Dave - I am sorry for your misery. At the risk of sounding overly critical, I do believe you have a long way to go to clean up your diet (Mexican food, marguerita, Chinese food, alcohol, ice cream )... any or all of which could by your triggers. Here are a few observations: In the list of supplements you take, consider dropping the glucosamine and the chondroitin. You could be sensitiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Adrian - I'm sorry you have the diagnosis, but at least now you have positive confirmation which will validate the doctor's protocols to remedy. I can't imagine why, with AF, you can't donate blood. I did and was never asked a question regarding it although I indicated it on the history and listed the drugs I was taking for it. Perhaps you can check with another place wheby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Adrian - You might consider taking your home monitor in with you on one of your visits to do a comparison with the office Bp monitor. I found mine was off by 5 points so now when I check it, I know to add on to my readings. If the niacin isn't making a difference, I think you are well-advised to discontiue as high-dose niacin is known to elevate homocysteine - a contributor to endotheby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bethany - Glad to see Norm is doing so well. Best to you both. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wil - I think you are exactly correct about the risk:benefit aspect of warfarin/Coumadin. However, conventional medicine has it firmly entrenched in protocols and I doubt if it will be moving to the background anytime soon even if the data shows it does not prevent risk of clotting by 100% or even something close to that. Considering that warfarin has never had to undergo the FDA approval triby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam - my experience was that the beta blocker I was on for four years created insulin resistance and subsequent weight gain. Fortunately, my blood pressure was unaffected. Lopressor is still a beta blocker. If you are vagal, then the BB still won't be helping your afib much. The only use I ever found for a BB as a vagal was to reduce the heart rate at the onset of an event so I could selby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jules - You can't get much more detail than what's found at Mary Shoman's website. She certainly goes the extra mile to keep posting a huge amount of helpful and reliable information. Thanks for posting this. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Howie, as I mentioned by email, I'm very sorry for your loss. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mac - do you know if the stents were the the coated type - called drug eluting stents? There has been a considerable amount of discussion in the literature about stenting and the need to stay on the recommended drugs - Plavix and aspirin - as one example. You should probably understand all you can about the stents you have and the risks invoved in having them close off due to deposits. Itby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Marian - it makes a difference if one has conscious sedation or general anesthesia. Typically, ablations are conscious ablations but I know Dr. Pinski does the general. Other EPs probably do as well. Dr. Natale said he likes to have the patient in conscious sedation because it is easier to check for stroke as opposed to a person who is totally out. I can attest to being asked several times duby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam - Praying for you as well at the hearing. I certainly hope there is some justice coming for you. Consider getting one of the watches you can set to go off when you need to take pills. I understand how difficult it is to remember. Start the magnesium first - always. If you can manage to be tested for Red Blood Cell Magnesium, that will be a great indicator of where you are and also asby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kagey - Regarding permanent afib for those with LAF - it's my understanding that the risk for stroke is high at the end of the afib cycle for when afibbers are most likely to 'throw a clot'... since with permanent there is no going in and out of rhythm, it seems reasonable to manage with aspirin as long as there are no other underlying riskfactors - especially something that alsby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Andrew - There is much written about the 'off-gassing' of materials used in construction - chemicals treating woods and the chemicals in synthetic woods, paints, carpeting, foam paddings for carpeting. It's creating huge problems for people with environmental sensitivities. Even if you don't have them, enough exposure in a short time can convert you to a chemically-sensitby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks - I just received it and didn't check the references.... I do have current info from a teleconference on Codex that I'm playing and taking notes. If anything relevant surfaces, I'll post just the salient points. This was done just a couple weeks ago so it is all current information. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jules - Hans posted something the equivalencies a few years ago. I'm not sure if we can locate it in the archives or not. I know my fluoroscopy time was 38 minutes. Others have reported their times periodically. While the whole procedure from lying down on the table to being wheeled out of the room (for me) took just under 3 hours - it's the fluoroscopy time we need to be concernedby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jonathan V. Wright, MD is one of the pioneers in nutritional medicine. He and Alan R. Gaby, MD teamed up at one point years back to publish one of the first newsletters on nutritional health and healing. He is highly regarded and well respected. Here is what he recently published on this topic. Codex Written by Jonathan V. Wright You've taken supplements for years. You're out oby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've just received the latest volume. It's a winner, for sure! Loads of important information - all in one place for easy reference. Even though I've read the material previously, it's great to refresh my memory. And I'm surprised to see how much detail I've already forgotten. So much important information and data has been published by Hans over the past yeaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Isabelle - If you decide to change from Coumadin in spite of your doctor's directions, then I'd suggest you order the pure nattokinase from Dr. Holsworth. NZymeCeuticals 877-460-1600. When you call, you can try to see if you can talk directly with Dr. Holsworth to see what his advice might be on dosing. Be sure to mention you are from the afibber's forum. However, since youby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Fish Oil Supplementation Reduces Nonfatal Cardiac Events in Japan By Bruce Soloway, MD April 17, 2007 Covering Lancet 2007 Mar 31 Fish Oil Added to Statin Therapy Reduces Risk For Major Coronary Events Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Cardiovascular Disease 'In addition, omega-3 fatty acids (including -linolenic acid) are potent inhibitors of voltage-gated sodium chby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
And, William, is there a connection between the electrical fields and atrial fibrillation? Is that mentioned as a symptom? Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dear Marian - How interesting. I'm so glad you were in good hands for this one. Perhaps it was as he said - you are a super healer. Sorry about your hematomas. I had the same problems, but the good news is they fade with time. Relax and heal well. Speedy recovery. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wade - an occasional Tylenol is probably okay, but do read up on the side effects of Tylenol. Be sure you do not have kidney or liver impairment or use with alcohol.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Art - Kagey has offered excellent advice. Do try to locate an one of the top EPs to discuss your case. Amiodarone has too many downsides. Often, the next drug is Tikosyn - perhaps while you wait for a second ablation with one of the top EPs. Good luck and do take your time to investigate thoroughly. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shaun - definitely - experiment before ablation because it may be very telling if you hit the right combination. Others may benefit. Just in the paper yesterday was a testimonial of a woman saying her secret to longevity at a healthy 102 was that she was told to have a shot of Scotch every night. She did and says she looks forward to it. So... while beer may not have the therapeutic valueby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shaun - sorry if I twisted your facts. I see what you are saying and but it is still worth considering the digestive issues. Some people have reported here also that they can't drink mineral water. Makes one wonder how high the calcium content might be in that brand of water. I'm sure you'll do your best to figure out what is going on. Once the ablation is behind you, it maby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Bob for keeping us posted. I'm relieved to know she's okay. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shaun - we've discussed frequently the bloating issues and the distortion of the vagus nerve that can come with bloating. Also along those lines, we've discussed a link to food sensitivities that promote bloating as well as Candida albicans overgrowth that always creates bloating after eating a meal that feeds the Candida (yeast). Often dairy and milk products create bloating due toby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol - everything I've ever heard or read seems to indicate some sort of irritation or reaction to a fish oil that may claim to be 'pure' molecularly distilled, pharmaceutical grade, but may actually have some contaminants - or even possibly from the gelatin capsule, itself since the gelatin is known to be a source of free glutamate. I've never seen any specific finding thoby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Christy - that's an odd symptom, for sure. I'd like to comment that when using eye drops, it's important not to use the brands that contain preservatives as this just makes an eye condition worse. Buy the smallest quantities and replace frequently if not using regularly. One particularly good brand is Viva - See here: I especially like a brand I found on Hans website at iHeby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dick - that's correct. Vagals typically should not take a beta blocker. I was on one for several years before I became enlightened thanks to this site. They didn't help the AF and in fact, lowered my HR and Bp so much it often was a trigger for more afib. I have used successfully, though, a beta blocker at the onset of afib just to slow the HR down enough so that the anti-arrhythby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM