Bobot - I had PVI in 11/03. Had a breakthrough event 103 days later that had to be cardioverted. Since then, no AF. Initially, I was placed on Flecanide for 2 months after ablation. Then I was told to stop that. I also stopped the Coumadin as well. After the cardioversion, I was placed back on Coumadin for a month. I take no coumadin now, nor would I. Far be it from me to interfere wiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Fred - Please consider driving to Cleveland (Ohio) and becoming the patient of Andrea Natale, MD (Electrophysiologist) at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. He's among the top EP's in the country if not the world. I had a successful ablation with him last November 03 and several other BB members here also traveled to Cleveland for his expertise. You can phone 800-223-2273 and ask fby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve - it's been my experience that it is wise to go off all supplements for a period of time - periodically. We don't need megadoses once the deficiencies have been corrected. Of course, one has to have cellular testing to really know if supplements are helping or hurting. I agree with Tom and Dan.... have an evaluation for an ablation by a well known EP and go for it if you areby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well said, Fred.... nice to hear from you and I'm so glad to learn you are doing well. No question, if AF and drugs are making drastic changes in lifestyle, go for ablation. I'm wishing I had done it sooner. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Cornelia - Have you had a thorough thyroid profile analysis done... Bradycardia is often a symptom of hypothyroid. Just do a Google Search and type in the words bradycardia hypothyroid....and learn how correcting hypothyroidism will often correct bradiacardia. I had something similar to this because of hypothyroidism and taking beta blockers.... in the evening or while sleeping my heartby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim - I was just reading about Candida infection creating weight loss and cravings for sugary foods...this fuels the yeast infection.... but the weight loss comes because the areas in the intestine where nutrients are dispersed into the blood stream are clogged or completely occluded with the candida overgrowth. This prevents nutrients that you need to function from getting where they need toby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Denise - hello and welcome. I'm sorry to learn of your diabetes diagnosis, but you can and will get it under control. Just be aware that if any of the heart drugs you take to control Afib are classed as beta blockers, they (the beta blockers) have a tendency to reduce insulin sensitivity.... in other words, insulin doesn't work well to control blood sugar and the result is you have tby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - that's very useful advice. I didn't know about online bookmarking sites.... I do a back up regularly, but it would be nice not to have that very long list of Favorites tied in with the computer so your suggestion is great. Thanks a bunch! Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
PJ - my instructions were this: no heavy lifting or exercise for 48 hours. This is due to the heart puncture and the groin area as well. Then resume activities for a week. but resume exercise in 7 - 10 days. I started back at Curves and other exercise after 2 weeks. I felt just fine even in a week's time, but since I have a tendency to bleed and also developed hematomas because ofby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Adrian - the fishing area you describe sounds wonderful and what a lovely get-away for all of you. Most likely the few you ate were not nearly as contaminated as those from the more industrialized areas of the Great Lakes regions. Walleye is a wonderful treat. Lucky you. And as Fran says, certainly much better than farm-raised fish which are the worst for contamination! It's just tby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim - muscle spasms can indicate a magnesium deficiency. Have you looked into the past BB posts here on magnesium....there is alot to read and keep you busy with that. Also, if your diet contains sugar... or sugar containing products and always has, it is entirely possible that there is a metabolic dysfunction that involves adrenal burnout. Sugar is the enemy. No one needs sugar in theirby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
PJ - Welcome. I had pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) ablation by Andrea Natale, MD of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation here inCleveland Ohio last November 03....so it is about 9 months now since ablation. I have absolutely no regrets. Life in NSR is grand. Getting my life back and not worrying or obsessing about impending events is a huge relief. I lost eight years of my life when I could ilby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - you might try digestive enzymes along with your meals.... and I would forgo any cola type drink.... way too acidic. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Annie - No AF...is great...it's undoubtedly both the magnesium and the ablation. Most likely the ablation assisted by the magnesium. Magnesium - at the very minimum 400 mg. a day...preferably 600 mg. Some people need up to 800 or 1000 mg. depending on the state of deficiency. Start low and increase gradually. If your heart is calm now, just stick with the lower dose. Magnesium gby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol..... vagus innervation of the heart is not an unknown...but rather a fact of physiology.... note: Autonomic outflow from the brainstem is divided principally into sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal) branches. Efferent fibers of these autonomic nerves travel to the heart and blood vessels where they modulate the activity of these target organs. The heart is innervated by vagal and symby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pam - calcium as being excitatory is covered in detail in most all the articles describing the role of cellular calcium along with magnesium.... The basic principle is that calcium contracts muscle tissue and magnesium relaxes it. It is covered in the book, Excitotoxins, by Robert Blaylock, MD, as well. No question that supplemental calcium is not good for afibbers. Also, WRT to the CCF comby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I heard from Lynn's husband last evening. She made it through and was sleeping when he phoned. He said they took her away at 9 am and brought her back around 3. They did the ventricular ablation and then proceeded to the atrial area and did a touch up ablation there. You may remember that Lynn has multiple chemical sensitivities so the whole procedure is much more difficult with the aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Michael - in my days before ablation, (as vagal) I discovered that I could not eat large meals in the evening or have a late meal. I changed all my eating habits so that I ate small but frequent meals... six a day, at least. Also, a definite trigger would be an evening treat such as desert.... like maybe a splurge while out or entertaining on a Sat. evening. It is important to include a smby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim - Hi and welcome. Is this weight sudden and unexplained or have you always been a fast metabolizer? I'd like to offer some suggestions but would like to learn this answer first....and also, among those tests, were you evaluated thoroughly for hyperthyroidsim? What do you typically eat in a day? Any coffee or other stimulants? We need more data. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynn is having her second procedure this morning with Dr. Natale at Marin General. Send her all your positive energy for a successful outcome. Angels, prayers, good thoughts, positive energy.... all is needed. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hak - congratulations.... welcome to the group of exfibbers.... enjoy your new life. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Annie - Natural Calm is indeed easy to take. Just be sure that you don't develop diarrhea with it because you will lose more electrolytes than retain if this is the case. The magnesium citrate (which is what Natural Calm is) is used specifically as a laxative. Some people will be able to tolerate daily doses of 600 mg of this product but the cumulative effect may well be bowel intoleby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Adrian - typically when eating fish for Omega 3 benefit is recommended, the reference is made to oily fish - specifically. This wouldn't include Walleye.... Mackeral is highest, salmon, herring. Fresh tuna has about half the amount and canned tuna has very low Omega 3's. Again, one has to weigh the risk/benefit of eating fish these days. It's truly a shame that the enviornmeby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Check this out.... easy to use chartby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sammy ~ Congratulations. It's very reassuring to learn you are doing so well....it sounds as if your life is moving on in a healthy fashion. I wish you the best of health and happiness in the coming years. You waited a long time to get to this place. No one deserves it more than you. Blessings. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim - Hi! I feel the same way...as long as these skipped beats don't lead to AF, I'm thrilled. I have no reason to suspect they will, either. However, should they become a problem, there is always a second ablation. I'm just so grateful to be in NSR every day and not think about the what-ifs that go with AF that I scarcely acknowledge that my heart skips a beat now and then.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Joe - I can understand your wanting to get out of pain with the help of corticosteroids....but it only masks the problem...doesn't get to the source of inflammation. If this is a one-time deal, probably not harmful, but if it is long-standing inflammation, you would be much better off to learn the source of the inflammation and take steps to eliminate it through natural means. I realizby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I believe I read at one time that the incidence of AF in athletes is from the increased levels of oxidative stress. I've also reported reading that these people tend to have shorter life spans. Concomitant to the dehydration factor Jeff mentions would be the loss of critical and essential electrolytes (magnesium and potassium) from the perspiration factor. So if the heart cells are in aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Dean - Sounds like my kind of liver flush! No, seriously, get some good books or do alot of internet research. Walt Stoll had some good suggestions on his site. You can make good progress with dedication and commitment and you can probably reverse a great deal if you are diligent. But, do not take this lightly. It is serious business. Blessings to you. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Stan - I have no proof; cannot point to a study, but it is my gut feeling that the ablation causes these random ectopics. "They" say not to worry about them, as if the ectopics are common place. I have only a very few and after 9 months, they have diminished greatly. I feel only a couple a day, at most. And, as I recently posted to Jeanne, it could be because I'm not dwelliby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM