Things have become more interesting 28 hours into this episode. If I'm very still, my pulse will appear to return to normal, only slightly faster than average, around 66 bpm. As soon as I stand up, it shoots to 120 , not irregular. Then when I sit back down, it spends about 5 minutes in what feels like normal afib before becoming mostly regular again. I called DR Schweikert's ofby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I started taking 300 mg of Flecainide with 30 mg of diltiazem at the onset of afib in late May. My episodes had increased to monthly before that, and I am scheduled for an ablation on 8/12. Initially, the Flecainide worked great, shortening my usual 18-24 hour episode to 2-3 hours, but the episodes became more frequent, now weekly and the Flecainide is not working at all, since I am 23 hours inby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great news from both of You. Congratulations, I'm scheduled on Aug 12th with Dr Schweikert. Looking forward to getting it over with and starting fresh. Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great News Steve!! Thanks for sharing. Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow, I wanted to get on this thread and rant about the whole cholesterol myth, but George, , Shannon, Tom and Barb covered it beautifully. Well said all Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Doreen, I'll keep you posted, I think I remember you saying you were in the Pittsburgh area. I'm driving to Akron from a small town in Southwestern PA, Ohiopyle. Maybe you've rafted or kayaked there. Hopefully your heart will remain calm!!! Duke, I'm not on any meds either, but I did recently adopt the PIP approach when I get an episode. Mine were longer though, in thby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm meeting with DR Schweikert on Monday to discuss an upcoming ablation. I've already told him I want to do it, so I guess this is the appt. before to set things up. It's been almost 9 years since I started to have symptoms of afib, and my episodes have increased to 7 since February. I'm in afib now from a light to moderate weight workout about 3 hours ago. My episodes usby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Windstar, I've been able to significantly decrease my PACs by having a Carrot, Cucumber, Celery juice once or twice a day. Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great Story McHale! I wish I could have one like that, no time to worry or have second thoughts! John Thanks Duke, Unless something miraculous happens in the next 3 months, I'm going to go for it. I'm tired of the supplements too. Not that I will stop them, but the feeling if you miss something it's going to lead to an event. Or worse, the anxiety that I have when I don&by John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Duke, Great to hear about your apt. and being able to meet Shannon. Just Curious, Are you going to schedule the ablation? I'm 50 , paroxysmal, get episodes now about once a month, in good shape and have had afib for about 8 years. The"Strategy" has helped me , but I'm getting worn down by my "events" even though they are somewhat infrequent, I think aboutby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Jackie and Colin!!! I will do some more research and make those changes. Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the input , My fasting glucose is 91, which is considered normal, but I've read some other authors who recommend it should be below 90. I've never done a test after a meal. Could a high result there explain why I get PACs about 20 minutes after eating? Guess I'll get a glucometer and check it out. I've been on what I consider low carb for about a year, but Iby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Friends, Anyone have any ideas on why my blood pressure would be going up . I've been following the "Strategy for a year and a half, and have cut out almost all added sugar and vegetable oils, but for the past year my BP has been around 140/90. Normally it's 120/80 or less. Initially I thought it was some kind of anomaly, but it has been consistently high for 6 months. It hby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Duke, If my afib had progressed to once every two weeks or more, I would sign up for the ablation . I know how devastating it feels, and I personally would not tolerate it that often. I think ablations have progressed significantly, especially with a highly trained practitioner, that the risk is low and the reward is high. It's a personal decision for everyone, but waiting too long mayby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Getting the proper electrolytes like Jackie has posted is Way more important than getting on some medication. I've had afib on and off for almost 9 years and still take no meds. If you pester you MD for meds, I'm pretty sure he would agree, but that may not be a good thing long term. He may not even know what to prescribe. Keep searching through the site for Ideas on diet, specifiby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Nathalie, I've been very impressed with Dr Schweikert at Heart Rhythm Associates in Akron. He trained under Dr. Nathalie , I believe at Cleveland Clinic. If that would be closer for you , the access is very easy. I had an appt. during "Rush" hour last Wednesday and had an easy time getting in and out.. Dr Nathalie is in Austin, which is a great town to visit if you'rby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I use about 500 mg of potassium glutamate with a dropper full of ionic liquid magnesium in about 16 ounces of water, and sip it throughout the day. That seems to work just as well to keep the PACs at bay. Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've been reading more and more about far infared saunas lately for removal of toxins. Has anyone had any success with them? Maybe that would be an alternative to helping clear the liver without the supplements. Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank You for that encouraging report! Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
The correlation between exercise and afib is hard to deny, but I wonder how much of could be do to the extremely high carb diets that most runners have , and maintain for years. I know myself that I lived on pasta, bread and sweets for 20 years. That may have been a problem. Thanks to the prevailing "wisdom" at the time that recommended pasta , bagels, whole grains and low fat, I gorby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was out for about a 7 mile training run and became extremely short of breath on a hill. I felt ok during the downhill, but had to stop going back up. Stopped and checked my pulse, and it was crazy. Went home and got on the internet and pretty much knew what it was . Converted the next day. Since then, every episode has been about the same, when I get one, I have it for 16-20 hours and Iby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great news! Thank you for the updates. Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
I get the skipped beats also, and usually at rest when my HR is low. They seem to go away when I am slightly more active, like standing or walking. They also seem to come on after eating. I've found that about 500 mg of potassium gluconate in water makes them go away or significantly diminish. I just developed them last fall , I've been dealing with afib for about 8 years. Iby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great Article, Thanks for Posting!by John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Doreen, I saw Dr Schweikert last Summer, and I would just echo everything everyone has said so far. He and his staff were great, answered all my questions and just generally put my mind at ease about ablations. I'm also from the Pittsburgh area, and the drive was easy and uneventful. I'm seeing him again in April. Only thing, schedule now if you can, because he gets booked up andby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Had a seafood gumbo dish last Saturday and paid the price with a middle of the night episode that lasted 30 hours. I don't have them often , but when I do, they usually won't convert at night, so it took until the second day. I should have had the salmon salad. From now on , no sauces of any kind. The MSG gets me every time. I do try to take extra potassium if I eat a salty meal,by John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dr John Mondrola did a nice post on it. I think his point was that for someone that young to have afib, he probably had other pathology that could have lead to the arrest. Johnby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for that report Shannon. Even more impressive in those statistics, is how many of those people did Not have access to this website and did not implement a strategy to balance their electrolytes, or improve their diet. Most probably went right back to their old habits, yet they still did great. I guess we'll never know how many of those people made other improvements, but it would bby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM
Great Posts above! I agree with everyone one them, even though there are some differing opinions. I have been able to control my afib with supplements and a VERY dedicated effort to change my diet to a more paleo / non-processed food diet. I started having afib episodes at 42, I'm 50 now and doing having fewer episodes than ever. (2 in the last 13 months). I believe there is much to beby John21 - AFIBBERS FORUM