%5D had to be delivered by a self-administered intramuscular injection--by hand%2C for the first few years I was on it%2C and then by a brutally efficient autoinjector pen that was quicker and more consistent but actually more painful.  Avonex was dreadful in every way and I would never%2C ever go back...%0D%0A%0D%0A... but man%2C it was %5Bi%5Dgreat%5B%2Fi%5D training for lesser self-injected medications.  Those little tiny needles you give yourself insulin with%3F  After nine years on Avonex%2C I feel like the Heavy Weapons Guy from %5Bi%5DTeam Fortress 2%5B%2Fi%5D confronting those things.  %5Blink%3Ayoutu.be%2F7VM6Ui7VM6g%7C%22What sick man sends babies to fight me%3F%21%22%5D%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
4|4|3|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Sofaspud||02:09:02|04/14/2023|Weirdly enough%2C my first dose of Trulicity %28like 3 years ago now%2C I think%3F%29 also correlated with a spike in my B.S. levels.  As an aside%2C I love that those acronyms line up so well.  Anyway%2C my doc at the time said %22Yeah%2C that happens%2C ride it out and we%27ll see what%27s happening in a month%22.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd lo and behold%2C after the next week%27s dose the trend was in the other direction and except for a bit around the start of this year when approximately ALL THE CELEBRITIES discovered Ozempic %28and by extension%2C Trulicity%29 and gobbled up the EN-TIRE fucking supply and thus I was off the regimen for a couple months%2C not that I%27m bitter or anything... where was I%3F  Except for that thankfully brief period%2C I%27ve been pretty stable since getting on it.%0D%0A%0D%0AMind you%2C I%27m not suggesting you get right back on that thar horse%2C I%27m just saying I had something similar happen. %3AD%0D%0A%0D%0ARe%3A the needle thing%3A Trulicity %2Aused%2A to come in non-auto-injector pens and while the needle was still short%2C it was approximately the diameter of a ballpoint pen tip.  No lie%2C I had one of them clog on me when I was trying to administer and when I pulled it out and looked%2C it was because the hole in the needle had swallowed a chunk of%2C well%2C %2Ame%2A%2C on its way in -- carved it out neat as you please like an apple corer.%0D%0A%0D%0AI am %2Aextremely%2A thankful for the autoinjectors%2C %27cause they%27re about a million times less painful than those damn things were.  I can only imagine -- and don%27t want to%21 -- how bad intramuscular would be.  Ugh.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C after like ten years now of insulin%2C I admit I kind of enjoy surprising nurses with how blase I am about needles in general.%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A--the effin fingersticks hurt more than them drawing blood does%2C dangit
5|5|4|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Sofaspud||02:14:15|04/14/2023|Oh%21  Speaking of fingersticks%21%0D%0A%0D%0AMy doc put me on a CGM%2C which means that instead of stabbing my fingertips four times a day%2C I get to wave a sensor over a little gubbin on my arm%21%0D%0A%0D%0AI mean this is not the cyberpunk future I was promised but it%27s a start %3AD%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A--they ARE eye-wateringly expensive%2C though%2C so Arasaka might be involved anyway
7|6|5|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||02:42:30|04/14/2023|%3EMy doc put me on a CGM%2C which means that instead of stabbing my %0D%0A%3Efingertips four times a day%2C I get to wave a sensor over a little %0D%0A%3Egubbin on my arm%21%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27m curious about those%2C but also highly doubtful that MaineCare would ever cover one.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
10|7|7|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||21:10:33|04/22/2023|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-22-23 AT 09:19 PM (EDT)]%3E%3EMy doc put me on a CGM%2C which means that instead of stabbing my %0D%0A%3E%3Efingertips four times a day%2C I get to wave a sensor over a little %0D%0A%3E%3Egubbin on my arm%21%0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI%27m curious about those%2C but also highly doubtful that MaineCare would %0D%0A%3Eever cover one. %0D%0A%0D%0ASo%2C funny story.  On Wednesday this week%2C I found out from someone over at my local hospital that Mainecare does cover CGMs for patients with a Type 2 diagnosis who have to do at least three injections a day.  Which wasn%27t me%21%0D%0A%0D%0AUntil Thursday%2C when I saw my doctor and mentioned that the long-acting insulin titration we were doing didn%27t seem to be working%2C and his reaction to that was %22OK%2C so we%27ll throw in short-acting before each meal on top of it.  Damn the torpedoes%21%22  %28He didn%27t actually say %22damn the torpedoes%22 but he%27s that kind of guy.%29%0D%0A%0D%0ASoooo now I have a compartment in my refrigerator that I %5Bi%5Dthink%5B%2Fi%5D is meant to have butter in it%2C but which actually contains two different kinds of pen things with two different kinds of insulin in them%2C and I%27m thinking about the people I know who have been diabetic for %5Bi%5Dliterally years%5B%2Fi%5D before they needed to start thinking about injectable %5Bi%5Danything%5B%2Fi%5D and wondering how the %5Bi%5Dfuck%5B%2Fi%5D I went from diagnosis to %22responding well to first-line treatment%22 to %22let%27s try this new maintenance med that people are having really good results with%22 to %22dependent on two different kinds of injections adding up to four shots a day%22 in %5Bi%5Dthree and a half fucking months%5B%2Fi%5D and %5Bi%5Dboy%5B%2Fi%5D would I like to have a word or two with Eris right about now.%0D%0A%0D%0AThey%27re not saying it out loud%2C but I%27m pretty sure the folks at my doctor%27s office think these glucose numbers are coming from a lot of self-pity M%26Ms and I promise you they%27re not.  I haven%27t eaten anything I really %5Bi%5Dwanted%5B%2Fi%5D to eat since New Year%27s.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh yeah%2C got kind of lost in my rant there.  Anyway%2C now that all those shots are on the board%2C I %5Bi%5Dthink%5B%2Fi%5D I qualify for a CGM device once all the paperwork gets done %28and I%27ve made the executive decision that I%27m not going to start %5Bi%5Ddoing%5B%2Fi%5D the ones that need instant titration until I%27ve got one%2C because fuck all that finger stabbing%29%2C so before I go in on Tuesday to be formally introduced to one I may or may not get to keep%2C I have a curious about  them.%0D%0A%0D%0AMostly%2C I%27m wondering%3A How invasive are they%3F  I mean%2C I assume they must have some kind of probe on the back of the thingus that goes on your arm%2C but my doctor was talking about changing said thingus something like every three days%2C which... I mean%2C one of my MS injectables was a sub-Q with a biggish needle %28nothing like the roofing nails I used for Avonex%2C but way bigger than those starched rat hairs one uses for insulin%29 every three days and I handled it%2C but it%27s not an experience I%27m thrilled at the idea of repeating.  At that point the %22this or constant finger stabs%22 calculus turns into that classic Too Much Coffee Man comic about working retail.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
12|8|10|||||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|CdrMike||06:17:16|04/23/2023|%3ESoooo now I have a compartment in my refrigerator that I %5Bi%5Dthink%5B%2Fi%5D %0D%0A%3Eis meant to have butter in it%2C but which actually contains two %0D%0A%3Edifferent kinds of pen things with two different kinds of insulin in %0D%0A%3Ethem%2C%0D%0A%0D%0AThat%27s been my grandmother%27s fridge for as long as I can remember%2C the butter tray always having at least one box containing a vial of insulin and the box of needles up in the cabinet above the sink.  At some point in my young life%2C I got it in my head that that was the intended use for that spot.  Either that or storage for all the packets of fast food restaurant condiments you saved %22just in case.%22%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EMostly%2C I%27m wondering%3A How invasive are they%3F  I mean%2C I assume they %0D%0A%3Emust have some kind of probe on the back of the thingus that goes on %0D%0A%3Eyour arm%2C but my doctor was talking about changing said thingus %0D%0A%3Esomething like every three days%2C which... I mean%2C one of my MS %0D%0A%3Einjectables was a sub-Q with a biggish needle %28nothing like the %0D%0A%3Eroofing nails I used for Avonex%2C but way bigger than those starched %0D%0A%3Erat hairs one uses for insulin%29 every three days and I handled it%2C but %0D%0A%3Eit%27s not an experience I%27m thrilled at the idea of repeating.  At that %0D%0A%3Epoint the %22this or constant finger stabs%22 calculus turns into that %0D%0A%3Eclassic Too Much Coffee Man comic about working retail. %0D%0A%0D%0AOne of the transformations in my life that happened with my hospital stay was pretty much losing any lingering fear of needles I had%2A.  Had at least 3 blood draws before they put a cath in my right arm%2C from which they were drawing blood and injecting meds until they put the second line in the back of my left hand for the catheterization procedure on the second day.  Now the only thing I dread is doctors who try to jab me themselves instead of leaving it to the nurses.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%222%22%5D%2A Except finger pokes%2C which is something I will never stop cringing at.%5B%2Ffont%5D
13|8|10|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||01:37:01|04/28/2023|%3EMostly%2C I%27m wondering%3A How invasive are they%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AOh yeah%2C I forgot to follow up on this.  Turns out%3A not very%21  The thingus makes me anxious because I%27m constantly fretting about snagging it on something and pulling it off%2C but actually getting it installed didn%27t feel like anything.%0D%0A%0D%0AThe one I have on me right now isn%27t the one the nurse wanted to use%2C but it turns out my faithful phone is so old that none of the current-generation CGMs will work with it.  That makes me sad%2C because phones are expensive%2C but as reasons to finally bite the bullet after a full five years and get a new%28er%29 one go%2C %22this CGM is new-old stock and they don%27t actually make this model any more%2C so even if your insurance approves you for them%2C we won%27t be able to get you more of these ones going forward%22 is a pretty good one.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnd I must say%2C even a generation or two back as this monitor%27s technology is%2C it%27s pretty impressive.  I can%27t speak for its longevity%2C since I%27ve only had it for three days %28of the 14 this model is supposedly good for%2C assuming the glue lasts that long%29%2C but it does the thing without making me bleed my own blood.  I%27m a little uncomfortable with the fact that it rats me out to the hospital %28half an hour after I got home%2C the nurse called me to say %22I see your sensor is online now%2C your numbers look pretty good%21%22 which kind of freaked me out even though I knew it was going to happen%29%2C but I suppose that%27s life in our modern dystopia.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C I%27m not crazy about the way the level-over-time graph in the app looks like a stock ticker in a time of insane national instability.  Don%27t do steroids%2C kids%21  It%27s just not worth it.%2A%0D%0A%0D%0ASo%2C yeah.  The paperwork is in%2C and I%27m hopeful that I%27ll be approved for a permanent supply of these things--preferably one of the fancier new models that can go somewhere other than the really quite inconvenient spot where this one%27s stuck.  The new phone I broke down and ordered should be here tomorrow%2C and I made sure it was on the compatibility list for all the latest widgets.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A%2A well%2C OK%2C with a platelet count below 3 it%27s probably worth it%2C but fuck%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
14|9|13|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Sofaspud||12:03:18|05/01/2023|This past week has been in%2Asane%2A and I%27m just now getting back around to catching up on things I want to catch up on%2C so I missed the previous bits on this.  Sorry about that%21%0D%0A%0D%0ASounds like you landed on more or less the same type of CGM that I have.  There are two big players in the field right now doing 14-day units%2C that I%27m aware of%3A Abbott and Dexcom %28making the Freestyle Libre and the G-whatever units%2C respectively%29.  I%27m on the Freestyle unit%3B I%27m guessing you%27re on Dexcom %28or another I haven%27t heard of%29 because mine doesn%27t rat me out automatically%3B I have to upload my data every once in a while.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ve found over the past few years using them that the glue is remarkably good.  I sweat.  Like%2C a lot.  And mine has stuck to me no problems.  I%27ve gone swimming%2C obviously %28I should hope %27obviously%27%29 I take showers with it on%2C and I even lounged around in a hot spring wearing mine.  No real issues.  When I went to Hawaii and planned to spend all my time in the water%2C I did pick up a pack of covers for the sensor%2C but other than extreme situations like that I don%27t bother.%0D%0A%0D%0AThat said%2C I %2Ahave%2A snagged it on things and yanked it off a couple of times%2C and the aforementioned covers would protect against that.  Basically they create a slope that whatever surface you%27re bumping against can ride over rather than snagging on the cliff face that is the edge of the sensor.%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A--
15|10|14|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||14:11:42|05/01/2023|%3ESounds like you landed on more or less the same type of CGM that I %0D%0A%3Ehave.  There are two big players in the field right now doing 14-day %0D%0A%3Eunits%2C that I%27m aware of%3A Abbott and Dexcom %28making the Freestyle %0D%0A%3ELibre and the G-whatever units%2C respectively%29.  I%27m on the Freestyle %0D%0A%3Eunit%3B I%27m guessing you%27re on Dexcom %28or another I haven%27t heard of%29 %0D%0A%3Ebecause mine doesn%27t rat me out automatically%3B I have to upload my %0D%0A%3Edata every once in a while. %0D%0A%0D%0AThe approval I have is for the Dexcom G7%2C but the order only went in last Friday so the supply hasn%27t started arriving yet.  In the meantime%2C the sample unit the DE nurse over at the hospital put on me last week is a Libre 2 she had left in her stash%2C because the phone I had at the time wouldn%27t run the app for any Dexcom or the Libre 3.  We had to set up the data sharing%2C which involved looking up a Secret Code in a large book%2C before I left the office.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28Of all the things to finally push me to replace my five-year-old Galaxy S8%2B%2C CGM app compatibility. What is this life%3F Although Slack and my insurance company have been nagging me about it for a while too.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AAs an aside%2C it annoys me that all these newfangled Bluetooth things need location to be turned on nowadays.  Why the fuck do my headphones need to know where they are%3F  They%27re headphones.  Sorry%2C I digress.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI%27ve found over the past few years using them that the glue is %0D%0A%3Eremarkably good.  I sweat.  Like%2C a lot.  And mine has stuck to me no %0D%0A%3Eproblems.  I%27ve gone swimming%2C obviously %28I should hope %27obviously%27%29 I %0D%0A%3Etake showers with it on%2C and I even lounged around in a hot spring %0D%0A%3Ewearing mine.  No real issues.%0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ve been wondering %28for values of %22wondering%22 that include %22super-anxiously paranoid%22%29 about that%2C since pool time is a valuable source of activity for me in the 11 hours per year it%27s possible here in Maine.  Since the sample%2Fdemo sensor I%27m wearing now didn%27t come with purpose-built covers or shields of any kind%2C I%27ve been trying various forms of water-resistant bandage over it %28Tegaderm%2C those big square waterproof Band-Aid-type things%29%2C but I can%27t get any of them to stay sealed reliably to save my life%2C and it%27s stressing me out more than if I just didn%27t bother.  The sensor%27s been on for a week now and I can see it%27s starting to get a little loose around the edges.  It vexes me.%0D%0A%0D%0AWhen the %22production%22 ones get here%2C my orders are written to wear them for 10 days each%2C not the full 14 they%27re rated for%2C so that%27s may help.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EThat said%2C I %2Ahave%2A snagged it on things and yanked it off a couple of %0D%0A%3Etimes%2C and the aforementioned covers would protect against that.  %0D%0A%3EBasically they create a slope that whatever surface you%27re bumping %0D%0A%3Eagainst can ride over rather than snagging on the cliff face that is %0D%0A%3Ethe edge of the sensor.%0D%0A%0D%0AMm-hmm%2C paranoid about this%2C too.  The Dexcom ones come with an overpatch thing that%27s featured in the instructions as more or less mandatory%2C probably for that very reason.  %28Hilariously%2C in all the photos on their website%2C the models aren%27t wearing that part so you can see the sensor%2C so they have to add fine print to each and every photo reminding you that everyone you see is Doing It Wrong and you%27re supposed to have the cover part on. %3A%29  Hopefully it%27s better staying on than any of the improvised coverings I%27ve tried on the demo Libre 2.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
16|11|15|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Sofaspud||18:15:56|05/01/2023|Interestingly%2C I use the Freestyle Libre 2 -- and it can interface with a standalone sensor reader rather than a phone app.  My phone -- a Moto G7 Power from 2019 -- doesn%27t have NFC%2C which %28I%27m told%29 is why it can%27t scan my Freestyle sensor.  But Abbott makes a standalone reader that will%2C so I use that.%0D%0A%0D%0AMy doc is trying to get me to %27upgrade%27 to the Freestyle 3 or the Dexcom but so far at least there have been no problems getting refills and I%27m crotchety and don%27t wanna buy a new phone when my existing one works just fine %28and gets 4 days per charge still%21%29%0D%0A%0D%0AThat said%2C the sensors themselves run me a fair bit o%27 change out-of-pocket%2C so if the Dexcom turn out to be cheaper to refill then I may be making the switch anyway.  The doc%2C my insurance%2C and the pharmacy are playing a three-way game of telephone at the moment because none of them can tell me just how much it%27s actually going to cost.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28I%27m not going to start ranting about how in the modern era I %2Arefuse%2A to believe you can%27t tell me how much something is going to cost until you%27ve actually ordered it and charged my insurance company.  I%27m not.  I%27ve ranted about that too much already.%29%0D%0A%0D%0ARe%3A the water issue -- I ordered these %28Amazon%3A https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB08CYD77W6 %29 and they worked pretty darn well.  Obviously they won%27t fit Dexcom units but the principle is the same.  I went with these because they have no glue in the center so I can remove%2Freplace them as needed without affecting the CGM itself.  The covers didn%27t last long individually but replacing them every few days was a lot less expensive or annoying than replacing the sensor would have been.%0D%0A%0D%0A--sofaspud%0D%0A--
17|12|16|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||19:20:52|05/01/2023|%3EInterestingly%2C I use the Freestyle Libre 2 -- and it can interface %0D%0A%3Ewith a standalone sensor reader rather than a phone app.%0D%0A%0D%0AOh%2C sure%2C Dexcom makes one of those for the G7 as well %28maybe also the G6%3F not sure%29.  The problem was that this first sensor was just a sample that the diabetes education nurse up at my local hospital had on hand%2C which she wanted to put on as a trial to see how well I took to using the things while we waited to see if the paperwork would go through for an official supply.  She only had samples of the sensors on hand%2C not the reader devices%2C so for that initial trial%2C we had to go with one that my old phone could talk to.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28And yes%2C this does mean I could have gone with the external reader when I ended up approved for the G7 and kept my old phone%2C but a man only has so many pockets%2C you know%3F  Besides%2C it was time.%29%0D%0A%0D%0AOne annoying side effect of the way the timing worked out for this whole process is that we%27ll lose the trend tracking data for this trial period and have to start completely over%2C since the Abbott and Dexcom apps don%27t talk to each other.  It%27s not the end of the world%2C but two weeks is two weeks.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3EI went with these because they have no glue in the center %0D%0A%3Eso I can remove%2Freplace them as needed without affecting the CGM %0D%0A%3Eitself.%0D%0A%0D%0AYeah%2C that only occurred to me %5Bi%5Dafter%5B%2Fi%5D I stuck a Tegaderm over my trial widget the first time.  Fortunately%2C it wasn%27t a problem %28and they seem to do the best job overall%2C but they%27re the hardest to put on and they%27re expensive%29%2C but it did give me a little angst when I realized it.%0D%0A%0D%0AAlso%2C I wish I could actually wear mine where the model is shown wearing it in the photos on that Amazon page.  Not only would it make applying and removing covers and whatnot much easier%2C I hate not being able to %5Bi%5Dsee%5B%2Fi%5D the damn thing.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
18|13|17|||||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|mdg1||20:02:48|05/01/2023|%0D%0A%3EOne annoying side effect of the way the timing worked out for this %0D%0A%3Ewhole process is that we%27ll lose the trend tracking data for this %0D%0A%3Etrial period and have to start completely over%2C since the Abbott and %0D%0A%3EDexcom apps don%27t talk to each other.  It%27s not the end of the world%2C %0D%0A%3Ebut two weeks is two weeks. %0D%0A%0D%0AMy first thought is to see if you can export the data as a CSV or the like.  Then import it to the new app.
25|12|16|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||20:58:25|05/03/2023|%3ERe%3A the water issue -- I ordered these %28Amazon%3A %0D%0A%3Ehttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fgp%2Fproduct%2FB08CYD77W6 %29 and they worked pretty %0D%0A%3Edarn well.  Obviously they won%27t fit Dexcom units but the principle is %0D%0A%3Ethe same.%0D%0A%0D%0ANow that I%27ve been fitted with my first G7%2C I can report that the stock Dexcom %22overpatch%22 is basically the same concept%2C but a little smaller and in white.  I don%27t have any data on how well they hold up yet%2C but each unit only comes with one of them%2C so evidently Dexcom is pretty confident in them.%0D%0A%0D%0AOne significant difference in the end user experience I can report between the two systems is that you don%27t have to do the actual %22scan yourself like groceries%22 thing with the G7.  You just look at the app %28or the reader gadget%2C I assume%29 and it tells you what your glucose reading is right now.  It took me a while to realize that%27s what was going on%2C and I wasn%27t just holding my phone wrong and failing to get a scan.%0D%0A%0D%0AA bit annoyingly%2C while there is a G7 app for Apple Watch%2C there isn%27t one for Android smart watches %28and if%2Fwhen there is%2C it probably won%27t work on my antique Gear S3 Frontier%29.  But I suppose you can%27t have everything.  At least the notifications should go over there.  After all%2C they%27re just notifications.%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
23|11|15|||||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|jonathanlennox||15:41:52|05/03/2023|%3EAs an aside%2C it annoys me that all these newfangled Bluetooth things %0D%0A%3Eneed location to be turned on nowadays.  Why the fuck do my headphones %0D%0A%3Eneed to know where they are%3F  They%27re headphones.  Sorry%2C I digress. %0D%0A%0D%0AFollowing up to your aside%2C even though it%27s mostly off-topic for this thread -- the way Bluetooth was designed%2C any app that can pair to a Bluetooth device can also scan every Bluetooth device in your house%2C pair with beacons installed in stores%2C etc.%2C so Google thought this needed to be under a specific app permission so as not to be a privacy nightmare.%0D%0A%0D%0ABut this was basically impossible to explain to ordinary users%2C so they just folded the permission in as part of %22Location%22.  Your headphones app %28probably%29 isn%27t accessing your GPS%2C it just needs to be able to scan to find the headphones.
24|12|23|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||16:05:44|05/03/2023|%3EBut this was basically impossible to explain to ordinary users%2C so %0D%0A%3Ethey just folded the permission in as part of %22Location%22.  Your %0D%0A%3Eheadphones app %28probably%29 isn%27t accessing your GPS%2C it just needs to %0D%0A%3Ebe able to scan to find the headphones. %0D%0A%0D%0AThat wasn%27t a thing Bluetooth did until fairly recently%2C though%3B I used BT earpieces%2C speakers%2C and so forth for %5Bi%5Dyears%5B%2Fi%5D before they started demanding that I turn on Location on my phone before they would deign to work.  That%27s the part that I find infuriating%2C because they themselves may not be using GPS%2C but now I arbitrarily have to have that function switched on in the phone%27s config itself in order to satisfy them%2C precisely because they aren%27t differentiated at the phone%27s level.%0D%0A%0D%0AI recognize that this probably annoys me disproportionately%2C but it still annoys me%2C in much the same way that it still bugs me how touch screens became the norm after I spent 20 years trying to get people to stop touching the goddamn screens. %3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
26|12|23|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|ImpulsiveAlexia||10:41:27|05/08/2023|Yyyep. The idea is that%2C since an app with bluetooth access could determine your location%2A%2C an app you don%27t trust with that information can%27t be trusted with bluetooth access either.%0D%0A%0D%0A%2AWith access to a big honking database mapping groupings of bluetooth addresses to physical locations%2C but that%27s at least theoretically possible. Of course%2C the current permission arrangement would make building that database easier%2C wouldn%27t it%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A-IA.%0D%0A%0D%0A%28i%27m not a phone expert but i get paid to pretend to be one for about half of every working day%29
8|6|5|||||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|CdrMike||02:52:03|04/14/2023|%3EOh%21  Speaking of fingersticks%21 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EMy doc put me on a CGM%2C which means that instead of stabbing my %0D%0A%3Efingertips four times a day%2C I get to wave a sensor over a little %0D%0A%3Egubbin on my arm%21 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EI mean this is not the cyberpunk future I was promised but it%27s a %0D%0A%3Estart %3AD %0D%0A%0D%0AI%27ve thought about suggesting that my mom %28also a type 2 diabetic%29 should check into one of those since her entire reason for avoiding checking her glucose levels as regularly as the docs insist is she hates the finger sticks.%0D%0A%0D%0A%5Bfont size%3D%222%22%5DWell%2C that and her docs up til now seemed happy with her levels after she got them under control by losing weight.%5B%2Ffont%5D
6|1|0|||||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|CdrMike||02:35:16|04/14/2023|The whole heart business %28unfortunately%29 brings to mind what I%27ve been going through for the better part of the past six months.  To set the scene%2C there%27s a history of heart disease in my father%27s side of the family%2C having struck down my grandfather by age 45 and lead to my dad being diagnosed with angina after his own heart attack at roughly the same age.  So the following events are only shocking in how early in life they caught my ass%2C though I haven%27t done myself any favors by living like a college student into my 30s by working odd hours and eating anything that stays still long enough.%0D%0A%0D%0AAnyway%2C back in mid-September I suddenly developed a cough that got progressively worse%2C going from a %22I need to clear my throat%22 cough at first to a %22coughing so hard it%27s setting off my gag reflex%22 cough over the course of a month.  Initially I told myself it was a late summer cold%2C then perhaps I%27d caught COVID %28again%29%2C and finally figured I might have walking pneumonia.  Cough drops weren%27t helping%2C extra-strength cough syrup did nothing%2C and I was at my wits end.  So I finally decided to take a financial hit and stop in at the walk-in clinic%2C where my pulse %28114 bpm%29 and blood pressure %28140%2F96 RmL%29 caused raised eyebrows and questions that led to me admitting I had no primary care doctor because until 3 years ago I hadn%27t even had medical insurance once I aged out of my parent%27s policy.  After an X-ray and general questions%2C they diagnosed me with bronchitis and sent me home with an antibiotic and cough meds.%0D%0A%0D%0AAt this point I should mention that I%27d also started developing a bad case of insomnia which I blamed on the cough%2C figuring that fluid build-up in my lungs and the resulting cough had made me too uncomfortable to sleep for long periods.  I was also constantly hot%2C cracking open windows even as the temps were dropping into the 50-60 range as summer turned to fall.  And topping the list was my dwindling appetite%2C to the point that I was eating maybe half of my meals and eating more out of routine than any feelings of hunger.  So that by the time I finally broke down and went to the clinic%2C I%27d already lost 5-10 pounds without really noticing other than needing another notch in my belt and my clothes feeling a bit loose.%0D%0A%0D%0ABy now it was mid-November and I had meds in hand%2C so I tried to go back to my normal life %28such as it is%29 and waiting for my condition to improve.  This was when I had my big red flag moment%2C experiencing sudden breathlessness and fatigue just walking across the Wal-Mart parking lot and through the building.  I should have abandoned the endeavor%2C but instead I used a shopping cart as a makeshift walker to do what little shopping I%27d meant to do and raced back home.  And to add to my stupidity%2C seeing as I was living in the great state of Denial%2C I wrote the whole thing off as being due to the bronchitis and did not seek emergency care%2C dropping like a sack of garbage in a chair until the panting and sweating spell subsided enough to let me move again.  A repeat episode the following night at work marching the hotel halls to deal with stupid guests did nothing to alter my initial conclusion.%0D%0A%0D%0AAt this point I should also mention I%27m a recovering cyber-hypochondriac%2C having spent years of my early adulthood rushing to WebMD every time I felt the least bit off and then days agonizing over whether or not I was dying of a self-diagnosed disease before I finally realized I was causing myself so much grief and started thinking rationally.  Sadly%2C I over-corrected by assuming that every ache and pain had mundane explanations and the people in white lab coats would have sounded the alarm if there was something dire going on with me.%0D%0A%0D%0AAll this leads to the weekend before Thanksgiving when I%27d finished the antibiotics...and noticed my feet had started to swell.  Not bad puffiness%2C just enough that pressing left impressions that didn%27t immediately go away.  Since I%27d taken the week off to satisfy management%27s demands that I burn up some vacation time%2C I decided in my sleep-deprived state to play %22wait-and-see%22 before anxiety pushed me to visit the clinic on Tuesday morning.  Pulled a different%2C more cocksure doctor this time who seemed eager to just verify the previous doctor%27s diagnosis and showed obvious annoyance when my vitals remained in %22your head asplode%22 territory and there was still fluid in my lungs.  Even mentioning the episode at Wal-Mart only caused him to scratch his head before sending me home to await the lab results.  Results which they tried to relay to me that night but I missed the call%2C and every attempt to return the call was dismissed because the on-duty nurse was dealing with an emergency case.%0D%0A%0D%0ASo finally we arrive on the morning of the Wednesday before Thanksgiving%2C when I call back the clinic...and get told to take my pasty ass to the ER to get checked for possible congestive heart failure.  2 hours later%2C I%27m being admitted to the local hospital for what ended up being a 3 day stay of meds%2C vitals%2C endless drawing of blood%2C an echocardiogram%2C and finally a cardiac cath that determined my left ventricle is at 20%25 output capacity and that was the cause of the edemas and fluid retention that caused all the other symptoms.  An MRI 2 months later continued the misery by concluding that arterial bypass is a no-go due to the damage to the tissue from arterial blockage%2C %5Bb%5Dbut%5B%2Fb%5D the silver lining is that the meds they%27ve had me on since December seem to be strengthening my heart and they%27re optimistic %28as of now%29 that I can live on just those meds instead of fitting me for a ventricle pump or a new heart.  Which really sucks because I was hoping I could get one in my favorite color of sea blue.  %0D%0A%0D%0Atl%3Bdr%3A Bad cough turned out to be heart disease%2C but docs assure me I%27m not dying...yet.  Better living through chemistry%21
9|2|6|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||20:57:17|04/22/2023|[updated:LAST EDITED ON Apr-22-23 AT 08:57 PM (EDT)]%28lots and lots of oof%29%0D%0A%0D%0AMan.  Whatever%27s going on with mine seems to be more elusive than that%2C which is both bad and good.  The stress test is still a few weeks away%2C but that two-day Holter I had last week showed nothing abnormal apart from rate.  So we%27ll see how that goes.  Hoping it turns out to be something electrical%2C and that your docs are right about those meds. %3A%2F%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
11|3|9|||||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|CdrMike||06:00:39|04/23/2023|%3E%28lots and lots of oof%29 %0D%0A%3E%0D%0A%3EMan.  Whatever%27s going on with mine seems to be more elusive than %0D%0A%3Ethat%2C which is both bad and good.  The stress test is still a few %0D%0A%3Eweeks away%2C but that two-day Holter I had last week showed nothing %0D%0A%3Eabnormal apart from rate.  So we%27ll see how that goes.  Hoping it %0D%0A%3Eturns out to be something electrical%2C and that your docs are right %0D%0A%3Eabout those meds. %3A%2F %0D%0A%0D%0AThanks.  Yeah%2C they%27ve got me scheduled for another echocardiogram in a couple weeks%2C probably to verify that the MRI estimates are good and my heart%27s ejection fraction has improved %28from roughly 20%25 to 30%25%29 due to the meds.  Supposedly they also want to do another cardio catheterization but this time running the line from my neck down into the right ventricle to get an overall picture of my heart health %28such as it is%29%2C but the cardiologist whose wheelhouse that falls in has not contacted me yet.  Speaking as a layman%2C my guess is if they do both and are satisfied with what they see%2C then I%27ll just stay on meds until I eventually get bad enough that I become a candidate for a heart transplant.%0D%0A%0D%0AOn a %28morbidly%29 lighter note%2C the cardiac surgeon handling my case decided the arterial blockage that led to all this being so complete that I%27ll never have to worry about future blockages in it counted as %22good news.%22  I do so love medical %22humor.%22
19|1|0|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||16:04:10|05/02/2023|My Libre 2 sensor just fell off%2C and as I contemplated it%2C I realized what it%27s been reminding me of all this time.  You remember those plastic tags retailers used to clamp onto articles of clothing to try and deter thieves%3F  The cashiers had to use weird tools to remove them%2C which made the checkout process take an age%2C and they always left an annoying dent in the fabric that might or might not work itself out in a wash or two.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt%27s that.  The Libre 2 looks just like that.  It%27s a human inventory control tag.  Now that mine has fallen off%2C I%27m vulnerable to shoplifters. %3A%28%0D%0A%0D%0A%28I%27ll post a photo later.  It%27s a slightly elaborate process on this old forum%2C and I have an appointment to get it replaced in a few minutes.%29%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D
20|2|19|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|The Traitor||16:32:13|05/02/2023|Unexpected human in the bagging area...%0D%0A%0D%0A---%0D%0A%22She%27s old%2C she%27s lame%2C she%27s barren too%2C %2F%2F %22She%27s not worth feed or hay%2C %2F%2F %22But I%27ll give her this%2C%22 - he blew smoke at me - %2F%2F %22She was something in her day.%22 -- Garnet Rogers%2C %5Bi%5DSmall Victory%5B%2Fi%5D%0D%0A%0D%0AFiMFiction.net%3A we might accept blatant porn involving the cast of My Little Pony but as God is my witness we have %5Bi%5Dstandards%5B%2Fi%5D.
21|2|19|||||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|CdrMike||20:55:08|05/02/2023|Well%2C at least it%27s not one of those with the ink packet that explodes if you pull it in just the wrong way.
22|2|19|||1||RE%3A a scattershot of medical notes|Gryphon||21:17:58|05/02/2023|%3EIt%27s that.  The Libre 2 looks just like that.  It%27s a human inventory %0D%0A%3Econtrol tag.%0D%0A%0D%0ASee%3F%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2FG-GFX%2Flibre2-01.jpg%0D%0A%0D%0AWhile it was off%2C I got a picture of the back%2C too.  You can see the little wire it does its business with.  %28That discoloration is lint from the shirt I was wearing%2C I think...%29%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2FG-GFX%2Flibre2-02.jpg%0D%0A%0D%0A--G.%0D%0A-%3E%3C-%0D%0ABenjamin D. Hutchins%2C Co-Founder%2C Editor-in-Chief%2C %26 Forum Mod%0D%0AEyrie Productions%2C Unlimited  http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eyrie-productions.com%2F%0D%0Azgryphon at that email service Google has%0D%0A%5Bi%5DCeterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.%5B%2Fi%5D