I definitely feel it would be useful.
Looking forward to reading it.

Annette

I don't know if you talked about this, but it is worth putting where everyone with heart issues can see it.

CHELATION WORKS - at least for my afib & arthritis. Plus it is common knowledge that it is good for arterial sclerosis.

I have an update about Chelation IV therapy. I've now had 19 weekly chelation treatments ($105/treatment). I started them to relive the arthritis in my ankles, I could not walk more than 2 blocks without being in so much pain I had to rest for 15 min. The first 3 treatments, I felt no difference. After 5 treatments the arthritis started getting a little better with each treatment.

I was still using Rythmol as a "pill in the pocket". The usual triggers would set me off, sometimes I'd go 2 weeks no issue, then I'd go into afib from something like MSG. Then I'd need 2 pills of 300mg Rythmol to get back to sinus rhythm within 2 to 3 hours. After 10 treatments, arthritis improving significantly but afib was triggered so much that I had to go back to 150mg Rythmol every 8 hours.

I was not happy, but the Dr. said the EDTA chelation was like "stirring up the sediment in a fish tank" . He was not surprised I was getting "temporarily" worse. Now that the metals are "moving" so to speak, he advised to keep it up and get them out. So I continued weekly chelation.

After 18 treatments, I'm now of the Rythmol completely and the usual triggers for me - don't. Arthritis still improving and I think the heart is improving also. Soy sauce used to trigger me, it doesn't. Neither does other things. However, I'm not sure I'm done yet.

I should mention, each chelation lasts about 30 min to drip in the IV and during that time and for about 3 hours after, I feel a "tightness" in my heart area. I hope (and think) it is the effect of the chelation taking metals out of my heart tissue. He thinks so too, but we can't prove that.

I'm planning on about 25 treatments. Every 10 treatments we get the urine analyzed to see what heavy metals are coming out. The first one had high lead coming out. The second one - at 14 treatments, showed lead, cadmium, aluminum, arsenic and some others. I'll check it again at treatment 24 as each test costs an additional $100.

I think everyone with heart issues should get at least 1 chelation and get the urine analyzed during that time to see if any heavy metals are coming out of your body. If they are, get more chelation and get all metals out. Read up on how heavy metals hurt your body - and how chelation has helped millions avoid heart surgery.

Hope this note helps someone, I know I'm thrilled to have this progress.

Found this on chelation therapy. Apparently, it is FDA approved some things and not others. This comes from a university, so it isn't some off the wall website. I DID notice EDTA chelation can deplete vitamins (so they give you vitamins in combination) and that it can give you an irregular heartbeat.

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/ethylenediaminetetraacetic-acid

"Chelation therapy is a treatment that involves repeated intravenous (IV) administration of a chemical solution of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, or EDTA. It is used to treat acute and chronic lead poisoning by pulling toxins (including heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury) from the bloodstream. The word chelate comes from the Greek root chele, which means "to claw." EDTA has a claw like molecular structure that binds to heavy metals and other toxins.

EDTA chelation therapy is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for lead and heavy metal poisoning. It is also used as an emergency treatment for hypercalcemia (excessive calcium levels) and the control of ventricular arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) associated with digitalis toxicity.

Studies by the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council in the late 1960s indicated that EDTA was considered possibly effective in the treatment of arteriosclerosis (blocked arteries). However, most well designed studies have found that it is not effective for heart disease. In fact, many medical organizations -- including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Heart Association (AHA), and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) -- have publicly criticized and denounced the practice of EDTA chelation therapy for heart disease.

Proponents of chelation therapy for heart disease claim that EDTA, combined with oral vitamins and minerals, helps dissolve plaques and mineral deposits associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). But most reports about using chelation for heart disease have been based on case studies and a few animal studies that may not apply to people. Also, several large scale clinical trials published in peer reviewed journals have found that EDTA chelation therapy is no better than placebo in improving symptoms of heart disease. Some medical experts note that the theories about why chelation might help treat atherosclerosis depend on an outdated understanding of how heart disease develops (see Uses section). Finally, and probably most important, the safety of EDTA chelation therapy for people with heart disease is not known."


Source: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid | University of Maryland Medical Center

Here are the possible side effects and interactions:

"Antibiotics, Cephalosporins -- Animal studies suggest that EDTA may increase the absorption of cefmetazole, an antibiotic in a class known as cephalosporins.

Vitamins and minerals -- EDTA chelation therapy may decrease levels of certain vitamins and minerals in the body, including vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and calcium.

Warfarin (Coumadin) -- EDTA has been reported to decrease the effectiveness of Warfarin. Decreasing the effectiveness of Warfarin can increase the risk of infection.

Insulin -- EDTA can decrease blood sugar, as does insulin. Together they may result in a dramatic decrease in blood sugar.

The most common side effect is a burning sensation at the site of the injection. In addition, some people may have an allergic reaction to EDTA. Other serious side effects that have been reported include low blood sugar, diminished calcium levels, headache, nausea, dangerously low blood pressure, kidney failure, organ damage, irregular heartbeat, seizures, or even death. "


Source: Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid | University of Maryland Medical Center

I think that would be very interesting reading... but i'd echo the thought that you may need 1) permission from the doctors to transcribe the discussions and 2) you should definitely redact the names of all involved.

I did find out about the info that Pete pointed out above.

About getting a doctors opinion, you will likely find they vary. Some doctors have no interest in that technique as it does not help their income. My doctor said he was not trained in that method therefore could not comment. Another doctor I saw when my blood iron was high, told me that she had heard that chelation helped get the metals out of the heart tissue, but she had no real-hand experience. She even told me of a naturopath who did it.

My naturopath told me he has had many patients with arterial sclerosis who were scheduled for surgery, but had a long wait. In the meantime, they discovered chelation, did about 20 sessions and their condition improved so much surgery was no longer needed. The surgeons usual comment at this was "call me if you think you need me".

I mention it only as it is another option for people with afib to investigate. In any event, the heavy metals are implicated in a wide range of health issues from dementia, arthritis, heart issues, diabetes and so on. For me, when the first chelation and urine analysis showed high concentrations of metals, it was "a no-brainer" to continue the method get the metals out. It is a lot safer than most of the other options and the results (of metals out) can't be anything else but good.

I would read it also.
When I had my first meeting with an EP my husband came with me
and instead of listening he was playing with his tablet the whole
time and ignoring me and what the doctor said.
When we got in the car I was furious with him and he smiled
and said he was taping the whole thing because he knows I
am hearing impaired and you miss a lot of things. I listening
to the vvideo and realised I did miss a lot of things but felt
he should not have done it without the doctors permission.
Maybe there are laws about that but in any event no one else
ever saw it and it helped me a lot. Then I was ashamed I
was so angry at him... I remember once I asked a doctor
if I could record the visit and he had no problem with it.
Marilyn

I would be interested also. It's always good to learn the most we can about our condition.

Wow...I wasn't expecting such a big response! You all have me paranoid about the legal issues. I hadn't even thought of that. I didn't get either doctor's permission because I was recording these for my own purposes. Second, I didn't want to tell the doctors I was recording them for fear they may not be as "honest" as they might be otherwise.

But wouldn't it be o.k. if I kept the doctor's name off the record as well as the hospital affiliations? In other words, if I just said..."I interviewed two EP's. Here were their responses to my questions." and left it at that. How could I get into any legal trouble?

Hmmm. I need to think about this more.

Travis

P.S. I could paraphrase but that seems more shaky than using the transcript minus names and affiliations. I say "shaky" because I may not accurately portray what the doctors are saying.

Paraphrase, use excerpts, and no names. That is legally sufficient.