What Can I Expect?

I recently had my 2nd episode after 5 years. I'm relatively healthy, my blood pressure is good, but my blood glucose has been high recenlty (299), and I have had incidents of high tricglycerides in the past (400). I do plan on changing my diet, and trying to figure out my triggers. I suspect stress is the most obvious factor in my case.
I'm wondering what I can expect in the next 10 years or so. Are there any case studies? When I first saw my family doctor 5 years ago after my 1st episode he told me they wouldn't find anything wrong (that would cause hte afib) and that I'd start having more and more episodes as I got older. Has that been the experience of others?
I've been doing a lot of reading on the subject and right now, I have a pretty good feeling about the whole issue. I've resigned myself to believing that I will probably have more episodes, but I know what to do if it happens (I'll either drive myself, or have someone drive me to the er) and I'll just continue to consult with my doctors and decide what drugs, if any, (flecainide sounds like the best choice) I'll take.

Hi Derek. I wouldn't stress too much over the occasional episode of a fib, but concentrate on getting that blood sugar down. Are you on any diabetic meds. It sounds like you might need insulin. Was this a fasting or after meal reading. What is your diet like? You will need to follow a very low carb diet of under 30 grams CHO a day to bring your blood sugar under control. If you are already doing this then you definitely need to see your doctor and see about getting some medication to bring that down. Any sugar over 140 is causing damage. Your goal should be to keep it under 100 at all times.

As for the a fib, if you've only had 2 episodes in 5 years consider yourself lucky. How bad was the episode? Did you get tachy? If so, what was your heart rate? How long was the episode and how did you convert back to NSR? 2 episodes of a fib in five years sounds like you're managing things pretty well. However, if you don't get your blood sugar under control you'll have more problems than just a fib. High glucose can damage your nerves. I never bothered getting mine under control for years and I know it damaged the nerves in my feet (peripheral neuropathy) but I'm afraid I may have damaged my vagus nerve. I'm convinced this is a big part of my a fib issue as mine appears to be vagal in nature. Hopefully though I can reverse a lot of the damage by keeping my blood sugar under control. My feet are probably 70-80% better. At least I can move my toes again and sense heat and cold.

Good luck. I think there are many more qualified than me on this forum that can help you with any a fib issues. I've found this site to be an invaluable resource in managing my a fib. As for your blood sugar issues you might find these to be good resources. They have been for me.

[www.diabetes-book.com]
[www.diabetes-book.com]
[www.phlaunt.com]
[diabetesupdate.blogspot.com]

Derek - the first thing you absolutely must address is lowering your blood sugar and triglycerides. They will go hand in hand. You say you "plan" to changing your diet. Don't plan. Do it. Now!

Buy the book, The Rosedale Diet, by Ron Rosedale, MD, who is the absolute ultimate authority on glucose and insulin management. Follow his guidelines.

Immediately: Stop eating starchy carbs and anything with sugar and don't resort to anything artificially sweetened as that is a typical trigger for afib. Artificial sweeteners are neurotoxic and you don't need another problem.

Afib is going to be the least of your worries if you don't get that blood sugar under control.

This may be blunt but I'm very concerned for you.

Intro to Rosedale- start reading here:
[www.afibbers.org]


Jackie

Thank you for the responses. You can see a more detailed explanation of my history here: [www.afibbers.org] or just search for "2nd episode", but basically, during my 1st episode 5 years ago, my heartrate was only 80-90 and I cardioverted spontaneously after about 20 hours. The second episode was on May 30th of this year and I has shocked back into NSR in the er after it was discovered my heartrate was 120-130 and I had been in afib for about 8 hours. They checked my glocuse level at the er and found it to be 299. I haven't had my triglyceride level checked in several years, but they have been as high as 400 on a few occasions, and I was able to get it down in the normal range by changing my diet.

Jackie wrote:

> Buy the book, The Rosedale Diet, by Ron Rosedale, MD, who is
> the absolute ultimate authority on glucose and insulin
> management. Follow his guidelines.
>
I usually don't disagree with Jackie, but I have to here. Rosedale is good, but wouldn't call him the absolute ultimate authority on glucose and insulin I would have to say that would be Dr. Richard K. Bernstein, M.D., F.A.C.E., F.A.C.N., C.W.S., FACCWS. As a diabetic I have to recommend his book "Diabetes Solution". He covers everything you need to know, including diabetic meds, how to determine insulin doses, etc. If it weren't for his book I might be dead now, or footless, impotent and blind. Bernstein is my hero so I guess I'm biased. Anyway, you might want to hit Amazon and pick up both books. The important thing is that whichever one you read, be sure to follow what they say and you'll see your blood sugar drop and your lipid profile will definitely improve as well. I started off with an A1C of around 12. At diagnosis my blood sugar was about 480. They gave me an insulin drip for 2 hours to get it down to under 200 before letting me go home. Fast forward to now and my A1C is 3.9. I checked this AM and my fasting was 89, which I consider high for me as it's usually under 85, but I haven't taken any diabetic meds for 3 weeks so it's expected. What I'm trying to point out is that if I can do it, YOU can do it too.

Mike,

>I guess I'm biased.

Respectfully, yes indeed. Webster's: "bias: an inclination of temperament or outlook; especially: a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment: prejudice. An instance of such prejudice".

Prejudicial thinking is a stopper when wanting to unravel such a complex physiological condition. Pitting Bernstein against Rosedale seems silly and creates confusion. Jackie's recommendation to start by reading Dr. Rosedale's classic '99 seminar presentation Insulin and It's Metabolic Effects is 'right on'. Like the legendary bunny it just keeps going and going down through the years, because it is the total science in a form that's easy to understand: >2,000 'googles' just now.

Free, immediate access: [www.afibbers.org]

Erling

Erling wrote:


>
> Prejudicial thinking is a stopper when wanting to unravel such
> a complex physiological condition. Pitting Bernstein against
> Rosedale seems silly and creates confusion. Jackie's
> recommendation to start by reading Dr. Rosedale's classic '99
> seminar presentation Insulin and It's Metabolic Effects
> is 'right on'. Like the legendary bunny it just keeps going and
> going down through the years, because it is the total science
> in a form that's easy to understand: >2,000 'googles' just now.
>
>
I'm not pitting anyone against anyone. However, my recommendation is being made from the standpoint of a diabetic who has followed Bernstein's advice and it's saved me so I'll recommend Bernstein until I find something better. Besides, for someone just beginning to get their blood sugar under control it's not as much about the underlying science as much the physical practice. Derek needs to get started right away getting his blood sugars under control. Bernstein's book is geared towards helping a diabetic to meet this goal and Bernstein himself is a long-lived diabetic who only became a doctor (was an engineer) so that he could get his findings published and start helping other diabetics. Within a week of following Bernstein's recommendations I had readings which I thought were impossible. This was before I even had the book, a lot of it can be read online. Since that time my sugars have improved even more. I do read others, Rosedale, Eades, Mercola, Harris, etc. All are good and on the right track, but from a diabetic standpoint I'll take Bernstein. So yes. I am biased towards Bernstein and I won't apologize for it.

Both are excellent books & I previously recommended both to Derek.

For a diabetic on meds, clearly Bernstein is the first choice as he describes in detail how to tightly control your blood sugar. Rosedale is fine for the general public, someone with metabolic syndrome or a Type II diabetic who is not on meds.

I recommend reading both. I'm a normal. However it was reading Bernstein's book that convinced me of the long term positive implications of tight blood sugar control with regards to heart health. His own data and those of his patients in this regard are compelling.

Hyperglycemia, and hyperinsulinemia are most likely a root cause of heart disease. Controlling them has positive implications for blood pressure, atherosclerosis and perhaps moderating the risk of dementia (and obviously diabetes). These are the chronic diseases of mid-adulthood and later in the first world.

Derek,

As they say, afib begets afib. Once the pathways are established, it makes it easier for afib to occur and to happen for longer periods of time. Of course, what happens to an individual can't be predicted. The best advice is to work to minimize the amount of time in afib.

Optimizing electrolytes (magnesium, potassium and taurine) is one approach. Controlling your glucose through lifestyle changes is complementary and should also be pursued.

Lastly, for the times when the above fails, I'd see if I could get a prescriptoin for a on-demand drug like flecainide to be used for quick conversion to NSR.

In my case, nearly 7 years ago I had my first afib episode. After that they came at 10-14 day intervals lasting 6-9 hours. Most were converted with exercise (I have vagal triggers). After about 2 months, one did not convert. This episode lasted 2.5 months. The EP wanted me to stay out of rhythm as "I was doing well in this state." I suggested "Plan B -

1. cardioversion of the 2.5 month episode
2. trying to maintain NSR with electrolytes
3. on-demand flecainide when 2. failed

He agreed. Prescribed the flec and scheduled an electro cardioversion. I went home and took a loading dose of the flec. Amazingly it converted the 2.5 month episode in 20 hours.

In the 6.5 years since, I've had about 8 episodes. All converted with flecainide. The first lasted 20 hours, all the rest an hour or less.

Most of those episodes are correlated with either eliminating or reducing all supplements or the vagal aftermath of all day very hard exercise. One was correlated with the initiation phase of a low carb diet (such as Bernstein or Rosedale), This phase does waste electrolytes as 4 grams of water are eliminated for every gram of glycogen that comes out of the muscles. This is a transient phase and can be offset with adequate electrolyte intake. I upped potassium but not magnesium. After I corrected this, no more problem.

George

GeorgeN wrote:

> Most were converted with exercise (I have vagal triggers).

George. This is how my episodes are. I was in a fib form my 1st and only treadmill test and went into NSR during the test. The cardio said he'd never seen that. I was surpised by his answer as I told him my episodes happen mostly at rest and I suspected it was vagal. Whenever I mention the word vagal he looks at me funny. Sometimes I think the people on this forum know far more than the people I deal with at Hopkins.

Mike,

I went in for a treadmill about a month after my initial episode. During the test, I told the cardio, "Most of these come on at 3 AM and convert with exercise." He said, "you are the first person I've seen that could do that."

I didn't even know for sure I had afib at that time. His comment drove me to the internet. I found a reference on vagal afib and thought - that is me! I next found this site and read Hans' first book. I never went back to the cardio as I thought, if I'm the first one he's seen, how can he help me?

Then, during my 2.5 month episode, I went to cardio #2. Highly recommended. By this time I was up to speed on vagal & adrenergic. I also knew digioxin was contraindicated for vagals. Cardio #2 & I would have hour long "discussions." He told me digioxin was his favorite med, that he didn't believe in vagal afib. When I pressed him on this last point, he said, "I'm sure I could find studies in your profession you'd disagree with." Fortunately, I was such a pain, he referred me to his EP partner. When I told my story, he said, "you are obviously vagal and there are certain meds we will not prescribe for you." I almost told him he needed to give his partner some continuing ed.

So the knowledge base is variable among the profession. My internist neighbor says that almost all afib cases he sees are Holiday Heart Syndrome (binge drinking) ones.

George

Yeah. The docs immediately wanted to prescribe beta blockers. I told them I thought my a fib was vagal and beta blockers wouldn't help. When he pushed the subject I refused on the grounds that I'm diabetic and told him that since beta blockers can cause or worsen Type 2 diabetes while failing to prevent heart attacks, death and maybe even causing strokes why should I take them. Eventually I got him to prescribe the flecanaide which worked good for a while until I developed atrial flutter with a 1:1 conduction ratio, which I'm being told was caused by the flecanaid, but that's a whole other story. Jeez. Sometimes I think they are trying to kill me.

Mike - Regardless of whether it's Rosedale or Bernstein, or whomever, it's always best to learn as much as one can on the topic from a variety of reputable sources to be in a position to take responsibility for the problem at hand. I'm glad you found success with Dr. Bernstein.

The remarkable thing about Dr. Rosedale, who, by the way has devoted his career of over 30 years to the study of insulin and leptin has studied in-depth over 10,000 medical publications on the topic. I'd call him the ultimate expert since I doubt few others have taken that kind of time. It's most impressive that Dr. Rosedale focuses on the leptin influence with diabetes and insulin resistance.

One of the reasons he is so widely respected is because he has been able to get diabetics off insulin which is huge since insulin is so damaging to the body.

Jackie

Jackie - I agree with you completely. I probably didn't word my initial reply. Maybe I shouldn't have said that he's not the absolute ultimate authority on glucose and insulin. Maybe he is in your opinion, but in my opinion I think Bernstein is. Your bias is towards Rosedale and mine if towards Bernstein. I don't see them as competitors, however. I like them both and believe they are both interested in achieving the same goals, with Bernstein's aims being more geared towards diabetes treatment. I don't know if Bernstein or Rosedale know each other personally, but from their work I'd assume that they see eye to eye on most issues regarding insulin. Both of them understands the role of insulin in ways which their peers either don't care to or refuse to. Lastly, as I said before, I recommend Bernstein from a strictly diabetic standpoint and there's also the added bonus that he has a forum online which is as invaluable for diabetic as afibbers.org is for a fibbers.

The information about high glucose levels and nerve damage concerns me. I do have an odd tingling sensation in the fingers and hands at times. 5 years ago I was concerned I might have carpal tunnel syndrome, I was tested, but they didn't find any evidence. I do work with my hands a lot.

Hi Mike,
I just realized I didn't answer a few of your questions. The 299 glucose was just after I ate a mcdonalds breakfast (mcgriddle, hash brown, and medium root beer). I've been in the Navy Reserves for almost 8 years and have medical checkups every six months or so, I've never been told I my glucose was high before the incident at the er. I have had elevated triglyceride levels on a few occasions. I've never been on any meds except cardizem for 6 months after my 1st afib episode 5 years ago.,

Derek,

I do think you should address the glucose issues. However, in the interest of exploring less severe causes, my Trigger Point response to your chest tightness could also be applicable here.

Here is the original response:
<[www.afibbers.org];

Muscles that could refer to the hand include but are not limited to:
[www.triggerpoints.net]
[www.triggerpoints.net]
[www.triggerpoints.net]
[www.triggerpoints.net]
[www.triggerpoints.net]
[www.triggerpoints.net]

Jackie,

"One of the reasons he is so widely respected is because he has been able to get diabetics off insulin which is huge since insulin is so damaging to the body."

In my opinion, Bernstein has the same objective. If you've not read his book, it provides a better plan for a Type I diabetic or a Type II who is on meds or injecting insulin.

If a person's glucose handing system is not too far down the damage scale, Rosedale is fine, otherwise Bernstein has a specific plan to absolutely minimize the use of insulin and meds. His personal objective is to have blood sugar at 83 mmol/l - fasting, after meals & etc. At all times.

Rosedale really doesn't give this guidance.

Don't get me wrong Rosedale's plan would be a benefit for most people that I know. However many diabetics on meds will do better referring to Bernstein. Both are worth reading and referring to. Their messages are aimed at slightly different audiences, Rosedales being broader.

Here is the deal - if a diabetic could go off all meds and go on a low carb diet and be fine, then Rosedale will work. However not all diabetics are in this category, especially at the beginning of treatment. Bernstein's approach will allow these more severely diabetic patients to minimize and step down and perhaps get off insulin and meds, as Mike reports. Or allow a Type I (who can never get off insulin) to minimize insulin use while tightly controlling blood sugar at an optimal level.

It isn't that Rosedale doesn't know how to do this, if you went for a consult. It is just not what he presents in his book.

Regards,

George

I think I'd definately like to try the pill in pocket approach. It sounds the most sensible. I'm not on any drugs (except an aspirin a day) and I want to keep it that way!
I'd like to try excersizing to bring myself out of afib, also. And then there are the vagal stimulation procedures. Good stuff!

Hi Derek,

One note- if you are vagal, exercising may work, if you are adrenergic, vagal stimulation may work to convert you. The reverse will not likely work.
See definitions here: <[www.afibbers.org];

Thanks George. I'm almost certain I'm vagal. The 1st episode was in early evening while relaxing. The 2nd started while I was sleeping.

Derek - tingling in the extremities can be peripheral neuropathy; classic sign of damage from high blood glucose. I can't imagine that you would consider eating what you did at McDonalds. I also can't believe that the reserves didn't counsel you on your elevated blood glucose. They certainly don't do you any favors.

Remember that diabetics are at high risk for stroke or MI because of elevated blood viscosity; you need to get serious about this.

Jackie

Thank you Mike - I agree that most likely both experts are on the same page and I appreciate your viewpoint regarding treatment. The main point is to seek appropriate treatment and not give in to the standard poor dietary advice or be put on insulin with no regard to dieary interventions and counselling.

George, thanks - obviously people don't just stop meds and control diabetes by diet. It's a stepwise plan that works and obviously not everyone can do it but they can work towards it if they are truly committed and become educated.

Understanding and controlling the leptin issue is paramount. I'm sure both doctors work along the same lines.

The bottom line is that one absolutely must address elevated glucose and insulin levels immediately and continually.

Jackie

Jackie wrote:

> Derek - tingling in the extremities can be peripheral
> neuropathy; classic sign of damage from high blood glucose. I
> can't imagine that you would consider eating what you did at
> McDonalds. I also can't believe that the reserves didn't
> counsel you on your elevated blood glucose. They certainly
> don't do you any favors.
>
> Remember that diabetics are at high risk for stroke or MI
> because of elevated blood viscosity; you need to get serious
> about this.
>
> Jackie

Thanks for your concern, Jackie. The point I was trying to make was, I've never had problems with my blood glucose. I've had blood drawn and blood tests done by the reserves and by my own family doctor many times in the last 5-10 years and it's never been an issue. Now that it's come up, I'll be sure to keep an eye on it.
High triglycerides has been an issue, however.
I may have overreacted to the glucose issue and the tingling sensations I sometimes feel. I talked with my wife for a while last night (she's a nurse practioner) and she reminded me that 5 years ago after I was tested for carpal tunnel I was prescribed wrist braces. I did a lot of work with my hands back then as a sheet metal worker. I'm now a watchmaker, and I do use my hands a lot, holding tweezers and small screwdrivers. I'll have to get the braces out again and see if they make a difference.

Derek - well, just remember that something is elevating your blood glucose and that's not normal or good. You should also have your homocysteine levels checked. Any of this can affect AF.

As for the CTS... it's well known that deficiency in vitamin B6 is a major cause of CTS. I practiced as a clinical dental hygienist for about 25 years. CTS is common from repetitive stress. My research to avoid that problem indicated the B6 protocol and my doctor at the time told me to take a coenzymated B complex plus extra B6. You may want to consider that.

Hygienists work mainly with the dominant hand but they get CTS in both wrists. This led to my research findings about the history of CTS and B6 deficiency. At the time, I was publishing a Natural Health Resource Digest for Dental Hygienists and included an article on CTS.... following are excerpts from that piece for your information.

In the early '70's a Texas physician, John Ellis, found that pregnant women, those on oral contraceptives and diabetics were commonly known to need a higher requirement of pyridoxine (vitamin B6) and all had a tendency toward CTS.

Dr. Ellis experimented a group scheduled for corrective surgery and used B6. They improved so dramatically, the surgeries were cancelled. In 1973, Dr. Ellis wrote a book about his discovery and successes (Vitamin B6, The Doctor's Report) but was ignored by fellow physicians of orthodox medicine even though it was safer, less painful and far more economical.

Michael T. Murray, Naturopathic physician and one of the world's leading authorities on natural medicine, reports in Encyclopedia of Nutritional Supplements, that B6 deficiency is a common finding in CTS and except when due to direct trauma or systemic disease, Ellis and co-workers never found an exception to this correlation.

Alan R. Gaby, MD, prominent alternative medicine physician, writes in his book "Vitamin B6, the Natural Healer, " one middle age woman improved dramatically in two days." He says the longer a person has had the problem, the longer it takes for improvement. In severe cases, longer than 12 weeks may be required. Dr. Gaby cautions it is important to receive a medical diagnosis of CTS since some symptoms can imitate CTS - such as degenerative arthritis of the spine exerting pressure on the median nerve, low thyroid or other chronic illness. (including diabetes)

Writing in Nutrition & Healing, Dr. Gaby clarifies the erroneous assumption and negative press given vitamin B 6 treatments by JAMA and American Medical News.

Stress depletes vitamin B6 levels. Normal patients may have 2.5 times the B6 level of CTS patients... a significant difference. Typically 80% of CTS patients have low B6 levels. However, blood tests are not always indicative since B6 blood levels at the CT site may not show up in blood tests.

Dr. Ellis blames our lifestyle of eating overcooked, overbaked, canned, bottled and packaged foods deficient in B6. Dr. Murray indicates the increased incidence of CTS since 1952 parallels increased levels of B6 antagonists found in the food supply and drugs for the same period. These include dydrazine dyes, (FC&C yellow #5- tartrazine) alcohol, drugs, isoniazid, hydralazine, dopamine, penicilamine, oral contraceptives and excess protein intake. He advises limiting protein consumption to 50 grams a day.

Vitamin B6 may fail to bring about a cure if there is irreversible nerve damage from previous fracture or deformity from rheumatoid arthritis.

A general consensus from the literature indicates taking a daily B complex such as B50 falls within standard supplementation guidelines with no adverse effects. It is always important to take the Complex since single vitamin doses can have a washout effect. Higher therapeutic doses should be physician supervised since there may be a conversion problem in the liver or neuropathy could occur which is what you are attempting to correct or prevent.

Dr. Murray says doses between 100-200 mg/day in supervised and divided doses usually bring relief in a few months but may take longer.

It's difficult to get enough B6 from foods. Botanical remedies such as curcumin and bromelain help reduce swelling and inflammation.

Dr. Murray includes a prophetic anectode in his research material... Gary Phalen, MD, who pioneered the surgical treatment for CTS agrees that future B6 doses of 100-200 mg/day may be the treatment of choice. Dr. Phalen is quoted as saying, "I hope my patients don't find out about this. I make 34-40% of my income from performing surgeries for CTS."
(end of article)

I take a B complex and add additional B6 in the form of P5P...

Vitamin B-6 exists in different forms; one of those forms, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), serves a cofactor in many enzyme reactions, including the transsulfuration pathway, in which homocysteine is converted to cystathionine and then to cysteine.

Jackie

I went out and bought a glucose tester tonight and tested my glucose tonight at about 9pm. I last ate at about 6. It was 94.
I'll continue to test it and keep track of the results.

Derek,

It is good you got one. It will tell you if and how big a problem you have.

Suggest testing 45 minutes after meals and fasting (morning before you've eaten anything).

George

Tested it again this morning before eating: 96

So you are not diabetic - good.

Medical profession says you don't have a problem till over 100 (used to be 110). Fasting >= 125 is diabetic.

Optimal is between 65-85.

The 45 minutes after meal is generally the max blood sugar after a meal for most people.

Derek - that's a relief. Wonder what the abnormally high reading was all about? It's good you are monitoring. When I was insulin resistant/hypoglycemic, I found the glucometer to be very helpful.
Good luck. Jackie

45 minutes after breakfast: 159 hmm! that seems a little high.

Mike wrote:

episodes of a
> fib in five years sounds like you're managing things pretty
> well.

The thing is, I really didn't do anything or change anything. I was prescribed cardizem for 6 months (after the 1st episode 5 years ago), but since then, nothing. I had almost forgotten about the episode.

2 hours after breakfast: 102

Derek,

At [en.wikipedia.org] there's a graph captioned "The fluctuation of blood sugar (red) and the sugar-lowering hormone insulin (blue) in humans during the course of a day with three meals. One of the effects of a sugar-rich vs a starch-rich meal is highlighted."

Erling

Jackie wrote:

> Derek - that's a relief. Wonder what the abnormally high
> reading was all about? It's good you are monitoring. When I
> was insulin resistant/hypoglycemic, I found the glucometer to
> be very helpful.
> Good luck. Jackie


I did find this in the wikipedia article about blood sugar "A temporarily elevated blood sugar level may also result from severe stress, such as trauma, stroke, myocardial infarction, surgery, or illness[citation needed]. Intake of alcohol causes an initial surge in blood sugar, and later tends to cause levels to fall. Also, certain drugs can increase or decrease glucose levels".

I wonder if the link between high glucose levels and alcohol consumption was another reason the er docs kept hinting at alcohol consumption as the reason of my afib episode (I didn't drink at all the night before- and seldom drink at all, except for the occasional glass of port).

GeorgeN wrote:

> Hi Derek,
>
> One note- if you are vagal, exercising may work, if you are
> adrenergic, vagal stimulation may work to convert you. The
> reverse will not likely work.
> See definitions here: <[www.afibbers.org];
So, since I am vagal, I should try excercising, but not vagal stimulation. Got it.

Hi Derek,

So yes you are correct on the vagal/exercise termination. It worked for me, til it didn't... Others have different experiences, for some it works every time, others some times. Others have to wait a while, then exercise, then it works. After it didn't work for me (for my 2.5 month episode) and I got my on-demand flec prescription, I've not retried it. I always use the flec as I don't want to temp fate.

As to your blood sugar. A quick look at the Mickey D's nutrition facts shows you age about 120 grams of carbs in that meal. They are most likely pretty fast carbs. Your high glucose reading may mean your glucose handling system is not perfect. Certainly not diabetic, but it is a warning.

Best advice is to use your glucometer to gather info. You can assume a meal will act in the same fashion if you eat the same food again. So you only need to test new meals.

If a meal spikes your blood sugar over, say 120 (after 45 minutes), figure out how to change it so it won't. If you consistently eat like this (w/o high blood sugar spikes), then your fasting blood sugar should drop, over time. This may likely benefit your serum triglycerides. You'd like the triglyceride/HDL ratio to be less than 2.

A diary of what you eat and blood sugar will help you.

If you pay attention here, it can be a big boost to your long term health.


George

The cardiologist visit today was uneventful. They found some evidence of deposits in the arteries of my heart, and elevated levels of bad cholesterol, and low levels of the good cholesterol. My triglycerides were also elevated at 275. But nothing else that might have caused the most recent episode. I'm wondering now if I'm suffering from sleep apnea. I do wake myself up snoring sometimes, and it has been known to cause (or at least be a trigger for) atrial fibrillation. Of course many cases of atrial fibrillation have been observed without a known cause. I suppose it is remotely possible that the deposits they did find were a contributing factor to my recent episode.
So, I'm now on 325mg of aspirin a day and have been prescribed crestor to lower my cholesterol. I'm tempted to not take the crestor, to just take fish oil supplements, and to change my diet to see if I can get my cholesterol down that way.

I asked one of the nurses at the cardiologist's office about my elevated levels of blood sugar in the er, and she quickly answered that they thought it was just stress. I tend to agree.

Mike, what was the 1:1 conduction like? You know that it it is standard practice to use a BB when on Flec. for just that reason. and for all here that shrug off this combination I think it would be wise for all to know the implications even if it is a fairly rare occurance.

Thanks for all your help, guys. You've given me a lot to think about. Hopefully, I won't have another episode for 5 more years! I'll be sure to check in here from time to time.

Derek

I got a call about my blood tests today and found that just taking fish oil supplements was enough to lower my cholesterol.
I'm now waiting for an appointment with a sleep specialist to see if I do have sleep apnea. I'm tired of feeling tired all the time!

Hello All,
It's been over a year since my last episode (I've only had 2) and I thought I'd check in and give an update. Here is a link that will give you some idea of what I went through. 2nd episode Basically, I've had 2 episodes that were 5 years apart. The 1st one lasted about 20 hrs and my heart rate was only about 85 bpm and I cardioverted spontaneously. The 2nd episode lasted about 10-12 hours and my heart rate was 120-130 bpm and I was cardioverted electrically in the E.R.
I got out of the Navy Reserves in December as my enlistment was up, and the whole military experience wasn't doing much for me.
I've kept an eye on my glucose levels and they don't seem to have been an issue. I had a sleep study and sleep apnea doesn't seem to have been an issue, either.
I feel very lucky to be such an infrequent sufferer. The only meds I've ever been on are Cardizem after the 1st episode and only for 6 months.
I had a lot of fears after the 2nd episode, but none of my fears turned out to be real issues.
Thanks so much for your responses! They certainly helped me to work through my fears.