Mike - the only caution is knowing that one's kidneys function properly as that's the route of excreting the excess magnesium (and potassium for that matter). Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz - I hear you. Most of my neighbors do have gardens but many people I know do not have the space or as you say the inclination to raise their own healthy food. I couldn't live without my own organic garden. If the food shortage and crisis continues as expected, more people may see the light and begin to garden again out of necessity. I'm old enough to remember that during WWII,by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Another timely clip on environmental toxins. In the Aug/Sept 08 issue of Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, a previous interview by Robert Crayon, MS (August 07) titled: Cancer, Pancreatic Enzymes and Politics an Interview With Nicholas Gonzales, MD, had a couple of timely comments that are on this topic of food and pesticides. Hes talking about caring for cancer patients but obviby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
As a matter of dosing information, it's important to note that only about 500 mg of vitamin C is absorbable at one time. Anything over that will be flushed out regardless of bowel tolerance. For this reason nutritionists advise taking 500 mg in divided doses throughout the day or several time-released doses for continual supply of vitamin C. In other words, even if you can tolerate a 3by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Barry - You said: It is my belief I have never yet read of any complications arising during any of those proceedures We have indeed had several very significant stories about botched ablations and some dire consequences. They are not without risk and we always encourage afibbers to consult with the best of EPs with the best track records for success and safety. Several people have had tamby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Timely - Dr. Mercola offers foods from the list that can be non-organic and have low levels of pesticides: Be sure to read what he reports about nutrient value etc. Just as we see controversy over the benefits of supplemental vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in functional medicine versus pharmaceutical medicine, the controversy over nutrient value of organic v. conventionally grown foodby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Alon - do you happen to know if your blood pressure pill is potassium sparing? You might inquire of your pharmacist. Low potassium levels can be a prime suspect in recurrent afib. I know that even after my seemingly successful ablation, if I neglect adequate intake of supplemental magnesium and potassium, I have had some AF activity. I don't take any othe drugs, but have in the pasby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Monsanto has announced that it will sell off its thriving Prosilac (TM) business. Prosilac is the trade name for recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH), a hotly contested, controversial animal drug used to increase the milk output of cows. Despite strong public, scientific and humane objection to the stuff, Monsanto estimates that 1/3 the cows in the US receive the drug which is frequentlyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
This has been fun! Everyonce in a while, comic relief has its merits!! Potassium aka (pot) or K - I'd be taking the potassium gluconate bulk powder form - at least a teaspoon with every meal. 1 teaspoon provides 540 mg of K. The daily requirement from food is a minimum of 3.5 and up to 5 grams. Typically, people get at least some K from diet, so supplementing with 2 grams a day iniby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Christy - Good news about no clots! You are smart to be using plenty of nattokinase. If I were thinking about having a surgical procedure, I'd want to discuss ahead of time the insurance of having IV glucose as quickly as possible when I arrived for the procedure just to eliminate the risk of hypoglycemia during the fasting period. I'd also make sure that I was optimal in magnesiumby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Pardon me for being a bit cynical over that Kaiser statement. I view that adoption as merely a way for them to 'cash in on' the big business of ablations with the "hope" they can get away with some less skilled (read lower paid) cardiologists to perform the services. Kaiser in California may be entirely different, but Kaiser services here in Ohio leave a huge amount to beby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jean - there is a large amount of information being circulated on vitamin D deficiency throughout the conventional medicine world. Pretty interesting. There are two schools of thought regarding supplementation. One goes with the very large doses such as Larry had, for a short duration and then a maintenance dose. The others suggest starting at 2000 IU and retesting to see what improvementsby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Peggy for your testimonal. My three friends who have suffered with PF, are not runners and not overweight but they are avid walkers - logging in many miles a day on the pavement or sidewalks or golf-course. They all were advised by podiatrists to have orthotics made for them and all opted for what you describe as OTC orthotic type shoe inserts which have helped greatly....that and alwayby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Melanie - I'm very aware of corporate influences and marketing strategy. I was in that field myself before healthcare. What I find most alarming is the fact that the doctors prescribing the 'latest and greatest' drug innovations are often at the mercy of what they are told (and not told) by Big Pharma. Its acknowledged that there is cover-up when it comes to drug safety and performance.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Curt - thanks for responding. If potassium doesn't interfere with the Cartia, why not consider increasing that? Ample intracellular potassium is critical for lengthening the refractory period and helps prevent afib. It's been discussed here recently - in case you missed it - ablating the flutter typically does not address or correct afib. Of course, you might get lucky and be theby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Christy - take one step at a time. Do the diagnostics and then take time to understand what's suggested and ask alot of questions as to how this may impact your heart. Consult with your cardiologist as well. Since everyone is so different, it's difficult to speculate whether or not you would go into AF. The castor oil packs may be soothing. As for diuretics, I'd just watchby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Babs - excellent resource. Thanks for posting. The more people can become aware that our food supply is miserably deficient, the quicker we can begin staying taking preventive measures to insure we either get healthy or remain healthy. Home grown foods offer some solution; imported foods that permeate the marketplace post risks of both lack of nutritient content as well as exposure to chemicalby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good work, Larry. I recently read a comment that indicated people with optimal vitamin D stores do not have the incidence of skin cancer that deficient people experience and also do not tend to sunburn. I can't give a reference; I just made a mental note. The recommendation to try to get some vitamin D from sunshine involves ample skin exposure at high noon but only for a few minutes.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jeff - what does the cardiologist who ordered the diagnostics have to say about the reported results? I must tell you one research finding that is noteworthy that came out of my researching ribose. It has to do with how much time the heart requires for recovery after intense exercise. Note the underscored section. What is Ribose? Over 100 scientific publications describe the beneficial effby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jim - more to the point... have you optimized your intracellular stores of both magnesium and potassium and tried balancing it all with taurine? If not, why not start? You may be surprised at the results. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jennifer - I was in NSR but unable to get off the Flecainide. I tried. Had nasty rebound effect. Went back on. I was 67 and concerned over the potential of losing the good insurance I had (then) and also that I was having vision disturbances from the drug. I wanted off the drug and I had the Natale date for which I had waited 6 months. Had I been younger and not had the insurance dilemmaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Christy - I'm very sorry to see you have one more ordeal to face. At one time, I had a bout with unexplained swollen ankles. My doctor wanted to rule out venous insufficiency and sent me for a test that involved putting on my legs blood-pressure-like cuffs that were attached to a device that inflated the cuffs and measured the blood flow. It wasn't exactly comfortable but it wasnby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Valda - if the doctor didn't think he needed coumadin afterwards, was it because you told him he would be taking nattokinase? Or was it his practice not to it at all...period? I'd want to be sure he was taking 6,000 FU of Nattokinase daily in divided doses. A small amount of aspirin may be okay, but if he experiences nosebleeds, then I'd cut back significantly on the aspirin. Nby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Howie, where would we be without your touch of humor! Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
David - I'm really glad you had a good time in Italy. If you can't enjoy life, then what's it all about, anyway? However, you prove once again that just because the beast is in remission, it doesn't mean it is dead. It's always waiting there for the right opportunity to show up again. Glad your encounter was was short. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nel - small amounts of dark chocolate may not bother you. Check here for caffeine content:by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ray - sorry to see the plantar faciitis diagnosis. Very painful and limiting. I have had 3 friends suffer with that. Two were older and one young (under 50). All are walkers - big time. Aside from the medications, the best thing to do is limit activity and do the stretching exercises advised. It takes a very long time to heal. Orthotics seem to help. Never go barefooted. I'd be doinby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Curt - everyone is different. We do know that afib becomes progressively worse with time. Some afibbers have been able to reverse that pattern through dietary and lifestyle changes and targeted supplements. See CR #61. During my 8-year afib journey before ablation, I progressed from one event every every six months to several times a months and then every day and often 27 hours or longer wiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
In another press release dated 8/11/08 - it was mentioned that "Multaq, has the potential to become a multibillion dollar product if it gets approved." This sounds to me as if they are targeting everyone with afib and not just those who are suffering from the side effects of using amiodarone. Also mentioned: "irregular heartbeat, known as atrial fibrillationn, affects about 2by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Heather - I hope you have a wonderful trip and the wedding is lovely. I've always found it helps to have all contingency plans in place. Know ahead of time what yu will do to manage AF and make it as easy as possible to cope. Then if afib does come in to play, you are prepared and can handle it accordingly. The other thing I would typically do is try to get a mindset going that was onlyby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM