JTH's Account Talk

[Steadygain]

I’ve changed my allocation to 33% G-fund and 67% I-Fund.

My allocation change isn’t based on any intel

or a “gut feeling”

Your charts are really nice !!

Over the long run I'd say you'll probably go more with 'gut feeling' in conjunction with cumulative intel.

It's hard to avoid 'the game plays' unless you can honestly be content staying in either G Fund or High Risk for a long time.

BTW - I can't help but see a Blood Pressure Cuff on your arm with the circle to read it .... :cheesy:

 

[JTH]

I suppose I should point out that we've broken through the rising channel again. I really don't care though, it's all just a "slight-of-hand" distraction. For me, the trend is down until 930 is broken.

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[JTH]

BTW - I can't help but see a Blood Pressure Cuff on your arm with the circle to read it .... :cheesy:

Funny you should mention that, I check my BP 3-6 times a day. It’s been high (150 over 100) since my 20s. Up until now, I had no idea why but now that I know I have sleep apnea, I’m trying to fix that so I can see if it will bring my BP down. At least I’m only 36, so I still have time to try and get this fixed.

 

[Steadygain]

Funny you should mention that, I check my BP 3-6 times a day. It’s been high (150 over 100) since my 20s. Up until now, I had no idea why but now that I know I have sleep apnea, I’m trying to fix that so I can see if it will bring my BP down. At least I’m only 36, so I still have time to try and get this fixed.

Looks like I'm beating Birch to the draw on this one.. PLEASE NOTE HIS POST ABOVE

HE REALLY KNOWS HIS STUFF


Sleep Apnea - will immensely increase the liklihood of significant heart problems if not corrected. If you're overweight then trimming down would help a lot. Strokes are a much higher risk down the line if left untreated.

Get a Sleep Study done - it's the only test that can tell you if you have it and how bad it is. By the tests - I have to use only the minimal amount of air pressure to keep my throat open - but without it my snoring is apparently 'REALLY LOUD'.

Anyway - I use what are called 'nasal pillows' so there's not this mask over my face. A CPAP Machine is the way to go - DON'T DO SURGERY - and make sure your machine can heat the water.

GL

 

[Birchtree]

I'll tell you that sleep apnea is a silent killer over time. Every time your oxygen level desaturates your pulmonary vessels begin to thicken and this causes resistance to blood flow and you develope what is known as corpulmonale. The good news is that it is reversible with the use of oxygen and a positive pressure machine called a bipap or nasal CPAP - continuous positive airway pressure. It will take years to reverse the consequent damage. When you desaturate while sleeping this can happen over 100 times per night and usually your won't even know - you will need a sleep study to document this. You can purchase an oxygen concentrator and the CPAP machine at a reasonable cost. Talk with your local DME dealer.

 

[WorkFE]

You guys are like EF Hutton.

 

[JTH]

Thanks guys, it's good to see I'm not the only one dealing with this. I've just completed my third sleep study. I'm currently using a C-Pap, nasal pillow and have 18/14 pressure. My 1st study diagnosed me with both obstrucive and central with a 51 AHI.

I'm supposed to be getting a newer machine because my old one is trying to kill me with its lack of rythem. This has been a frustrating expierence, I havn't been able to use the machine for more than an hour at a time. If I do get to sleep, I wake up exahusted, and starving like I just ran a marathon. I binge eat 2-3 times a night. I have to diet and work out constantly to stay thin and off-sett my binge eating. :suspicious:

Thanks, it's good to vent...

 

[Steadygain]

This has been a frustrating expierence, I havn't been able to use the machine for more than an hour at a time. If I do get to sleep, I wake up exahusted, and starving like I just ran a marathon.

Sounds to me like it's time to take a stand....

Sometimes you simply need to let 'THEM' know point blank

I'm tired of the BULL (Using that name in honor of Birch) S***

It's your life and you're the one having to deal with everything going on. I'd be raising hell - and getting answers a lot faster.

HELPFUL HINT: When I do decide to take action I'm ready to go to the Top and not play around.

 

[Birchtree]

When I'm in the mood to eat I chomp down on cauliflower - so any vegetable like raw carrots or even plain lettuce all filling with low carbs. I'm glad you have your situation under control but the oxygen as a supplement will help with the feeling of exhaustion. A positive pressure of 18 is rather high and may be causing discomfort so you can't sleep. Adding oxygen may allow you to reduce the pressure so you don't desaturate - you can rent an oxygen finger probe that will alarm if you do desaturate. I believe a little extra oxygen at 1 or 2 liters per minute could be key to your comfort.

 

[JTH]

Well the good news is that I should get a new machine within a month, and I think they are going to bring down my pressure to 14/12. That 18 feels like an air-chuck inflating my head. :cheesy:

I'm not sure about the oxygen thing, I'd love to ask for it. but I've already gone through the medical board, and I don't want to risk getting kicked out again. I can still deploy with the machine as long as they have hardened medical facilties, but I can't imagine deploying with an oxygen tank? :cheesy:

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[Birchtree]

The oxygen is delivered by a concentrator and they are making them almost portable these days - all they do is remove nitrogen from room air and leave the oxygen. A saturation of 90% can go all the way down to a level of 60 on a blood gas. You want to keep your p02 at least at the 70 level. I don't mean to confuse the issues but I've been a respiratoy therapist for over 40 years. These oxygen concentrators are getting cheaper to purchase - the last few I purchased for work were in the $800 range.

 

[Old_BOPer]

I to am using a CAPA Unit with a heated humidifier. I found out that a full face mask with a Silicone Seal works for me better. I could not use the nose unit. At first I would wake up and feel the need to pull the unit off because I felt I should not breath. However in time you will get used to it. I to had several sleep studies. I had 93 incidents during a 6 hour sleep test, after the use of the CAPA I was tested with no incidents. The CAPA just takes time to get used to because it is new. I did try several types of face unit until I found one that worked for me. So maybe ask them if you can try a face mask, maybe it will help. It took my wife longer to get used to the sound of the CAPA unit than it did me. I do now sleep longer and better it just took time. Just hang in there and give it a chance.

 

[Old_BOPer]

I for got to say my unit is 12" x 12" x 3" and you can take it anywhere with you.

 

[JTH]

The oxygen is delivered by a concentrator and they are making them almost portable these days - all they do is remove nitrogen from room air and leave the oxygen. A saturation of 90% can go all the way down to a level of 60 on a blood gas. You want to keep your p02 at least at the 70 level. I don't mean to confuse the issues but I've been a respiratoy therapist for over 40 years. These oxygen concentrators are getting cheaper to purchase - the last few I purchased for work were in the $800 range.

Wow Birch I didn't know you were a respiratoy therapist, I just figured you were a retired Chuck Norris or something. My study is up at Alb New Mexico, waiting for the Docs sig, should I call my sleep clinic and ask them to request it?

I found out that a full face mask with a Silicone Seal works for me better.

It's funny you should mention that. I started off on the full face mask because I was use to the chem gear mask. Only problem was the full face mask had to be really tight to get a good seal. So tight that the straps caused migrains and mask left marks on my face that lasted for hours.

The nasal pillow has been so much easier for me, but I did have to change some things. For one thing I have to take allergy meds everyday to keep my nasal passages clear. But it's been worth it and I can breath so much easier now.

 

[Steadygain]

Wow Birch I didn't know you were a respiratoy therapist, I just figured you were a retired Chuck Norris or something. My study is up at Alb New Mexico, waiting for the Docs sig, should I call my sleep clinic and ask them to request it?

Funny you should mention that.

This is where Lady (as an example) has such an enormous advantage - she communicates extremely well.

Asking a Doctor for anything is the wrong approach ... it's like built into their make up and it's like the worse thing you could do...

So put yourself in Lady's place - and do it that way. This is more how I picture her doing it.

'Hi I'm Cindy Lou Who from Whosville and the doctors have been striving to get my condition under control - but we've been forced to get one machine after another because my condition is a lot harder than your average. My machine is already at 18/14 pressure and it's really wreaking havoc on my system. I havn't been able to use the machine for more than an hour at a time. If I do get to sleep, I wake up exahusted, and starving like I just ran a marathon. I binge eat 2-3 times a night. They are hoping my next machine will allow me to get better control on a lower pressure.

Well a good friend of mine is a Respiratory Therapist and when I shared the details of my condition with him - he thought ..... Here you need to talk in the NON PUSHIEST MANNER POSSIBLE and simply stress what Birch shared and how this sounds like something that would really help you a lot.

THEN ASK - IS IT POSSIBLE I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THIS... OR HOW WOULD I PURSUE GETTING THIS - AS IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WOULD REALLY HELP A LOT

Anyway - it's weird - but basically all of us are that way. Anyone who comes to me and says 'I want Xanax never gets it'.

So the way you communicate is EVERYTHING

 

[XL-entLady]

J and Birch, et al, excellent discussion and I really appreciate it!

My spouse has been using a CPAP for seven years. He had 216 apnea events in a six hour sleep study. He's tried several masks and has finally settled on an OptiLife nasal pillow with a chin strap to keep his mouth closed. He uses water because he get's a sore throat if he doesn't.

He used to have sinus problems, even when he was scrupulous about washing his hose and mask with white vinegar. But he started using a neti pot at least once a day and he doesn't have sinus problems anymore. J, I'd recommend you try one. And everyone else should too. As an aside, did you know that in many countries, using a neti pot to clean your sinuses is just a habitual part of good hygiene. Just like brushing your teeth.

I didn't know about the oxygen choices, Birch, THANKS! That's just one more that I owe you!

I'll look into the oxygen thing, because spouse still has some apnea problems. Not many, but I'm awake a lot during the night because of my health issues, so I hear any glitches he has. And he won't go in for another sleep study. He refuses. :worried: He has a "bull head" to go with his bull neck and his football build and he says that's just the way it is.

But he's my best friend for the last 35 years and I'd like to keep him around so I keep at it. J, you keep at it too!

Anyway, great discussion and I appreciate it very much!

Lady

 

[alevin]

JTH, I don't have luxury to post chart here and now, but I said awhile back I'm looking for either the 13x34 week EMA cross to go all in, or else wait til the next intermediate down/up gets going, wherever it gets going from. The 34week EMA chart is being very predictable at the moment, similar pattern to last spring through June. Take a look while you're at it.

 

[JTH]

Thanks everyone for the help and words of encouragement.

Birchtree, I just got off the phone with my sleep clinic. They said my Oxygen levels didn't meet the criteria for an oxygen concentrator. He also said if it had, that I would have been discharged from the military. My mean levels were 98% & the lowest spike was 94%

But I did talk to him about the late night binge eating. He's going to ask the doctor to refer me to a Sleep Behavioral Specialist. From there, they might get some blood work done to check for diabetes, and/or see if I have a sleep related eating disorder. But right now, he wants to concentrate on getting me to sleep with the CPAP consistently.

I have to say, the folks at the clinic are a friendly group of people. It is sort of weird, but really refreshing to have a group of folks that have sleep apnea themselves and use the equipment. It makes it more comforting to know that these people can relate to what I’m going through.

 

[JTH]

JTH, I don't have luxury to post chart here and now, but I said awhile back I'm looking for either the 13x34 week EMA cross to go all in, or else wait til the next intermediate down/up gets going, wherever it gets going from. The 34week EMA chart is being very predictable at the moment, similar pattern to last spring through June. Take a look while you're at it.

Thanks Alevin I ran the numbers and I must say it's pretty erie and impressive. That 915 we've been bumping up against all week falls inline with your 34 EMA perfectly. I don't follow EMAs, but I wouldn't mind posting a picture this weekend showing how well those EMAs can work.

 

[RonUSPSretired]

J and Birch, et al, excellent discussion and I really appreciate it!

My spouse has been using a CPAP for seven years. He had 216 apnea events in a six hour sleep study. He's tried several masks and has finally settled on an OptiLife nasal pillow with a chin strap to keep his mouth closed. He uses water because he get's a sore throat if he doesn't.

He used to have sinus problems, even when he was scrupulous about washing his hose and mask with white vinegar. But he started using a neti pot at least once a day and he doesn't have sinus problems anymore. J, I'd recommend you try one. And everyone else should too. As an aside, did you know that in many countries, using a neti pot to clean your sinuses is just a habitual part of good hygiene. Just like brushing your teeth.

I didn't know about the oxygen choices, Birch, THANKS! That's just one more that I owe you!

I'll look into the oxygen thing, because spouse still has some apnea problems. Not many, but I'm awake a lot during the night because of my health issues, so I hear any glitches he has. And he won't go in for another sleep study. He refuses. :worried: He has a "bull head" to go with his bull neck and his football build and he says that's just the way it is.

But he's my best friend for the last 35 years and I'd like to keep him around so I keep at it. J, you keep at it too!

Anyway, great discussion and I appreciate it very much!

Lady

My wife has had similar problems. She keeps getting sinus problems, bronchitis etc. and has used the white vinegar faithfully. What's a neti pot?--Ron