![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
Thanks Hans for your input. I also agree that the Maze is overkill absent other concomitant cardiac surgery. But for LAFers, and even with the modified versions of Maze, patients seem not to be as pain-free at discharge as they are with catheter ablation the next day. That alone gives me pause as to whether its worth the extra recovery time, but I freely admit to my bias based on my own by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jeff - I've known two patients with sarcoidosis and it was difficult to get rid of, but neither had afib. (Both got it while traveling.) Consider the inflammation connection. What's being done to eradicate the mycobacterium associated with sarcoidosis? As long as that inflammation exists, it's likely you'll continue with afib. Heart: Researchers estimate that cardiac sarcby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz - I understand that CRP can be elevated even with a tooth problem or probably even a hangnail ...but the High Sensitivity or Cardiac CRP is (obviously) heart-specific and it should be monitored regularly in anyone who has cardiac issues. I don't think once a year is enough. Much can change in a year's time. The important thing for this topic is getting a baseline HS CRP andby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shannon - definitely increase your green leafy veggies and then adjust the coumadin accordingly to reach your 2.0 Often low levels of vitamin K in patients leads to unstabile warfarin dosing. The key is just be very consistent. I recall that Lynn of San Diego used to weigh her spinach leaves that she ate daily to ensure consistency.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Paul - it can be if it doesn't cause bowel intolerance. The citrate form of magnesium is typically used as a laxative and in order to get enough of the magnesium inside cells, it's often necessary to increase the magnesium product to fairly high levels which is often not possible with magnesium citrate. You'll just have to experiment. If you tolerate the citrate and your afib diby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
There is alot of merit in the quote: "Food is your FIRST best medicine"... if we all ate a high quantity of magnesium-containing foods along with potassium, we might not have had the problem in the first place.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Paul - it can be if it doesn't cause bowel intolerance. The citrate form of magnesium is typically used as a laxative and in order to get enough of the magnesium inside cells, it's often necessary to increase the magnesium portion to fairly high levels which is often not possible with magnesium citrate. You'll just have to experiment. If you tolerate the citrate and your afib diby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
oops...sorry... I meant to type less invasive than catherization - which was so prevalent there for a while to determine blockage.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dave and Thor - see the post I offered today to Dean on Silent Strokes... it really comes down to - testing for markers of silent inflammation and the other risk factor's we've frequently mentioned here and addressed again in that post. Of course, a thalium stress test would show blockages in coronary arteries and is less invasive than angiogram. The spiral CT scan shows calcificatiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dean once again remember the tendency for stroke in LAFers is minimal by comparison. (keep eating your natto food!) This months Blaylock Wellness Report is on Reducing Stroke Risk. Some of the key points follow: Chronic inflammation is at the root of both types of strokes (hemorrhagic and ischemic) . Most ischemic strokes (due to blocked blood vessels) are caused by hardening arteries,by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol - as you know, the experts say if you have a successful ablation, then triggers should not be able to stimulate an event. Alcohol was a definite trigger before my ablation. It does not seem to be so now, but I only test that infrequently since I have had those breakthroughs last year. My ablation was in 2003 and only in the last two years or so have I tried a glass of beer or wine.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
George - have them check for arsenic and lead as well as the mercury. They impact health seriously when accumulated in tissue. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sharon - that's great news and undoubtedly a welcome addition to your dietary selections. I'd miss salads alot if I couldn't eat them or anything raw...but it's good you took the time to heal your gut. Very important. Good job! Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mark - the buffering of acidity in the kidneys comes from the minerals in the blood that act as buffers... calcium, magnesium, potassium, etc. That's what the kidney does...buffer immediately because high acid will 'fry' the delicate tissue in the kidney. When adequate minerals are not readily available in the blood, they are pulled from storage..and the largest reservoir is bonby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sharon - I have read many times that in leg surgery, especially in the elderly, it's important to include nattokinase before and immediately after the surgery as the tendency for clotting is high. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
So true, Peggy. Even in NE Ohio and with the warming effect of Lake Erie, I gave up years ago trying to grow any type of melon. The season was just not long enough. The sugar content of watermelon makes it acceptable only as an occasional treat; but what a treat it is when the homegrown versions are ready here. I've not noticed they don't taste good, but I don't eat much, eitby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Taurine ushers electrolytes in and out of cells like a traffic cop. This is especially important in heart cells where we need abundant magnesium inside and calcium out; and also, potassium in and sodium out. The original post, "What About Taurine?" may offer some reasons why it might be helpful in your particular biochemistry. Everyone is different; you won't know until you eby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barb -the Exatest measures the electrolytes inside cells - including calcium and the ratio of Ca to Mg. That's about as perfect as you can get. If you are too high in Ca inside the cells, it can be contributing to afib. Typically, the remedy is to make sure that you take in more magnesium than calcium. If you are loading up on dairy and ignoring magnesium, your afib may well continue...by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes - Sorry - Hans - I should have included Natural Factors as I mention them frquently for the reasons you state. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric - I do think that adding magnesium first for a couple weeks and then potassium would be worth trying. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, George, you can buy supplements that are professional grade and have the benefit of assays and screening for all the undesirables. Brands like Designs for Health, Metagenics, Standard Process, Pure Encapsulations, Biotics, Ortho-Molecular, Thorne, Klaire Labs etc. come to mind. They are typically sold through professional offices and therein lies the rub, but they are available. It justby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam - I enjoyed George Carlin. Saw him in person years ago. Several articles indicated a connection between cannabis and his heart problem..and said he was a big fan of MJ. Don't know how true that is but there is support for the cardiomyopathy connection. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tony - You're in the best of hands with Dr. Natale. Some time ago, we used to say, we'd "call in the angels when a person was going in for ablation"... The angels are always available and we'll summon them for you and Dr. Natale tomorow. You'll be fine. Special blessings to you. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Since it's used in over 300 enzymatic reactions in the body - continually - and if we don't replenish adequately, it's fairly easy to imagine how we could be deficient... especially if you consider all the items that contribute to deficiency including stress, exercise, noise, etc.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric - how's your water intake? Often some of the side effects you describe come from lack of proper hydration. That's not to say that the Flecainide isn't contributing to some degree, but afibbers who do intense exertional activities need to be aware of how essential it is to hydrate adequately as well as replace the lost electrolytes that enevitably occur. Low magnesium tenby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
The following article just came through and since weve posted on this previously, I wanted to continue the thread regarding Tim Russert. Note the comment about CRP measurement for silent inflammation. It's especially critical to understand and be tested for levels of silent inflammation. We've posted on this often so you can do a search here and find more. Also important information in thisby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Beta blockers in vagals will make afib worse. I was on both a BB and flecainide and was making no progress at all. Then I found Hans' forum and learned that vagally mediated afibbers should not take beta blockers. I stopped (on my own) and for a while, afib control was much better... however, it was not until I completely optimized intracellular stores of magnesium by the use of magnesiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'd just like to comment that unless your family and friends understand the detrimental effect of carbohydrate intake from grains on everyone's body ... the inflammatory process, the tendency to reactions to antibodies that build as a result of grain intake, and all of the other reasons mentioned in CR #54, you are like a salmon swimming upstream when it comes to defending the health pby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Geroge - thanks for taking the time to sleuth this out and report the findings. Without knowing or understanding the comparative measurement diferences, I can't comment on those levels. No comment was made on mercury which is certainly also present or PCBs, etc. Arsenic, as an example, is in the earth's crust and we can't totally avoid exposure. Likewise with lead. My community has well waterby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM