Stephen... The NOW taurine should be fine. The Jarrow was THEANINE that I was recommending as an additional supplement for stress. Gets confusing, all these unfamiliar names. Not to confuse you further, but a serum magnesium test done in the ER actually means nothing insofar as what's stored inside the cells. So... with that in mind, you should consider that you are probably low or margby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks all.... Gregg - No, my instructions are to take the 25 mg Toprol XL at onset. Wait 30 minutes and take 100 mg Flecainide. If not converted in an hour, then, take another 100 mg. I've had 6 total AF breakthroughs in the years, #4, #5 and now year #7 post ablation. At the time, the first came up I posted a question asking, "is my ablation warranty up?" Since then, andby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Stephen, I'm not a physician but based on my own experience and that of other successes here, I do disagree with your cutting down on magnesium. I'd also stop any calcium supplements at once. Most afibbers are unable to tolerate calcium supplementation and this is typically due to low or marginal intracellular stores of magnesium. Magnesium is relaxing; calcium is excitatory and cby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve - why not ask for another Bp med or consider using the K Factor method of controlling Bp w/o drugs? .... ie, get the book The K Factor by Richard Moore, MD, PhD. If you can manage to get enough dietary potassium consistently and reduce salt (sodium chloride) intake significantly as well, you ought to be able to normalize your Bp w/o drugs. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Darcy - Very sorry for your situation. This is certainly a great concern for you both. Is he totally off wheat and dairy? I'll check a couple of my research resources and email you with what I find... I have several extensive books on GI issues so I'll check there as well. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
<> James at the end of April I brought forward an old informative post on Taurine. I guess you missed it. It says: Taurine appears to offer potential in the treatment of arrhythmia and reducing blood pressure at relatively high doses (2 6 grams a day) and has been used in studies of heart function at levels up to 6 grams a day. Since you are interested in taurine, you probably will benefby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Katy - Sorry to see your post. I've just posted my experience with flying and stress etc. Certainly the virus comes into play here as well. I wish you a speedy recovery. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well, PIP to the rescue again! My record of being post-ablation AF breakthrough free since August 08 ended at 10 am on Mothers Day at my sons home in Texas. Clearly, for me, this was stress-related. Ive been dealing with three separate stress sagas over past months and the stress of traveling must have been the straw for this camel. ;( I had traveled the previous day...... up at 4 am,by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Rich - when nerves in the next or thorax area are impinged by postural abnormalities or displaced structures in those areas, and since many end up enervating the heart, the adjustment can be either great or make things worse depending on the skill/knowledge, etc of the practitioner. I have a great holistic chiropractor and my story goes that after he repositioned my displaced diaphragm, I wentby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chris - some people notice that the potassium causes them gas, bloating and symptoms close to diarrhea. Although the potassium gluconate powder most of us use is known to produce fewer gastric side effects, it still may be a problem for you. When are you taking your supplements? If you are not doing it at meals, then that would be what I'd try first. I definitely would not take them onby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Magnesium.... ....because on that island, I can get high potassium foods. Potassium won't help if you are deficient in magnesium and it's difficult to get enough for food. Overall, though, I'd try to get off the island because I really need my Essential Trio Plus...which includes CoQ10, and ribose. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Paul - you say 'stomach' woes, but you describe intestinal issues. Both can be related but I'd do some serious research both here and other sources about using a high quality probiotic for the gut issues... and consider Sharon's comments about H.pylori. It's fairly contract H. pylori and using her Mastic Gum protocol is easy enough to follow to get rid of it. You mayby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sharon - typically, potassium functions if the IC magnesium levels are optimal...so focusing on more Mg is the key to facilitating potassium function. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynn - you can take whatever the late Dr. Kensey said to the bank as far as blood viscosity issues go... he was way ahead of his time with the hemorheology research findings. Good source links. Thanks. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Montos - good to see you posting and very glad your afib has diminished so significantly. Congrats to you on our dilegence and success. In addition to George's excellent suggestions, I have some info on liver support - I'm due home this evening and will send you an email over the weekend. You can google Silymarin as an herbal support product for liver health, meanwhile. I'd coby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
James - When I wanted to weanoff my beta blocker (metoprolol), my doctor told me to shave off some of the pill over a period of a couple of weeks so my body would get used having less of the drug very gradually. I did just that and had no problem once the pill was down to less than 1/4 the original size, I just stopped. I'm glad to see you are doing well by adding more protein to your dby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - yes... I was afraid when I typed that beans were out. I'm leaning toward a mixed Paleo diet these days and hummus is an occasional treat along with some of the other forbidden dried beans for their protein content. I'd imagine it becomes a matter of tolerance and biochemistry as to how much one can deviate from Paleo with some of the lower carb content beans... Sorry. Jackiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Deer - absolutely yes to your question. I also have a well and hard water with a softener that uses sodium pellets, but I have a bypass for cooking and drinking water. The importance of dietary potassium intake for afibbers is huge. If you can substitute the potassium pellets for sodium, that would be good...or if a bypass is doable, then that's an option as well. At the very least, yby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nick - just to offer another view on flecainide dosing.... At 150 mg twice a day, I progressed to daily or everyother day afib of long duration...sometimes only 4 hours between bouts. Then, with the insistence of Erling who was sure I was low in both magnesium and potassium, (and I did eventually prove it by testing), I increased both supplements and made sure I didn't miss doses. Becauby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynn - if you haven't addressed adrenal fatigue plus trying ribose along with the adrenal burnout program, then I'd suggest you do some research. I had both CFS/FM years ago and have resolved both and more with a good Functional Medicine Board Certified Family Practice MD. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dave - that's very unfortunate. If you can't travel to Austin for Dr. Natale, then the next best alternative I'd recommend is David Callans at U of Penn. He's more routinely in the trenches and has done some miracles for afibbers posting here....specifically, (Pete), was a very difficult case and he's been afib free after his second with Dr. Callans. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Brian - That's a great idea. I have a mini group here in the Cleveland area but it's one-on-one at the present time. I've not had the time to advertise or get into it full force but your post prompts me to seriously consider it....not that I don't have enough to do, but I want to tell you that it is extremely gratifying to offer personal assistance to those struggling. Goby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Brian - because it works and not many, if any, EPs, cardiologists or other physicians unless they've gone the extra mile to become certified in Functional Medicine realize that nutritional deficiencies lie at the core of virtually all adverse health conditions...and this would include AF. They seem to forget the basic biochemistry of cellular function and the nutrients that allow normal, heby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey David!!!! So good to see your name here. Glad you are doing well. Best to you, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale - probably not a coincidence if everyone in this group is a heavy exerciser/runner because of the electrolyte depletion as well as the heavy toll the oxidative stress factor plays in this group. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many of the afibbers like the Doctor's Best magnesium glycinate. You should always start in with low dosing and increase very slowly to allow your body to adjust. Start with 100 mg MgG at bedtime.... do that for 4 - 5 days and add another 100 dose at bedtime.... wait another 4 - 5 days and then in addition to that 200 at bedtime, add 100 with breakfast... wait; and then add 100 with lunch.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Nick - by all means, you do need to get back on your supplementing program. Just the stress of the procedure alone is apt to deplete your electrolytes. Start back slowly with the dosing... magnesium first for at least a week or 10 days and then small amounts of potassium regularly throughout the day. If you did the Essential Trio, it's good to get back to that again and the other suppoby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
James - great progress. In addition to George's comments, I'd like to point out that you'll sabotage yourself if you introduce pita or muffin... as the carb content is relatively high, and they both contain wheat/gluten, you owe it to yourself to refrain and not give in to eating those foods that have little nutritional value. After you have met your goals and if you exercise rigby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jeff - glad to hear your ablation went well. Dr. Natale and team are the best! You probably received discharge instructions but to emphasize, be aware that your heart will be in a state of recovery and irritation for 6 - 8 weeks. For some, even longer. Treat your heart very kindly and let the healing take place. You will be tempted to try to 'test' your heart, but if you are wise, yby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chris - in your other post, the association between afib, MVP and magnesium deficiency has a strong link. Do a search here for magnesium posts and go to the conference room and check out the Magnesium/Postassium posts by Patrick Chambers, MD. That's a good start in the educational process. Stress is hugely influential in depleting magnesium. Welcome. We are all here to help direct youby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM