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Carenity community members are active every day, participating, commenting and helping one another. These top discussions are a reflection of the discussions in all the condition forums, which generate a significant number of comments, reactions, and recent participations. They are of great interest to our members.

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avatar xsmaks

avatar BaneZO

avatar AzBuka

avatar hundal

avatar JennyRee

avatar sbrown45

avatar Kmb0707

avatar Dinvor

avatar EmilyJP

avatar Dr.WhoPeggygmail.com

avatar gommer1

avatar dunecitymike

@KathyA‍, please read what I wrote above on using oxygen. I am so, so, thrilled to have portable oxygen that gave me more of my life back. I was told in 2011 when I lived in San Miguel de Allende at 6,400 ft altitude that I needed to go on oxygen, but all I saw around town was one woman with the heavy metal canisters in a cart behind her, and that looked terrible. I moved back to near sea level and put off needing oxygen all day for another seven years, just a Bipap at night.

Finally I was huffing and having to stop every few feet even near sea level, but I still didn't want to be lugging a heavy canister behind me. I ran into an old friend who was always really active, ballroom dancing, hiking, fly fishing in rivers. And there she was with an Inogen in a backpack, doing everything she'd always done!

She showed me all about hers and the total package with machine, extra 8-hour battery, two battery chargers for house and car, carrying case, and extended warranty, was around $3,300!

Finally I saved enough for it and have loved it every minute since. I started on 2 for almost a year but had to go to 3 for every day. I switch to 4 liters a minute several times a day when I still get winded bad, and have gone up to 5 for stair climbing. I worry that I will need to go higher than 5 eventually, but I hope by then there will be sronger machines developed that go higher, though then the $500 batteries only last a few hours before needing recharging, instead of 6-8.

The portable ones now are breath-operated--you have to be breathing into the nose cannula for them to work. And my BiPap at night requires continuous flow, which the big oxygen machine Medicare covers provides, so I need both machines. Some day they may all be continuous flow and still portable.

There are cheaper, refurbished units available from the Inogen factory, too. After 1 1/2 years mine started sending strange messages and I called the factory and they sent a new one out the next day! I sent them the old one back no charge. So I am pleased with service, too.

Hope this helps you accept your machine. I am so, so happy I got mine and wish Medicare paid for everyone who needed one.(I understand in a few cases they will pay for one now, but not my particular Cigna Medicare Advantage plan.)

I bet when you go to your reunion you won't be the only one on oxygen! And everyone will be so old! The ones who are already dead and not there are the ones to think about--how many of them had COPD? Fourth leading cause of death in the US before Covid, so now we're fifth. Be glad for all the help you can get! I hope  you have a wonderful reunion!

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avatar rwilsonjr67

avatar nomasAS

avatar Mbaulch

Best comment

Carenity members react daily to comments and responses within a discussion. The best comments are those that have received the most "Helpful Response" reactions. These comments are deemed useful by the community and are likely to be of service to the community at large.

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avatar mickey

avatar Rgallagher

avatar JimHupp

never start smoking ,,has ruined my life

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avatar bettyking

avatar herringbur

avatar Oliviajsdkf

I am in the severe range now at 74 yrs old. I have found thru trial and error and getting older with SA, I sleep on my back because I can hardly turn to my side now. I also take 10 mg Melatonin. I didn't know it came in 20 mg! (Thanks ladyslipper 67) What has really help with my back pain, when in bed, is a large memory foam wedge. The large end is under my knees and my legs go down to the small end. It doesn't move when I sleep but then again I am not turning over back and forth. This takes the pressure off my back. I hope this helps someone.

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avatar Mishelleholdee

avatar Shenita

avatar Melissa

Yes I agree. Im on morphine and Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen and yours as well. I have some others also. If I want to work in the back yard, I am sleep mode if I set down. The next morning and at night is paying with great pain. Its a hard road in many ways. We have to keep going best as we can. Have a smile and good day to you. I have the stimulator too.

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avatar sara_at32

avatar Davy10?

avatar camping50

@Courtney_J I am getting very nervous and scared because the surgery is July 13, 2021. My parents both died this year so I dont have them to talk to.  My mom died on Feb 16, 2021 with a sickness she was suffering for 18 months so i was dealing with that for the last months and then my dad had a major stroke 3 weeks after my mom passed away and he could no longer go back to his assistance living so we had to find a nursing home.  We found one he was only in there 3 weeks and then he passed away on May 6, 2021.  Right after all that I was diagnosed with cancer so I have been on a train that is non-stop.  I feel like I am so tried out and I dont have much energy left.  My sisters are not helpful they keep telling me just pray.  They both got to take 2 weeks vacation after my mom and dad passed away.  I have not even had time to take a breather I am just on the train of bad luck.  That is how I am feeling.

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avatar JennyRee

avatar idontdrink

A low-carbohydrate diet limits carbohydrates such as sugars and starches found in grains, fruits, and vegetables. These diets are often high in protein and fat. Low-carbohydrate diets have been shown to improve blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar control in people with diabetes.

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avatar Rgallagher

avatar Geniusma

avatar smccann

@Thakera Yes, even on Medicare it was $400+ a month. My Pulmonologist arranged for me to get it with no copay from GSK, GlaxoSmithKline, you can look up their assistance program at https://www.gskforyou.com/ Hope it goes okay for you, I am just in the process fo renewing mine for next year.

GSKForYou | GSK Patient Assistance Program

Learn how our program can assist you if you need help paying for your GlaxoSmithKline prescription medicines and vaccines, whether you have coverage or not.

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avatar JennyR83

avatar Thakera

avatar Dr.WhoPeggygmail.com

Pets are my key to help me feel better. I would never go without a dog. They are the ultimate in unconditional love. People can learn a lot from dogs! Check out your nearest Humane Society and go for a visit!

Be sure to update us, would love to see how you are effected from a dog🐕‍🦺

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avatar Diabeticmom

avatar nursedds

avatar Polina.K

I have been on it for about a year, I have lost 12 pounds,it kind of curves your appetite. My insurance does cover it,I am really satisfied with the results of my blood sugar due to this insulin. I would recommend it to anyone who is Type 2!Sometimes I feel nausea, but I have gotten use to it,but it affects each individual differently.

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avatar stasnislav1

avatar Cmspain4

avatar Tstokes

@HelloKitty I started taking kratom when I was diagnosed with cervical dystonia, it means I have constant pulling of my neck and shoulder muscles. Botox is the primary treatment , 6 to 8 shots targeting muscles but its hit and miss. I told a friend about this and he told me about kratom, so I went to a kratom shop and talked to the owner. He learned I was an Army Veteran and sold me some capsules. Unbelievable the kratom knocked out the pain and relieved some of the spasms and pulling that was 5 years ago, and I am still taking it for chronic pain. I have found the vendors to trust and a fbook website to share experiences with others. Like all things kratom must be handled with common sense, and reading info on the web helps educate us all. IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT HELPS WITH MY CHRONIC PAIN

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avatar mickey

avatar Mad1952

avatar Erica11775

My psyche nurse who works with my therapist has prescribed me different hypnotic sleep meds, Belsomra, most recently. I live alone in an apt bldg. I'm afraid to try it. I've heard of people sleepwalking, what if I leave the bldg and get locked out? I take 1mg of Klonopin about an hour n half before I want to sleep. I need background noise so I turn on the TV down low on the Angel Studios channel. I have The Chosen series running. Great show. I pull the comforter over my eyes so it blocks the light. No matter what I do, I wake up every every every morning in excruciating pain and n es to immediately get up and start moving, making coffee, feeding cat, reading news. I

I'm really struggling to get an official diagnosis. I have every symptom of AS along with the HLA-B27 gene. I'm all alone and suffer depression and PTSD. I have great faith in God so I know things will get better one day. Finally get to see rheumatologist in two weeks. 🙏✝️♥️

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Hela Ammar

Pharmacist, Hela is a data scientist at Carenity. Using her scientific and medical knowledge, she supports various project managers to carry out real-life studies conducted with members of the community. A graduate of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir in Tunisia, Hela holds a PharmD. After an internship as a market analyst at the Ministry of Public Health in Tunisia and an internship as an assistant diabetology product manager, she decided to complete a specialized master's degree in Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Management at ESCP Business School. Hela joined Carenity in May 2022 as a data scientist after completing her end-of-study internship at Novartis as a junior product manager working with solutions for severe asthma. Through her various experiences in hospitals and pharmacies, Hela has had the opportunity to work closely with patients and has developed a deep knowledge of chronic diseases. 

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These are quotes and opinions submitted by Carenity members. Here patients, their loved ones, and those interested in their health share their experiences and opinions about the Carenity forum and what they have learned from talking to other patients.

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Eddie
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56 years old

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