I think Sam is in Ireland.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
No, 14.5 years with 2.5 month episode in 1st 4 months. Path to afib was chronic endurance exercise. Path to remission( 1st two most important): detraining from endurance training & competition while maintaining fitness, magnesium to bowel tolerance, 4g/day taurine, 2-4g potassium. diet to keep insulin levels low and optimizing metabolism. PIP (on-demand) flecainide to convert when the prevby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Joe, The key is the software. It isn't that hard to record the ECG. 10-12 years ago, a few guys here bought their own Holter monitors. They were in the $3-5,000 US range. I borrowed one for a bit. Contec seems to be a Chinese company that makes many of these devices. If I were to buy one, I'd try to find a copy of the software manual to review. I'm not recommendby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Brian, Are you in afib during your exercise? Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteElizabeth I don't see why a person that is in their 70s and on should have such low blood pressure, the older you get your arteries get stiffer so your pressure will be higher. Interesting that this appears to be true in the developed world. In the INTERSALT study, '"Four centres found very low sodium excretion, low blood pressure, and little or no upward slope of bloodby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJackie Hi George - Thanks for the notation... on that important book. I think you meant to type that Richard D. Moore, MD, is the author. Jackie Thanks for the correction! You are correct. Lack of attention to detail on my part!by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've had white coat hypertension for around 37 years. A doc friend pointed this out back then, helce I've taken my blood pressure periodically at home since. It is weird, I can have my BP taken when I go in to donate blood and its 108/70. At home it is even lower. I can feel my pulse and BP elevate when I get measured at a doc's office. In any case I set my own BP targetby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCatherine You’ve mentioned time constraints, but I have to ask...cranberries. Fresh, dried? Will supplements work? If you look at Steve's posts from a few years ago, I recall, when I read at the time, he went into more detail. A search on all his posts < Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotekatesshadow George, are you in the medical field? so many of you regular posters are so knowledgeable and your terminology is sometimes above my head lol. I really don't spend enough time in the sun. In my 20s and 30s, I lived in the sun basically and, just this morning, had a growth removed from my face that was surely the price of dark tan. No, but like Carey, wolfpack and Shaby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotekatesshadow Thanks for your reply Steve. I have actually ordered a Vit D test kit. For several years, I have heard that most people are deficient and I've intended to start supplementing. Never happened . I think now it's a good idea to actually know my level and go from there. And, I have a feeling I do get too much calcium. I don't like milk, except in coffee, buby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
I recall Steve's posts from years ago. His analytical approach is excellent. When I first joined here in 2004, there were quite a few posters who had an approach like Steve's. If someone wants to "hack" their afib, Emulating Steve's painstaking appraoch would be a good place to start. Here is the link to Steve's post in the thread below. Steve's own site isby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
In the "End of Alzheimer's", researcher Dale Bredesen, MD has an analogy of "36 holes in the roof" for AlzD (he's now identified over a hundred). He notes that people without AlzD will have some holes (5,6,7), people with AlzD will have more: 15 to 20 and on up. He points out that many of the drug approaches only target one "hole." His approach has beenby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotekatesshadow It's interesting (and encouraging) that it stopped your Afib (George). . For me, it is part of the mix. In my case, magnesium (or lack thereof) is clearly the main actor. I haven't removed taurine from the mix except when I do extended water fasts (5-7 days). I do fine during these. I do take magnesium during fasts (magnesium hydroxide for this purpose as it is nby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Early in my afib remission career (14 years ago), I was using magnesium, potassium & taurine. I went 4 months without an episode, then had one (which I created a vagal trigger for - snowshoeing in 3 miles of 3' snow with 70# pack and then constructing a 3 person snow cave nearly single handedly). Then had another episode a month later and I could not figure any trigger for it. I wentby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesmackman Jackie How do you digest Dr. Natales position? I was so concerned about this issue with the left side that I had to ask him. Back then, I would sleep on my left side with a soft pillow under it because I was so use to sleeping on my left side. Anyway, As I grow older, Sleeping on the left side has become nearly impossible due to scar tissue. My Wife was with me at this visit in 201by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Be careful with calcium (with respect to afib). In my case, I'd worked out a very successful afib remission program. It worked well for years. Then I went through a divorce. Started stress eating wheels of brie (since I eat a low carb diet, thought I had a free pass). My previously excellent control deteriorated. I thought it was divorce stress and there was nothing to be done except mby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf I wouldn’t touch digoxin with a barge pole. (Although it does arguably have some usefulness in heart failure in the more elderly.) Had a cat with cardiomyopathy who was successfully treated with digoxin for 14 years (age 5 to 19). He was very ill at the beginning and digoxin saved his life. One issue is the therapeutic dose is very close to the toxic dose. That being said,by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
#3 with Natale would be my choice. #2 would be the very last resort in my book. I would not go back to a doc who suggests it. I understand that Dr. N has tried to recruit Wendy Tzou at UC Health. < You might try a second opinion with her if you don't immediately select #3. Good luck! Georgeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
A test pilot/astronaut with all their physical training would fit the exercise leading to afib profile.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sam, I understand a lot of afibbers have indicated that being on their left side can be an issue with PAC's or a trigger, but I wouldn't worry about it as an ablatee. During the 18 month time I was consuming excess (for me) calcium through food (cheese) and unknowingly changing my electrolyte balance to make me more sensitive to afib, left sided sleeping could be an issue. Howeveby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good job Dr. Andrade! NSR to you, worntorn!!by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteZb3 @georgeN - The concept of being able to eradicate - or at very least greatly mitigate your afib just through supplementation and avoiding triggers perplexes me a bit. I guess what I am asking is what is so bad about an ablation or a life long commitment to flec that makes you want to take that route? Is flec really all that horrible? I mean I have been fine on it so far but any insightby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteZb3 Thanks for your reply George. By ‘trigger’ do you mean the general cause of his afib or it would trigger Afib episodes. Prior to taking my medication my episodes were usually caused by work stress and I would be in Afib just sitting in my desk at work for about 3-4 hours a day and it stop around 3pm most days. As it was over 14 years ago, when I read the article, I don't recall.by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
From my friend in NZ: "The best cardiology group in Auckland is Auckland Heart Group. He will need to ask them who their interventional cardiologist for ablations is. Sorry cant be more specific. There won't be many in Auckland, at most a handful of interventional cardiologists. He will need a referral from his GP."by GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Early in my afib career (14 1/2 years), remember reading about a guy where weightlifting was his trigger. As I recall, he ended up with a MAZE and reduced exercise dramatically. Most who come to afib via exercise get there from an endurance background, but that doesn't mean weights can't be involved. I'm checking with a doc friend in NZ whom I highly respect to get a recommeby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCatherine I can do that, George. I can order it in bulk. Before I do, can you recommend a brand? Thanks. I've used Bulk Supplements, < which is also available on Amazon. Potassium bicarbonate would work as well. I think it is used in home brewing, so could be picked up at a local brewing store. I don't have the measurements for tsp to gram conversion. I'dby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteCatherine Carey, can I take supplements? And if so, which kind? Potassium citrate or gluconate? My suggestion would be citrate. It can be had in powder form. I think 1 tsp is 2 g potassium. If you drink water over the day, I would suggest dissolving the powder in a jug of water and drinking that over the day. My version of "timed release" potassium. Not that these quantby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon Decided that, for me, I needed to keep my intake around 3 g/day. George Do you really mean 3g Mg element/day? Such a dose would mean, for me, swallowing about 40 tabs of Mg glycinate/ malate a day. And what for the kidneys ? Yes. I take it usually in powder form - either di-magnesium malate powder or magnesium hydroxide. For the hydroxide, i put it in water in a specificby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf The lack of response is probably because whoever you sent the PM to didn't notice the indicator. The only notification you get is the "Private Messages" link at the top of the page turns bold. It's very easy to overlook and I've done so several times. I also get a message in the in-tray of my email account presumably associated with my forum membership lettby GeorgeN - AFIBBERS FORUM