Randy Cassingham's Blog

Posted by Tanya, Atlanta GA on August 27, 2008:

Please take care of yourself. I think it's entirely reasonable to cancel the freebie now and then, so don't sweat it.

Loved the all-Southern This is True for 8/24/08!

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Wow: someone noticed that all the stories were based in the South! You're the first to say anything about it. :-) -rc

Posted by Tom in Fairfax, Virgina on August 28, 2008:

I am glad that you decided to explain why the free edition did not go out. It gave me a much better understanding of what you do to get the edition out along with everything else. I greatly enjoy This Is True and look forward to the next edition, whenever it arrives.

Take care of yourself.

Posted by Phillip - Charlotte, NC on August 29, 2008:

I appreciate the free edition, although I noticed this one was all southern I wasn't too thrilled (we get a bad enough rap already).

I'd like to finally subscribe. So for the next year please accept my $100.00 to ensure that the next "bad week" still get a free edition.

It's the least I can do since I've been freeloading for years.

Posted by Mark - Flint, MI on August 29, 2008:

I'm quite glad to hear that your doctor found excess Potassium so quickly. You're very fortunate to have her.

Please take care of yourself. All of the newsletters you write are nowhere near as important as your health.

Posted by sandyh, sacramento on August 30, 2008:

i would just like to clarify one mistake here. as a long-time cardiac nurse, i can't let it pass. the EKG tracing you show is only about a 3 second look at your electrical activity (i don't see any rhythm strip at the bottom). and while i don't dismiss that you may have been having "frequent pvc's", this tracing only records

ONE pvc as seen by 12 different "leads" or views (leads I, II, III, V1, V2 etc). both high and low potassium levels can give a person pvcs, so it is important to keep your salt and caffeine levels down and keep well-hydrated!

hope you are feeling better now....

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I guess you don't look at Lifepack 12 tracings too much. It's 10 seconds. Each horizontal tracing is parallel in time, not each of the 12 leads. It shows 3 PVCs in that 10 seconds, which is why the auto-analyzer notes frequent PVCs, which it wouldn't say if there were only one. -rc

Posted by Bill, San Antonio, Texas on August 30, 2008:

Randy, I've been a subscriber for well over 10 years, since long before there even was a premium edition. When the premium edition first came out, I subscribed to that until I got to the point that my little pension just wouldn't pay for my needs anymore. You've been one of my main heroes for years, and I point other people to your publications whenever I can.

Keep up the good work to the extent that you can, but take care of yourself first. We need more people like you.

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Thanks for your kind comments and support, Bill. Spreading the word is just as important to me as the financial support, so I really mean it when I say thanks for your ongoing support! -rc

Posted by Jo NH on August 30, 2008:

Glad to hear you're doing better, i can definitely relate to the palps you were experiencing....i will definitely miss 'True" if you decide to discontinue the free edition and i can sympathize with you having to pay out of pocket and i can also agree that while 24.00 bucks a year ain't much to pay for so much enjoyment, there are still some single parents out there like me who just can't find any extra cash for basic necessities, let alone luxury items! (and i do consider True to be luxurious) anyhoo, if a week is skipped, so be it, but please please, let us all know if True (free ed) is going to be cancelled for good. Best of luck....

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We'll definitely send notice if TRUE will be discontinued for good -- even if I'm killed in a wreck, a message will go out to let people know. I have no plans to discontinue the newsletter or my life, though: I plan to keep both going for quite some time! -rc

Posted by Jeff L. Anderson, Cambridge, OH on August 30, 2008:

Keep on pumping! Glad to hear how quickly this passed. I had nasty a-fib many years ago, after taking an outdated AND recalled drug, and my doc kept me on meds for six months and on frequent monitoring for another six months. When my a-fib started, in the middle of the night, I thought my neighborhood was having an earthquake! :)

Posted by Denise from Phoenixville PA on September 1, 2008:

I think that all of us who are able can pay for some of those who are not. I wouldn't mind paying $40 for the year. I so look forward to your editions of all three "publications".

Maybe a $24 minimum "Contribution" would help remind some that it needs to remain 'free' for many, so everyone can be reminded every week that there is intelligent life and hope out there.

Posted by Tom, Naples,FL on September 1, 2008:

I can sympathize with you. I have been having a similar problem recently, also seeming to be stress-related.

I had noticed palpitations occasionally before, but one day a month or so ago, I was having them constantly. My pulse was also doing weird things (I would feel like two normal beats, and then a pause, and then two more beats, etc.). I went to the doctor (walk-in clinic) and they put me through the wringer. The doctor told me mine was some kind of Atrial arrhythmia (supposedly less serious than PVCs according to the doctor), and my Potassium was low.

I also had a stress test, and was told my heart was normal. I was told it was not that unusual a condition for someone who has had undiagnosed sleep apnea for many years, as I did.

At any rate. I understand completely what you are going through. It scared me, too, and I am trying to "change my ways". I have been a Premium Subscriber for some time now, and fully intend to keep renewing. Hang in there! Best wishes!