Not long after the time of this news, I found the following clip posted online which is one of Dr. Rowen's newsletters... Avoid Massive Strokes Naturally 01/18/2006 Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon recently suffered a catastrophic stroke. He remains in a coma as I write. This wasnt Sharons first stroke. He suffered a very minor stroke just a few weeks prior to this one. You may think tby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron - First, you should know that there are cardiologists and then there are cardiologists that specialize in rhythm disturbances and some take extra training and are called Electrophysiologists. Many cardiologists are not experts in managing arrhythmias and aren't really well versed in the fine points of medication. We have many people here taking flecainide without the beta blocker. Iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Don - to put your mind at ease, you really should arrange for a consultation with one of the top EPs and discuss your case... history, age, tolerance to meds, etc. That way you'll hear it from an expert and your concerns will be addressed. Don't settle for the neighborhood cardiologist or EP who isn't on the front-lines and considered an expert. It's the only way you'lby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Salwa thanks so much for taking the time to give us your input and perspective on this topic. Its definitely valuable information. Best to you, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mark Dont be discouraged. Thats the way afib works. Just when you think you have it cured, it will return. Now that Erling is posting again, Im reminded of one of his stories. He had gone for many, many years something like 10 plus, free of afib but got into a situation where his truck died in the desert; lots of sweating while he labored to repair it and he became dehydrated. Bby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barb, as far as having enough calcium, a diet with lots of leafy green veggies high in calcium will give you enough to satisfy the requirements needed for muscle contractions. In the presence of magnesium deficiency inside heart cells, calcium competes or really dominates over magnesium and is excitatory or stimulatory. Thats what we dont want. Calcium from dairy products does not provideby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
MJ - sometimes it's possible to negotiate that you'll be hooked up with IV glucose, saline etc while you wait out your time for a procedure. I've done that because of hypoglycemia. While it still isn't pleasant waiting for long periods, it does seem to help. Even when you have first-slot procedure, ioften there are unforeseen delays. The IV drips are really helpful. I aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Mike - I have reported previously that Flecainide did cause vision disturbances for me. The ophthalmologist said it was unlikely. When I stopped the drug after ablation, the blurriness and vision distortion went away. I cant help but think it was the Flecainide and I know it wasnt my imagination. My eye health is otherwise good but I do wear corrective lenses and have a slight changeby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Louise, I had not intended to be back on line today but as I was doing my errands this morning, I was nagged by my incomplete response to you. I should have said, before I actually went for the 12-hour fasting blood draw, I practiced with several 'dress-rehearsals' over several months. I had no draw scheduled; I just went about the whole routine to see how my body might respond figuriby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Louise - I typically do what Isabelle suggests except I limit the carbs. I eat something sustaining at 8 pm, if I am to have an 8 am draw. Actually, these days, I'm so much improved I can go about 12 hours without becoming hypoglycemic....but the thought is always on my mind so I like the earliest appointment possible for the draw.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ritze - studies don't always mean the information published is accurate. We have hundreds, if not thousands, of examples of the truth in that statement. Consider checking the website Erling mentions and reading the online book by magnesium researcher, Mildred Seelig. Magnesium deficiency in the majority of the population is a fact..not a myth, regardless of what the NIH might publish.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Joyce - I hope you are re-'enlightened' as much as I am each time I read PC's post. Each section takes on new meaning with each read because I relate it to different situations and for different people. Don't be discouraged over the hostility. Killing the messenger is a common response from people who refuse to open their minds to the possibilities. It comes with the terrby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Erling for your input. It's good to have you back. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elaine - to put your mind at ease, I've taken taurine for 5 years. My homocysteine has been checked regularly even before that time. Initially, it was too high... about 9 and now it's down around 5 or 6 - (can't remember without looking at my charts.) So, if taurine increased homocysteine levels, I would be in trouble and instead, I've actually lowered the numbers. Art-by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Howie - I have to agree. When I sat at the AF Summit and watched the video clips of catheters making ablation lines/burns, I thought it was nothing short of a miracle that they could do that as you say, "on a moving target" and we survived enjoy another day. Ablation is a stop-gap measure that renders us asymptomatic... if we're lucky. It does not cure or address the initial rby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sorry - at least that per meal... men need more.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mark - Hans just brought forward Erling's story which also appears in Hans first book... Toward a Cure, Volume 1. <; Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
We have many new readers since Patrick Chambers, MD, known here as PC and our physician expert, former afibber, now successfully ablated at Bordeaux., posted his classic piece in the Conference Room on Magnesium and Potassium (2003). PC has been a prolific poster, Father of the Brain Cramp, and has offered a tremendous amount of well-researched information and enlightenment about LAF. We oweby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mark - I believe this article was brought forth in one of our numerous discussions over affects of exercise and resultant ectopy. While it doesn't specifically address your question to Wil, it does point out that in certain situations (in this case athletes and exercise) post-exercice PVCs or ectopy is a predictor of increase risk of death. (So they aren't always totally benign.) Nby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Cardiac autonomic instability in the elderly might predict future complications June 17, 2008 | Crina Frincu-Mallos Baltimore, MD - A study using data from the Sleep Heart Health Study shows a significant reduction in heart-rate variability in the elderly during sleep compared with the general population [1]. "Heart rate and heart-rate variability reflecting autonomic changes during diffby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim - Refer to the recent alert by Barbara <> and this article from one of her links: Medicure Pharmas attempt to ban the natural, bioactive form of vitamin B6 On 30 November 2007, Medicure Pharma submitted a citizens petition to FDA that asserts that all dietary supplements containing pyridoxal 5-phosphate (P5P supplements) are adulterated under FDC Act § 402(f). Despite the fact thaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan - if you have lavender oil or any Purification left, put that on - neat - no dilution...right on the skin. It will reduce inflammation and stop any attempt at infection quickly. Essential oils are my first line of defense for any cut, bite, scratch, bruise, etc. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dennis - what ever works for you.... but keep in mind a couple of things about kefir if you continue to have afib. First - I love kefir but try to avoid dairy. Kefir - from whole milk (plain unflavored, unsweetened ) has the following nutritional breakdown 1 cup yields: Total Fat 5g Sat Fat 0g Trans Fat 0 Cholesterol 30mg Sodium 125mg Total Carb12g Fiber 3g Sugars 8g Protein 10g Dietary calby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sharon - that's a very reasonable and healthy approach. It's very important not to skip meals and especially critical for those who have glucose handling issues which would include insulin stability. Thanks for posting that information. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sis - if you run into a road block with the Brand name request... you can always take the pharmacist up on the offer to order in what had worked for you previously. Read the Consumer's Lab report - it indicates some generics are okay. As I mentioned, I used the generic from the wrong lab and it still worked. I just didn't want to rely on using it again and having an adverse affect sby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
While the statement is true that zinc is an antagonist. of copper.. it's not really necessary to take extra copper if you eat a good diet. Copper isn't that hard to get and it only needs to be small amounts....too much copper is not a good thing. Zinc, on the other hand, often becomes depleted and is in short supply so adding a zinc supplement is frequently recommended. As an exampleby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jennifer.... I suffered greatly from hypoglycemia bringing on afib in the middle of the night - from 2 am to 5 am. The solution is to eat a protein-containing snack about an hour before bed. People who are fast metabolizers often can't go 12 hours without eating. Refrain from eating anything sweet - even fruit - in the evening and all starchy carbs should also be avoided in the evening mby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Joyce - some afibbers found that l-carnitine was too stimulatory and brought on afib. I was one. I doubt that the lipoic acid is the culprit. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many people who have problems with absorption of B6 due to convresion factors and are directed to use the biological form of B6 called pyridoxal 5' phosphate (or P5'P). It's ready to be absorbed without further conversion from B6 and is non-toxic. It's a separate supplement.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM