Thanks from my heart

[DreamStalker]

Ditto Ditto Ditto and also a few more belated dittos ... congrats Chuck!

[Elle]

I thank you and your heart for helping me these last months. am very grateful and happy to hear you are doing so well....thanks to hard work. very inspiring. take care. Elle

[SelfSeeker]

Congratulations Chuck to your new live.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here to help me these pass months. I enjoyed our chats and hearing about your exercise at the gym.

Listing your accomplishments of the past year are an inspiration to me.

I have no excuse for not achieving my healthy goals.

Enjoy the rest of your life.

Today is the one year anniversary of the heart-attack which was to change my life. As a result of it, I am 70 lbs. lighter, have a total cholesterol <100, have BP of 100/70, a resting heart rate of 60, work out 5 days a week at the gym at 15% incline on the treadmill for 35 mins., and......I'm soon to celebrate in 5 days my first anniversary of the adventure known as xPAP, after being diagnosed with SDB during my brief but dramatic stay in the CCU.

My heart-attack was truly a blessing, as are the many amazing folks here who held my hand, sponged my fevered brow and filled my head with an array of wonderful knowledge, support and friendship that got me through the rabbit-hole and into the sunlight of good health, good sleep and fitness.

I can never re-pay the kindness I've found here, so all I can say is THANKS FROM MY HEART.

Chuck

[Snoozin' Bluezzz]

Great job Chuck - GOOD FOR YOU! I need to take your lead on the getting weight off and exercise levels up. You can only be an inspiration to others.

David

[jcarn]

nice job .. that's an amazing turn around

[GoofyUT]

Congratulations to ya, Chuck. I need to follow your example and high-tail over to the gym, myself. I keep telling myself I'm gonna do that . . .

Is your total cholesterol really under 100? I didn't know such a low cholesterol value was possible.

Regards,
Bill

Yup, Bill. Honest to goodness:

Total=82; HDL=37; LDL=29; VLDL=16

Cheers!

Chuck

[javaide]

Goofyut I congratulate you for your achievements. I am also suffering from serious heart condition and sleep fragmentation. Coudl you give some guidelines as to how you achieved those results and what medicines you advise for sleep fragmentation.

[Bookbear]

Hope it's not redundant by now, but I'd like to add my congrats to all the others!

May all the gods bless you!

[Wulfman]

Total=82; HDL=37; LDL=29; VLDL=16

Chuck,

Actually, your HDL ("good" cholesterol) is too low and needs to be in the 40 - 59 range. And, your total cholesterol should be over 100, in the 100 - 199 range.
(LDL range 0 - 99, VLDL range 5 - 40)
(according to the information I get each year from my blood draw)

In the past, my HDL had been too low until this last fall when it was 41.....and my LDL was 23.

Den

[GoofyUT]

Thanks for your post Den. I know that my HDL is too low, and I struggle with that. Generally, HDL responds to lifestyle changes such as exercise and diet, but I can't do any more than I'm already doing in those regards. My doc actually titrated my Lipitor down recently, and my HDL has dropped further. I may have to start niacin, though I'm reluctant to do so because of its common adversities.

I'll keep ya posted.

Chuck

[krousseau]

Congratulations on all the progress.
Regarding the HDL-have you tried fish oil, flax oil, and walnuts (pistachios & almonds too). Yes they are high calorie but the oils are good fats-I skip on other things to be able to eat a handful of nuts daily.
Get the prescription type of niacin that is no-flush. The no flush or slow release forms are fairly expensive at the doses people often end up on.

[-SWS]

I am 70 lbs. lighter, have a total cholesterol <100, have BP of 100/70, a resting heart rate of 60, work out 5 days a week at the gym at 15% incline on the treadmill for 35 mins.

Truly inspiring, Chuck... like a phoenix reborn.

Congrats!

[Paul B]

Chuck, you are one of the best and you are an inspiration to me. The world is a better place with you in it. Keep up the good work.

Paul

[GoofyUT]

Well, as I mentioned in my original post that started this thread, tonight is my first anniversary of my journey through the wacky adventure of life with xPAP!!

I remember how miserable I was that first night, and for many, many nights thereafter. But now??? Good night Moon, Good night Room, Goodnight Cow jumping over the Moon..........

What made this difference? The folks here is what!

Here's what I don't know:

1) Which machine is best.
2) Which mask is best.
3) Whether nasal pillows -v- nasal cushion -v- full face -v- Hybrid is best.
4) Whether Respironics or ResMed or P-B or Devilbiss or Invacare or Somnotech is best.
5) Whether Encore Pro or AutoScan is best.
6) Whether Lunesta or Ambien or Sonata is best.
7) Whether 3mg of melatonin or 300 mcg. of melatonin is best.
Whether I know or understand anything about this stuff at all.

Here's what I do know:

A) I'm sleeping like I never thought that i would sleep EVER again.
B) I feel SO MUCH BETTER than I ever thought I would feel ever again.
C) I am SO MUCH HEALTHIER than I ever thought that I would be ever again.
D) I REALLY ENJOY getting a good night's sleep.
E) Sleeping well makes me feel twenty years younger.

And here's what I know most of all:

When the world and life seem pretty crazy and hopeless, all I have to do is come here and I'm reminded and replenished in my understanding that the world really is filled with good folks who live their lives dishing out heaps of goodness.

Thanks guys.

Chuck

(Onward through YEAR TWO!!!!)

[Alisha]

And you also write beautifully!!! Do you write professionally? I love to read your posts.

Regards,

Alisha