SDarcy - I'm really sorry for your discomfort and concerns and wish I could offer something of consequence to you. You mention the cold sweats and immediately, I think about infection... maybe even a subclinical bladder infection. I presume you had a urinary catheter. You could request a C-reactive protein level which is an indicator of any inflammation going on in the body. It wouldnby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam - well, well! Good find, Pam. Now afibbers can print this and reference it with their cardiologists to help determine the drug of choice (if the cardiologists are willing to read). This information has been around since 2001 and I can't believe we haven't found it before this. It definitely would have come in handy. Thanks so much. Jackie FUSTER ET AL., ACC/AHA/ESC GUIDEby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - yes, it's common after afib and even after going off drugs to have some extra beats. There is a discussion going on now in the Conference Room section that may be of interest to you about this topic... PACs etc after ablation. Just give it time. You may need to consider some electrolyte supplementation - magnesium, potassium, and even taurine to help settle down your PACs. Jackiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Oh my, Aldona, you are an inspiration to all of us for courage and positive attitude. I'm so glad you are doing so well. Thanks for sharing your story. Kind regards, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve - First - I was much older than you are now. I was just lethargic. I was able to function - played golf, gardened, etc. but the stamina was not there. So, if this begins to be a symptom for you, suspect Betapace. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve - it will be interesting to learn what your monitor shows. I'm rather surprised that you can continue the sports activities you mention as when I was on Betapace, it was like I was in hybernation and I was taking a small amount compared to your doseage. (I know, we're all different). Good luck with your monitor experience. I haven't worn one for two years, but the one Iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Isabelle - How do you get along with Omega 3 fish oil? Very therapeutic for depression. Also 5 HTP is great for depression. Consider doing some research on both of those. You've got to move; difficult as it may be. Even if you only walk around inside the house and sit down again, you've got to keep at it. I understand how depression leads to inertia; it's a vicious cycle. Sby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam- 5 HTP is also great as it does act as a precursor to serotonin via the tryptophan pathway. Dr. Michael Murray has written a book on 5 HTP and I heard his presentation on it some years back. It works very well for depression and to create a sense of satiety after meals. I've used both and I find that the Theanine is quicker in action, although the 5 HTP is really good long-term. Thby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Diana - One of the most difficult fears to conquer is the onset of afib and the uncomfortable symptoms including the breathlessness. My first events left me gasping for air and a considerable ache or pain in my jaw which smacked (to me) of the early warning signs of a heart attack. Once I became a bit more knowledgeable about what afib is and read enough times that it was not a fatal conditionby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jerry - over the years, there have been many posts on people with afib cycles and I believe Hans was one. There may be something in the Conference Room on that topic - aldosterone - perhaps was in the title? Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan - Is there anything else in the Q? Whose brand? What type of a gelatin capsule - does it say? You could just open the capsule and express the contents if you think it is the gel cap that may bother you. Sometimes they put a dye in the gel cap. I have no idea why but they do. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gordon - I don't know if it comes up in Dr. Love's commentary but it's well known that Fosamax lays down a layer of false 'bone' that looks good on a DEXA but in reality, doesn't really re-build bone. It's like a hard shell. Patients taking Fosamax are at risk not only for stomach problems but worse, if they have to have a tooth extraction, they can and doby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam - if you feel energenic about doing some research into handling your long-term blood thinning problem, you may be interested in what Hemex has to say about the use of heparin. I heard the founder/owner of Hemex, David Berg, speak and his presentation was fascinating. He and the doctors who are in his camp never recommend coumadin. Go here and begin following all the links: Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Isabelle - there are other forms such as calcium gluconate or carbonate which are not as readily absorbed but could work for you. An effective product for bone building includes microcrystalline hydroxyapatetite, but I don't know if you an get it just plain or if it comes in combo with another form of calcium or a blend which might also include the citrate form you can't have. Thereby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynda - that's orthostatic hypotension; your blood pressure drops when you stand and you feel faint. Many times it can be traced to low functioning or burned out adrenal glands. Also the beta blockers may be causing this although the Toprol is a fairly low dose perhaps the drug combo you take isn't compatible with your system. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - I think it's pretty obvious that she shouldn't take what's been recommended....at least in those doses. Aspirin on top of Coumadin? I'm not sure I'd want to try a full dose. Perhaps just the low dose (81 mg) if at all. I also think the vitamin C is too high and she should aim for around 2 grams a day (2,000 mg) My Functional Medicine MD says the limit on viby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm definitely not tall - 5' 5 1/2" at onset of AF, 10 years later I've lost 3/4" in height. Howie - you could be correct. My grandmother who died two weeks short of 105 was only 4' 11 inches in her prime. She was probably smaller by age 104. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol P Disregard the statement I made about adding vitamin C to B6 - My memory must be on vacation. I remembered the C part, but not correctly. It is found that those with higher levels of C relative to low levels of B6 have more pain. The original article I wrote pertained to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), but basically, the information on B6 deficiency remains the same. Those at riskby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol P - in order for the B6 to be effective along with the other B's in a balanced complex, you need to add vitamin C. People with carpal tunnel syndrome have circumvented surgery for the condition using elevated doses of B6 and vitamin C. (but you still have to take the other Bs as well...just more of the B6). I did an article on it when I published my newsletter and I'll find tby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol P - be cautious when using for yourself or recommending to afibbers the use of whey protein. It is loaded with free glutamate and this is typically a trigger for afib. Even if it isn't a trigger, free glutamates are highly excitotoxic to the body. There is one type of whey protein that isn't made with high heat so the proteins remain more natural and not denatured. One sourby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gordon - I know that and I'm still locked into 'saying' glycemic index when I know perfectly well "load" is a more appropriate measurement. But that only works to some extent. Since for someone with a glucose handling problem - bananas are out. Period. Regardless of index or load - or at least in the eyes of those managing patients with this dysfunction. I undersby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Potassium (K+) is the major positive ion within cells and is particularly important for maintaining the electric charge on the cell membrane. This charge allows nerves and muscles to communicate and is necessary for transporting nutrients into cells and waste products out of the cell. The concentration of potassium inside cells is about 30 times that in the blood and other fluids outside of cellby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Todd - I see it, but don't believe it; especially the part about whitening enamel. (unless of course the person never brushes and the oil loosens mass deposits of food exposing enamel) I do, however, believe that there will be lots of bacteria in the expectorated solution since the mouth is loaded with bacteria and it's reasonable to assume some would flush out with the oil solution.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
David - I agree with your assessment, but have to warn you that unless the person doing the endoscopic procedure is highly experienced, it can be risky because damage to the esophagus can be fatal. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - if you determine that the potassium is compatible with the heart meds - then you should be adding magnesium first or at least along with potassium as adding potassium in the presence of an intracellular magnesium deficiency could make arrhythmias worse or more prevalent. She can certainly add potassium-containing foods to her diet and while a banana isn't the best of foods because ofby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good for you Tom - I'm counting on nattokinase to see me through the rest of my years as well. Thor - I just happened to log on at the right time! Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Isabelle - I'm sending you an email. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's even more than accumulated platelets that become a worry - unstable plaques or calcified atherosclerotic deposits can be massaged loose and will cause a stroke. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - Pam's the RN here with cardiac experience and I certainly agree with her advice. I also add that I'm very sorry about your wife and I'm sure there have been anxious moments for you both. You need to go along with what is ordered. As Pam mentions, those guidelines are only for afibbers who have no other heart involvement. It may be that eventually, and if you can get aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
The use of this or a similar device/procedure was mentioned at the AF Summit last fall by several of the presenters with the observation that extreme care had to be taken to avoid creating an imperfect 'seal' which would allowing an even more dangerous trap for clots to collect. They showed several potential methods of blocking the LAA. Naturally, the cardiac surgeons preferred jusby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM