Welcome Marian of Miami . Its a pleasure to read such a well-organized bio of your afib history. I can relate to the situation in which you find yourself. Im soon to be 68 and the ablation decision certainly addressed the questions with which you are now grappling. My thoughts were exactly as yours. If I wait and really get in trouble when Im in my 70s, will I even be able to haveby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Joe - welcome back. How wonderful for you to be accomplishing your goals with the PhD. Good for your wife's efforts - I truly think part of the insurance company's strategy is to make it so overwhelming, people just give up. Perserverance pays off. Before you consider ablation....unless it becomes absolutely essential.... I hope you will consider increasing your magnesium...maby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Joe - anything that reduces inflammation will also help with lowering CRP levels...many natural routes to go....even aspirin will help, although there are downsides to regular use of aspirin. I trust Mercola. He's one of the good guys - and honest too. Not covering up something for the AMA. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dean - Very interesting connection. I, too, was raised on alot of dairy products.... always milk at every meal as well. No calcium supplements. No broken bones either. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bringing my post forward to this one .... Jackie Author: Jackie (---.56.217.64.Dial1.Cleveland1.Level3.net) Date: 01-15-04 18:11 JR - go back in the archives a bit and see what Jim W. posted on the use of either the 4 or 8 mm caths. Natale uses 8. I believe Wharton uses 4. Jim W. said at the time, it appeared to be a matter of EP choice - just as in his field of dentistry, he had favorite buby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - Instead of working on my taurine report, I had to work up a detail for a person with UTI.... and I thought I'd mention to you that if you are interested, email me and I'll send it to you. It has alot of gynecological stuff so I didn't post it here. Anyway.....about cranberry....here is what Julian Whitaker, MD, says about it How Cranberries Battle Bacteria Researchers now know howby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
JR - go back in the archives a bit and see what Jim W. posted on the use of either the 4 or 8 mm caths. Natale uses 8. I believe Wharton uses 4. Jim W. said at the time, it appeared to be a matter of EP choice - just as in his field of dentistry, he had favorite burrs he liked to use for certain procedures. So I believe it is a matter of preference rather than a "standard."by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gregg - I'm the one who started the Metagenics magnesium glycinate post originally. I still stand by it as an excellent magnesium supplement and the one that enabled me to stop the afib breakthrough while on Flecanide and the same one that is keeping me afib free after ablation and now that I am off all heart drugs. I do combine my dose with half the MG and half the Magnesium taurate - jby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Peggy - is yours the essential hypertension condition? Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carol - It sounds as if you had a very thorough consultation. I do want to mention, though, that I have a friend whose grand-daughter has atrial fibrillation. So I guess it is best never to say never. Carol, I hope you don't need an ablation soon. I'm sure advancements are coming on fast with every passing day. Thanks for your report. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jerry - Ot's coming - It's coming!!! You didn't miss it. Jackie is organizing and preparing and expects to post this weekend. A preview - I can find no indication that the glycinate form of magnesium is harmful or in any way unbalances taurine levels. To the contrary, it works in synergy with the taurine - enhancing both properties. Glycine is found in abundance in theby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dean - the literature indicates imagnesium reduces blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessel walls - allowing a "wider" channel through which the blood flows rather than a tight, narrow channel which would create more pressure. I have noted, though, that some people with essential hypertension do not get relief with magnesium. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
PC - thanks for your kind words. I am certainly enjoying the peace of heart and mind. Thanks for the compliment about my efforts.... my mission is only to create awareness so people can be well informed about their health and attempt to take responsibility for it. It's always gratifying when I'm able to steer someone toward answers. Regarding, this pH issue, as usual, your explby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jack - Q #1 - at 2 months post ablation.... no, I have not tried any of the triggers. I don't want to risk creating any irritation...in case that is the cause of afib. My heart is so peaceful, I can't imagine anything more important that keeping it that way. Q#2. Initially, Dr. Natale told me that if fibrillation continued afterward, most likely, I would need a touchup ablationby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
PC - I guess in my haste to post, I didn't articulate very well. And you undoubtedly know far more than I about pH etc. My limited knowledge indicates to me that when we elevate the magnesium intake by supplement and not with WW with the bicarbonate base, the intracellular magnesium is increased to oversaturation status and that which isn't needed or can't get in, will be exby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
JR - So sorry. Why not try taking some extra magnesium to calm your heart? That's what I always do if I feel it gets irritated or jumpy. It can't hurt. Might help. The other thing to consider is that you may just take a little longer than 3 months so don't give up and revert to old trigger habits. Be kind to that heart and feed it good things. I'm rooting for you. Jby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Alistair - alcohol depletes magensium stores. Perhaps you should consider taking the supplemental magnesium - my success didn't happen until I reached 800 mg. extra. Start out with 400, and then go up to 600 and see if it makes any difference. Also, consider that red wine has been more of a trigger than white for some afibbers; and also consider that some wines have sulfites which areby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Carol - I'm bringing forward a post I did on pH a little over a year ago in answer to your question on pH..... Most likely, the added magnesium is producing the higher pH reading. See below. Jackie Author: Jackie (---.56.7.147.Dial1.Cleveland1.Level3.net) Date: 01-05-03 12:36 With a considerable amount discussion being generated on pH values, I thought it might be helpful to offerby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks to everyone for your kind, and congratulatory wishes. You all are very special people. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elwood - Sure - I'll be happy to answer any questions.... in fact, if you want to email me privately, I'll share with you some of the details from quesitons I asked of the EP nurse, Michelle, before the procedure. I've sent them to several people here looking for info. I was in the hospital overnight. Arrived at 6 am the morning of the procedure. In the waiting area by 6:45 -by Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Richard - I don't use any of the chemicals either. I just posted to keep reminding people to check labels if they purchase packaged products. It seems that Splenda etc are everywhere. Stevia is the way to go. It's plant derived and doesn't increase blood glucose levels. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike - on the contrary for me.... vagal and the only thing that calmed down both the PAC's and the afib was the elevated dosage of magnesium. It did nothing to reduce at even levels of 400 mg. a day. Not until I reached 800 mg. did the ectopy and afib diminish. Just my experience. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
After the holidays, don't be tempted to reduce carbs by using products that contain artificial sweeteners - especially this thing called Splenda.... Note this interview from Dr. Mercola: 12 Questions You Need to Have Answered Before You Eat Splenda From Dr. Janet Starr Hull's Health Newsletter, December 2003 The following interview was conducted with Dr. Janet Starr Hull on the safety of suby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
oh and I forgot to mention, my resting heart rate runs between 64 and 68. For the first couple of weeks post ablation, it was 78 - 80 bpm. Jackieby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Richard - way back when I had my first afib attack, it was brought on by my consuming three glasses of red wine. At the time, one was my standard, but for some reason, 2 more seemed like a good idea. Later on when I began consulting with cardiologists about the afib which occurred only once in six months for a couple of years, I noted, though that it was almost always triggered by alcohol consby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Richard - everything you mentioned (quote)When I first had debilitating episodes a year and a half ago, I was: - working in a high stress job (and had been for over 20 years) - eating tons of unhealthy, high sugar, refined carbs, fast food junk - ingesting lots of caffeine - taking dexedrine to help me focus (I have A.D.D.) - taking Prozac (10 years ago when I first started this I had my firstby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Mike - do you take any supplemental magnesium? If so, why not trying to take 100 or even 200 mg. when you retire for bed. I found that it makes me sleep well and it also stopped the nighttime afib or ectopy. I also take 200 mg. magnesium immediately upon rising since stores of magnesium reach a low in the early morning hours. If you can find it, I would recommend the form of magnesiby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi all - Today is 61 days post ablation. I have been totally off both Flecanide and Coumadin since last Wednesday about 6 days earlier than directed. I'm feeling fine. My heart is calm. I have had no arrhythmia post ablation but while remaining on the Flecanide. Now that Im totally off, Im alert to any unusual activity in the heart area, but so far, Ive only experienced a skipped bby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi - Jerry mentioned Consumer Lab and the possible web advertising influence on their results..... this was a few posts back and rather than go back, I'm bringing it forward. I suggested we all write letters and question the sponsors of CL. When I went to do that, I see that the advertising is merely a source - iherb - that sells all types of supplements. I can hardly see that this wby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'd like to play the devil's advocate here...... What do we really know about the validity of hair analysis? Controversy has been going on for many years over this. Does anyone have a really good reference validating the results of biochemical status based on hair analysis? I've had it done so I'm not totally lop-sided on my viewpoint, but after having cellular profiles donby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM