Bruce - a potassium level that low can be a problem for afibbers. Typically, you'll need to be around 4.5 but definitely over 4.0. Once you get the tumor situation handled, you can start monitoring it again if you continue to have afib...which I hope you do not. Good luck. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol - sorry - that link wasn't the one I thought I pasted in for you. Jackie Try these:by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bear - You are fortunate to be in the care of Dr. Tchou. He's a highly experienced and very successful EP. His patients have high regards for him. I've known several who had his ablations. He collaborated for years with Dr. Natale when he was at the CCF. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sujo - Based on my post ablation experiences, I wrote an observational report: The Strategy - What Metabolic Cardiology Means for Afibbers... It's in the section at the top Blue Box... AFIB RESOURCES... or click here: I wish you a safe and successful ablation. Please check in when you are back in action. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barb - I've posted my experience with flecainide numerous times... I was taking 300 mg daily - divided doses - AF worsened to more frequent and longer duration until I was in AF daily or everyother day... maybe 4 hours inbetween rounds. I consulted with Dr. Natale and was given a date for ablation 6 months out. Since I never wanted to submit to the procedure, I did heroics to try to reversby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sam - thanks for posting your very interesting experience. This is a classic case of Biochemical Individuality and the statement that "we are all experiments of one." Without a comprehensive metabolic profile analysis, it would be impossible to determine your total body nutrient status and what you are lacking, but as long as you have success with your current regimen and you'reby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bruce - It's certainly a good thing someone decided to do the testing. It's unbelieveable to me that it hasn't been checked out before this, especially in light of five failed procedures. I'd think that resolving the tumor/adrenal issues will put an end to your afib. As Ben says, take your time before agreeing to another procedure. Please keep us informed on your progresby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Mike... I can appreciate your frustration. I know this is difficult to do, but just try to keep a positive mindset along the lines that this is an irritated heart attempting to heal and you need to give it time. If you don't take Omega 3 fish oil and Coenzyme Q10, you may want to consider as these help with inflammation via the antioxidant effect. Keep in mind that your heart will be inby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Adrian - Glutathione is known to help - Here's a clip Glutathione protects your body by immediately going to work neutralizing free radicals created during unhealthy radiation exposure. In fact, glutathione is the ONLY antioxidant that can neutralize the hydroxyl radical created in human body from too much radiation exposure! The hydroxyl radical also know as the Hydroxyradical iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - one of the reasons I wanted to get off flecainide was both the lightheadedness and vision distortion. When I was able to cut back on the dosing, I had a slight improvement and when I was totally off the drug after ablation, everything normalized. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
What is the form of the magnesium you are taking? Some cause more bowel issues than others. It's best to use the chelated form - magnesium glycinate that is formulated to allow for higher doses without the bowel tolerance problem. As Peggy mentions, it's best to start with a low dose and ramp up every 3 - 4 days with another dose and pause periodically and just coast on that dose untby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
David - very often, GERD is a result of gas that forms from undigested food in the stomach due to lack of stomach acid production and the other enzymes needed to breakdown food into absorbable particles. Once you get that digestion issue under control, the stomach doesn't distend and put pressure (impinge) on the vagus. The holistic or or functional medicine doctors continually emphasby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gordon and Carol... The current issue of Townsend Letter has an interesting viewpoint/article on treating Lyme... and it's available online... and it makes a very important point about treating. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barb - It makes no sense to take drugs for hypertension and eat foods with a high-sodium content and then expect that you can coast along and avoid afib. Drugs in and of themselves help deplete magnesium and potassium...even though whatever it is that you take is said to be "potassium sparing." As Peggy mentions, you probably aren't benefiting nearly enough from the proper formby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Correction..... Jackie has had one successful ablation by Dr. Natale, 11/03... soon to be 8 years ago and she doesn't intend to have another anytime soon. While I've had some breakthrough AF that is effectively controlled by the prescribed PIP (one event every 6 - 9 months since year 4), I have fine-tuned my electrolyte balance so I am maintaining the voltage needed to keep my heaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gordon... the posts were in the previous forum...here's a search link. There is a lot of chatter these days that the antibiotics don't do enough and other steps need to be taken. I'd do a google search on the nano-particle colloidal silver because that's very effective and less reactive/harmful that long-term antibiotics. I just read something new... I'll see if I caby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Calli - You may have read this as I've posted it about 100 times but my PIP instructions include the use of the beta blocker Toprol XL 25 mg at the onset to slow the heart rate and allow the dose of 100 mg antiarrhythmic flecainide to be able to work. If the HR is too high, the a/a doesn't always work. If no conversion after 1 hour of the a/a, then take another 100 mg. I've hadby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sam - I added the last article in the General Forum on the E controvesy. It's worth reading. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol - That's really terrible.... so sorry. We've discussed Lyme in numerous past posts... please use the search feature to find...there are good references for further reading/research. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heather - you certainly need to do whatever it takes to guard against the Barrett's progression. That's very serious. As for magnesium absorption, if you use the Albion patented, amino acid chelated version... magnesium glycinate...(check the label for the Albion statement), it does not rely on stomach acid for absorption. It is formulated to be released when it passes through theby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello John - Please keep us informed of your recovery progress and let us know your area and EP. We are always looking for good reports by location to share with others. Just be kind to your heart now while it's healing. Best to you, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Youre right, Tom there is a lot of irony here. Paleo man didnt enjoy longevity as we know it because it was life was brutal and surely few people today think it would be cool to be Paleo man, Im sure but with all the modern conveniences and information at our disposal, one would think wed be smart enough to implement an educational program for healthy lifestyles that makes sense. Human nby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Janet - I also had a successful ablation with conscious sedation and I'd certainly ask if that could be a consideration in light of your previous (and serious) experience. I did not find it overly uncomfortable and it was nice not to have that dreadful anesthesia hangover that comes with general. I've had general anesthesia for four other surgeries and if it were possible to go with tby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sam - I'm responding to this post in the General Health Forum section. At the time there was all that vitamin E controversy, various well-known experts from the holistic/functional medicine arena responded with their views on the topic which served to help clarify. You may find the reading useful. Even at the time, my FM MD didn't have me stop using vitamin E although she has alwaysby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Definitely.... shakiness, cotton-head or brain fog. My hypoglycemia always started with brain fog and an internal shakiness that eventually made my hands shake as well.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale - the message is that if one decides on ablation, then seek out the most qualified EP available who has done thousands of successful ablations and settle for nothing less to ensure not only safety but success. There are always risks to any invasive procedure and there are always risks any time anesthesia is part of a procedure, but we do have control over is selecting who we choose to peby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Aj - there are many posts about serum magnesium not being a reliable indicator of what the magnesium content is inside the cells where it needs to be to function. The serum measurement might be useful in that if that is low, then it's almost a guarantee that IC magnesium is also low. If your kidneys are healthy and function normally, there is no problem with the higher doses of magnesiumby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike - nuts as a late night snack could be fine as long as there is time to be well-digested before lying down... at least two hours.... and of course, chewed very well until liquified before swallowing. (most people don't chew nearly long enough). That would be my ownly concern about nuts as a late night snack. The timing for all late-night snacks is the same... must have time to digesby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Calli - first-thing-in-the morning symptoms is classic for hypoglycemia. What you eat in the evening or maybe don't eat... has a direct influence on how you'll fare during the night and into the early morning. It becomes critical that you avoid starchy, sugary carbs and alcohol in the evening and always have a protein/healthy fat snack two hours before bed to help stabilize blood gluby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dan - welcome to the real world. New procedures and drugs always get top billing. Tried and True Nutrition rarely does. Ablation can be mostly a palliative procedure unless one takes steps to address the core issue of why the arrhythmia occurs in the first place. No one addresses the fact that the typical afibber is deficient in key nutrients/electrolytes that support NSR. Until that happens, aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM