Damned genetics!

[allisolm]

Lovastatin 10mg tab
Lovastatin 20mg tab
Pravastatin 10mg tab
Pravastatin 20mg tab
Pravastatin 40mg tab

$4 a month, $10 for 3 months at Walmart pharmacies

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Originally posted by: Mo0o
are you sure your "narcolepsy" isn't just due to sleep apnea causing you to have crappy sleep?

Yeah, I was tested for sleep apnea first (in 2002), which was not significant at the time. I undeniably have cataplexy, which is almost exclusive to narcolepsy. In fact, I have the classic narcolepsy tetrad; excessive sleepiness, sleep paralysis, hypnagogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, and cataplexy (as well as automatic behavior). This is as definitive for narcolepsy as it gets. Even a lumbar puncture to measure CSF hypocretin levels is no more diagnostic.

Blood Pressure: Destroy your salt intake. Use salt for iodine, not for flavor. A small pinch is enough for 4-5 servings. Cut out as much sugar as possible. If you need something sweet, drink something like pineapple juice or V8 fusion. No soda at all.

Don't use salt on anything. Don't eat those packaged/prepared meals. I buy the low sodium soups. Stopped drinking sweetened soft drinks about four months ago.

Sleep apnea and GERD are being treated.

Start working on your aerobic capacity. The best way to do that is to run or jog. You should be able to sustain a moderate level of activity for 30 minutes to be in a safe zone. Careful, cause you are overweight and don't want to thrash your knees. Forget about losing the pounds. Work on your aerobic capacity.

Would love to, except I think that I really injured by tibialis muscles several years ago. I walked this enormous Dalmatian (90lbs) that forced me to keep constant resistance on the leash. By the time that I got back, my tibialis muscles on both legs were literally numb. I couldn't feel them and I couldn't elevate my feet. The next day, my tibialis muscles were swollen and became very painful for several days, painful to the touch. I kept tripping over my own feet because I couldn't elevate my feet while I walked (the muscles literally were not functioning right).

Now, I get bad shin splints no matter how slow I walk. I've tried different shoes.

Have you checked the sodium levels in the soups? There was a "row" here (UK) a while back about soups, basically some of the "healthy" ones really weren't - they contained as much salt as rivals, and while lower in fat, contained more calories per portion (think loaded with carbs/sugars).

Go and see your doctor about your shin splints - you don't want to end up with a stress fracture! Since you have GI problems a NSAID gel maybe of help. If they are constantly painful you may have lost flexibility in them, again a Doctor can diagnose this and advise on exercises to stretch them - or refer you to a physio. Increasing the flexibility of the muscles is important.

Try non-impact aerobic exercise such as swimming and cycling. I like rowing too 🙂

The current recommended minimum is 30 minutes exercise that gets you (slightly, if you are really unfit) out of breath and sweaty 5 times a week. That surprises most people.

 

[alkemyst]

First I'd start a fitday eating journal. 20lbs overweight and eating healthy like you say you are is a bit difficult to see. It happens to me though. I was involved in heavy training as a kid/young adult and if I don't get really active today I will put on 20-30lbs easily even if I am dieting.

That said, I got a dog in July...I am down 30lbs already. My body is just like that. I didn't make any other changes.

I don't know about the sweaty stuff being require nor the 5 days. It's 20 mins, 3x a day once warmed up IMHO that's going to keep most people in decent shape with minimal impact. Most try to take on too much effort/time...most don't need to train for a competition here.

I'd say pick some healthy outdoor hobby if possible and get out and do it. If picking up a pet will help, go for it....know the responsibility though. Biking is a great way too. Especially if you have trails near by.

My dog takes me out of my home 3-4 hours. It's a huge dedication of time. However, the payoffs are already showing. My stress levels are down, I am in great shape, I have energy. My vitals are all great.

 

[Regs]

Those cholesterol tests are retarded. I took a non-fasting blood test and my cholesterol was low and then I took a fasting blood test 6 months later and it was too high. It's bull crap. Try fish oil? They sell supliments.

Enlarged heart? How'd they test that? X-Ray or Echo? Not every heart is going to be perfect, it's a medical fact. It's not like it's going to kill you any sooner than most of us who die from either cancer, aids, accidents, terrorist attacks, and god knows what else.

GERD is the only thing actually worth talking about your health. Maybe Sleep apnea which I never understood or believed in. Either way, both could easily be treated with a diet, and a couple of pills.

 

[tcsenter]

Oops, I forget there was a Health and Fitness category, though I wasn't really looking for advice so much as wanting to vent.

I walked for 35 minutes at a comfortable pace this morning and my tibialis muscles are already screaming. I'm going to do something different every day so that I'm not piling insult on top of injury. Hoping the neighbor will let me borrow his bike a few times per week until I can afford to buy one. I think its a fair deal, he's been using my electric guitar and amp for two months. :thumbsup:

 

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Originally posted by: AreaCode707
I was 17 when I was diagnosed with arthritis (rheumatoid, genetic) so I've got an inkling how you feel. Sometimes it just feels like life dealt a bum hand.

Ouch, man. A high school classmate was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 19 or 20. Last time I saw him about six years ago, he could barely get around using a cane, unable to work, had to file bankruptcy. He was well past the stage of the disease where he still felt reasonably well and could physically do many things in spite of it. He felt like sh-t most of the time and couldn't do much at all, and he was only 32.

I'll stop complaining now.

Topic summary edited to remove profanity.
Sr Moderator allisolm

Oops, sorry about that one! 😕

god that is horrible.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

How's your thyroid?

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
How's your thyroid?

Mines 3 times the size it's suposed to be and almost completely nonfunctional : ( hypothyroidism at 25 ftl.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

Originally posted by: AreaCode707
I was 17 when I was diagnosed with arthritis (rheumatoid, genetic) so I've got an inkling how you feel. Sometimes it just feels like life dealt a bum hand.

Ouch, man. A high school classmate was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 19 or 20. Last time I saw him about six years ago, he could barely get around using a cane, unable to work, had to file bankruptcy. He was well past the stage of the disease where he still felt reasonably well and could physically do many things in spite of it. He felt like sh-t most of the time and couldn't do much at all, and he was only 32.

I'll stop complaining now.

Meds have been good to me. In contrast to college, where I could barely walk or use my hands, you probably couldn't tell I have RA today. Yay for medical science! I just hope it lasts.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: AyashiKaibutsu

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
How's your thyroid?

Mines 3 times the size it's suposed to be and almost completely nonfunctional : ( hypothyroidism at 25 ftl.

I mentioned it because all of the OP's symptoms are often found with hypo/hyper thyroidism.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: AyashiKaibutsu

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
How's your thyroid?

Mines 3 times the size it's suposed to be and almost completely nonfunctional : ( hypothyroidism at 25 ftl.

I mentioned it because all of the OP's symptoms are often found with hypo/hyper thyroidism.

I was thinking about posting in this thread since it seemed to be a good place to join the crowd for problems young people shouldn't have. You gave me a good segway : )

 

[tcsenter]

I've had labs including TSH (2nd and 3rd gen) done four times in the past six months, the last time included T3 and T4. Everything always comes back within normal range except for cholesterol lipids. My triglycerides were right in the middle of normal range, though, which I find weird (maybe it isn't weird).

 

[zoiks]

I used to have GERD. I basically figured out what was causing it. Avoided certain foods. Watched what I ate. Lost a lot of weight. Started running.
Problem gone.

 

[Regs]

Originally posted by: AreaCode707


Meds have been good to me. In contrast to college, where I could barely walk or use my hands, you probably couldn't tell I have RA today. Yay for medical science! I just hope it lasts.

I hope so too AC. I tend to read everything but not respond to anything so forgive me but you do have my best wishes. I work for one of those pharmaceutical companies, though I play a very small part, but glad to hear we're doing something right.

 

[dman]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
I've had labs including TSH (2nd and 3rd gen) done four times in the past six months, the last time included T3 and T4. Everything always comes back within normal range except for cholesterol lipids. My triglycerides were right in the middle of normal range, though, which I find weird (maybe it isn't weird).

You might want to take a look at a Gallbladder Diet and see if you can follow it for a few weeks. If you have bile emptying problems you might find it helps with the symptoms of GERD as well, but, everyone is different. YMMV, etc.

I've been following a fairly healthy diet and my cholesterol isn't so bad but I wasn't getting enough exercise so one # was borderline. I've started biking again and hope to bring that one back in range. I forget the exact details, just remember reading up on it and was doing all the right stuff except for enough exercise so giving that a shot.

 

[tcsenter]

I have "silent" GERD that isn't stimulated/aggravated by foods. I rarely experience heartburn or esophageal discomfort. I went to the doctor because of a chronically irritated/inflamed throat. After antibiotics did not much improve things, he referred me to an ENT specialist, who suspected GERD. I did the barium upper GI with GERD testing and it clearly showed reflux.

Acid and other gastric juices/enzymes were backing up into my throat/pharynx during the night while I slept, due to an insufficient or dysfunctional esophageal sphincter, possibly compounded or facilitated by hiatus hernia. It was only happening while I slept, so I had no idea it was happening. I did wake up often with a bitter taste in my mouth and a slight "gritty" feeling in my saliva, but rarely gastric upset or heartburn.

It stripped all the enamel from my teeth - literally. My dentist said I have no enamel left on my teeth. That was most likely the 'gritty' feeling in my mouth that I had in the morning, the enamel being dissolved by the acid and other gastric juices. Yippie!

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Regs

Originally posted by: AreaCode707


Meds have been good to me. In contrast to college, where I could barely walk or use my hands, you probably couldn't tell I have RA today. Yay for medical science! I just hope it lasts.

I hope so too AC. I tend to read everything but not respond to anything so forgive me but you do have my best wishes. I work for one of those pharmaceutical companies, though I play a very small part, but glad to hear we're doing something right.

If you deal in either methotrexate or enbrel, you're doing LOTS right. :thumbsup:

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: tcsenter
I've had labs including TSH (2nd and 3rd gen) done four times in the past six months, the last time included T3 and T4. Everything always comes back within normal range except for cholesterol lipids. My triglycerides were right in the middle of normal range, though, which I find weird (maybe it isn't weird).

The problem is that T3 and T4 (T3 specifically) only has a statistical normal range that varies quite a bit for the individual. Many doctors refuse to acknowledge this and say the symptoms are psychosomatic or attributable to something else. I'm not saying this is the root of your problems, I'm just saying that anything relating to the thyroid is still a huge unknown.

Hell, many doctors refuse to admit there is a difference between naturally produced thyroxine and artificial. The facts are that the medical profession has a major problem saying 'I don't know.'

 

[Mike Gayner]

Anyone ever noticed that Americans get diagnosed with a shit ton more diseases than anyone else? And yet everyone else seems to live perfectly healthy lifestyles?

 

[Dumac]

Originally posted by: Mike Gayner
Anyone ever noticed that Americans get diagnosed with a shit ton more diseases than anyone else? And yet everyone else seems to live perfectly healthy lifestyles?

The obvious conclusion is that God must hate America

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: Mike Gayner
Anyone ever noticed that Americans get diagnosed with a shit ton more diseases than anyone else? And yet everyone else seems to live perfectly healthy lifestyles?

You mean like Japan? Japan has the highest incidence of narcolepsy known in the world, 10 (ten) times that of the United States. Narcolepsy affects one in every 300 persons in Japan, compared to roughly one in every 3000 in the United States.

Or do you mean modern countries like Zimbabwe and Sudan? 😕

 

[lykaon78]

Originally posted by: gururu2

Cardiac hypertrophy: The heart is a muscle. Typically it will enlarge to keep up with the work necessary. Not a huge deal, but its working harder than normal for a reason...

Umm... yes it. Cardiac hypertrophy is a big deal. As the left ventricular muscle continues to hypertrophy it loses it's elasticity. Less elasticity ultimately means less blood in the left ventricle and less blood pumping can ultimately lead to congestive heart failure.

The mild part is the good news. Controlling your blood pressure can help with this.

 

[AreaCode707]

Originally posted by: Mike Gayner
Anyone ever noticed that Americans get diagnosed with a shit ton more diseases than anyone else? And yet everyone else seems to live perfectly healthy lifestyles?

Also known as "America has more doctors/better doctors/can afford to go to doctors/can afford treatment/participate in more studies."

 

[Mike Gayner]

Originally posted by: AreaCode707

Originally posted by: Mike Gayner
Anyone ever noticed that Americans get diagnosed with a shit ton more diseases than anyone else? And yet everyone else seems to live perfectly healthy lifestyles?

Also known as "America has more doctors/better doctors/can afford to go to doctors/can afford treatment/participate in more studies."

/holds back roaring laughter at an American trying to claim their medical establishment is better than other first-world countries

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: Mike Gayner

Originally posted by: AreaCode707

Originally posted by: Mike Gayner
Anyone ever noticed that Americans get diagnosed with a shit ton more diseases than anyone else? And yet everyone else seems to live perfectly healthy lifestyles?

Also known as "America has more doctors/better doctors/can afford to go to doctors/can afford treatment/participate in more studies."

/holds back roaring laughter at an American trying to claim their medical establishment is better than other first-world countries

Keep holding, because its true. 😕 (been to other countries and hospitals in those countries)