Gregg - for those who are vagal afibbers, a beta blocker isn't helpful... and in fact, can make afib worse. I was one. My heart rate was already low and the BB made it lower. Didn't make sense. That said, post-ablation, I use the metoprolol to slow my heart before adding an anti-arrhythmic should I have a breakthrough event. The PIP approach works very well. The negatives hereby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Claudia - If it's out-patient surgery, you'll have better luck controlling your electrolytes but if you have a stay, then either make sure they will monitor your magnesium and potassium or plan to take your supplements with you and take them as you can. I wouldn't obsess over this too much since you are doing so well, but it's always smart to be mindful of electrolytes.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Alex - the variety of eating plans out there are indeed numerous. Many are published by physicians and other healthcare professionals who have directed patients successfully enough to claim to have found a 'healthy' eating plan. Those physicians and researchers working to eliminate the health consequences of a high glycemic load diet all seem to agree that carbohydrates - specificaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Debbie - I can certainly understand hunger and in a large person, as well. He needs a very ample portion of quality protein and healthy fat at every meal and snack. If he gets that, he won't have that craving for carb calories that aren't that useful or healthy. Adding at least two tablespoons of cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil daily helps significantly with satiety. But failingby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - Unfortunately, when we seek professional help, we often aren't in a bargaining position to take or not take what they think is best. Short-term, the Zetia will probably help with both cholesterol and inflammation. The key being lowering inflammation. Go with the flow until you see improvement... hopefully soon. Thinking of you. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Debbie - I hear what you are saying about gluten being difficult to give up and for that very reason it may be very important to do so. We crave the foods that are most harmful for some reason. To be rid of the adverse effects of silent inflammtation etc from gluten, you have to be off it at least two months... strictly.... and often much longer. I'd try to have him reconsider that again.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
My goodness, Peggy. What a terrible experience. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us all posted on what they finally detemine and what the solutions may be. I'm calling for Angels for Peggy. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sue - with healthy kidney function and no kidney disease or impairment, magnesium is processed continually with the excess being flushed out via feces and urine. If you get too much magnesium, it will be eliminated via bowel intolerance and fairly rapidly, at that. If you don't have healthy kidney function, then one must take magnesium under the supervision of a physician. Magnesium iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Pam - I probably reported this in the past... Endocrinologist Diana Schwarzbein says that "Beta blockers block the action of adrenaline. If you are insulin resistant or have burned-out adrenal glands, these drugs are not a good choice. They can increase your insulin resistance and make the symptoms of adrenal gland burnout worse because they block the action of adrenaline. If youby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Here are my thoughts on the questions you pose. There is no question it is life-altering. Everything turns upside down in an instant with the onset of afib .or so it seems. We can all relate to your comments about the inconvenience and anxiety that comes with afib and your comments are certainly familiar to most of us. I certainly commend you for the time youve spent researching and helpingby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Is all your blood chemistry within the normal range? Consider requesting a Red Blood Cell magnesium test so you know your intracellular magnesium level and check to see if your serum potassium levels are around 4.5. If your diet includes a lot of starchy carb type food (flour/wheat/gluten content) consider the recommendations suggested in CR #61 as a major change that has worked very well fby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I know a few people who report diarrhea that stopped when coumadin was stopped.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great photos....I never tire of looking at these amazing magnifications. Here's where the nattokinase enzyme really shines. It breaks down those fibrous strands that capture the cellular debris that form clots...and keeps it soft rather than hard and structured so it will slide through the small junctures and strictures rather than becoming a 'road' block and stopping blood fby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Alex - some initial indications were that it was important to take NK away from food. Later on, it was reported that NK is remains unaffected by stomach acid so taking it with food does not diminish the quality ior efficacy of the enzyme. I've been taking NK daily for over 7 years and I've always taken a dose in the morning...(2000 FUs) which sometimes is with food and sometimes,by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - I continued to take Omega 3's with coumadin during the times required pre- and post ablation. It was directed by my FM MD. The idea is to take the nutrients you need for health and adjust the warfarin accordingly. I have low blood platelets which makes for incompatibility with coumadin and even then, I had no adverse bleeding problems from 'over-thinning' of blood. Iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynn - everything I've ever heard about detoxification whether it is oral chelation, oral detoxification and other methods or IV chelation claims that when the organs of detoxification - skin, kidneys and liver - are free of toxins that clog them, then the absorption process for all nutrients is greatly enhanced. This makes sense. On the lead topic, everyone is on overload with lead theseby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
A March 19, 09 business review on Multaq from the standpoint of Sanofi-Aventis SA indicated that an outside panel of medical experts voted 10 - 3 in favor of the drug approval. They commented Multaq was one of the most important products in Sanofi's pipeline and revenue from several of their other top-selling drugs including Plavix and Lovenox is expected to delcine over the next few yearsby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mary Ann - glad you have the K gluconate on hand. I'd just persist with teaspoon doses spaced out throughout the day.... but remember that unless your magnesium levels inside the heart cells is optimal, extra potassium may make it worse. So, really, as George mentions, all three in what I call the Essential Trio are really important. Along that line, perhaps you can have your Internistby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - ask for the high sensitivity or Cardiac CRP.... that focuses on the cardiovascular rather than just the general scope general inflammation. If you have the privilege of requesting specific blood tests, I'd also add Homocysteine and fibrinogen (in addition to what Isabelle suggests). All these are important markers in cardiovascular risk. If you have limitations on number, then emphby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Valda - sorry, I had forgotten it was the second try. Consider John F's recent experience. He had two unsuccessful ablations with a well known EP and just went for the third with Dr. Natale and so far is now doing well. It may that a third will be what Bill needs as well. You offer up an interesting point as a connection to the increasing incidence of afib and in some cases, there probaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mary Ann - thanks for your story . I'm sure it was the 'loaded' with salt issue that prompted so much ectopy. You are probably low on potassium to begin with and adding large amounts of sodium makes you even lower as sodium competes with potassium for space inside cells - especially important in heart cells as you found out. If you don't have a container of potassium glucby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jeff - is your eyesight okay? I had a patient who had shingles that traveled down the nerve path to her eye area. She delayed seeking help for some unknown reason and lost the sight in that eye. Tragic. Shingles are nasty. Some people have horrific pain and aftermath. Fortunately, I was spared both. If you've had chicken pox, then you are at risk of having the dormant virus reactivateby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dick - it's recommended we consume a variety of antioxidants. If you recall, when I returned from A4M (anti-aging congress), I reported that Eric Braverman, MD, was emphasizing the importance of taking N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC) that he thought was the ultimate a/o and is definitely important in preventing the lipid peroxidation that occurs in LDL cholesterol that makes it so dangerous and damagby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just as a matter of information, if you haven't had the vaccine and think you may be experiencing an outbreak of shingles, you can rush to the doctor and get the prescription drug called Famvir. If taken in the very first day or two of the outbreak, it stops shingles cold. I did this. I set to leave town and noticed odd tingling on my upper back and a couple of red bumps. Fortunately, Iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Paul - yes two doses a day.... but keep in mind that 50 mg is a fairly small dose. Larger people may need higher doses twice a day to get the afib under control. Starting low and increasing if needed is smart because you want to control it with the least amount of medication possible. There was man posting some years back that couldn't get his afib under control with flecainide. He consby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello Valda - thanks for your update. Just a thought regarding Bill's ablation success and the alcohol issue. I don't recall if he gave up alcohol for the entire healing period, but if not, then possibly that insult was contributory to encouraging afib to recur. The other thought is that the ablation is not successful. The experts say that if it is successful then you can eat, driby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sharon - very minor. My first holistic MD advised regular use of digestive enzymes that included betaine hydrochloric acid. That solved that but this was before I began the afib journey. Later, I tested positive for Candida and resolved that. It caused bloating after starchy meals but once conquered, I still had regular afib events. On the amalgam front - I have none. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jean - I have no idea. Never taken it. For those bothered with frequent UTIs, taking a high quality, high-count probiotic daily usually combats that problem nicely. Perimenopausal women who have frequent UTIs can benefit from a topical natural estrogen cream. You can email me on this if you like. However, I'd certainly want to try the d-mannose as well. Seems like an excellent naturby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan - K1 from vegetables can be obtained easily with a well planned dietary intake. That's fine for normal clotting needs. However, the K2 that is needed to direct calcium into bones and not into soft tissue is in the form of Menaquinone 7 (MK7) and supplementing is the easist and most reliable way to get the daily 45 micrograms you need. Check this resource's comments on food souby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM