Things I've Learned........

[buzzbass]

...about medical problems. Always, Always, Always get a 2nd (and sometimes 3rd) opinion. My october "heart attack" was actually a spasm of one of my coronary arteries. Uncomfortable yes, life threatening....no. The 10mm annuerism was not an anneurism at all. ALL of the blood vessels in my heart are that large. Could be genetic, could be from all the years of lifting, who knows. It's weird, but it's not a problem. Now, one of those vessels has a blockage in it, about 60%. But since that artery is already bigger than normal, I'm still getting normal blood flow through the narrowed area. I had an echo stress test today that proved once and for all that my heart is fine, for now. I may need to address the blockage when I get older. But for now, it's cool.

I did find out that I have "mild sleep apena". And we're deciding what to do about that. I go for another sleep study on the 11th. But for now, I just take one baby aspirin a day, along with the cholseterol meds. My heartburn is truely heartburn and I'm going to see about taking some acid reflux meds for awhile. But it looks like most of this has been brought on by stress etc. Being out of work for 6 mths will do that to a person, I guess.

So, the Health issues are straightened out. I start a new job on monday. Which will allow me to gather the capital I need to for the tool business. I figure it'll take about 6mths. Anyway, I feel like a huge weight(s) has been lifted off my shoulders. Maybe 2008 will be pretty good after all.

[MakiSupaStar]

Hey that's good news. Good to hear.

[J.D.B.]

Very good advice. Stay healthy!
Josh

[Thor]

My wife told me I had sleep apnea. I told her to shove off
unless she wanted rough Maki "<experience>".

Since I sleep on the downstairs couch now, I can tell you,
that worked out pretty good.

I have been thinking about taking up the over 50 hockey
league since my biceps and wrist muscles are so well
exercised right now.

Yeah, you are right about that second opinion stuff. Last
time I checked, the bone drone wanted to do me favor and
cut me up. Chances of any improvement were 30%, I'd call
that a ZERO.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Thor

My wife told me I had sleep apnea. I told her to shove off
unless she wanted rough Maki "<experience>".

Since I sleep on the downstairs couch now, I can tell you,
that worked out pretty good.

I have been thinking about taking up the over 50 hockey
league since my biceps and wrist muscles are so well
exercised right now.

Yeah, you are right about that second opinion stuff. Last
time I checked, the bone drone wanted to do me favor and
cut me up. Chances of any improvement were 30%, I'd call
that a ZERO.

LOL. You can't blame her I guess.

[Thor]

You are kinda like acid reflux. Have you noticed?

[Jeremy Crockett]

Gentlemen, do not muck about with Sleep Apnea. If it's severe it can ruin your health. I had a sleep study done last year and have been living with a CPAP machine successfully ever since.

[buzzbass]

Originally Posted by OctoberMooN

Gentlemen, do not muck about with Sleep Apnea. If it's severe it can ruin your health. I had a sleep study done last year and have been living with a CPAP machine successfully ever since.

How's that going for you, I need to go back for a trial study with one next week. Right now, I'm pretty against the idea. Tell me mnore of your experience with one.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

[bmc]

I had mild apnea. Not bad enough for the CPAP. Dropped 35lbs two years ago and that helped.

Apnea is hard on your heart. It's not unlike having a pillow held over your face and pulled away. Hope you get yourself sorted. Good luck.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Thor

You are kinda like acid reflux. Have you noticed?

LOL. That way you get to enjoy the bitter flavor of the whole Maki experience.

[Jeremy Crockett]

Originally Posted by buzzbass

How's that going for you, I need to go back for a trial study with one next week. Right now, I'm pretty against the idea. Tell me mnore of your experience with one.

Thanks for the kind words everyone.

It's going GREAT! I feel rested, I don't snore, I don't fall asleep sitting at my desk. I didn't have a hard time getting used to it at all.

Why are you against the idea?

[buzzbass]

Originally Posted by OctoberMooN

It's going GREAT! I feel rested, I don't snore, I don't fall asleep sitting at my desk. I didn't have a hard time getting used to it at all.

Why are you against the idea?

eh, just seems weird and uncomfortable to me. That, and I'm getting old and cranky, LOL.

[vbsurfer3001]

Glad it wasn't your heart, I had a similar experience over the Christmas holiday, mine was "esophageal spasms" from my reflux, felt EXACTLY like a heart attack....

Now it's $7k later and all I needed was some Prilosec

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by OctoberMooN

Gentlemen, do not muck about with Sleep Apnea.

Listen to him now, and you'll believe him later. I put it off for about 10 years. I figured my wife was overreacting. Boy, was I wrong.

I went in for a sleep study three weeks ago, and found out Friday that I wake up an average of 22 times per hour. I often go stretches of 30-45 seconds without breathing. It's lethal in the extreme, and is damaging your heart no matter how bad it is. My doctor prescribed a CPAP machine for me.

I received a test machine on Friday to try out and get some air pressure readings. THAT VERY NIGHT I noticed a huge difference in my sleep. I woke up refreshed and ready to go bright and early Saturday morning. I did not wake up with a headache and hangover like symptoms. I can go all day without feeling like I desperately need a nap. Before the mask, I was always tired. I could sleep anywhere, anytime. In just four short days, I feel 100% different. Is it great fun to wear a mask to bed? No, but I am getting used to it. The trade off of having an active life back is so worth it though.

As a fringe benefit, my wife is now happily sleeping through the night without having to wonder if I'll start breathing again, or die. She also doesn't have to listen to me snore anymore.

So if ANY of you even suspect sleep apnea, get a referral to a cardiologist who specializes in sleep studies. After my insurance, the sleep study cost me $125. Worth every single penny. It saved my life.

-Mike

[buzzbass]

Originally Posted by vbsurfer3001

Glad it wasn't your heart, I had a similar experience over the Christmas holiday, mine was "esophageal spasms" from my reflux, felt EXACTLY like a heart attack....

Now it's $7k later and all I needed was some Prilosec

Good for you.....I think. 7K !?!?! Wow !

[buzzbass]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Listen to him now, and you'll believe him later. I put it off for about 10 years. I figured my wife was overreacting. Boy, was I wrong.

I went in for a sleep study three weeks ago, and found out Friday that I wake up an average of 22 times per hour. I often go stretches of 30-45 seconds without breathing. It's lethal in the extreme, and is damaging your heart no matter how bad it is. My doctor prescribed a CPAP machine for me.

I received a test machine on Friday to try out and get some air pressure readings. THAT VERY NIGHT I noticed a huge difference in my sleep. I woke up refreshed and ready to go bright and early Saturday morning. I did not wake up with a headache and hangover like symptoms. I can go all day without feeling like I desperately need a nap. Before the mask, I was always tired. I could sleep anywhere, anytime. In just four short days, I feel 100% different. Is it great fun to wear a mask to bed? No, but I am getting used to it. The trade off of having an active life back is so worth it though.

As a fringe benefit, my wife is now happily sleeping through the night without having to wonder if I'll start breathing again, or die. She also doesn't have to listen to me snore anymore.

So if ANY of you even suspect sleep apnea, get a referral to a cardiologist who specializes in sleep studies. After my insurance, the sleep study cost me $125. Worth every single penny. It saved my life.

-Mike

Thanks for your input, that is very interesting

[vbsurfer3001]

Originally Posted by buzzbass

Good for you.....I think. 7K !?!?! Wow !

Thanks, yep, Ambulance & ER aren't cheap and I haven't even received the individual doctor's bills yet....