A new something all the time

Yvonne Smith said:
We have mostly just gone in for the lab work for the last few years. We have not needed a doctor for much else, except for me seeing my cardiologist for my heart failure, and I usually see him only once a year, since everything is pretty much stable (as it can be) at this point, thanks to the pacemaker.

The last doctor we were seeing pretty much had his nurses do everything, and he was from India; so we have been wondering if he was one of those who got the false doctor degree.
Apparently, we have a lot of them who just bought fake documentation, and they are not any better as a doctor than the truck drivers who can’t speak or read English.

In any case, our insurance company, Devoted Health, offered virtual primary care for the first time this year. Bobby and I talked to over and decided we had nothing to lose by trying it out, since we didn’t like the doctor we had been seeing, and these people were at least actual American doctors, not from India.
We have been really happy with it , and it is nice to be able to get any medications we need right online or over the phone, and we have actual doctor visits where we make good plans for our continuing health issues. All my heart medication is sent right to me as I need it.

It also includes other benefits, like vision and dental, plus OTC allowance (which we use for vitamins and supplements), as well as a $150 annual Wellness Bucks benefit where we can buy any workout or exercise equipment, take classes, or pretty much anything else that is health and fitness related.
It includes a Silver Sneakers membership, but since they closed the fitness center near our part of Huntsville, we have not been going to the fitness center anymore, just exercising here at home.
Click to expand...
getting even supplement here is virtually impossible, until this year. But none to actually choose from.
 
@Bobby Cole , can you drink just plain beet juice? I do not know if I could even get that here. I am skeptical of anything that is suppose to do so much. Like aspirin, remember how it was the cure all for many things?
just read people on certain meds, such as myself should avoid...but still interesting.
 
Last edited:
Tony Nathanson said:
Re: alcohol: I've never been interested in alcohol. A few months ago, I tasted a sip of Carolan's Irish Cream. Of course I loved it since I have a sweet tooth. A friend suggested having an ounce before bed when I told him I have trouble sleeping. As with any new food or drink, I looked up the carbs/sugar & found that one ounce has 6 gms sugar - not bad. I started having an ounce before bed & contrary to what doctors say - "Diabetics should avoid alcohol" I've been waking up with much-lower glucose - 70-110. Previously, 180-250. I cut the sugar even more by filling the shot glass with half Whiskey & half Irish Cream. I've also read alcohol is a blood thinner. Bad for heavy drinkers, but beneficial for light to moderate drinkers.
As with anything, moderation, not elimination is the key.
Click to expand...

I've never been much of a drinker, though I do like a beer with pizza or mexican food, etc. My point is to eliminate anything that might possibly be stressing my kidneys, including the occasional beer.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
I've never been much of a drinker, though I do like a beer with pizza or mexican food, etc. My point is to eliminate anything that might possibly be stressing my kidneys, including the occasional beer.
Click to expand...
Beth an occasional beer doesn't seem like it is the problem- Do you drink any soda type drinks ?I ask because a GS of mine has kidney issues like us and he cut out dailey Dr pepper and made big difference.
 
Beth Gallagher said:
No, I seldom drink soft drinks.
Click to expand...
There is a boatload of sugar in most soft drinks, and just stopping that would be easier for the kidneys. I enjoy sparkling mineral water now that I have stopped drinking any kind of carbonated soda pop. I never did drink a lot, but in the summer, I really enjoyed an icy cold sugar-free Coke, now I have stopped doing that, too, and just have the San Pellegrino instead.
Being carbonated is not a problem, at least I don’t think so, but all the stuff added to pop can be hard on our bodies.
 
Yvonne Smith said:
There is a boatload of sugar in most soft drinks, and just stopping that would be easier for the kidneys. I enjoy sparkling mineral water now that I have stopped drinking any kind of carbonated soda pop. I never did drink a lot, but in the summer, I really enjoyed an icy cold sugar-free Coke, now I have stopped doing that, too, and just have the San Pellegrino instead.
Being carbonated is not a problem, at least I don’t think so, but all the stuff added to pop can be hard on our bodies.
Click to expand...

I mostly drink water, sometimes tea, and am down to 2 cups of coffee a day. I have no problem with soft drinks because I rarely drink them.
 
Last edited:
I am officially off of the regimen of taking prescribed blood pressure meds.

First it was Lisinopril for around 14 years. The doc started me out at 10 mg of Lisinopril then another doc threw me onto 20mg with a kicker of 12.5mg of hydrocholorthiazide complete with a hacking dry cough that lasted the entire time I took the stuff and more pee time in the donniker than I prefer.
Then, after I complained about the cough, our insurance company prescribed 50mg of Losartin which is supposed to help with high BP and protect the kidneys. Again, the side effects abound.

Long story short, I started experimenting and after a month of not taking the prescribed stuff but instead, worked with L-Citrullline and beet root and my blood pressure is now consistently ranging from 121/65 to 127/70 instead of the high 130’s-140’s and even 150’s which makes me one happy camper.
Now, does that mean that my BP never goes high?
No. Everyone, no matter how healthy they are gets pressured up largely depending upon hizzy-fits, stress etc but if I also throw some Tyrosine into my witches brew, (which I do) the brain not only gets a wake up call but the only side effect is getting a nice push of serotonin. (the happy hormone) which means that crap doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. Practicing Stoicism to fight stress isn’t all it is cracked up to be.

It is a given that my insurance company pretty much takes care of prescribed meds and my own joy juice ingredients comes out of pocket but which is better: free prescribed meds with a ton of side effects or 20 beans out of pocket ingredients per month with no side effects and with MUCH better results? No brainer.

Disclaimer:
I’m not a doctor nor do I pretend to be one. The thing is, during my bodybuilding journey I have learned more than just how to naturally build muscle. Rather, I have gained a fair mass of information regarding the physiology of my own body and what I need to improve it so that my latter years will stay productive.
I in no means am writing that everyone needs to follow my path in the way of supplementation but merely explaining that after much informed experimentation, what I do works for me.
 
Hedi Mitchell said:
@Bobby Cole , can you drink just plain beet juice? I do not know if I could even get that here. I am skeptical of anything that is suppose to do so much. Like aspirin, remember how it was the cure all for many things?
just read people on certain meds, such as myself should avoid...but still interesting.
Click to expand...
Yup with a caveat.
The beet juices I have seen at the store are loaded with preservatives and sweeteners so the best bet, other than ordering powdered bulk beet root from Amazon, is to juice your own beets.

I do recommend ordering the raw powdered beet root. I buy a pound at a time for something around $9 so it lasts a while and is inexpensive too.
Add a rounded table spoon of beet root powder to whatever juice you like and maybe even a full tablespoon of cinnamon to it which helps lower your HDL and tastes good too.
Note: To repeat myself, beet root is really earthy tasting. In other words, by itself it tastes like flavored dirt but adding it something that is already sweet like a juice or a bit of powdered drink mix w/ water helps a lot.
 
@Hedi Mitchell -- please don't take beetroot (or any other supplement) without checking to see how it might affect any existing health issues or react with whatever prescription medicine you take. I bought a bottle of Superbeets (or whatever it's called) from Costco, but before I started taking them I found this information...

"Beetroot pills contain natural potassium, which can raise blood potassium levels to dangerous points if your body cannot filter them out properly.
People with chronic kidney disease (stages 3–5) should consult their renal team due to beetroot's high potassium content, which may cause dangerous hyperkalaemia.

Beetroot is high in oxalates, which can contribute to calcium oxalate kidney stone formation in those with a history of nephrolithiasis.

Beetroot extract may interact with antihypertensive medications (ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers) and nitrate medications, causing excessive blood pressure reduction." https://www.boltpharmacy.co.uk/guide/who-shouldnt-take-beetroot-extract

Since I have kidney issues and high potassium, I won't be taking those expensive pills so I wasted my money. I should have checked on the possible interactions before I bought them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top