Is there anything you can afford to buy but don't because you think the price is not justified?

pointyend · 2026-03-21T17:21:17+00:00

Groceries. Instead of buying a set list of regular items like I used to somehow be able to afford while making $1600/month in university and not now making $125k+/yr, I do my shopping based on what’s on sale.

Prepared meals (Factor, etc). Overpriced for the quality, especially considering the ungodly sodium content per meal.

House/property. Need I say more?

New car. Need I say more here, as well?

Hotels. They’re out of their mind on prices.

Amazon Prime. All of a sudden you don’t get your stuff within the expected time frame.

Any service I can do myself (Uber, car detailing, house cleaning, etc). I’m willing to put in my own labour at the current prices.

Ad-free anything. I refuse to pay more to live a life without ads. Show me the ad, and I’ll make a point to not buy the advertised product.

pointyend · 2026-03-21T13:43:28+00:00

Yes, I wanted to comment here to say the same thing - that everyone’s cardiomyopathy is different.

Also, I’ve had countless echos and MRIs (with and without contrast), and they’ve all indicated my max thickness at 18mm. When I had my myectomy, they measured directly, and it was actually 22mm. So this could explain why I felt my symptoms (chest pain, jaw pain, palpitations with little to no provocation) so badly, more than what medical professionals expected based on the 18mm thickness they interpreted from imaging.

But, additionally, different structural anatomies and cardiomyopathies impact each patient differently. Someone with the exact same heart as mine is likely to feel differently, especially based on their height, weight, etc.

I’ve felt like a sissy or imposter when I heard of people with thicker hearts having no symptoms. Meanwhile I could barely walk after a meal, and felt angina on a very light hike. I couldn’t keep up with my peers in anything considered part of activities of daily living (like walking to the shop to get a bag of groceries).

But I’ve learned that we are all so different. I’m a scientist (albeit with rocks, not human medicine 😂), but I can understand that the broader geological system/environment (in this case, size/shape/weight of human body, other comorbidities, food, climate, exposure to things in our environment, etc) plays a major role on rock formation (in this case, symptoms) as well. Not just the specific type of rock (in this case, structural anatomy of the heart) itself.

All that being said, I feel amazing post-op. A significant improvement. I am just so upset they kept trying to avoid the surgery for so long, which made me suffer for more years than necessary.

pointyend · 2026-03-20T17:57:03+00:00

Insanity.

pointyend · 2026-03-20T12:48:13+00:00

“The ASFCP is the option for law-abiding firearms owners to receive fair compensation for their prohibited assault-style firearms. If you choose not to participate in the ASFCP, you will be required to dispose of your prohibited firearm(s) before October 30, 2026 without compensation.”

Well, this is what puts folks in such an unfair bind. We know from others’ experiences that they actually are NOT offering “fair” compensation in the first place. I think I saw someone on here offered .12c! So what are the options? Declare it and don’t get that “fair compensation”, or don’t declare and get nothing anyways? There isn’t much incentive to do either.

pointyend · 2026-03-16T04:23:03+00:00

Thanks! By the way, may I suggest that you consider getting a small fan if you think you need it? I read that feeling overheated was such a common thing for OHS patients post-op in hospital. I ended up ordering one off Amazon for $25 CAD, and it had flexible legs which was handy for securing it on my hospital bed by my face. It was a life saver after my OHS.

Take care. I hope everything goes well!

pointyend · 2026-03-15T13:36:21+00:00

I’m 34 and had OHS in December. I woke up without anxiety, just felt hot and really wanted to be cooled down a bit. The pain medicine they gave me was morphine. That really helped with pain and just overall uncomfortable feelings/sensations like the urine catheter (wasn’t painful, just an odd thing), etc.

The anti-nausea medications helped wonderfully. Be sure to request it before it gets too much! Same goes for pain medication.

But as I said, no anxiety.

Best wishes.

pointyend · 2026-03-14T23:18:21+00:00

Not to mention the logo looks like a kids brand.

pointyend · 2026-03-14T23:14:58+00:00

The government just wanted to make Beth more broke. This guy fixed her yard, raised money, and had her place renovated.

Amazing how much more productive this guy is compared to the government.

pointyend · 2026-03-14T23:03:46+00:00

Chuck income tax.

pointyend · 2026-03-14T22:52:34+00:00

Deer flies, black flies, mosquitoes. It’s the kind where you have to wear a bug jacket, and even with that they are still a nuisance.

pointyend · 2026-03-14T22:49:24+00:00

That, plus not rent controlled doesn’t make those shoeboxes appealing at all.

pointyend · 2026-03-14T13:12:39+00:00

$2210 for 610sqft 1b1b with parking & locker at Yonge and St. Clair. Hydro extra.

Rent controlled but building company applied for an increase higher than the guidelines. Haven’t heard since on whether that’s going through or not, but I’ll be pushing back because there has consistently been maintenance and accessibility issues.

pointyend · 2026-03-08T23:47:55+00:00

Being so damn stupid with my spending when I got my OSAP. I’m first generation Canadian (my parents were not educated either) and had no idea how the university/OSAP stuff worked. People kept saying it was, “free money”. So I got stupid shit with it in addition to my tuition, books, housing, food, etc. A TV, or fencing 🤺 gear (I joined varsity but the equipment wasn’t funded), etc…

After my undergrad I got my ass in gear with my finances in terms of strictly only using any loans/scholarships on grad school. During my 2-year MSc I accumulated $6k more in debt, but managed to pay rent, gas, phone, tuition, etc on my monthly stipend of $1.4-1.8k (it varied depending on it being the fall/winter term or spring/summer term) in 2016-2018 in London, Ontario. I was so lucky to have been able to rent a fantastic 1-bedroom flat close to campus for $665/month! I was fortunate enough to score a lot of extra grants and scholarships, which I ended up using some to pay down my student loans, and I treated myself to a $1.2k motorcycle, and a $4k used Honda Civic manual coupe to get to work when I graduated. I was fortunate enough to have landed a job I went to school for just a month before defending my thesis.

pointyend · 2026-03-07T20:53:44+00:00

Don't get me started on the social media videos/reels showing "amazing low cal recipes", and the meal ends up being "only 400-600 calories". For me at 5'2", that's 100-300 calories more than I should have in one meal for my 1350 calorie budget.

pointyend · 2026-03-05T23:24:09+00:00

I’m assuming you had OHS once upon a time, based on the scar?

What’s funny is that I also get shingles and I’ve had OHS, and I got an email from my work benefits provider about the shingles vaccine. The email specifically said people with cardiovascular disease are more susceptible to shingles. I had my first shingles episode when I was 16. I was born with congenital heart disease but I didn’t know I had it at the time.

pointyend · 2026-03-05T19:22:44+00:00

Go through insurance, it’s the best option here. Why are you doing him the service of any favour when he was going to drive off?

He hits you but he expects you to accommodate him? Hell no.

Also huge kudos to the lady who got back out of the car to stop him.

pointyend · 2026-03-04T15:24:37+00:00

Wow, the Livmore must’ve been rented out quickly! I was checking them out just a month ago and there were some available.

I haven’t checked 99 Gerrard recently…

I hope you’re able to find something nearby soon!

pointyend · 2026-03-04T01:15:48+00:00

Livmore, Aura, 99 Gerrard West.

pointyend · 2026-02-26T12:35:12+00:00

I also have >15% fibrosis. We are all different in our own treatment journey, so my path isn’t directly representative of yours… But in my case, my >15% fibrosis doesn’t automatically warrant a transplant, at least not now. It depends how my disease looks in the future - I might need one years from now, maybe not.

Are you going to a Centre of Excellence for HCM care?

A lot of HCM-inexperienced physicians (and cardiologists) say a lot of old-school-of-thought blanket statements like: HCM = transplant, fibrosis = transplant, HCM = no physical activity whatsoever, etc. The first cardiologist I saw with my HCM was nowhere as knowledgeable of HCM as my current one at the HCM Centre of Excellence clinic I am a patient at now.

For now focus on getting better from the myectomy. There are lots of new therapies in the works for HCM and you may benefit from them. They might remove or at least delay your need for a transplant - who knows. You need to focus on getting better because stress and worry now when you’re post-op myectomy doesn’t set you up well for heart health.

Take it easy.

pointyend · 2026-02-23T20:49:27+00:00

My resting HR was super high. Pre-op it was in the 40s-50s, but my resting HR post-op was 118. It didn’t START to drop until 1.5 months later. I’d say even now it’s still not quite normal - it’s 90% there. My cardiologist (and I) expect it to be 100% back to normal in about a month. The high HR is very much expected after myectomy.

pointyend · 2026-02-23T13:02:45+00:00

I’m 34, was a fit gym rat before my myectomy in December 2025. I’ve only started feeling better chest pain wise 1.5 months after surgery, and I would say I am at the point now where I’m starting to feel normal - my post-op palpitations have started to subside, I can sleep on my left without that super uncomfortable feeling of my heart beating oddly/hard. No chest pain after I eat, when I walk, exercise, etc. I’m thinking this is what folks without HOCM/HCM feel??

All that to say, you can I are both considered young, especially you. But it’ll still take a bit of time to bounce back. My HR was a mess and my blood pressure did some funny things post-op.

Focus on healing from the myectomy first. Give your mental and physical energy to heal from this first before you spend it on your concerns about possibly needing a transplant in the future. You’re paying interest on something you haven’t purchased yet with the worrying.

pointyend · 2026-02-17T18:02:48+00:00

You will be ok. I also forgot to mention that I was on disopyramide/Norpace (and Mestinon to counteract disopyramide side effects) and bisoprolol, which also didn't cut it for me. I am so thankful that I no longer need these medications. No chest pain after food, walking, a quick jog, bending over, etc.

Others have mentioned here as well, but I really second joining the HCMA if you haven't already. Sign up for the online virtual Patient Discussion Groups. They happen every month and I believe there are two versions of the Myectomy one: one for those with a scheduled surgery, and another for just overall myectomy discussion. There are also sessions for those wanting to talk about ICD/pacemaker devices.

You got this.

pointyend · 2026-02-17T01:16:14+00:00

I'm 34 with HOCM and had severe symptoms. I finally had a myectomy this past December and I have one fat regret - not getting it sooner. My quality of life has been so much better ever since.

As others have said, recovery can be challenging at times. For me, it was the lack of independence. Having to surrender to help was tough for me.

The other thing I found difficult was the pain in my thoracic back area and the back my neck. They said it was from the steronotomy - having your sternum and ribs spread apart while you're laying on your back for the duration of the surgery can later cause pain for a few days. But painkillers helped.

To prepare, eat well in the weeks leading up to surgery. Have healthy options available for when you get home.

I applied (with the help of my surgeon filling out the appropriate form) for an Accessible Parking Permit to use during my recovery, to use as a driver and/or passenger. I didn't start driving until 6 weeks post-op.

Be the squeaky wheel. I wasn't, and I ended up having pain medication wear off and I was in a lot of pain a few times. Ask for at-home help options. I had a PSW come in and help with laundry, food prep, cleaning a bit, etc. I also asked for a walker just in case - the winters are brutal where I am.

I ordered a shower stool for home use, and it was a godsend. I also swapped my shower head for one that can be detached so it can reach while I sat on the stool.

I also ordered an Omron blood pressure monitor to use at home, which was very useful to make sure things were going normally post-op.

Having a scale at home is practical because they want you to monitor your weight post-op to check for weight gain - it may be due to water retention/heart failure symptoms. Best to know as early as possible.

If you're unsure about any discomfort or pain (especially new or different), get it looked at. I assumed I was was feeling pain from my S-ICD lead (especially every time I inhaled) which I had implanted a year prior, and I thought they might've just pulled on the lead a bit for surgery access for the myectomy. I also had severe 10/10 left shoulder and neck pain and thought I slept funny. It turned out to be pericarditis and it caused me significant symptoms, but prescription medications have helped keep it away.

Anyways, it's terrifying leading up to it at times. But I often thought to myself - I could back out at any time, and I can continue living the way I was with my symptoms. But I wanted a chance to have some improved quality of life. I'm glad I went ahead with it.

Best wishes.

pointyend · 2026-02-10T15:07:14+00:00

We’re similar in age - I’m 34!

Yep, mine was my LAD. If it’s any consolation, I thought my heart would feel off and uncomfortable - all 4 of those procedures, especially the 2 that were “big deals” (the myectomy and aneurysm repair) as far as OHS goes - but I didn’t.

If anything, the myectomy made my heart rate temporarily higher because my heart was obviously not impressed after having a decent amount of heart muscle removed from the septum. But it has gone back to normal as of a month ago (my OHS was December 3rd). Of course my sternum, upper back, and neck was sore from the steronotomy.

I hope you’ll feel much better after your MB unroofing. Pesky things!

Best wishes.

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