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Another update (am I just ASKING for bad karma?) I had my Barostim adjusted two days ago. After two adjustments, I was told that I am now in therapeutic range. The rep will see me in six months. During that time, I'll get a better feel for what 'therapeutic range' actually means - beyond the...

I ran into a strange problem a few months ago -- I have an XS Pro (Professional model - more meter than I actually need, and sometimes use it to compare readings to my XS). The Pro will take a chip and store the information until a new chip is inserted. My XS started giving me a strange error...

Either my feet shank or my shoes grew. The shoes are about an inch or so too long. I didn't even realize that I HAD edema in my feet - they looked okay to me. Or, perhaps, I've got to put my shoes in a diet. I keep bumping into things when I wear these shoes. Until these shoes grow shorter...

Maybe gushing about how well this is working got me the whammy from someone here. Maybe it's the Evil Eye. Maybe I'm just fantasizing a bit too much. Maybe it's just a cold or flu - BUT - I've been short of breath for the last few days and haven't been feeling all that well. Maybe it's the...

More: I hate to be updating observations on my Barostim - but I'm overcoming this hatred: Yesterday, I went to my Balance Rehab. It often involves some physical effort - moving around, stepping over and around obstacles, some strength work - stuff like that. In the past, I would get winded...

It might be good for anyone with CHF - especially those with very low ejection fractions. The problem may be that this might only be available in select areas - to do it right, you need reps that can supervise the surgery, then make the adjustments. If this was available all over, there may be...

UPDATE: It's been almost four weeks since the Barostim was installed. The Steristrips on my neck came off (my neck hairs poked through them - not comfortable but maybe they helped loosen the strips). The strips over my chest (just below the clavicle) are still there -- when I get brave, I'll...

Caroline - I think this is the point -- not all doctors will prescribe warfarin -- they prefer to hand it off to the 'services' or will prescribe based on the services' results. Finding a PCP who trusts that you (the self tester) can take control of your life and only involve the PCP for a...

My (now former - I have to find a new one) PCP had no issues with prescribing Warfarin - with refills. I proved to him that I CAN self-test and self-manage my anticoagulation, and he prescribed it for me. Here in California, there's a database of medications - if you're in California (and maybe...

I'm also on Part G. I used to be on a Medicare 'Advantage' plan - but I got tired of fighting them over the cardiologist I wanted to see, and requiring preapproval for virtually EVERYTHING. My part G is awfully expensive, but at least I don't have to hassle them over who to see and what...

Yes. Those are the injector blades for the injection razor that Schick was handing out at the UCLA Student Union. IIRC, 7 blades were a dollar or two at the time (50+ years ago).

Yes. Those are the blades. Most commonly, for the past 65 - probably more -- years, they were called double edged blades at least that's h ow they were advertised in the U.S. These went into a safety razor. If you look at Amazon, they're called Double Edge. I believe that King Gillette, who...

I'm not clear about which 'thin metal blades' you're referring to - double edge blades or the ones in the multiblade cartridges? The Schick blades -- are THESE a cartridge, or the injector type (single edge), or a double edge? It's not clear to this dummy. Also - the environmental argument...

This is the fourth day after the Barostim was implanted. The first night was a bit rough - a lot of coughing -- but this was good, because it seemed to clear the congestion that was in my lungs. My wife told me that my color improved. I still get out of breath, and dizzy sometimes, but not...

To me, memories of my father shaving, I'm concerned about deeper or more frequent nicks than with a 25 blade razor. Although I keep my INR around 3.0, and I know I won't bleed to death from an occasional nick, any nick would be unwelcomed. I don't know if double edge nicks would be deeper than...

Andy -- yes, a blade on both sides. I'm a bit concerned about the cutting angle, and especially concerned about the sides -- I don't know if the side edges, where the blade ends and goes into the razor, are sharp enough to snag the skin and cause cuts. I remember that my father occasionally...

This person was talking about the On-X recommendation of 1.5-1.8, with an 18mg aspirin daily.

From what I've seen, working through the Barostim site and various other sites on the Internet, this IS something of a breakthrough for people with severe CHF that was beyond just being helped with medicines. It's for people, like me, whose ejection fractions are below 30 or so, and having...

This is a strange one - even for me. I used to shave my face every few days - maybe as long as a week or so between shaves. I was always scruffy. For the past few months, I've been shaving daily. I've upped my game a little - actually using a brush and mug to lather my face. It's an...

There is NO ADVANTAGE to following the ridiculous protocol that On-X recommends. Maintaining an INR above at least 2.0, and ideally around 2.5 will be more protection against strokes. As far as bleeding risks between 1.5 and 2.0 -- you won't see any. You'll live your life the same with 2.5 as...