Update on Byetta

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2005
Update on Byetta
12
Wed, 12-19-2007 - 7:17am

Just had my AC1 done - was down to 5.6 thanks to Byetta.  In July it was 6.6.  I've also lost 15 lbs.


Bad news was that I had my first bone scan done.   He said my spine had lost about 14 percent so now I'm on Fosamax .  Any one else here taking it?



 AWilliamson 

 


 


When to Replace Common Household Items



by Kelli B. Grant
Thursday, February 15, 2007


Nothing lasts forever.

That said, many items are less obvious than the spoiled milk in your fridge — there's no expiration date or other obvious signs they have outlived their use.

So how long should you let your stuff linger before replacing it? We talked to the experts and nailed down a "best by" date for, well, just about everything:

AIR FILTERS
Replace after: Six months
Why: Filters become clogged with dirt and other particles, reducing the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling systems, says Rozanne Weissman, a spokeswoman for the Alliance to Save Energy.





COMPUTERS
Replace after: Four years
Why: Unless you're using your computer for very basic functions (i.e., word processing), technology will have likely advanced enough that you need a significant upgrade, says David Carnoy, executive editor of CNET, a technology review web site. Rather than trying to put a new processor into an old computer, you're typically better off buying new. "With laptops, there isn't much you can do to upgrade them," he says. Upgrading your desktop is possible, but unless you're a technology whiz, that process can be as expensive as buying a new computer (and infinitely more complicated).

COSMETICS
Replace after: Three months to two years
Why: Microbe growth in makeup can cause skin irritations and infections, explains Paula Begoun, author of "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me." The worst offenders are liquid cosmetics, which build up bacteria more quickly. Keep mascara for a maximum of three months; other liquids and creams (eyeliner, foundation) for no more than a year. Powders (eyeshadow, blush) can be used safely for up to two years.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Replace after: 10 to 12 years
Why: The pressurized contents of a fire extinguisher de-pressurize over time. "Eventually, it just becomes a block of 'stuff' inside the cylinder," says Tom Olshanski, director of external affairs for the U.S. Fire Administration — rendering it useless in fighting fires. Extinguishers can deteriorate faster if left in a high-humidity environment. Check your extinguisher on a monthly basis for corrosion, a sure sign air is leaking out, he suggests.

MATTRESSES
Replace after: Seven years
Why: Mattresses wear out over time, says Kathleen Huddy, textiles director for the Good Housekeeping Institute. One that sags or is uneven won't keep your spine in line as you sleep, which means you may have trouble sleeping. It's likely you'll also experience neck and back pain while awake. There's also an ick factor to old mattresses, she explains — they collect dust, dirt and allergens that can't be removed.

PERFUME
Replace after: Two years
Why: Exposure to light, heat and air lighten and alter perfume notes, explains Andrea Walker, a makeup expert with Sephora. "It weakens the scent," she says.

PILLOWS
Replace after: Two years
Why: Pressure on the pillow as you sleep causes it to flatten, and develop uncomfortable bumps and lumps, says GHI's Huddy. To test if your pillow still has life in it, she says, fold it in half and rest your hand on top for 30 seconds. Then let go. "If the pillow pops back, it's fine," she says. If it remains folded, it's time to buy a new one.

RUNNING (AND WALKING) SHOES
Replace after: 300 to 500 miles run
Why: Foam-like material in the mid-sole of the shoe stops bouncing back. "You lose the shock-absorbing capacity," says Dr. Jim Christina, director of scientific affairs for the American Podiatric Medical Association. And that can lead to heel and arch pain, or even stress fractures. Judge how much life is left in your shoes by the way they feel. When a running shoe becomes uncomfortable, it's time to toss it. (You can lengthen the life of your running shoes, says Christina, by alternating between two pairs. That gives the foam mid-sole time to decompress between runs.)

SMOKE ALARMS
Replace after: 10 years
Why: Constant stress on a smoke detector's sensors from particles in the air — everything from cigarette smoke to pet dander to pollen — render it unreliable, says the U.S. Fire Administration's Olshanski. "Its ability to sense smoke deteriorates," he says. The result will be one of two extremes: either the smoke detector will sound the alarm for just about anything, or it won't go off at all.

SPICES
Replace after: One year
Why: Dried herbs and spices lose their flavor over time, says Tina Ujlaki, executive food editor for Food & Wine magazine. Whole spices, such as star anise or coriander, may last slightly longer — less of the spice is exposed to the air. To tell if your spices are past their prime, open the bag or jar and take a whiff. "If there's no scent, there won't be any flavor," she says.

TOOTHBRUSHES
Replace after: Three months
Why: Toothbrush bristles frayed from use remove plaque less effectively than those of a new brush, according to the American Dental Association. Swapping out your brush will also limit exposure to bacteria that build up on the bristles.







Edited 12/19/2007 7:34 am ET by gal_amy
 

Amy

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Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: gal_amy
Wed, 12-19-2007 - 7:35am

Congratulations on your a1c!!!


iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
In reply to: gal_amy
Thu, 12-20-2007 - 7:45pm
Congratulations! That's what Byetta brought my A1C down to also! Did you go up to the 10 mcgs?
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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2005
In reply to: gal_amy
Fri, 12-21-2007 - 6:10am

You previously wrote:


 

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
In reply to: gal_amy
Fri, 12-21-2007 - 10:38am
Hurray! That's just like me! I am sooo happy for you. You may just save some of those beta cells in your pancreas!
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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2005
In reply to: gal_amy
Sat, 12-22-2007 - 7:45am

You previously wrote:


 

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2005
In reply to: gal_amy
Sat, 12-22-2007 - 8:50am

Just wanted to thank this group for getting after me to change doctors in July.

 

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
In reply to: gal_amy
Sat, 12-22-2007 - 9:13am

Oh Dear,

So you do not have insurance? Do you have financial hardship? If you fall below a certain level it is possible to get medication for free. The programs are through the pharmaceutical company. If you do have financial hardship let me know and I will find you the link to the info from the pharmaceutical company.

I feel very fortunate right now. Our insurance has a mail in pharmacy that charges 100 dollars for 3 pens. The pharmacy is a total pain to deal with and they did ruin one shipment of pens (we did not have to pay for), but without it we would be up the creek as it were. I am not sure what will happen to us as we get older if we lose the insurance we now have. I am just happy to be able to take it know as I feel like I am protecting my pancreas from more damage...at least while I am able to take the Byetta.

I will be thinking of you and let me know if I can help in terms of the hardship info.

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Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
In reply to: gal_amy
Sat, 12-22-2007 - 10:31am

Amy it is not too much information...


iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2005
In reply to: gal_amy
Sat, 12-22-2007 - 3:35pm

You previously wrote:

 

Amy

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2007
In reply to: gal_amy
Sat, 12-22-2007 - 8:36pm

Oh, I see, well, that's too bad. We use https://www.rxsolutions.com

because that is the mail service our insurance makes us use. I don't know what their prices are like. The only prices that come up for me are my co pay.

Happy Holidays and I hope you find a solution that will work for you and let you stay on the Byetta. It is soooo worth it.

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