Comments on: Lessons Learned From Dealing With Atrial Fibrillation http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation Alternative approaches to managing atrial fibrillaton and arrhythmias Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:53:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: vic http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-979 vic Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:39:44 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-979 I've had palpitations/ afib for some time now but only becoming more frequent in the last 6 months since retiring from work. I'm stressed most of the time and always have been, something I've lived with. Since stopping work my routine has changed, perhaps another clue. With time on my hands I've been trying to find out what triggers these attacks, at first I thought it might be alcohol for some years now my wife and I have been sharing a bottle of red wine each evening, I have now reduced this to a couple of times a week with no improvement. I was told to eat more regularly and have salt with my meals also to drink a lot more water. I had a bout of A/f the other night after over indulging on rich chocolates, not sure if this was a trigger but I will try the chocolates again when I feel more settled. It was only reading on this site that I associated the chocolates and A/f. I’ve had palpitations/ afib for some time now but only becoming more frequent in the last 6 months since retiring from work. I’m stressed most of the time and always have been, something I’ve lived with. Since stopping work my routine has changed, perhaps another clue. With time on my hands I’ve been trying to find out what triggers these attacks, at first I thought it might be alcohol for some years now my wife and I have been sharing a bottle of red wine each evening, I have now reduced this to a couple of times a week with no improvement. I was told to eat more regularly and have salt with my meals also to drink a lot more water. I had a bout of A/f the other night after over indulging on rich chocolates, not sure if this was a trigger but I will try the chocolates again when I feel more settled. It was only reading on this site that I associated the chocolates and A/f.

]]> By: Jessica http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-678 Jessica Sun, 30 Oct 2011 05:52:10 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-678 Hey there. I just turned twenty-four last week and I've been having some symptoms of Afib for the past year and a half. The past year has been very hard for me, I lost my mother and my farther had to be put into a nursing home and we had to sell our house so he could have more money for his medical expenses leaving me with nothing but stress and depression. It doesn't help that my mother passed due to a heart attack and it's one of the things I've been thinking about the most during the past year. It seems that all the stress has taken a huge toll on my heart. I've been hospitalized twice in the past because of my symptoms but the doctors only told me I was having an anxiety attack. True, I had a lot of anxiety but my heart was acting wonkers too. It wasn't until last week that I had a few glasses of wine to celebrate my 24th birthday that I had the worst episode yet. I woke up in the middle of the night due to terrible heart burn brought on by the wine. The acid churning in my stomach made me sick and I vomited. Immediately my heart was kicked out of its normal rhythem and after waiting for ten minutes with no sign of it stopping I had my boyfriend drive me to the E.R. Within just two minutes of being there they told me right away it looked like I had Afib. After hours of spending my time in the E.R. They told me that I was healthy, other than my heart. I was hydrated and my potassium levels were normal. My thyroids looked fine and they couldn't find anything wrong in my blood tests other than me being a be anemic which is typical for women. (They said I wasn't very anemic either.) The doctor explained to me what Afib was and I told him "I'm glad to finally have a doctor who can tell me what's going on with my heart and it all makes sense too." All the symptoms fit. He wrote a prescription for me and suggested I take a chewable 81mg aspirin a day which I've been doing since last week. The medicine (Cardizem) has been working but it's the lowest possible dose and only last for so long. As evening rolls around and the effects of the medicine roll off my symptoms return. They don't bother me too much but it can become aggravating and it makes my mind race wondering what might happen to me in the future (there's my anxiety kicking in.) The thing is I'd do more about it but I don't even have medical. I'm working on getting a job so I can afford medical and hopefully I can get all that arrange before my perscription runs out. Until then and the hours between taking my medicine what would you recommend I should do? I'm open for anything. I don't drink, I don't smoke (Used to do both) and I don't even like caffeinated things. I have changed my diet prior to my episode and have been keeping with that (Eating fruits, veggies, whole grains and going on walks which isn't always an option. I live in Alaska and everything is currently covered in snow.) I always drinks lots of water so dehydration has never really been an issue with me... What can I do? I'd like to get my symptoms a little under control so this isn't controlling my life.. Thank you for reading ~Jessica Hey there.

I just turned twenty-four last week and I’ve been having some symptoms of Afib for the past year and a half. The past year has been very hard for me, I lost my mother and my farther had to be put into a nursing home and we had to sell our house so he could have more money for his medical expenses leaving me with nothing but stress and depression. It doesn’t help that my mother passed due to a heart attack and it’s one of the things I’ve been thinking about the most during the past year. It seems that all the stress has taken a huge toll on my heart. I’ve been hospitalized twice in the past because of my symptoms but the doctors only told me I was having an anxiety attack. True, I had a lot of anxiety but my heart was acting wonkers too.

It wasn’t until last week that I had a few glasses of wine to celebrate my 24th birthday that I had the worst episode yet. I woke up in the middle of the night due to terrible heart burn brought on by the wine. The acid churning in my stomach made me sick and I vomited. Immediately my heart was kicked out of its normal rhythem and after waiting for ten minutes with no sign of it stopping I had my boyfriend drive me to the E.R. Within just two minutes of being there they told me right away it looked like I had Afib.

After hours of spending my time in the E.R. They told me that I was healthy, other than my heart. I was hydrated and my potassium levels were normal. My thyroids looked fine and they couldn’t find anything wrong in my blood tests other than me being a be anemic which is typical for women. (They said I wasn’t very anemic either.) The doctor explained to me what Afib was and I told him “I’m glad to finally have a doctor who can tell me what’s going on with my heart and it all makes sense too.” All the symptoms fit. He wrote a prescription for me and suggested I take a chewable 81mg aspirin a day which I’ve been doing since last week. The medicine (Cardizem) has been working but it’s the lowest possible dose and only last for so long. As evening rolls around and the effects of the medicine roll off my symptoms return. They don’t bother me too much but it can become aggravating and it makes my mind race wondering what might happen to me in the future (there’s my anxiety kicking in.)

The thing is I’d do more about it but I don’t even have medical. I’m working on getting a job so I can afford medical and hopefully I can get all that arrange before my perscription runs out. Until then and the hours between taking my medicine what would you recommend I should do? I’m open for anything.

I don’t drink, I don’t smoke (Used to do both) and I don’t even like caffeinated things. I have changed my diet prior to my episode and have been keeping with that (Eating fruits, veggies, whole grains and going on walks which isn’t always an option. I live in Alaska and everything is currently covered in snow.) I always drinks lots of water so dehydration has never really been an issue with me… What can I do? I’d like to get my symptoms a little under control so this isn’t controlling my life..

Thank you for reading

~Jessica

]]> By: Ann Wyatt http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-263 Ann Wyatt Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:33:47 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-263 Hello Reno. I have found the magnesium orotate very effective and very safe. Have a look at the additives in any packaged food you are eating. Also, Chinese food has monosodium glutamate in it and this is a definite trigger, as is preservative 220 found in wine. Even if the food does not have any additives, the sauces all have preservatives. Coffee and chocolate are not good either. Acupuncture is a good idea because apart from helping to regulate your heartbeat it will calm you and take away much of the fear associated with A-fib. Good luck and keep us all posted. Ann Hello Reno.

I have found the magnesium orotate very effective and very safe. Have a look at the additives in any packaged food you are eating. Also, Chinese food has monosodium glutamate in it and this is a definite trigger, as is preservative 220 found in wine. Even if the food does not have any additives, the sauces all have preservatives. Coffee and chocolate are not good either. Acupuncture is a good idea because apart from helping to regulate your heartbeat it will calm you and take away much of the fear associated with A-fib.

Good luck and keep us all posted.

Ann

]]> By: Reno http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-261 Reno Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:25:42 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-261 Hello, If anyone have any proven techniques or safe herbs suggestions, Please give me a call. 424.200.5630 Reno Hello,

If anyone have any proven techniques or safe herbs suggestions, Please give me a call.

424.200.5630
Reno

]]> By: Reno http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-260 Reno Sat, 10 Apr 2010 23:21:17 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-260 Hello everyone, 3 years ago I discovered I have AFIB and I've been trying to find a safe way to calm the attacks or stop them from occurring completely, I read post stating magnesium orotate will help and bananas will also do the job, and others say these can cause an episode to happen? I take digoxin and baby aspirin now what are some suggestions? Hello everyone, 3 years ago I discovered I have AFIB and I’ve been trying to find a safe way to calm the attacks or stop them from occurring completely, I read post stating magnesium orotate will help and bananas will also do the job, and others say these can cause an episode to happen? I take digoxin and baby aspirin now what are some suggestions?

]]> By: Ann Wyatt http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-241 Ann Wyatt Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:04:09 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-241 Hello Everyone. Three months have gone by and I still have no sign of A-fib. I am convinced that the magnesium orotate has been doing its job. I have been taking half a fluid tablet per day because there has been a slight build-up of fluid behind the heart and relieving this pressure, as well as taking the magnesium has been very successful. My cardiologist actually listened to what I had to say and is going to put his patients onto magnesium for the same reason. I'm a new person. Cheers. Ann Hello Everyone.

Three months have gone by and I still have no sign of A-fib. I am convinced that the magnesium orotate has been doing its job. I have been taking half a fluid tablet per day because there has been a slight build-up of fluid behind the heart and relieving this pressure, as well as taking the magnesium has been very successful. My cardiologist actually listened to what I had to say and is going to put his patients onto magnesium for the same reason.

I’m a new person.

Cheers.
Ann

]]> By: faith http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-240 faith Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:19:42 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-240 i am an acupuncture student, and i got afib about 3 years ago. i knew i didn't want to get started on pharmaceuticals, and have only been treated with acupuncture and herbs. i've also tried many supplements. acupuncture definitely helps regulate my heartbeat, and there is a specific acupuncture method called the the balance method by Dr. Richard Tan that made a notable difference. he is based in California, maybe San Diego, and has a website where you might get more info regarding locating an acupuncturist who will work with you. also, the pharmacology teacher at our school (he is a retired pharmacist and a practicing acupuncturist at a hospital here in Minneapolis) had an afib patient he had been treating--the patient was allergic to the meds and was responding well to acupuncture and herbs. i am an acupuncture student, and i got afib about 3 years ago. i knew i didn’t want to get started on pharmaceuticals, and have only been treated with acupuncture and herbs. i’ve also tried many supplements. acupuncture definitely helps regulate my heartbeat, and there is a specific acupuncture method called the the balance method by Dr. Richard Tan that made a notable difference. he is based in California, maybe San Diego, and has a website where you might get more info regarding locating an acupuncturist who will work with you.
also, the pharmacology teacher at our school (he is a retired pharmacist and a practicing acupuncturist at a hospital here in Minneapolis) had an afib patient he had been treating–the patient was allergic to the meds and was responding well to acupuncture and herbs.

]]> By: Robert Ellis http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-222 Robert Ellis Sun, 10 Jan 2010 21:11:48 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-222 Marina, you'll need to see an acupuncturist/herbalist to find out what herbs are right for you. There are numerous formulas which are appropriate for atrial fibrillation and you'll need a practitioner to determine the best one and, most likely, how it will need to be modified for your unique situation. Marina, you’ll need to see an acupuncturist/herbalist to find out what herbs are right for you. There are numerous formulas which are appropriate for atrial fibrillation and you’ll need a practitioner to determine the best one and, most likely, how it will need to be modified for your unique situation.

]]> By: Marina http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-221 Marina Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:20:59 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-221 P.S. I meant to say when you have time can you recommend those Chinese Herbs you mentioned in your post to me. Thanks! P.S. I meant to say when you have time can you recommend those Chinese Herbs you mentioned in your post to me. Thanks!

]]> By: Marina http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/lessons-learned-from-dealing-with-atrial-fibrillation/comment-page-1#comment-220 Marina Sat, 09 Jan 2010 23:18:11 +0000 http://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/?p=11#comment-220 Dear Mr. Ellis, Thank You! For your reply. I tried calling several Acupuncturist here in Los Angeles & none of them wanted to treat me for A-Fib. I spoke to a Chinese Dr. here in Chinatown & a Jewish Dr. & they both said the same thing. Go to a Cardiologist which is what I've been doing. Ok! When you have time can you recommend or post the one's good for A-Fib. It is much appreciated. Much Success to you in school. I had acupuncture before with an elderly Chinese woman in Chinatown for my shoulder & went back to her for several other ailments & she was excellent. She also did cupping & Moxi. I believed it's called. I went to Emperors school for Chinese Medicine here in Santa Monica too. I believe in it & I know you usually have to go back for series it seems no one wants to mess with the Heart. Thank You! Again. Peace & Light...Marina ;) Dear Mr. Ellis,

Thank You! For your reply. I tried calling several Acupuncturist here in Los Angeles & none of them wanted to treat me for A-Fib. I spoke to a Chinese Dr. here in Chinatown & a Jewish Dr. & they both said the same thing. Go to a Cardiologist which is what I’ve been doing. Ok! When you have time can you recommend or post the one’s good for A-Fib. It is much appreciated. Much Success to you in school. I had acupuncture before with an elderly Chinese woman in Chinatown for my shoulder & went back to her for several other ailments & she was excellent. She also did cupping & Moxi. I believed it’s called. I went to Emperors school for Chinese Medicine here in Santa Monica too. I believe in it & I know you usually have to go back for series it seems no one wants to mess with the Heart. Thank You! Again. Peace & Light…Marina ;)

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