Dave - Probably back in 2001 or 02, (archives) there were many posts about this cyclical experience that some readers were reporting happened with clockwork regularlity. I don't believe it happens in every afibber - I centainly did not note any specific pattern during my 8 year journey. But just as we have a circadian rhythm (or 24-hour cycle), it is reasonable to consider that hormonal fby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heather - You may find some of the information in these following references helpful. Statins can be detrimental to those people who have a polymorphism that does not allow their body to process them successfully. They reduce body's essential nutrient, Coenzyme Q10, which creates muscle weakness. Your heart is a muscle. Many people suffer adverse side effects from statins including but notby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kay - I have several of Dr. Sinatra's books, have heard him speak several times and have many of his audio lectures.... I have not read the new one but I did speak with Dr. Holsworth about Dr. Sinatra's trip to meet with Dr. Holsworth on nattokinase....although apparently he isn't entirely sold on the idea. I think it's the high visibility he enjoys and not much hands-on mediby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Camille - it's probably more like what you are eating that causes the hive reaction (release of histamine) that causes hives - and also palpitations which lead to afib. Your blood pressure probably also goes up along with the hives and palps. Typically it is a food sensitivity. Wheat (flour) and the like is a prime suspect. Try eliminating all grains from your diet for a couple of moby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pat - is this the same doctor who did the tests and then didn't know what to do with the results? If you are looking for functional medicine or CAM practitioners, I can offer you web addresses where you can type in your address and learn locations of nearby practitioners. You certainly owe it to yourself to get several opinions. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
...."Thus far, the tentative conclusion is that diet/supplements alone have almost no chance of eliminating a-fib long term, but diet and supplements can make an important contribution to reducing the percentage of time in a-fib (and possibly contribute to slowing the progression of a-fib)." Yes - Wil in terms of the scant numbers we have available - this could be true in many cases..by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lois - I would be comfortable with Dr. Sinatra's Q gels but they are expensive and you'll need quite a few daily. You can check out through Hans' website - I'm impressed with Natural Factor's...Natural Factors, Coenzyme Q10, 100 mg, 60 Softgels. Take at least 3 times a day with a little bit of fat. Like a dab of peanut butter or some olive oil...or with a meal.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
James - when I was originally investigating ablations, there was some experimenting with balloon catheters used with RF. These went inside the veins. Dr. Natale explained they had tried them but found that the veins are often irregular in shape and do not conform directly to the shape of the balloon and therefore left gaps in the tissue that were not ablated. They also found that with the heby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
...."This may not be a very accurate percentage, but thus far we don't have any number at all to give us perspective about how many a-fibbers might succeed at eliminating their a-fib by pursuing the non-medical option." Definitely, Wil, this would be a valuable figure to be able to quote, even in round numbers. As you say, the percentage is probably quite small, but for some, itby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lois - I would want another opinion from another top EP before consenting to ablating the AV node...maybe several opinions. I totally agree with Marian. If your ejection fraction is so low, are you taking Coenzyme Q10? Has anyone even suggested it? Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would not consider participating in a trial - period. Too many variables even with the tried and true procedures. Why add more risk. Only 35 ablations so far is really nothing by comparison of the hundreds done safely and successfully by other highly skilled EPs. Since you asked for an opinion. That's mine. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Benj - as I've often commented, once I did my heroics, I was well-controlled with flecanide and had no breakthrough arrhythmia. I considered not keeping the date - but only briefly. Waffling is undoubtedly common. I'm not sorry for my decision at all, but only you can decide what you want to do. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gary - you can do a google search with these words and come up with comments about interactions between niacin and warfarin. Most indicate you should discuss the use of niacin with your physician. drug interactions niacin warfarin You should also do a site search here using the search feature and type in niacin as we had quite a discussion going some time back whenby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pat - you should see an endocrinologist and perhaps consider finding another doctor as well. At least find one who understands how to treat/manage the results of the tests he's ordered. Adrenal dysfunction is important to diagnose and treat properly. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, Wil - I agree it would be helpful to know but even knowing how long 'Listers' have remained afib free or at least generally controlled would not give a definitive guideline as to how others (newbies) might duplicate the same results. General guidelines to try - yes, but not definitive as we are all biochemically different and we are all in various stages of age-related degenby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lois - you will be in good hands with Dr. Morady. Let us know what his opinion is about treatment plans for you. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great clip. Howie, if you are older than 'dirt', then I'd hate to know your definition of my age!by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lois - in the clinical sense, success after ablation is defined as no AF and no drugs. That said, there is much to be said for a definite improvement in the quality of life even if some symptoms or the use of drugs remain. That becomes an individual level of acceptance and each person certainly will have his own acceptable level of comfort and inconvenience. Certainly, Bob G. offers us aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
My first thought as well. Jakcieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam - George and Cynthia - I totally agree with your points.... and the key is definitely in the first few minutes. After years of CPR renewal training, I think it's just an important comment that in some isolated cases, this modification will be better than nothing - especially if the the bystanders want to help but are afraid of the MTM. Doing 'something' could help. Justby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pete - Good luck with your ablation. Dr. Morady is an excellent EP. You should know, though, that your heart will be healing for at least 8 weeks after ablation and often it takes much longer than that since the heart has been burned inside and is in a state of high irritation from those burns. I agree with Keith that I also would not leave on vacation 9 days after ablation but again Iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gordon - I can't speak for Peggy, but if we ever get to that reunion - I'll be glad to give you a happy-to meet-you kiss as a thank you for all the support you've given me during this journey! When I saw this release come through, I thought at the time it was a good move to encourage lay people to become involved in bystander CPR as most would be very hesitant to do the standarby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lois - welcome. Have you been told that you have regurgitation with your mitral valve prolapse? or that you require antibiotic therapy prior to dental prophylaxis? Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
" hear every single heartbeat I have (in my ear). Only loud ambient noise levels and sustained distraction override this" Ed - optimal intracellular magnesium and then adding potassium will either diminish this greatly or eliminate it completely. If you can 'hear' your heartbeat - it is a sign of potassium deficiency. First you have to replenish the magnesium because addby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ed - the problem with that test and those numbers is that it is just one measurement of that spike after the drink. Not a reflection of how you handle a glucose load after time passes - just as you would normally handle a meal. Hopefully, you can locate a holistic or functional medicine practitioner in your area who can order the appropriate fasting test with post-prandial draws that will giveby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ed - the amount of elemental magnesium you mention is actually negligible when comparing our needs to what you get. You are getting much more of the ligand, orotate, than magnesium.... You need a a very minimum, 400 mg. of elemental magnesium. This means quite a bit more than you are currently taking and I'm not sure how that much orotate will affect you - positively or negatively. Mostby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I always read labels and avoid any products that include the form of aspartate or aspartic acid. I used Metagenics Magnesium Glycinate exclusively for years before switching to a hypoallergenic brand but it is still the Albion patented amino acid chelate. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ed - explain please - was the insulin the 11.9? What was the glucose? The number should be at 90 or below. Some labs use different numbers so I don't have a reference to the numbers you've listed. I will tell you this, though, and that is beta blockers contribute to insulin resistance. I was on Metoprolol for several years and it definitely pushed me into insulin resistance. And iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ed - a magnified startle response is said to be a classic symptom of magnesium deficiency. What can you tell me about the amount of magnesium that is delivered in your mineral drops? Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks - I saw the news and checked immediately. How tragic for those pet owners unknowingly caught in this web. Seems we can't count on anything these days. Just recently, the story arose again about that tragic story of alpaca farmers losing many animals because of antibiotic contaminated feed which caused the alpacas to have heart damage. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM