Tom - read the recent post by Erling on Exatest. I strongly suggest you get that done and learn from that your intracellular levels of electrolytes that contribute controlling blood pressure and afib. The fewer drugs you can take, the better. Also suggest you read the referenced book by Dr. Richard Moore on controlling blood pressure through the K factor which is all about potassium. Beta blby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Glen - as you have probably read, the heart is in a state of high irritability after an ablation. It's not unusual to have afib activity during the first few months post-ablation. It seems to be useful to continue using the electrolytes magnesium and potassium and some taurine. I used antiinflammatory herbals, vitamin C, CoQ10. As for the burns - the scars heal in a week or so. It'by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
James - I didn't learn about the importance of iodine until after my ablation, but since then have been taking it and noting that it has helped regulate thyroid function to the point where I've decreased the amounts of thyroid hormone needed to maintain normal function. Hypothyroidism as well as hyper are known contributors to afib. I started out with very low doses - 100-200 microgrby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
As I recall, Lynn of San Diego consulted with various EPs in California including Dr. Feld and ultimately opted for a Natale ablation in San Francisco. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz - Louise recently posted that her serum potassium test was normal but the Exatest indicated she was low. That's probably a common finding. The really interesting and most valuable findings of the Exatest are the ratios of the various electrolytes to the antagonists.... ie, sodium to potassium. If sodium completely dominates, then it's obvious why a person may be having trouble witby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
May - the citrate form of potassium should work just as well. The only downside might be gastric irritation. The gluconate form is the least likely to cause gastric problems...ie, stomach cramping and diarrhea. I recently called NOW brands and spoke with their nutritionist because I wanted to clarify why some people were complaining of these side effects. The response was... the gluconate fby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Curt - I'll be glad to offer some suggestions. I'm out of time for this session today. I'll get back soon. You don't have to make this rocket science. You're already doing well and a few refinements will help even more. Read the post Erling just offered. Getting the Exatest will be a great adjunct to what you are doing and will help direct exactly which electrolytesby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz - just a short comment about absorption and the ionic form.... it may not be getting into your cells adequately.. it still breaks down in the stomach and along the way. The glycinate form is the one that does not break down and findings are it is the form most apt to facilitate intracellular repletion. In my upcoming post on this topic, a bit more detail will be given. Everyone is so diffby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you, Erling, for this very important post and for sharing your knowlege and experiences. As Fran would say: Brilliant! Certainly, your dramatic reversal of the initial afib, the increase/decrease in blood pressure and the last session with the node conduction serve as the most impressive documentation weve seen here in one persons mission to conquer AF by addressing the root cause. Iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz - I love Dr. Brownstein for all his wonder thyroid/iodine work, but he is simply wrong about the Exatest. Period. The magnesium problem you experience undodubtedly has to do with absorption. And if you are low, as I mentioned, then adding potassium isn't a good choice (yet) for you. I'm working on some notes for magnesium that I'll be posting and you may find helpful. Inby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kerry - Do a google on 'holiday heart syndrome' linked to overuse of alcohol. Common. It's a warning that your body definitely needs some good nutrition and essential electrolytes (minerals) for heart health and stable rhythm. You should abstain from all alcohol (and sugar) until you get a grip on how to handle all this. Since you are young, you have no reason to think thisby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hey Liz - that's the reality of it. While afib isn't typically life-threatening, it can be a really good wakeup call for people to shape up before they ship out permanently and often prematurely. How long we live depends on how well (smart) we live. The key to living well with afib and even getting rid of it is understanding what's lacking in our individual biochemistries that aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John I assume you are a Lone Afibber? How frequent are your events? Time when most occur? Duration? Prolonged atrial fibrillation to me means a couple of risk factors: One would be the tendency for left atrium enlargement over time which leads to mitral valve involvement and regurgitation of blood and this whole complex promotes more afib. The other concern would be the tendency for clotby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
May - you can check with your pharmacist...they have the ultimate references for all cautions on drug interactions. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz - it could be thyroid, definitely, but if your magnesium is low intracellularly and you add potassium, it may make the tendency for afib worse instead of better. The only way to know for sure is to have the intracellular test by Exatest. A serum measurement for potassium may or may not tell the whole story and a blood draw for magnesium definitely doesn't reflect what's inside thby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom - I had flutter one time. I thought it was the usual afib. The exception was, it was relatively 'comfortable'... I was able to function fairly well and having read on the BB about people being able to walk off an event, I decided to try it. I went to the gym and walked a couple of brisk miles on the treadmill. Nothing. Still it was comfortable. It felt nothing like one of myby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
George - your friend was fortunate. Some people with cardiomyopathy are not able to reverse the EF. The brother of a friend of mine (around age 50) had untreated cardiomyopathy... strung along by an HMO... until he changed insurance plans and then found it was too late to do anything more than wait for a transplant. With nutritional help, he was able to function well and raised his EF somewhaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike - I presume you are using the SP as an anti-inflammatory? Have you had the CRP test to show it is working or useful? As for the nattokinase, the purpose is to lower the fibrin content in blood and thereby reduce viscosity or tendency to clot easily especially when the blood is 'churning' in afib. The lab test for fibrinogen will tell you where you are in that range. If you lby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Best to you John for a safe and successful procedure. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - probably just part of the weaning-off procedure. I'd strongly suggest, though, that you try to use topical magnesium at the very least. Most people are deficient in magnesium... afibbers, definitely so. You can either soak your feet regularly in Epsom Salts or soak your whole body. Or use one of the topical products called Magnesium Oil. Somehow, you need to try to optimiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike - I agree with George. Most individuals are on the path toward insulin resistance (caused by diet) and lack of magnesium. Insulin resistance or Metabolic Syndrome is reversible but it requires strict discipline and you will have to do the very low carb and no alcohol for it to be successful. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Drew - as you'll soon find out through reading, you are most likely deficient in the critical electrolytes (minerals) that help ensure a normal heart rhythm... magnesium and potassium. Along with that, the taurine mentioned helps stabilize what's inside the cells but quite possibly the most important nutrient to add would be d-ribose to help restore energy after exercise. Read the liby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Paul - it's often said that elevated HR 20-30 minutes after a meal is an indication of food-sensitivity reaction....especially, if you eat the same foods many times a day and every day. If you haven't eliminated gluten/gliaden protein (grains) and the dairy protein casein from your diet yet, you might experiment with that to see if in a couple of months there is a difference in your HRby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heres a clip on ketosis from the expert on metabolic disturbances, Ron Rosedale, MD. This comes from his book, The Rosedale Diet which is about metabolism and leptin. Pp 22-23 First of all, let me correct a popular misconception about high protein diets and ketones. Ketones are a by-product of fat burning and they are a good, efficient fuel. Under normal circumstances, your cells should be aby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Matt - you should not stop them. Just get your baseline from where you are now. If you have taken the electrolytes and your AF has stopped, then that's a good sign that you are gaining optimal stores inside the cells where the minerals/electrolytes function. Be aware that a blood test will only show what's in the serum (blood) and these electrolytes function inside of tissue cells...by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz - I've used this long before the concern over grapefruit interactions was known. I don't use it daily... except for soaking or washing off produce, but more as a preventive if symptoms occur. I have used it since the mid-90's both with and without afib drugs and was not aware of any side effects but that doesn't mean there aren't any. You could call the tech supby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nick - I've been banging away at the drum over the reason why the glycinate form is useful for so many it seems almost weekly in various posts. I'm glad you connected with this one. See the following explanation from a previous post. Not that the WW form isn't useful. It definitely is as is the topical form called 'magnesium oil'... as transdermal deliver is quick and efficient and also doby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nick - good points to consider. We are not talking high alkalinity; but just over the neutral area and slightly into the alkaline pH. As with anything, you can overdo it. I've posted continually about the need for adequate stomach acid, HCl. However, the Albion version --magnesium bisglycinate chelated amino acid....does not need or rely on stomach acid for proper metabolism. It is forby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just a reminder what a great product GSE is for many uses...esp. in flu season. I buy mine from Hans' website... it is the best price I've found.I would never consider traveling without it; I just transfer some to a smaller squeeze bottle. Nutribiotic also offers a nasal spray with GSE and to that I add about half a teaspoon of colloidal silver during cold and flu season...just in case I starby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM