Thought 0049 - Covid 2023 08

Thought 0049 - Covid 2023 08

Pete's First Covid

• The Setup
• The First Test
• The Disagreeing Tests

Different brands gave negative results. Bayesian math in force. 

• Paxlovid 

The taste in your mouth. Think grapefruit like taste, without any grapefruit. 

• dates and tests and how I feel

Date		Test
2023-07-31	Monday		Tired	Played squash
2023-08-01	Tuesday		Tired
2023-08-02	Wednesday	Positive	Yucky	New Squash
2023-08-03	Thursday	Positive	Yucky
2023-08-04	Friday	Paxlovid 1	Dead tired
2023-08-05	Saturday	Paxlovid 2	Dead tired
2023-08-06	Sunday	Paxlovid 3	Bad
2023-08-07	Monday	Paxlovid 4	Yucky
2023-08-08	Tuesday	Paxlovid 5	Not as bad
2023-08-09	Wednesday	Positive	Better
2023-08-10	Thursday		Ok
2023-08-11	Friday		Ok
2023-08-12	Saturday	Positive	Bad sleep
2023-08-13	Sunday		Good sleep
2023-08-14	Monday		Ok sleep
2023-08-15	Tuesday
2023-08-16	Wednesday
2023-08-17	Thursday
2023-08-18	Friday	Negative #1
2023-08-19	Saturday		Ok
2023-08-20	Sunday	Negative #2	Ok
2023-08-21	Monday		Ok	Rode exercise bike
2023-08-22	Tuesday

ADHD - basic videos

Adhd videos

Dopamine

Watch first!! lol

https://fb.watch/neZSmYhmJM/

How to know if you have ADHD. 

https://youtu.be/cx13a2-unjE

ADHD in women

https://youtu.be/EMpt40zNK-w

ADHD and relationships

https://youtu.be/XbyN8REIhMk

(They all make me cry. Good cry. But THIS ONE fucked me up. Every relationship suffered because of my undiagnosed ADHD)

This video STUNNED me.

Normally I hate when another person joins a video.

This GUY ...whew. 

PysD.  ADHD. Late diagnosed autism!!

Oh right, and they're dating. 

Fucking adorable. 

And it sounds like he coined "relationship accommodations"!!!!

Their discussion on TOUCH was stunning. 

Their discussion on TIME blew me away. 

"Write me a love letter" oops, she didn't give him a due date.

(100% chance of bawling)

https://youtu.be/ZOiB5WreR0k

Her Brain and Heart video ...

Brains are the peeps with ADHD. 

Hearts are the people without (or undiagnosed) ADHD, but who watch the videos to help understand the people in their lives. 

Her Ted talk is "old" and she has refined a lot. But ...

It might be the best place to start. 

Her TED talk

https://www.ted.com/talks/jessica_mccabe_this_is_what_it_s_really_like_to_live_with_adhd_jan_2017?language=en

ADHD ideas for people who are curious.

IF any of these videos make you cry .... you might have ADHD. 

She triggers me so hard. She is me. My whole life. 

Just fucking amazing. 

Ted Talk

She is fucking amazing. 

TEDx in Bratislava

Tell me you have adhd

5 Ways People Try to Help Someone With ADHD That Aren’t Actually Helpful (and What to Do Instead)

ADHD Friendly House Hacks - Feat. MY HOUSE! (Executive Function Friendly Tips)

May 5th 2023 - Ozempic - questions and answers

How do I get it? How do I get my doctor to prescribe this?

Ask them to write a prescription. Ask them to give you free samples.
If they don't offer the free samples before you ask, consider getting a new doctor.

If they won't prescribe or resist, consider firing them and refusing to pay for the session. Not kidding.

I am DONE with judgmental assholes and morons who want to be gatekeepers.

They will do their normal doctor thing: pros and cons, risks, etc etc etc.
That's their job. they are legally required to inform you.

But if they are morally against you getting a prescription, get a sane doctor.

But I heard ...

Fucking stop believing half the shit you read. and follow up before talking.

"short supply" - shocking, but a massive increase in prescriptions, created a temporary shortage. manufacturer increased production. welcome to reality.

"but diabetics" - so my health is less important? feel free to block me. today. and burn in hell

"but big pharma: - fuck off

But it's not covered by insurance.

So what? We live in a shithole country. fix it.

See my dosing recommendations for people who can't afford it.

There are MORE variants coming to market.

sooner or later, the FDA will approve for weight loss, which is preventive care.
Sooner or later the price will come down.
Sooner or later insurance will cover it.

What is YOUR life worth??

But is it safe??

Been around a while.

Dosing numbers aka how much does it cost. 

.25mg for 4mg pen

We started with the starter dosage,

First 2mg pen  
.25mg for 4 weeks. 

.50mg for 2 weeks

Second Pen

.50mg for 4 weeks

During consultation, dr talked about dosing, finding out what dosage is efficacious with minimal side effects. Given my insanely awesome progress, We are NOT going to increase dosage. I dont have that much to lose. It is not a race. My side effects are effectively non-existent. I do not want to fuck this up.

I bought one, 4mg pen, at about $1000 (oh god that so expensive. panic)

At .50mg dosage, that's 8 weeks.

I am looking into ordering from canada, which will lower the price even more.

FUCK, the bigger pen can ONLY be used for 1mg injections???

But I'm Poor

Yup, I'm lucky. Got it.

What should YOU do?

So get the free samples, stay with .25mg dosage.

Are you losing weight, eating less, feeling better? 
TADA

A .25mg dose, with a 4mg pen, is 16 weeks, almost 4 months.

that's $63 a week. $250 a month  a lot but.
This is my life. I am 60 soon. What am I saving the money for?

oh right, you have to buy extra needles available from amazon and cvs

dirt cheap

I was wrong, you cant split doses.

But I'm Poor

Yup, that sucks.

But a friend pointed out, you will be eating less. a LOT less.
I haven't eaten out for breakfast ONCE since starting this. I would NOT be able to finish the meal. wasting food and money.

A pizza that I would eat half for dinner and half for late night snack, is now serving for three meals.

What else can you cut out?
Take out coffee? mhmm
This is your LIFE! so maybe you have to skimp for a few months until you hit your target ...

Target

My original target was 200. I had zero expectations that this would work so well.

My new target is 180, FINE maybe 190. but really, it's my brand new 38" levis that I have been saving for 20 fucking years for when I lose weight. OLOLOLO

Issues 

You will have to drink less. Suck it up.

You will NOT be able to go to bed right after eating. think 3-4 hours.

You will NOT be able to snack before bed. UM, good.

Hypothesis 

GLP-1 is naturally produced hormone.

I hypothesize that my body is not producing enough while I eat, keeping me eating longer and eating more. You body naturally 

[[ Endogenous GLP-1 is rapidly degraded primarily by dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4), as well as neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP 24.11) and renal clearance, resulting in a half-life of approximately 2 minutes. Consequently, only 10–15 % of GLP-1 reaches circulation intact, leading to fasting plasma levels of only 0–15 pmol/L. To overcome this, GLP-1 receptor agonists and DPP-4 inhibitors have been developed to increase GLP-1 activity. As opposed to common treatment agents such as insulin and sulphonylurea, GLP-1-based treatment has been associated with weight loss and a lower risk of hypoglycemia, two important considerations for patients with type 2 diabetes. ]]

So if i'm not producing enough, I eat more.

Ozempic has a MUCH longer half-life, hence the once a week injection.

And now my body has MORE than enough GLP-1, preventing me from eating. TADA!! 

Mental 

I feel normal. Like when I was in college. It is amazing.

What are you going to do when you reach your target?

When I reach my target, with approval from my doctor, we will reduce my dosage to .25mg.

for 4-8 weeks.

If I immediately start gaining weight again, we will evaluate going back to .50mg
IF my weight is static, we will wean me off?
IF I start gaining weight again, TADA, back to .25mg.
"but pete, drugs are bad" 
feel free to take a flying leap at that donut. I got no time for your insanity.

2023 - Pete 2.0 - losing the weight

TL;DR 

lost 10+ pounds in two months

Down a full belt notch, aka 1" (3.97 meters)

My t-shirts are now tent-like and will have to find the box of smaller shirts. LOL and smaller jeans.

My belly has noticeably shrunk, I can now see my feet again without effort.
And weighing myself is always a SHOCK!@!

The Goal

Early next year I turn 60. I've been retired for a bit and working on Pete 2.0

So far, so good.

The Start - Annual Physical

On or about March 4, 2023, I had my annual physical.

At the end, I brought up wanting to get off my blood pressure meds because of various side effects. My dr brought up weight loss and Ozempic. And by brought up, I mean, went on and on and on and on.
So I dove in head first, got two sample pens and a prescription. Took my first weekly shot when I got home.

The beginning - .25mg 

Four weeks, once weekly, .25mg

injection pain? LOL zero pain. I did circle the injection site with a pen, and noticed a TINY bruise at the site. what ever.

side effects? zip. nada

It's a appetite suppressant, it works be delaying the emptying of your stomach. If you're full, you wont eat. I was already never hungry because of my keto diet, now, it's even less so.

I quickly started eating less often, only 1-2 times a day, and MUCH smaller meals, which is crazy talk. 

The Middle - .50mg

After 4 injections of .25mg, dosage increased to .5mg.

Weight loss continued.   

I did notice that my GERD returned infrequently. 
I chocked this up to eating right before bed.
STOP EATING SNACKS AT NIGHT. YOU ARE NOT HUNGRY!!

Given that this appears to be related to WHEN I am eating, rather than anything else, I'm not planning on stopping the drug. 
I have been drinking a LOT less, a) they recommend drinking less while taking Ozempic, now that I have 10 weeks experience, going to keep drinking less. whatever

What's Next - to 1.0mg or to not 1.0mg

Given that I am paying out of pocket for this and it is expensive ...

Given that 0.50mg is working so well, I believe that I am going to stick with this dosage until I hit my target weight. Given the currently acceptable side-effects, I'm worried that upping the dosage might only create more problem.
I am going to look into ordering from Canada, my doctor mentioned this, blah blah blah

The End - After I reach my target weight

It has been SO LONG since I have been at my target weight. The last time that I weighed 90 kilos (14,2 stones) was during my Korean engagement trip, where I walked just over 9001 trillion miles and climbed 307 mountains. SO YAY for finally doing something to fix this.

But once I reach my target of 200lbs ... then what?
a) increase the target to 180lbs ??!!
b) decrease the dosage back to 0.25mg and see if I maintain the weight?

Ease of Filling Prescription

Doctor electronically filed script, I picked it up later that day. 

OMFG PANIC DRUG SHORTAGES!!!

 

What about YOU?
If you're not fat, good for you, you won the health lottery. 
If you think being fat is a moral failing, please, post that in the comments!!
If you believe your diet is the best, feel free to post that in the comment. Everyone loves when you do that.

BUT IF you're fat and curious, send me a private message or call.
I love going on and on and on.

my thoughts on its working

GLP-1 is naturally produced after you eat, it makes you feel "full".
My thought is that like everyone in the universe, there is no such thing as "normal" person. 
IF my body wasnt producing enough of GLP-1 or was not processing it correctly or or or or that would explain why increasing the amount of a similar hormone would have such amazing results.

cost

yup, its not covered by insurance. costs a bit.  

ordering from canada will reduce that cost.
What is your health worth to you?
What is your life worth?

stupid questions that bad people ask:
"Isnt this taking medication from diabetics?"
No, there was a SPIKE in prescriptions and the manufacture quickly increased production.

"But you're stealing a life saving drug from people who need it!!"
No, it's not a life saving drug. 
"But we live in a shithole country that ...."
Why yes, we do. What's your point?
"What about the aderall shortage???"
Please stop watching the news. there is no such thing. I got mine filled after a whole 24 wait.

"BUT insurance doesnt covere ozempic!!"
and?? what part of shithole country is confusing??

"you should jsut do what I do ..."
thank you for being an asshole, now youre blocked, enjoy your shit life
 

Why they are the way that they are

https://www.amazon.com/Confidence-Game-Fall-Every-Time-ebook/dp/B00WDP836S

Read this book. 

It explains everything. 

Seriously.

1. GREAT easy read.

2. Each chapter documents the research backing up the chapter. In detail.

3. Once you believe one batshit crazy thing, the next one is easier.

Let’s follow their insanity. 

Jesus is god and anyone who questions that should be killed. 

Jews killed baby Jesus and we must kill them. Whoops can’t say that where THEY can hear us.

White people are CLEARLY better than brown people.

Democrats are all godless atheists, who love pedophiles and degenerates. 

Cops are perfect. They should have just followed orders. 

Trump is god. 

Trump said that the election was stolen. Kill all the libtards!!!

Faux news said so, therefore, it must be true. 

The mainstream media is all lies.

These lies, their whole lives are just TOO big to ever change. 

Look at how insanely hard it is for people to quit religion?

Fucking Catholics ACCEPT PEDOPHILE priests. Rather than admit, their god loves fucking little kids. 

Pete’s Mantra?

Reality has a Liberal Bias

( I really need to get tshirts)

Omfg, a month in FB prison????

Sorry long post. 

Gets this book

Thank me later.

Living Like a Child

A friend asked, 

"How is retirement going? What are you doing to keep busy and keep the mind challenged?"

So I collected an outline, because everyone has been or will be asking.

Living Like a Child - an outline of all the things that I am currently doing.

I have recently been keeping touch with a friend from work and we have been discussing "WHAT NOW?"
One path has been to think of a couple strawmen, different ideas to play with, and pick one or two to dig deeper into. 

Examples of my strawmen are:

Machine Learning - I have been dabbling with machine learning for 32+ years. Doing more is clearly something that I really enjoy.

Killing Sacred Cows - there are a number of sacred cows in science, things that the establishment has accepted as truth, but these things have not stood the test of time. It is virtually impossible for a grad student to study against these truths. Dark Matter, Fat is Bad for You,

Data Stuff with Niece - my goddaughter does non-profit stuff and I have free time and some skills. LOL

Rape Kits - we have a ton of processed rape kits. Use DNA databases to find suspected familial trees.

Genetics - drug interactions, stuff, stuff and more stuff. Investigate MY genome.

Two Drug Interaction - After seeing a great TED talk on two drug interactions, and having my own life-threatening interactions, what else is out there??