Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
Does anybody really know the long-term side effects from any of these anti-arrythmic drugs being diagnosed? Just one more thing to worry about with my husband's condition... I don't mean to sound negative - some days are more difficult than others.
Has anyone heard of phytonutrient therapy? Surely, there must be some "natural" way to deal with these heart issues.
It seems that we are treating the symptoms and not the underlying deficiency...
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Has anyone heard of phytonutrient therapy? Surely, there must be some "natural" way to deal with these heart issues.
It seems that we are treating the symptoms and not the underlying deficiency...
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
http://www.endurancecorner.com/Larry_Creswell/mediterranean_diet
Diet consisting of a high intake of olive oil, fruit, nuts, vegetables, and cereals; a moderate intake of fish and poultry; a low intake of dairy products, red meat, processed meats, and sweets; and wine in moderation, consumed with meals (skip the wine with afib).
Nothing new except the effect was greater than once thought.
petey
Sorry if this is a dumb question...haven't done a lot of research on the FIRM ablation, but remember seeing that the real gift of this procedure is that the doc (of course cannot rememeber his name) has this incredible ability to find the spot that is causing the afib (I do remember the term rotors). How does this differ from the...well, I will call it the "Bordeaux jacket," that amazing "jacket" that they can put on you with the hundreds of leads, which can hopefully also pinpoint the exact points that are causing the afib? Are these technolgies unrelated? Of course am hoping my laser baloon ablation was the magic bullet, but just wondering..in case the afib comes back in 40 years!
Bill
Dr Narayan does FIRM ablation. He believes the rotors are what needs to be hit, particularly for persistent afibbers. His success is really high. He believes you have to find only those right spots to ablate. It's complicated. Dr John Mandrola explains it well:
http://www.theheart.org/columns/trials-and-fibrillations-with-dr-john-mandrola/firm-ablation-it-s-just-so-exciting.do
petey
After I failed 2 of the drugs, my original EP said I have no choice other than to be put on amiodarone.I really had a hard time tolerating it-extreme nausea, etc. But I think it did work. it stopped my a fib. Because I didn't want to take it the rest of my life, and after the Tikosyn failed subsequently, that helped me to agree to an ablation.
Your husband shouldn't be on amid much longer after the ablation. Usually people are on it for about 3 mos post ablation.
\How is he doing now? Any more a fib?
Moy...
http://www.youtube.com/embed/wIWuEAFlg1Y
Moy...
The comments validate my feelings re:drugs.
With AF I do feel an anticoagulant is important.
I'm on Warfarin, with no side effects, and Vitamin D.
That's It. I'm doing fine!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/wIWuEA... "
Moysra, is there an English translation of this anywhere? I don't know Spanish, unfortunately....
While I agree with this woman 1000%, by showing me this youtube you have now kicked in my conspiracy genes....between NSA and CIA trying to control my mind, and the pharmaceutical (sp?) industry trying to hook me on drugs, what chance do I have? ;-)
Bill
Seriously, did any of you see entry 7007 on the Yahoo afib support group web site yesterday? The doc did an excellent "defense" of ablation (to be fair, he presented BOTH sides of the arguement), but the one part that struck me was his point that all these drugs we take to control the afib have cumulative, and sometimes unknown, effects. Read it if you get a chance.
1) Everyone should eat healthy and follow diets that homeopaths often believe in. Whether it is a mediterranean or paleo diet, doesn't matter, as long as you get good fats from nuts and olive oil, fish, vegetables, and fruit... and limit the negatives.
2) I believe vitamin supplements can help if you are deficient and if you need extra supplementation for some legitimate reason.
3) You CANNOT avoid certain drugs cold turkey. You happen to have 2 things that require attention: afib and high BP (I presume that is why you are taking a BP medicine). Although the BP medicine makes you feel lousy, it is proven to keep your BP low... I would only wean off that medication with the doctor's blessing if diet and exercise was working. Concerning the blood thinner: I WOULD NOT STOP THAT DRUG! If you have a clot in your atrium from afib, you can't rub garlic on your chest or do positive thinking to cure it! And, BTW, you can't feel anything until you have the stroke. At least get on Pradaxa so you don't have to modify your diet. With Pradaxa, you can do the homeopathic stuff.
4) The lady in the video said she does not believe there is a conspiracy, then goes on to describe a conspiracy. I looked her up. It seems she is lnked to scientology. No comment on that. She also concentrates on the "mental illness" drugs where what she is saying may be true (I believe she says or I read she was a patient for psych issues). Hmmmmmm. Many drugs do cure illnesses. Like biological diseases. Some help symptoms and pain. That is good. There is no conspiracy to "not cure". Most companies are in it for the short haul... a cure means money! And all the drug companies can't work in tandem. They compete.
5) Trials are skewed, in my opinion, and participants are often cherry picked. That seems to be true for drugs AND medical procedures, including ablation. Percentages and definitions of success are manipulated. 6) Maybe sometimes there is not a cure... homeopathic, surgical, or chemical.
petey
I think you hit it right on the head...particularly about studies being manipulated. In his "defense" of ablation (or on one of the adjoining links), Dr. M talks about how difficult it is to make a decision on ablation, when you read of studies with 100% success rates that are of course either poorly done, or immediately disproved.
I am a true believer in capitalism, and I fully believe you are correct...if I could invent the pill to cure afib, I am sure I could charge $25,000 per pill...I would buy TWO!
I am also a true believer in the natural way over prescription drugs. I am sure I have told this story b4..on my second trip to the emergency room, cuz I refused to take the metoprolol and flec, and was doing the vitamins and herbs instead, the emergency room doc said "How is that working out for you?"
Bill
I weaned myself off of BP meds many yrs ago, and ended up in ER with outragous High Pressure numbers. I was there most of the day til they got me stable and I have taken my BP pills ever since.
Last yr. the Cardio dr. cut the dosage in half.
I am now delighted to be back to doing aerobics and weights:-)
Happy Spring Everyone!
My ND has found me to be deficient in magnesium due to the blood pressure med I have been taking for 10 years. I take my BP each morning and have found no significant change since I stopped taking them and started on magnesium.
As for Pradaxa I had my blood tested for clotting time and was in the ideal range. I can only speak for myself and obviously it seems to be working for me. Each one has to make their own decision.
Moy...