Peg - go to the Conference Room and read sessions 39 and 40... I have used NZymeCeutical's NKinase which is the approved NSK-SD form for over four years, both before and after my ablation procedure. I also use vitamin E and fish oil and have no problems with blood becoming 'too thin.' My functional medicine MD monitors my Protime periodically to make sure I'm not overby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
The FDA has cleared for marketing a genetic test to gauge a patient's sensitivity to the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin). The Verigene warfarin metabolism test, manufactured by Nanosphere, detects variants of two genes, CYP2C9 and VKORC1, which can contribute to changes in warfarin metabolism. The agency says that about one-third of patients on warfarin "metabolize it quite differeby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Welcome, Joe. It sounds as if you have identified your triggers very well. It is well acknowledged that stress, sugar, carbs and alcohol all deplete magnesium. Salt or high-sodium diets (fast food, packaged, manufactured foods) - all high in sodium deplete potassium as does heavy exercise with perspiration. These critical minerals also called electrolytes function inside the heart cells toby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older men and women who take nutritional supplements are more likely to get adequate amounts of several vitamins and minerals than their peers who don't use supplements, a new study shows. (But there are some cautions as to too much of certain nutrients.) Read more:by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Aldona~ At long last! I'm so very happy that you finally have a peaceful heart. If anyone deserves it, you are the one. Thanks for sharing your afib and ablation experiences with us as your story is certainly one to remember. I wish you good health and NSR for the rest of your days! Best to you, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kagey - do some searches on - hypertrophic cardiomyopathy selenium deficiency - I recall that there were studies or at least a good deal of press about this in the early 90's. Also do search and substitute carnitine for selenium. here's a good outline of the potentials.... A friend's brother was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. CoQ10 was advised but it was tooby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Larry - if you subscribe to Hans' Afib Report, you can review his excellent review article on the use of Aspirin in the June 2007 issue. You should also consider getting his Thrombosis and Stroke Prevention book. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello Dick~ Thanks for sharing your updated experiences in such detail. Your report certainly was well done. I can certainly appreciate how you feel. Let's hope as your recovery progresses, there will be no recurrence. You may have missed several of the posts I've done about using d-ribose ( ribose ) to help the heart. Several afibbers who tried it have told me of their personal successes aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Beta blockers are of no use to vagal afibbers; it slows their heart rate down too much. I was one such vagal afibber and found out on this forum what the cardiologist at the time either didn't know or care to know. One size fits all approach. Yes, Barb, I had an ablation and was afib free until recnetly and have had a few breakthrough arrhythmias that have been converted successfully witby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie always emphasizes that magnesium without potassium doesn't work as well. There is a lot to learn in all of this. It's not that it doesn't work as well, but that too much potassium in the presence of low magnesium can make arrhythmia worse. Make sure you start taking at least 600 mg. magnesium glycinate and after a few weeks of that, start introducing the potassium supplby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron - I didn't completely describe my protocol directed by Dr. Natale, my CCF EP.... this is for the breakthrough that I've had since ablation, but it would be the same even without ablation. I am to take 25 mg. Toprol or metoprolol at the onset. Wait 30 minutes and then take 100 mg. flecanide. Wait and if in an hour or so, I have not converted, then take another 100 flecanide. Sby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elena - Dr. Natale did not require a CT scan prior to my consult, although an EKG and an Echocardiogram was ordered first before the consult time. I'm sure if something is required, you can do it locally and have it sent to Dr. Natale in advance of your consult. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Benj - I can appreciate how you feel - my first breakthrough was 103 days after ablation. It turned out to be an isolated event, although I did have to be cardioverted at hour 39. Don't be discouraged. This could also be just an isolated event for you. I went 3 years before I had another breakthrough. Try to stay calm and not obsess about the what ifs. Remember also, many people havby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron - I use it now that I've had breakthrough arrhythmia after ablation almost 4 years ago. I take 25 mg. at the onset - I chew it and wash down with warm water hoping that it is dissolved more quickly. My instructions are to wait 30 minutes and then take the anti-arrhythmic. You could try your dose and just wait it out to see if you will convert naturally in a couple of hours. If nothby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
The directions for taping are to use an easily separated or removable tape in case you get in trouble. There is a special one that the instructors of Buteyko eucapnic breathing recommend. I can't recall the name. I've used it myself and it would be easy to remove in case of emergency while one was sleeping or trying to wakeup enough for removal. Otherwise, that could become dangeroby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Carol - Sorry our emails are being bounced for some reason. Rest up and be patient. Let's hope this is the end of your afib concerns and you can finally relax and begin to enjoy life again. Best to you, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for your input Barbara. I was vagal and I did much of what you describe plus more and it never helped at all. Everyone is different. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Laura - it's unfortunate that afib kicked in after flutter ablation but that's not at all uncommon and it's not the EPs fault. If the flecanide is working for you, that's great for as long as it works, but just remember, flecanide can become pro-arrhythmic with time so you may want to get some second opinions lined up with one of the top EPs in the country so you can get on aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sarah - depending on who the original EP was, I would probably look for another EP. That said, however, even the top EPs counsel that it often takes two ablations to achieve the desired results. I had mine with Dr. Natale who said often a second is needed. Several posters here seeing Dr. Natale have indeed needed second ablations. You should take your time and consult with one of the top EPsby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Karen - I'm not a doctor, but I did have an 8-year journey with afib before ablation. It makes no sense to me to put you on a drug full time with only one event a year -- especially since flecanide tends to become pro-arrhythmic over time. I think the suggestion George offers about the on demand pill - or Pill in Pocket (PIP) approach makes a great deal of sense. Consider that you are pby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Raybock and BillD for this info. I'm really glad to see something substantial come out on this topic aimed at public awareness ...but... Not emphasized enough in this article is the fact that many people who are not true celiacs also have sensitivities to both the gluten and gliaden proteins as well as an outright allergy to wheat. Two separate things but all manifesting with simiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - that's what I meant about 'suppressed' stress. Internalizing it all is a deadly practice. I agree with your post 100%. In one of his newsletters years ago, cardiologist Stephen Sinatra said that men should cry. He said " stress relievers vary from vigorous exercise to relaxation techniques, but one tremendous reliever readily available to women and once considered &by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sharon - good work! Also, people who are tired or have tired muscles are frequently low in potassium as well.... not to mention B vitamins. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heres another example of how confusing it can be to rely on published studies and the interpretations by those reporting. It serves to emphasize that we, as lay persons, may not be able to interpret study findings based on the limited access we have to the full study data. Once again, this points out why we should be skeptical at taking many of these reports at face value without checking severby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ritze - the stress factors go along with the recent posts I offer on dysfunctional adrenals as a result of chronic stress - long term. If adrenals are hypofunctional or burned out, the whole cascade starting in the HPA will result in other cells and organs malfunctioning downstream.... among the symptoms mentioned were palpitations and arrhythmias.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm late joining this, but I'm going with the hypothesis that men have more suppressed stress. This definitely creates imbalances with stress hormone production. (This does not discount supressed stress in women - I'm certainly an example of that as is Sharon who also lived a life of stress but our numbers are obviously fewer.) I'm also thinking that more men push endurancby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Paula - this is not a technical explanation. Flutter typically has to be diagnosed with an EKG. I've had flutter that felt like a very calm afib event..not chaotic at all. It would be difficult to distinguish flutter just by how it feels in your chest. Pulse monitoring may give a clue, but with mine, it felt just like typical afib but only at a slower rate. Others will give you theiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Doug - if you work in a hot climate and perspire alot, it's probably a given that you are low in potassium unless you are a vegetarian who eats abundant vegetables and fruits. A serum blood test for potassium will fairly well duplicate what is going on inside the cells for potassium stores. Not so for magnesium, though. For that, you need the Red Blood Cell analysis for Magnesium as seby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - If you want to experiment with a remedy and if this cyclical thing bothers you enough, and if you can chart your seasonal occurrences to be predictable, you could also consider adding some Beta-1,3 / 1,6-Glucan to help boost immunity through those periods. You don't take it continually, just to help when an illness starts. I've used it in the past when I would get seasonalby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM