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Randy - this is undoubtedly the main reason that to introduce these drugs, the patient is typically hospitalized and monitored carefully to be sure they are compatible. I was hospitalized for both Betapace and Flecanide; the betapace may have been coincidental, but they kept me for a few days on a monitor just to be sure. In the past, several posters have decided they would refuse these drugsby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - sure. It may be the reason why the topical (transdermal) form is recommended - what Lynn is trying in the form of a foot soak - to avoid the stomach irritation. But, then again, perhaps magnesium chloride is not as irritating as the potassium combination. I don't have a clue but will keep looking at this potential. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
cp - I'm really sorry to see such a time you're having with this fluid retention thing. What has been measured insofaras your heart function - like ejection fraction? Was this the reason the nurse mentioned congestive heart failure? Please realize I'm not a doctor and am not attempting to second-guess what you're being told, but from the experience I've had dealingby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Michael - Howie's comments echo my own sentiment. You need to go where they understand the whole picture and have the experience to back it up. Apparently, while your doctors are pleasant, etc, they aren't skilled in ablation, so since it is not entirely risk free and before you have some irreversible harm done, please consider his recommendation. I had my first and only ablation wby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kathleen - My experience over 8 years was that they don't care one way or the other. I was given beta blockers and was vagal. That didn't seem to enter into the equasion in their consideration. Eventually, I just stopped the beta blocker on my own and stayed with the antiarrhythmic which worked once I was able to get my levels of magnesium and potassium at optimum. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
It may be time to evaluate this form of magnesium. Lynn of San Diego area has been experimenting with the topical version. This article mentions taking the bulk form orally and also suggests we need the chloride ion that we don't get from a chelated version. I'd be interested in input regarding this form of Magnesium. Jackie MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE for Health & Rejuvenationby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Maureen - What are your lab ranges for the fibrinogen - that is where do you fall in the recommended range. Here we go by a numerical range and each lab has their own range of 'normal. Some are 150 - 350 others say 200 - 400 and another says 170-460. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Larry - I'm hoping Aldona is reading and will respond. As I recall, she's from Sidney and had a disaster with ablation there so it would be good to know who not to see. She's in Bordeaux right now waiting for the all clear to return home after her ablation. Good luck and and make informed decisions. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lou - that's great news. It's been a long time coming for you and certainly, now you can relax and enjoy life. I know what you mean about not worrying about afib. NSR certainly is blissful. I wish you healthful and carefree days for the rest of your life. Best regards, Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bob - I am regularly checked by labs ordered by my functional medicine MD. Regularly meaning about 4 times a year. This is just part of my ongoing wellness program since I have other issues even though I no longer have afib. She orders the PT times, ferritin, fibrinogen, HS CRP, Hemoglobin A1C, fasting insulin and glucose, thyroid profile and then a whole host of nutritional markers to be suby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Randy - I agree - try the next drug and you'll have some history to review with Dr. Natale. While you're waiting, make every effort to eat very healthily and lose weight. This is a must regardless of whether or not you have afib. You are fortunate to have the Natale appointment. He's great. Jackie.by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Scott - I agree with others who have said find another cardiologist. Interview various offices to learn if the cardiologist handles rhythm problems as a sub-specialty. Most cardiologists don't know much about rhythm. Many go on to learn more and do deal with the electrophysiology of the heart. You'll just have to spend some time finding one. Or, look for an electrophysiologist whoby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Deb - the important thing is for him to take responsibility for the problem as I mentioned before. If you are the food police, it's likely he's not going to own the problem. But, since I presume you are the chef, then you do have control over what gets to the table but not at other times so it's important he understand and want to follow the program you both understand and decidby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
William, I just read in a newsletter by Russell Blaylock, MD his list of what depletes iron....he says this: Nutrients that deplete iron: Quercetin Curcumin (from the spice turmeric) Hesperidin IP6 Green and black tea IP6 is a inositol phosphate-6. It was developed by a cancer researcher at the U of Maryland and works by stimulating cellular immunity but also by binding iron. Iron is essby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Well, it's probably okay but nothing has tickled my funny bone that much ever again so I haven't tested it. Silly thing is I can't even remember what was so darn funny - probably I just was in the mood for comic relief! I still enjoy a daily dose of humor though. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bob - Do you have Hans' Thrombosis book? If not, you should order it. That gives the technical details of the various clotting mechanisms and a short answer here doesn't really work. Each test and several of the products we mention work on different clotting mechanisms; warfarin works by interferring with the vitamin K aspect of clotting. Nattokinase lowers the increase of PAI - 1 iby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Deb - Just remember the one very important rule. Before loading up with potassium, it is crucial that magnesium stores inside the cell be adequate, otherwise, the extra potassium can be counterproductive. I doubt that you can get all the magnesium you need from almonds. Most afibbers who can tolerate supplements find that it is best to start low and work up to at least 600 mg. if not 800 orby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don't know about 'measuring' afib while laughing, but I certainly can attest to a fit of laughing that set off my afib at one time. For some reason, I was watching a comedy skit that struck me as hilarious and I laughed until I cried and then I went right into afib. Never allowed myself to do that again. Sometimes, laughter is not the best medicine! Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bob - I take fish oil, nattokinase, ginkgo, magnesium, vitamin E, B's and resveratrol to help with platelet aggregation....just as a measure of precaution. I'm not concerned now with afib. When my PT is measured, it's between 13 and 14 which is high and my doctor approves. They don't bother checking INR. Some of my other natural anti-inflammatory supplements may alsoby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Phillip - although I don't play tennis, I have pushed my HR on occasion intentionally but not often. Ablation 11/03. Over these past 2-plus years, I've come to my own non-medical opinion that once the heart has been ablated, it seems there will be a few random beats or mis-beats here and there but if the important focci are isolated, then it never goes into afib. It is also my opinby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Randy - I am indeed from the far east side of Cleveland - way out in the country. Dr. Natale is my EP and did my ablation. If you are from the Cleveland area, I can recommend my cardiologist at the CCF who treated me until he turned me over to Dr. Natale for ablation....you can email me. I don't think Dr. Natale sees patients routinely that aren't coming for ablation and I also beby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Be sure you read the recent warnings about viagra and vision problems. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ask the Experts about Cardiovascular from Medscape Internal Medicine Use of Low-Dose Aspirin in TIA and Thrombotic Stroke Question What role could treatment with low-dose aspirin play in the management of transient ischemic attack (TIA) and thrombotic stroke? Can it be used as prophylaxis in a patient with TIA? Response from Gerald W. Smetana, MD Division of General Medicine and Primaryby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Breathing Something to think about Recent posts have inquired about sleep, breathing and some exercises for controlled breathing. Last year, I posted (below) information on the Buteyko Method of breathing. It's highly effective because it allows the concentration of carbon dioxide to be at levels important to homeostasis. All it takes is a timer that counts down and up; time and discipby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike L - Hang in there but be mindful of your electrolyte levels. Many people have reported that the extra beats etc either go away or are diminished greatly once they get the magnesium and potassium levels at optimum. Stress is a huge depleter of magnesium. Ablation - burning inside your heart - has to be highly stressful. I've told my story often - I had no afib or ectopy after ablaby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Susan - while this is an excellent product for relaxation, it is in the form of magnesium citrate and to get the amounts you will need if your intended use is for optimizing intracellular magnesium to help with afib, chances are, you won't be able to take enough of Natural Calm. Magnesium citrate is used in laxatives. You can try it, but my experience with it is that you just can'tby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
TV News last evening was heavy with this study news as was the local paper. I just heard a doctor in a teleconference criticizing studies and how they were conducted. He said he has a new name for them.... triple blind.... because not only were they double blind studies but often times the people conducting the studies did not not know how to do it well or did not cover all the parameters....by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dean - Peggy - These are only opinions/interpretations. I mainly wanted to point out the path of the vagus and then the chiropractic view of nutritional needs and the nervous systems involved. I'm puzzled by the comment "Indeed, it is very questionable whether the vagus can be stimulated by pressure through the overlying tissues, for in operations upon the neck, even pinching tby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
The discussion of the vagus whether it enter the spine was discussed not long ago. The vagus is called the wanderer. It comes out of the skull and meanders down through some of the cervical area of the spine. If you wade through these clips, hopefully, it will clarify some of the speculations about the path and the neck/spine. It helps to view the URLs at the end which give illustrations. Jby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Doug - what I posted from that website for Randy indicates it blocks K++. What got me started thinking about it was a recent phone conversation with Dr. Z who talked to Minerva at the CCF and she said Betapace has an affinity for potassium. The lightbulb went off for me since I had trouble with the drug and perhaps the potassium issue was why. Who knows? You're probably good with your LSby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM