Recent content by Cris N

Those spring loaded one-time use lancets bruise me terribly and painfully. I use the SoftClix device and 21 gauge. My boxes of lancets that are provided by me service will last me forever since I reuse one for a couple of months or so.

In case you have not seen this https://wayback.archive-it.org/7993/20170112084759/http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm476561.htm

I'm okay with the service I receive through my insurance as there's no cost to me. It's a reporting service. That said, it seems to me that the time may have come for some petitions to the FDA to remove the testing meters and strips from prescription required. Who's up for that challenge?

I had my mitral valve replacement in 2005 and everything there is fine. What isn't fine is my emphysema. I see a lot of ads for Carda Health which seems to be a lot more proactive than the service my insurance (medicare advantage) enrolled me in. Has anyone had experience with Cardo Health?

I agree that this is the most likely reason.

eBay has a long standing policy of prohibiting sale & purchase of medical items that require a prescription unless the seller is an authorized supplier and the buyer has a prescription. That said, eBay often turns a blind eye to those items which are seemingly harmless. Occasionally they...

This is a major point. In the couple of articles I read on the tricuspid replacement and the statistics, they failed to mention the age of the patients. I suspect the average age was considerably greater than 30ish. Makes a huge difference.

Congratulations! Keep on tickin'

I had my OHS for mitral valve replacement at 57. So I wasn't too concerned about the "look" of the scar but I did encounter other women in rehab who looked at theirs (as did I) as victory badges over their valves. A few people in the intervening years have noticed the bit of discoloration at the...

I do have a tip to avoid bruising. Just before injecting yourself touch the tip of the needle to a clean piece of tissue to remove that first drop that likes to sit there. Since doing that I have never had a bruise bigger that a tiny pea (of course following all the other tips - grab fat, inject...

In addition to following the cardiac rehab therapist's guidance he gave me some excellent advice. Massage the areas of pain as it helps to disburse the fluids that collect around the wounded areas causing some uncomfortable swelling. Even now, some 17 years after my surgery I still get fluid...

Yep, every 6 months

I have chronic back pain from vertebral compression fractures nerve damage. I take acetaminophen twice a day, gabapentin 3 times per day, duloxetine (Cymbalta) twice per day (for pain, not depression or anxiety) and tramadol if I am having a particularly bad day.

I've been a member since 2005 - kind of dropped off after a few years. I started receiving emails not too long ago and check the forums every now and then. I miss that thread - always hoping not to see familiar names.

Sorry to read this. Condolences to his family and friends.