Peter - where do you stand now with your afib? How frequent are your events? Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - Most likely it was not a case of a latent clot from afib that caused your stroke if there had been that much time between the last afib and the stroke. The blame likely lies with the hypertension coupled with elevated CRP (inflammation) and elevated fibrinogen. I agree with George in his last statement....with emphasis on an antiinflammatory diet. Jackie "As to minimizing theby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
James - another thought: How much calcium is in your multi? What brand is it so I can look at the ingredients online. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
James - I'm disappointed the ribose isn't helping you. Couple of questions... are you gluten free? Are you dairy free... ie, eating a good Paleo style eating plan? Avoiding all grains? If not, that can be contributory. If you haven't reviewed CR #54 about why Paleo eating seems to help afibbers, by all means do so now. Starchy carbs help to deplete both magnesium and potassiuby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - it used to be that a patient was required to be hospitalized to be sure they didn't have an untoward reaction to that drug. I was, but that was at least 10 years ago. Many afibbers posting here have used it PIP without being admitted for the trial so apparently, the risk is quite low for that adverse response. Since your events are relatively infrequent, I think it makes perfecby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - When I had my LAA clot - it was discovered on the spiral CT scan I had a week after I was cardioverted post-ablation. We figure the cardioversion caused the clot which it is known to do. The CT scan was the routine 3-month post-ablation checkback with Dr. Natale. It was a bit later than 3 months. He was looking for stenosis post-ablation and I had none... whether he either missed thby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - it's a matter of an individual's biochemical capacity or ability to 'lyse' the clot as that's what the body is designed to do....assuming it remains in the LAA.... for your case in point. I'm speculating that a clot probably remains there for a matter of weeks... but probably not months. It's said that when a person goes to the ER because of a strokeby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Christy - I wish you good luck with the homeopath. I tried that route when I was hoping to avoid ablation. I took a variety of homeopathic products, but unfortunately none of them seemed to help. In retrospect, I now know it was because none addressed the fundamental deficiency of magnesium and potassium which was probably compounded because I was on drugs for the arrhythmia and drugs help depby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - the flutter and afib situation has been discussed on and off. They usually ablate both at the same time if they can and certainly makes sense rather than have two costly procedures. At least you know now you have both. I'm hoping you can still turn it around with the electrolyte approach. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
No - Jim not specifically, but just from what I've read concerning the various forms ..... some of the cheaper brands use waxes and other compounds to facilitate production compression and mold release and these tend to be the ones that don't break down easily. You could always try to email him through Natural Factors. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - I can't emphasize enough the part about 'going slowly' in increasing dosing. It may take a long while for you to totally acclimate to the dosing AND utilize (absorb) to the fullest extent what you do take in. Much will be discarded before absorption occurs if you rush the process. The citrate version is the least likely to stay around. Focus on the Albion chelated versionby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sharon - you said: we expect it to happen because it always happens, so it happens. Psychotherapist, Wayne Dyer, PhD always reminds us that "you are what you think about.... all day long." In his presentations, he never fails to give examples of people who dwell on various things and how not dwelling can really change that action or said another way, refocus the energy or intention iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
To George's comment - I agree about the kelp... should try to avoid that due to the MSG. And at one time it was discussed quite vigorously here about avoiding any product with the ligand of aspartate or aspartic acid or any term similar because it was felt that was excitatory. I've never experimented with that form as a result of those warnings so I can't offer any first-hand exby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jim - I think it depends on whether or not you have adequate stomach acid production to break down the tablet. That's where they come apart unless it's the Albion magnesium glycinate, and that doesn't breakdown as a result of stomach acid. I feel capsules are more easily broken down and try to use mainly those, myself, but on occasion the product I prefer is in tablet form. Sby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - everything I read says divided dosing is better. If you add too much at one time, you may waste some because it may not all be absorbed efficiently. As we've mentioned many times with magnesium supplementing, you have to have an optimal IC level of magnesium before the potassium can work, otherwise, it just makes arrhythmia worse. Many people are in a rush and try to supplement evby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - then coming from that direction.... and since your afib is under control and you take nattokinase...yes? ... then I would just continue to use the NK (6000 FU daily) and tell your physicians that you are comfortable with its protective mechanisms. That said, I'd also be very sure your CRP and fibrinogen are low (indicating your blood viscosity is also low) and be aware of your fby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
If you depend on nutritional supplements, you'll want to stay informed as this unfolds:by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
George - Interesting correlation. In one of his many excellent interviews, Ron Rosedale MD - the insulin expert - says that eventually, everyone has glucose handling issues. He observes that lab animals who manage to survive the other insults and become old, all eventually die from the diabetes/glucose handling issue - not of heart disease, cancer etc, but the glucose issue. You may recall thby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
George - yes, I hear you. However, I know of patients who were 'fired' by their physicians for not agreeing "the plan" and that left them in a sticky situation to find another who fit into their limited plan. I agree that it could be just a matter of 'forgeting' to take coumadin or being non-compliant, but then eventually, it would be noticed the patient didn'by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
George - that works for me, but in some instances, the doctors to whom you have access may refuse to see you as a patient. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ivan - I presume that you are not on Medicare? MC does cover it. You should contact Exatest yourself and explain the insurance denial and ask that they honor the fee that was mentioned for those who do not have insurance.... I quoted some time back (12/09) that it was $250 w/o insurance... it may have changed a bit since then, but it's a lot less than the $700. This post below indicateby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well hello Kagey!!! So very nice to see your post. I'm so glad you are doing so well. Thanks for that input based on your conversation with Dr. Natale. After my surprise breakthroughs, I've learned that making sure my magnesium and potassium intake is optimal is critical as is adding ribose. Those along with carnitine and CoQ10 plus a substantial B complex seem to keep my heart sby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - Much of what's written about stroke risk issues indicates the reason you are kept on coumadin post-stroke is the likelihood of another stroke... regardless of whether you also have afib. The afib history would be just another contributing factor and one more reason to continue to prescribe the anticoagulant. It is the standard of care. Most physicians won't deviate from thby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - I would be very cautious about EPs who are willing to do an ablation without some restrictive criteria or standards in place. The most important consideration is that the EP has abundant experience and a good track record for safety and success. As we know, ablations are not totally without risk. The other very important consideration is that the facility where the ablation will be perby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - Mine did not. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, George - I had forgotten the details of your glucose history. Remember too that magnesium is key in the metabolism of glucose and for those who are wasters or become insulin resistant due to damaged magnesium receptors, then the dysglycemia is a result. Thanks for pointing out that protein supplies the needed carb for body function... that's the premise of Rosedale's statementby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks George - He is certainly a marvel. Right up there with Ron Rosedale, MD, who manages to get diabetic patients off insulin with his protocols. The key to managing that blood glucose issue for many diabetics is the carb intake control and exercise. As you recall, Rosedale says there is zero reqirement in the body for carb intake and recommends if one does have a tiny amount, they immediatby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike - There are many such articles. I did use SAMe when I was battling AF for all of the reasons mentioned. I did not find it helpful (in my body) and it was extremely expensive because the claimed effective doses were high. Since I had the surprise AF breakthrough 4 and 5 years post-ablation, I found that the ribose was the missing link to what I needed. Obviously others may be different, bby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
A number of years ago ('04), I posted notes from the Anti-Aging Congress held annually and in many locations. This was Functional Medicine MD - Pamela Smith's presentation on hormones. Following is the clip on Andropause. Note her comments on low cholesterol levels and testosterone and also comments on the cancer issue. Her presentation was standing-room-only in a room of 500 or more particiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
For both diabetics and non-diabetics and especially 'pre-diabetics' or those who are insulin resistant, an important measurement of glucose handling function is the test called Hemoglobin A1C. My doctor checks mine 2 or 3 times a year and since I was insulin resistant at one point time (thanks to beta blockers). She likes my level to be around 5.0 or lower. The range for normal is 4by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM