How's your day been today

[Jacob Petersheim]

Quiet here, but not complaining. Seems I didn't do any serious damage to my car yesterday, my solar lights look good and Christmasy after dusk, and the fruit basket my son and his lady from Wisconsin (they never married but have been together a long time) gave me has some really nice fruit in it.

Trying to stay focused on the positive. Rose to 40F here today and the rain passed us by, so that's a nice change.

 

[Mary Stetler]

My day has been quiet. Cleaning up after Christmas. It could have been like this if it had been colder. Thawing then freezing:

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

Not sure why really, but I'm feeling down. Not "depressed" but not where I want to be, either. I don't normally deal with "depression" around holidays. Maybe I've been dwelling too much on family disappointments and failing vision. The latter does scare me, but I can normally compartmentalize such things and avoid unproductive worry.

I don't want the eye surgery, and dietary changes and supplements haven't produced an overnight cure. Just something to deal with. I'll know a lot more after I get in for an evaluation.

Maybe that's most of it.

It is late and dark, but I went outside to make myself use distance vision and "probe" to see where I'm at. I think I did better than expected, which lifts me a little bit. I'll do more of that in daylight. In the meantime I'll keep up with the varied antioxidants I'm making effort to consume. Mostly in the form of foods and not dubious packaged supplements.

 

[Mary Stetler]

Not sure why really, but I'm feeling down. Not "depressed" but not where I want to be, either. I don't normally deal with "depression" around holidays. Maybe I've been dwelling too much on family disappointments and failing vision. The latter does scare me, but I can normally compartmentalize such things and avoid unproductive worry.

I don't want the eye surgery, and dietary changes and supplements haven't produced an overnight cure. Just something to deal with. I'll know a lot more after I get in for an evaluation.

Maybe that's most of it.

It is late and dark, but I went outside to make myself use distance vision and "probe" to see where I'm at. I think I did better than expected, which lifts me a little bit. I'll do more of that in daylight. In the meantime I'll keep up with the varied antioxidants I'm making effort to consume. Mostly in the form of foods and not dubious packaged supplements.

 

[Don Alaska]

As you can see, the research in the U.S. is always biased, as pure unbiased research is almost never done. Just as in the studies cited, studies in the U.S. are biased by industry funding.

 

[Marie Mallory]

I woke up with a song in my head and was doing ok, then I got into politics, and now ,not so good.
I know the cure though.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

and now ,not so good.
I know the cure though.

Ooh la la!

 

[Mary Stetler]

As you can see, the research in the U.S. is always biased, as pure unbiased research is almost never done. Just as in the studies cited, studies in the U.S. are biased by industry funding.

No one will do the unbiased research because it can't be patented nor make money. I used high dosage of vitamin C and other supplement and low carbs to erase a start of cataracts. But I might have tried Can C drops and other topicals.
I even took horse wormer during covid and did not die.

 

[♥☔♥]

I've had a wonderful day today. It's been very low-key and relaxing.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

Quiet here, mostly on the positive side. No complaints but a few things got weird.

For example my health coverage switched me from one blood glucose test strip brand to another. I received the new one, and supplies, but I haven't exhausted the old device supplies yet, so I hadn't switched over.

A week ago they contacted me to refill, and I have learned never to buck their system or risk headaches getting things sorted out. So I went ahead and "reordered."

A couple days ago a box came in the mail. I'd let it sit, but today I see labels saying to open immediately and verify contents. So I emptied the box and decided to go ahead and start using this new brand of test strip system.

Um... it turns out that my reordering sent a whole new set of device and supplies. So I have the old gadget and 2 of the new gadget. I guess I'll be happy there was no copay, and not risk messing things up even more by trying to correct any of it.

Since I have a slew of test strips for the old device yet though not a lot of the finger-sticker pins I'll probably "stick" with the new pins and then test with both devices and types of strips. My pharmacist says you can't give extras away because there is no way to ensure uncontaminated supplies and anyone receiving it couldn't get new supplies.

So "stick once, check twice" I guess. I hate leaving stuff in a drawer until it expires.

 

[Don Alaska]

Quiet here, mostly on the positive side. No complaints but a few things got weird.

For example my health coverage switched me from one blood glucose test strip brand to another. I received the new one, and supplies, but I haven't exhausted the old device supplies yet, so I hadn't switched over.

A week ago they contacted me to refill, and I have learned never to buck their system or risk headaches getting things sorted out. So I went ahead and "reordered."

A couple days ago a box came in the mail. I'd let it sit, but today I see labels saying to open immediately and verify contents. So I emptied the box and decided to go ahead and start using this new brand of test strip system.

Um... it turns out that my reordering sent a whole new set of device and supplies. So I have the old gadget and 2 of the new gadget. I guess I'll be happy there was no copay, and not risk messing things up even more by trying to correct any of it.

Since I have a slew of test strips for the old device yet though not a lot of the finger-sticker pins I'll probably "stick" with the new pins and then test with both devices and types of strips. My pharmacist says you can't give extras away because there is no way to ensure uncontaminated supplies and anyone receiving it couldn't get new supplies.

So "stick once, check twice" I guess. I hate leaving stuff in a drawer until it expires.

You could parallel test the two glucose systems to make sure the new one reads like the old one @Jacob Petersheim. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. The OTC stuff is not held to the same standards as the hospital-based stuff is.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

You could parallel test the two glucose systems to make sure the new one reads like the old one @Jacob Petersheim. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. The OTC stuff is not held to the same standards as the hospital-based stuff is.

I get that.

Another issue:

Using one of the (pair of!) new devices, the initial test read very high, about 149. I knew that didn't feel right.

So I tested with the older device and also the newer device with a second strip. These read 89 and 90.

Lots of things can impact the accuracy of a reading. Double-testing might be a good way to correct for issues.

 

[Marie Mallory]

As you can see, the research in the U.S. is always biased, as pure unbiased research is almost never done. Just as in the studies cited, studies in the U.S. are biased by industry funding.

I tried castor oil, but not the recommended time, so not sure.
Far as my day today, so far ok.

 

[Don Alaska]

I tried castor oil, but not the recommended time, so not sure.

I would like to see pure research, not profit-biased research. Did you try it on your skin @marie or internally? My grandson with severe eczema claims it helps his skin condition. People have taken it internally for years. I have used it as a skin oil, but never have taken it internally.

 

[Marie Mallory]

I would like to see pure research, not profit-biased research. Did you try it on your skin @marie or internally? My grandson with severe eczema claims it helps his skin condition. People have taken it internally for years. I have used it as a skin oil, but never have taken it internally.

I put it into my eye's for a couple nights. I bought the organic one with an eye dropper. It didn't hurt,nor did I have a problem with it.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

I've been dreading it, but I got in for a CT scan with contrast dye IV on Friday.

Part of the dread comes from the awkwardness of the procedure given a loss of back/spine flexibility. But there is also the drive through heavy traffic with vision that is letting me down. And of course the usual uneasiness with anything medical.

I'm convinced that a new glasses prescription would still go a long way, despite the cataract evaluation I have coming up. But the optometrist who referred me said new glasses would be a waste of money. So it goes, we'll just see (er, to some degree anyway ).

 

[Yvonne Smith]

When do you find out about the results of the CT scan, @Jacob Petersheim ? Usually they are on my patient portal way before the doctor tells me anything, assuming that he even does.

If you have an advantage plan, it should cover glasses, and you can go to a regular eyeglass place (instead of the ophthalmologist) and they will make new glasses for you.
Bobby had a similar experience , with the eye doctor wanting to do a cataract operation, and they never did make decent glasses for him, even after the operation.
We had America’s Best as one of the options with our advantage plan, and they made him some glasses that fit.

 

[Jacob Petersheim]

The scan was cardiac. I'll make an appointment to go over that on Monday, but yeah I can probably peek at the results online before then.

I should have options one way or another for glasses but I'll be getting looked at first.

 

[Marie Mallory]

I've been dreading it, but I got in for a CT scan with contrast dye IV on Friday.

Part of the dread comes from the awkwardness of the procedure given a loss of back/spine flexibility. But there is also the drive through heavy traffic with vision that is letting me down. And of course the usual uneasiness with anything medical.

I'm convinced that a new glasses prescription would still go a long way, despite the cataract evaluation I have coming up. But the optometrist who referred me said new glasses would be a waste of money. So it goes, we'll just see (er, to some degree anyway ).

Last eye doc glasses I bought is probably 'the last', My drug store glasses actually work better and I've got several pairs. I forgot what type of vision I have though so may not help you.

 

[Marie Mallory]

I've been dreading it, but I got in for a CT scan with contrast dye IV on Friday.

Part of the dread comes from the awkwardness of the procedure given a loss of back/spine flexibility. But there is also the drive through heavy traffic with vision that is letting me down. And of course the usual uneasiness with anything medical.

I'm convinced that a new glasses prescription would still go a long way, despite the cataract evaluation I have coming up. But the optometrist who referred me said new glasses would be a waste of money. So it goes, we'll just see (er, to some degree anyway ).

I hope it all turns out ok.