Ok, so NOW what is what I'm thinking. For all the time I've had afib (since August 2000) it has followed the same pattern when it shows up. Irregular heartbeat, few fast, some slow, etc., A pattern we all know too well. A few months ago I started having PACs very hard, only a few beats apart. They'd stop and afib would start in. So now I have 2 patterns. Yesterday a new one appeared. Faster heartbeat, but reglar. Then NSR for a bit, then a few PACs every other beat, then the quick heartbeat for a few minutes. Then in and out of regular afib for the next few hours before NSR settling down. What I'm wondering is, since I've had afib for so many years, is this a sign of progression? Absolutely meaningless? Or door #3? Nancy https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135217#msg-135217 Sun, 05 Apr 2026 18:03:48 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135317#msg-135317 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135317#msg-135317
I usually have the same readings for my potassium level as you do, it is usually the same everytime I have a blood draw. I have tried potassium supplements and they gave me runs of AF, I am vagal and don't get AF in the daytime only in the evening when resting, so those daytime runs of AF was not normal for me. I quit taking the potassium supplements and those runs of AF stopped. Potassium supplements are not candy, I guess I am the cautionary person here.

Liz]]> Elizabeth H AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:52:50 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135316#msg-135316 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135316#msg-135316
Keeping a log of your typical daily food intake for potassium-containing and sodium-containing foods over a week's time will give you an approximation of how controlled your potassium intake really is. Most people are surprised to learn they don't come close to the recommended 4700 mg daily intake... which is actually rather low considering that Paleo man ate 10,000 and more.

While bananas are high in potassium, they are a high glycemic food and to metabolize and process the fruit sugar content requires utilization of stored potassium so in some cases that turns out to counterproductive. If you keep a diary of what you eat and the event occurrences, you may find an associative link. It can take some adjusting to get the potassium level that works best for you.]]> Jackie AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:40:47 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135311#msg-135311 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135311#msg-135311 Nancy AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:14:41 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135309#msg-135309 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135309#msg-135309
The important figure for us is the elemental figure and most companies make this clear. A few don't which is very confusing.

In aiming for the ideal intake per day (from food and supplements) of 4.7 grams we are talking about elemental Potassium. So your two tablets are adding just 180 mgs, a very small amount. It is a good practice to have a blood test to see what your levels are. If they are under 4.5 you should consider either increasing your daily intake through food or by increasing your supplements.

Because the pills contain so little Potassium the form most of us use is iHerb's Powdered Potassium Gluconate.]]> Sam AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:55:09 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135299#msg-135299 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135299#msg-135299 Nancy AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Dec 2012 12:52:10 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135297#msg-135297 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135297#msg-135297
Just a thought on your Potassium supplement. The largest amount sold in pill form is 99 mg so I'm assuming yours are listing the amount of Potassium Gluconate rather than the amount of elemental Potassium.]]> Sam AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Dec 2012 11:20:02 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135289#msg-135289 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135289#msg-135289
My husband always salted his food heavily, he did not have AF or high blood pressure. He did have Diabetes and just wouldn't leave the sugar alone and wouldn't exercise so the diabetes eventually got him.

We need to eat a good diet and exercise but to obsess about everything we eat or do will drive you nuts.

Liz]]> Elizabeth H. AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 17 Dec 2012 00:44:53 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135285#msg-135285 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135285#msg-135285 I eat very healthfully, live a "moderate" lifestyle and detest putting any kind of drug... natural or otherwise into my system.
I want a permanent fix here. Let's hope that more med students take up electrophysiology as a specialty so that we can anticipate a cure beyond ablations.]]> justfibbing AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 16 Dec 2012 23:02:18 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135281#msg-135281 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135281#msg-135281
Thanks for things to think about!
Nancy]]> Nancy AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 16 Dec 2012 20:07:00 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135279#msg-135279 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135279#msg-135279
And - have you calculated your dietary intake of potassium from food sources so you know your total intake? If so what was that number? Often when hearts begin rumbling at various times, it's a signal that either potassium is low or marginal and same with magnesium.... if you take 600 - 800 mg magnesium daily... you may need even more... try pusing to bowel tolerance and then back off to the next acceptable dose... and then try boosting your potassium even more. Taurine is especially helpful in balancing all the electrolytes so it should be a daily mainstay.

During my active afib years, carnitine was too stimulating for me and every time I took it, I had AF... but post-ablation, I tolerate it very well. You might try avoiding carnitine.

Jackie]]> Jackie AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 16 Dec 2012 18:38:18 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135256#msg-135256 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135256#msg-135256 Nancy]]> Nancy AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 15 Dec 2012 01:10:26 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135240#msg-135240 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135240#msg-135240 Jackie AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 14 Dec 2012 15:27:13 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135226#msg-135226 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135226#msg-135226 Nancy]]> Nancy AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:07:41 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135223#msg-135223 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135223#msg-135223
My best measure of progression was to keep track of total arrythmia burden (hrs/day of afib or aflutter). Over time, they got more frequent and longer. I started having about half hr afib every other day in Jan 2012, then 7 months later I was having daily afib 7 hrs/day. That told me it was ablation time.]]> gehauser AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:48:37 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135217#msg-135217 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,135217,135217#msg-135217
A few months ago I started having PACs very hard, only a few beats apart. They'd stop and afib would start in. So now I have 2 patterns.

Yesterday a new one appeared. Faster heartbeat, but reglar. Then NSR for a bit, then a few PACs every other beat, then the quick heartbeat for a few minutes. Then in and out of regular afib for the next few hours before NSR settling down.

What I'm wondering is, since I've had afib for so many years, is this a sign of progression? Absolutely meaningless? Or door #3?

Nancy]]> Nancy AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 13 Dec 2012 19:02:59 +0000