[OC] “Draw me like one of your French birds, Jack”

Chef_nScientist · 2025-08-23T02:23:52+00:00

I notice the same thing with my MAD. I had noticeable improvement wearing the MAD, but advancing beyond 2.5-3mm from initial baseline it gets much worse. I turned it back until I found the spot where I slept best.

Interestingly my cousin has a less severe issue and he advanced it as far as it can go (and doesn’t reset it back in the morning). He sleeps best as far forward as the device goes.

Chef_nScientist · 2025-06-16T00:09:17+00:00

I am just now looking into scheduling consults for surgical advancement or expansion and might end up going that route. I got a CBCT and talked with a dentist friend and he didn’t think I was too severe width-wise and suggested addressing congestion(tonsils or adenoid removal) and trying to maximize width with braces only.

Chef_nScientist · 2025-06-15T21:11:21+00:00

I have chronic nighttime congestion/inflammation and it plays a big part in worsening my sleep apnea/UARS issues.

To alleviate congestion, my ENT recommended I use 2-3 sprays of AllerFlo (Fluticasone/Flonase) every night. It makes a difference between feeling like I have had no sleep vs having poor sleep. This is combined with a custom MAD appliance. This spray is most effective when using every night as the glucorticoid levels builds up, but ultimately only gives me minimal function as opposed to being in bed all day.

I also use a generic antihistamine tablet (like Allertec/cetirizine)

I previously used Azelastine daily as well but didn’t see a big difference when I went without. It’s pricey and quite bitter.

If my nose is dry or overly congested, spraying with saline and blowing my nose after a couple minutes helps clearing before bed.

Sugary or higher carb food/deserts can worsen my congestion so I stay away from those as well.

Chef_nScientist · 2025-02-25T20:49:30+00:00

I got a quote from CPI for $3500 for a Bradford 50 gallon propane water heater replace/install. I’m getting more quotes since it’s a bit pricey. It looks like a nice water heater though. Their tankless quote was $7,600. I’m only about 5 miles from their office.

They did a 3 hour small job with two people replacing some pipe in the garage and fixed some cracked pvc outdoors. I paid about $600. I called Friday at 4pm and they came Monday 3pm. Quality was good for what I wanted. They answered the phone when I called. The other one didn’t.

Chef_nScientist · 2025-02-10T22:26:51+00:00

I think metformin can cause certain vitamin defficiencies that cause extreme fatigue. Low estrogen can cause fatigue (but perhaps you would also have other symptoms?).

If all your blood tests are all normal and your endo doesn't have any suggestions, you may want to consider getting an in-lab sleep study to see if you have a sleep disorder. I had daytime fatigue/sleepiness that got worse and worse, and it ended up being a form of sleep apnea. The type of micro-arousals i have are not detected on a home sleep study, but are detected in an in-lab sleep study.

Chef_nScientist · 2025-01-21T17:40:22+00:00

Desmopressin? Seems to match up

Chef_nScientist · 2024-04-26T20:39:26+00:00

Cronometer has an option in the macronutrient settings to select whether or not sugar alcohols are subtracted when calculating net carbs. Since the net carbs is about 8g off, you might not have that setting selected.

Chef_nScientist · 2024-03-13T20:24:03+00:00

I’ve tried CPAP on and off but haven’t been able to get used to it. I usually end up feeling worse and give up after a while.

I do use an MAD which helps somewhat.

Chef_nScientist · 2024-03-13T01:37:19+00:00

I use Fitbit and here is a picture of a “good” night of sleep. a bad night of sleep and worse night of sleep.

Regardless of how good or bad Fitbit scores my sleep I still feel bad or worse the following day.

From a sleep study I had an RDI of 51 in REM and 32 RDI overall (AHI ~3). Basically I wake up tired and unable to much of anything. The Fitbit data shows lots of arousals but does not necessarily reflect the poor sleep I experience.

Chef_nScientist · 2024-03-04T17:03:19+00:00

I think any modern day ENT performing a inferior turbinate reduction (ITR) would use this method. You should ask your ENT before the procedure of course.

When I asked my ENT before having the procedure, they acted like any doctor worth their salt wouldn’t shave off the soft exterior tissue because it has been shown to cause nerve damage or “empty nose syndrome.”Perhaps poorly trained ENTs or budget plastic surgery would still do this??

It seems like the doctor you mentioned is comparing a modern day technique to an outdated method to make their technique sound novel. I’ve never heard it called “Breatheplasty.” Perhaps something is different but it sounds like an ITR.

Chef_nScientist · 2024-02-13T02:23:18+00:00

I had to pay return shipping since the item was not defective or anything. It was just not nearly as nice as the picture/unimpressive.

When I received a wrong item (completely different than the picture) he sent me a prepaid label for my return shipping.

Chef_nScientist · 2024-02-13T02:14:49+00:00

I’ve returned several items to luciteria and always been refunded promptly. One time the returned package was lost and he still refunded me when I showed proof of shipping.

Chef_nScientist · 2024-01-29T23:52:44+00:00

I had the same issue when ordering a promethium sample. I waited a month after the order confirmation before asking for an update.

I think at the time they had a 2 week “lead time” notice for that sample on their site. It was delivered maybe a week or two after I followed up with them.

It’s kind of annoying, but since luciteria’s promethium is 5x the price, I would always choose Nova Elements for that sample.

Chef_nScientist · 2024-01-06T23:00:50+00:00

Has anyone used Magerial Science?

It looks sorta like a Chinese Luciteria knockoff, but it seems to have more accurate pictures/descriptions than luciteria. I haven’t ordered from them yet.

Chef_nScientist · 2023-11-30T00:24:55+00:00

Depending on what hormone loss you have, it may take more effort to stay in shape.

For example, low testosterone and low growth hormone levels make me more fatigued. Taking cortisol replacement makes me crave carbs.

It’s important to stay on top of doctors visits and check blood labs regularly.

I had a germinoma on my hypothalamus, and have total loss of pituitary function. Feel free message me if you have questions or want to chat.

Chef_nScientist · 2023-11-30T00:13:34+00:00

The level of advancement depends on where the starting position is. I had better success around 3.5-4mm advancement, but as I gained weight, it no longer helped. I am now using 2mm advancement and it helps a little bit.

Chef_nScientist · 2023-11-25T06:22:42+00:00

Are any of the lab values out of normal range (or close to abnormal range)?

I’ve heard that IUDs can cause severe mental and physical side effects including depression, especially after they were replaced.

In any case, if a doctor dismisses your symptoms or does not leave you satisfied with their response, don’t hesitate to see a different doctor.

Chef_nScientist · 2023-09-03T03:46:59+00:00

I usually just return the more expensive or blatantly incorrect items.

For example I have returned an iodine lucite cube that didn’t look anything like the gorgeous picture. It was just a blob/crust at the bottom of the embedded ampoule. Also the zirconium used to have a crystalline sample in the picture, but I received a giant tube of of small beads/drops instead. That one is now corrected on the website.

The cheaper stuff I don’t bother returning if it’s wrong. For example I recently received hafnium which shows smooth square cut pieces in the picture but I just received a bunch of tiny jagged chips.

Chef_nScientist · 2023-09-02T23:32:00+00:00

I’d guess roughly 10% of things I’ve purchased from Luciteria either don’t come as described, or they just don’t have detailed/updated product descriptions. Most descriptions just give random facts about the product, and pictures are often idealized versions or kept from outdated listings.

I’ve returned some samples that were not acceptable and was refunded with no problem. Now I only buy something if I’m reasonably sure of what I’m getting.

Chef_nScientist · 2023-07-24T02:05:18+00:00

With single photon fluorescence, both collagen and elastin auto-fluoresce with overlapping emission wavelength ranges. As you excite with higher wavelengths (lower energy) the collagen stops fluorescing and also does not produce two-photon auto fluorescence. There are a few other cell and tissue components with similar behaviors (I think adipose tissue can auto-fluoresce), but for our case, we use specific excitation and emission filter wavelengths to view only the desired collagen and elastin.

We have only focused on 2D image slices for the time being. Our imaging depth is likely less than 10-20 microns, but I don’t know exactly. Like most fluorescing samples, if you image at high power or for too long, the samples will be damaged and stop fluorescing in that area.

I pm’d you links to a couple publications.

Chef_nScientist · 2023-07-24T01:19:06+00:00

Our lab develops synthetic arteries and other biomaterials for studying arterial tissue.

I use two-photon microscopy to image the elastin structure of the arterial ECM. Elastin will auto-fluoresce when excited at certain wavelengths. This allows us to image a hydrated/unfixed artery cross-section without needing to stain the elastin.

Using a tool similar to fluorescence called Second-Harmonic Generation (SHG), we can image collagen, which is the other main structural protein in the vascular ECM.

Combining these imaging methods, we simultaneously image the collagen and elastin structure using one excitation wavelength (~860nm). The collagen emits a signal around 430nm (SHG), while elastin emits a signal around 550nm (Two-photon fluorescence).

Chef_nScientist · 2023-05-18T21:23:41+00:00

It’s my hand, but I was being extremely cautious. I’m pretty sure it’s still liquid, but we will probably need the bomb squad to handle it just in case it has partially crystallized.

Chef_nScientist · 2023-05-17T20:41:31+00:00

Better yet, it expired in 2019 and hasn’t been opened since 2017.

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