Richard - this is probably an overly simplistic answer to your question about PVI and no afib. Research and EP experience indicates the majority of rogue cells causing afib concentrate (or are found) near and in the pulmonary vein ostia. Some years back when doing ablations, they would first look in the right atrial near the node. Eventually the procedure involved crossing over to the left atby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kent - Please keep in mind that I am not a doctor and am not giving medical advice....just posting here what I've tried and found to be helpful for me. I took aspirin along with the antiarrhythmic drug, flecanide, and the magnesium glycinate and the magnesium taurate. I stopped aspirin when I went on Coumadin after the ablation. I found the most success with a form called magnesiumby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Henry T - I'm very sorry to hear your story and for the anxiety it must be causing you. How long ago since your PVI? Have you been evaluated for stenosis after the PVI? If not, I would think that would be very important. This can be done via a spiral CAT scan or an MRI. I'm not sure you should accept your pain situation as a common result of ablation. Is it possible for you toby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Adrian - sounds as if you have found a good practice. Nutritional therapy is fundamental in the healing process.... we are all finding that to be true. If you can arrange it, I do believe the Exatest would be good. I've yet to do it since I had the RBC level, but I'm still wanting to do the ET. And Jerry - It takes a special DC to look beyond the traditional DC approach -by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dean - heart murmur can be from a congenital defect of the valves or it can be a valvular condition brought on by a severe childhood illness - years ago, it used to be rheumatic fever,..and then again it can be valvular involvement from a severe viral infection. In any event, leaking valves - mitral valve prolapse, for instance, is said to be attributed to magnesium deficiency. A problem canby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - wonderful news. Of course, I'm voting for magnesium .... however, if you think think the wine doesn't bother you, try to find an organic wine...no sulfites. It will cost more, but lowering the risk is well worth the few dollars more...plus you get the benefits from the grapeskins. I vote for unsalted pistashios. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Marian - Ablations have been done for at least 15 years. I know of two people having had that done.... most likely very primitive by today's standards. I don't know these people personally. It would be interesting to learn their status now. M MD - Thanks for your report. Glad to know you are 4 years, cured and holding. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Chris - you gotta do what you gotta do. If Valium takes the edge off then go for it. Anything, short term, is an option. Exercise is the #1 choice. Much harder than popping a pill, though. Good luck. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Keith ..... I had not been in afib for 2 months prior to the PVI. I presume that was the reason for no TEE. Next week will be my 3 month anniversary of the PVI. I have not had afib once since that time...so yes... I guess I'm cured... although I am fully aware that I could have some recurrence even up to six months post ablation...although I would tend to think that since I've noby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Adrian - while I have great respect for DC's... I couldn't survive without mine; I am not confident that a hair analysis gives accurate information regarding what is inside your cells where magnesium is needed to in order to serve your body. Magnesium that is excreted via kidneys, bowel and skin is not indicative of what is inside the cells.... nor is a serum sample unless it is doneby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim - My (limited) understanding of this high free radical activity in the area of the PV is that, apparently, it becomes more intensified with high HR activity. In accelerated pacing studies, indications are that much greater levels of oxidized blood occur which, in turn, consumes cellular antioxidants leading to oxidant injury and inflammation. High levels of oxidation are prevalent inby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Karen - you've been through alot and emerged victorious.....good for you. Obviously, you are have a problem with dysglycemia and insulin resistance as well. The Atkins or Paleo diet will help stabilize that and I'm willing to bet that if you stick with it and use only good, whole foods with low glycemic index, eliminate grains as you have... that your cholesterol numbers will go downby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kestra - The obvious answer to me is that if the taurine was the only thing different in your routine, then it must have been that which stirred up the PAC's....although it should not have. Was it just plain taurine and nothing else added? Sorry. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Karen - I just typed and lost a message so it if appears again...sorry... but the gist of it was....congratulations on a great success story. That's truly wonderful. But, please go to www.mercola.com and type in Splenda on his online search box. You need to know the dangers of this chemical. It is not harmless.... Also, I'm very impressed that you have a cardiologist who actuallby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Marshall - I have no credentialled knowledge of that, but I've never read a contraindication. I have taken it with Flecanide for 9 months with no problems at all.... in fact, the breakthrough afib began to subside once I elevated the doses of magnesium to about 800 mg. a day. Remember.... Magnesium is an essential nutrient (mineral and electrolyte) required directly in over 350 enzymaticby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi all - this was becoming buried at the end and I'm bringing this forward for Ella and all who have questions...... Lorraine posted this info: Author: lorraine (---.ri.ri.cox.net) Date: 01-20-04 14:34 Here is some information about the dosage of taurine provided in a magnesium/taurine compound. Cardiovascular Research's magnesium taurate provides 405mg taurine along with the 125by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wayne Thanks for your report. Glad to know you are still happy with doing the ablation. I agree about Dr. Natale and staff. They do a great job and I'm happily enjoying my NSR as a result. Be well, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Keith - I just had my PVI at the CCF here in Cleveland and these were my instructions. 3 weeks prior - go on Coumadin to determine what dose would put me in the 2 - 3 INR numbers. 4 days prior to PVI, go off Coumadin 24 hours before PVI go off the antiarrhythmic - Flecanide I did not have Lovenox. I did not have a TEE and was told that even if I went into arrhythmia and arrived there in arrby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol and all - sorry - late checking the BB today. I can't answer the question - is it better? But after doing the research and post I presented on Taurine, I would say adding taurine is worth considering. After reading all that taurine does in the body, I'd say we need it even if we don't have arrhythmia. If we do have AF, then all the more reason for the taurine supporby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glenn - you can order the Metagenics brand from Willner Chemists - which Lorraine mentions and you can also get it from NEEDS 800-634-1380. The Metagenics brand is the patented version designed for maxium bioavailability and also to prevent bowel intolerance. I've also mentioned trying magnesium taurate so if you have difficult getting the glycinate form, you could consider the taurate forby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lon - when I would have those symptoms occasionally, I would sometimes find immediate relief from eating something with sugar in it followed by alot of protein...like cheese, cottage cheese, meat, etc. Not a very healthy thought, but I always felt the sweating and shaky symptoms were reminiscent of hypoglycemia attackes I formerly had and so I treated it as such. Many times, I would actuallyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
PJ - Glad you are okay after the ablation. I went right back on Flecanide after my ablation and did not have the arrhythmia that some people are posting about. I was on that for 2 months. Some people are not put back on any medication. I guess it depends on their situation and their EP. I was placed on Coumadin for two months and then I went off it on my own since I had no afib post surgerby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - I'm not a doctor. I'm only observing your experiences and relating them to mine - of a similar nature. Consider these points and read the posts I've included from other threads in case you missed them. 1) Perhaps you are more vagal than you thought. If so the BB are not helping - that's my experience - the higher the dose,the worse the afib became...especially atby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Colin - Best of luck to you on your ablation. Mayo certainly has a good reputation. Just know that it is not as bad a procedure as you may have conjured up in your mind. You are going to be amazed at how good you feel almost immediately afterward... like in about 8 hours. I wish you every success and a speedy recovery. Enjoy your new life in NSR. It's quite a treat. Let us know howby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Richard - If anyone can "snoop" it out... you and Fran can. I don't know why it doesn't bother me. I never found meats that were cooked long to be a trigger...pork, pot roast, soups, stews.... all seemed to be okay...all home made and cooked from scratch. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol - I don't know if researchers are working on it but I do know that my cardiologist wasn't very interested in what I learned. It took quite a bit of sleuthing and thinking with my holistic doctors - whom I would have thought would have jumped on the theory immediately. Anyway... it did seem to be the problem for me. And about B6 - if you want to stay up all night - by all meby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - I totally agree with your comment about paying too much attention is also bad. In the early stages or years of afib, though, it is extremely difficult for most of us to ignore what's happening. It took me about 4 years of afib progressing from occasionally to quite regularly, to finally learn to live with it and not give in to the panic or at least, anxiety that it always caused meby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Marshall - I recently posted a very long post on taurine. The advantage to taking it in the taurate form complexed with magnesium is that you get both the benefits of magnesium and the additional benefits of taurine. Some people seem not to get along with the glycinate form and have found the taurate form agreeable and still producing the lessening or calming down of afib events. The post wby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron - I had PVI ablation with Dr. Natale on 11/12/03. I'm just fine now. If you want to email me privately, I'll be happy to answer any questions that I can for you. If it is possible for you to come here, I think you will be very satisfied with your ablation. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Richard - You and I share the same "genes" for glutamate sensitivity. I haven't purposefully tested the theory since ablation, but previous to that, if I would consume a product with MSG, I could count on afib. Small amounts of aged cheese or roasted meat, didn't seem to bother me. I have tested this for over six months before ablation and almost three, since....no afby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM