Sharon - first the doctor has to determine why her iron is so low and look for that cause... is it iron deficiency anemia or another type of anemia or is she losing it rapidly due to heavy periods or some other major drain in the body with no means of dietary replacement, etc. It could be that she will need the B12 injections if she is missing the intrinsic factor that facilitates absorption/cby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - 20 years of afib - on and off - is a long time to put up with all afib entails. My best to you for a safe and successful ablation so that you can enjoy life in NSR without the stress and inconvenience of dealing with afib. Quality of life does mean everything, eventually. Be sure to let us know when you go so we can send in the angels. Jackie.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve - I was always tired and worn out as well. I commented I felt as if I were in hybernation. I was still working and it was a struggle to do my 10-hour days. Then I learned from Hans and this forum that vagals don't get along well with this type drug. No kidding! Has it stopped the afib for you? It didn't for me. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Isabelle - good thing you found out. Sorry you are having the difficulties, but the injections should help tremendously. I don't do the pleb but I still go for periodic B12 injections because my FM MD thinks many older people are definitely in need of this type assistance. While I've never felt different afte the B 12 injection, my methylation numbers look perfect so I most likelyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Fat chance! They would lose their advertising sponsors and revenue. All this excitotoxins press makes me wonder if anyone looked into Chief Justice Roberts' dietary intake of MSG and free glutamate. You recall that Fran suffered from seizures for 20 years and once she realized the impact and sources of free glutamates and observed her Paleo eating, her seizures went away. Most conventiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Peggy - I haven't had time to read it yet, but I will. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
In early July, some insider information came to Charles G. Brown and the National Counsel Consumers for Dental Choice. (resource: www.toxicteeth.org) Apparently, the ADA sent out an update to members only. Paragraph from ADA Update, July 1, 2007 The FDA has been contemplating regulatory action for several years to reclassify dental amalgam as either a class 2 or 3 material. (Componentsby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hypothyroid issues are also connected to elevated cholesterol... and I just heard a comment linking the thyroid function and iodine deficiency also to difficulties in normalizing cholesterol levels. We are a web of interactions and functions. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve - Betapace (sotolol) was my first heart med for afib. I certainly didn't feel myself while taking it. One of the easiest ways to determine what you can or cannot take with a drug is to ask the pharmacist. You should also report to your doctor that you don't feel well on this drug so perhaps a dose adjustment can be made. What's it doing for the arrhythmia? Anything? Jaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
You may recall my posting about the Space Doc, Duane Graveline, MD, who crusades about the dangers of statins after he suffered from transient global amnesia as a result of taking the statin, Lipitor. His first book on the topic was Lipitor, The Thief of Memory. Now he has a new book and is offering it over the internet at the site listed at the end. I thought this clip was particularly iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dr. Healy is the wife of Floyd Loop, MD, the former Charimand and CEO of the Cleveland Clinic for many, many years and retired in 2004.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
George - I believe this has to do with how taurine enables the appropriate electrolytes to remain in the cells longer - ie, magnesium and potassium. Taurine brings order to the flow in and out of the heart cells and acts like a traffic cop - letting in what's needed at that point in time. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Faith - thanks for this. Interesting reading. Fits many profiles I know of. Good luck with your treatment plan. Keep us posted. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Brian - it's a good article until they advised canola oil as a non-ssue and everyone should know that canola oil is not a healthy oil to consume. Olive oil, yes. And we know to avoid deep fried anything so we don't get the trans fats. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wil - Having sat through many presentations that dental professionals needed to know about the pitfalls of smoking so we could educate dental patients who were smokers, I seem to recall that it wasn't until the tobacco companies began tweaking the pure leaves to create cravings etc that suddenly 'they' discovered that tobacco causes lung cancer and, actually, it was the additiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Kay for the clarification - I'm sure Dr. Natale is well aware of the downside of that much aspirin - hopefully. On the nattokinase issue, if and when you get to the point where you are thinking about getting off aspirin so nattokinase could be used, email me and I'll share some details with you. Meantime - you are best advised to follow whatever Dr. Natale wants him to do.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kay - I would be a bit concerned about taking two adult aspirins daily regardless of any other supplements. I would be additionally concerned about using that much aspirin along with taurine....just because of the stomach irritation risk-factor.... understand that taurine doesn't create irritation, but aspirin does. One of the references I used for the Taurine Conference Room sessionby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jamilia - You can see the complete Taurine post here: Directly quoting out of the book, The Healing Nutrients Within by Eric Braverman, MD: "Side Effects and Contraindications: Taurine may elevate stomach acid and increase riskof ulcers, but only in individuals with a tendency toward increased stomach acid. Taking taurine with food, milk, or milk of magnesia, will alleviate this problby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Belinda - Your potassium level of 3.9 is low and may be the source of your ongoing afib. Since your magnesium is good and you've proven that you've reach cellular saturation (bowel intolerance), it is probably time to increase your potassium intake - start with more of the potassium-containing foods which is the preferred way to get potassium. Confirm with your doctor that your poby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Todd - Outstanding find! Mandatory viewing for every afibber. This must have been about 10 years ago when his book first came out. I've read his book, but this video is a great short cut to understanding the basic principle of excitiotoxins. Dr. Blaylock is my hero and this just re-emphasizes that fact. Thanks for posting. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Claire - I can understand your frustration with this thing. Susan suggests skipping the multi - I agree. Often there are forms of nutrients that are not appropriate for afibbers in that they tend to be excitatory. Calcium is excitatory to the heart cells and it has been known to be a trigger for many of us. If you decide to try some of the more helpful supplements that you've undoubtby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Belinda - I agree with both Howie and George - QoL is a key issue; but then there is the remodeling factor that comes with prolonged years with afib. Since most of the top EPs have a waiting list of up to a year in some cases, if ablation is on your mind, you would do well to make the contact and get on the waiting list. You can always put it off if you aren't ready. I presume you have trby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, Tom - there is a little lag or pause - just as you describe changing gears that always took my breath away for a brief moment. I recallmy cardiologist explaining the heart periodically 'resets' and this is what you feel... and probably this is similar when we convert from AF to NSR. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good News, Carol. The time will fly by between now and your second ablation with Dr. Natale. Glad everything went so well for you. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gary - I have been collecting some data on this topic and your post gives me the opportunity give some input. Having been active on this BB for over 5 years, I have seen a lot of postings similar to yours and I can really appreciate your dilemma. One thing seems to be fairly consistent - heavy exercisers like runners, bikers, etc all seem to be in denial about the 'chink' in their otherwise imby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Bill - all of the advice you've received is appropriate.... and I agree you should take the antibiotic. You can also take a probiotic at opposite times from the a/b dosing so that you help to replenish the good bacteria in the gut that is wiped out along with the bad. Take one that has both acidophilus and bifidus. A suggestion would be PB 8. Most local vitamin stores have it. Somby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bobbie Joe - thanks for your report. Remember to hydrate well before, during and after golfing.... especially if you are perspiring. Some time back, I mentioned a very handy packet of electrolytes to take on the golf course or anywhere just to have to add to water as a replenisher. Very portable. You can carry several easily. Costs under $10 for 36 packets. It's called EmerGenC by Alby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan - Most likely, the reason the CCF takes my word for the hours is that I'm a patient there and have a history with them. I was always directed to go to the ER by my cardiologist and then, later, the EP - Dr. Natale. I'm sure that's different than just walking into the ER. Because of the legal liability with the risk of clots forming around 48 hours, I can understand why thby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Jean. If you get curious, you can request that your doctor order a red blood cell magnesium test. It's a standard test. That will tell you intracellular levels of magnesium. Serum magnesium is not reflective of what's inside the cell. Serum potassium usually reflects about what the intracellular levels are, but the purists would say it's better to have both the intracby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM