Mark - I used flecainide daily before my ablation for several years and I was hospitalized for the induction phase. Some doctors still do that and others don't. I was prescribed PIP protocol using metoprolol (Toprol XL) first and then flecainide post ablation when I began having breakthrough at year 4. It works like 'magic' for me. I take 50 mg of the metoprolol immediatelyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jeff - yes.. only mine was 4 years post-Natale ablation. Based on those AF breakthroughs, I wrote The Strategy which is an observational report of how I prevented it from escalating to the point where I needed a second ablation. If you become low in the critical electrolytes that help produce the energy the heart cells need for function, you can have jitters or outright breakthrough. Companionby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chuck - yes... it's the gluten/gliaden protein in grains such as wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt and triticale that cause reactions in some individuals. There are two posts on this topic that explain how complicated it can be.... and many more posts if you use the Search feature and type in gluten. Testing for the sensitivity is the most accurate, but you can just eliminate those grainby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Lisa... I did use the advanced search with all of the appropriate boxes etc.by Jackie - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Donna - check your calcium/magnesium supplement and see the amount of calcium compared to magnesium and also the form of the magnesium... as an afibber, you will want to make sure that your calcium supplementation does not exceed a 1:1 ratio with magnesium... many doctors say the magnesium intake should be twice that of calcium since you want to keep magnesium inside the heart cells where it is cby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nancy - they are both helpful... the higher doses especially. Some suppliers are now isolating out higher quantities of DHA compared to EPA from the Omega E essential fatty acids which are derived from fish oil. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barry - You may not have been reading here when I was posting some years ago on the pH story and quoting copiously from the Alkalize or Die book by Baroody. My experience is that most people are generally acidic unless they make a concerted effort to consume the alkaline (ash) diet which consists of 80% alkalizing foods and 20% acid-ash producing foods. Testing urine helps as a reminder of dieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good to hear from you Russ and Congratulations on your determination to quit. There is nothing good to say about smoking. Be well, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Is it me or what? I have a very difficult time using the Search feature to locate past posts... especially those that are several months old... very low success rate. I've tried the titles, the key words, the authors and the Search is just not complete. Frustrating. If anyone has helpful hints, I'd welcome learning of them. Thanks. Jackie While I'm at it... any expby Jackie - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Tom B - in the elderly, it's often a case of insufficiient kidney function that causes a 'hyperkalemia' reaction so caution on either food or supplementation is always advised for anyone who tests as having less than optimal kidney function. The symptoms of hypokalemia are similar...fatigue and leg weakness. I have more fatigue and more leg weakness when I am low in potassium.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans - thanks - I certainly AM interested... George N tuned me into Earthing and I have enjoyed my experiences with the pad, walking barefoot and the 'grounding' treatments I received from The Healer, Warren Grossman. Of course, I live in a semi rural area which undoubtedly makes the difference. As stated in the Last Frontier post... if one lives an an area that is frought with highby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
More pradaxa newsby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
George - thanks. Got it. - sounds like it could be a risky drug for some people. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Howie - good report. Tikosyn always was your friend. I hope all this settles down for you. Best to you, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Chuck - no problem... I love seeing the PEMF topic continued. I bouught my pad Earthing.com.... just do a google to check for the best offer.... there are many links. I like the portability of the pad (20" x 10") but ideally, I'd also like to have the half-bedsheet. The pad comes with the ground tester so you know your outlets are safe to use. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thrombosis March 30, 2012 New analysis extends dabigatran MI signal to other thrombin inhibitors Chicago, IL - A new meta-analysis of trials of oral direct thrombin inhibitors—which included two studies of the new anticoagulant dabigatran (Pradaxa, Boehringer Ingelheim) and three studies of an older, discontinued drug, ximelagatran (Exanta, AstraZeneca)—shows an increased rate of MI in thby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Neroli - thank you for expanding on your story. I have numerous comments and will organize for a post soon, but for now, I have the following> The gas/bloating etc are definitely contributors to afib... consider that you may be lactose (dairy component) intolerant. Try eliminating dairy or using the enzyme lactase (Lactaid). Going totally grain free seems extreme, but it's the oby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gary - I'll respond in more detail hopefully tomorrow... .but your intuition on the elevated cortisol is right on the money. If you are continually producing excess cortisol... or if your body isn't normalizing it in the typical cyclical nature of cortisol production in a 24-hour period, the excess does cause problems. Sorry my explanation wasn't clear.... when you are in sympatheby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gary - It's not uncommon for afib to surface after being quiescent with influences such as the stress, alcohol, flying and probably eating out with a lot of salt in restaurant food. Especially, if you didn't continue taking magnesium and eat plenty of potassium-containing foods or supplement. Sometimes, then, it takes additional effort to restore or replete the critical balances thby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Erling - in your response to Randy, you mentioned avoiding anything containing fluoride. I presume this is because of the iodine competition. Then would propantheline bromide be acceptable/beneficial as bromide also inhibits iodine? Wikipedia says one side effect (adverse effect) of PB is tachycardia. Jackie .by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I do the same as George... and make sure I take away from meals. I've begun to just use the concentrate as it's easier. You only eat 2 - 3 times a day so the need for stomach acid is limited to those times. However, overall, the body needs to be alkaline for optimal health. Acidic residues and tissue acidity support disease. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dee - watch for my Silent Inflammation post coming soon... this is often a cause of clotting not related to AF. Everyone, especially afibbers, need to be aware. It's taking longer to gather the info than I originally planned... and of course, I'm playing hookey in the nice early Spring but I hope to post it within a week. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
The local paper repeated the online news detailing the January study by Cleveland Clinic doctors that suggested an increased heart attack risk for those on the new drug, Pradaxa. In March, a report of a Pradaxa-associated brain hemorrhage death of an elderly man after a minor fall raised concerns about bleeding complications that may be irreversible. Co-author on the study, CCF neurologistby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Magnesium reduces the tendency for blood platelet aggregation or clumping. You could consider using one of the proteolytic enzymes that is not soy based... one comes from earthworms... Boulouke and has been known for a long time to be very effective with lowering blood viscosity. Boulouke Lumbrokinase – This is a substance that acts as a fibrinolytic and anti-coagulant agent. In other words,by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barry - always good to hear from you. This is a great report. The vitamin C story must not be forgotten. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Josiah - I'm working on a post that reviews the importance of recognizing that Silent Inflammation is a risk factor for MI or stroke... systemic or silent inflammation affects blood viscosity which is a key stroke-risk factor. For afibbers, and those with inflammatory factors along with thick blood, it would seem logical that the more frequent the events, the more the risk. Even if theyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Phyllis - as a nightshade substitute for the LS V8 - I'd just use the bulk powder potassium gluconate...by NOW brands sold through Hans' iHerb vitamin store added to water. It's mildly salty and easy to use. It's inexpensive and lasts a long time. One teaspoon yields 540 mg potassium. Take with food. I'd start with small doses of half a teaspoon at first just to be sby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lisa - there probably are.. but the fiber theory is not only the fiber's bulking capacity because it holds water, but because of the "scouring" effect as it passes through... cleaning the GI lining of residues. Remember that the inside of the GI tract it packed with nooks and crannies, folds and crevices. The quick transit time from magnesium would have the 'rapid transitby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Phillis - thanks for responding with more detail. Your EP is mistaken that 2 x 90 mg potassium is adequate. The labeling is can be misleading.... The 550 mg is for the amount of Potassium Gluconate / tablet. Of that 550 mg of potassium gluconate, there is 90 mg of elemental potassium/ tablet. If you aren't gluten free, then now would be a good time to start that as PMR and gluten seby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans - On the Apple a Day comment... there are two recent studies indicating fiber decreases colorectal cancer risk. It was found that for every 10 grams of total fiber intake, colorectal cancer risk fell by 10%. That's typically about transit time. More fiber (25 grams+ daily as a recommendation) equals faster transit time and thus reduces the exposure time that toxins lie in the GIby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM