Unfortunately, BHRT is out of the question...it is WAY beyond my means, and Medi-Cal doesn't have any BHRT docs. It's a luxury I can only think about. It's the approach I've been wanting to use all along, but my eyes are bigger than my wallet.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Shannon- What you said makes so much sense! I felt much better and wasn't hypotensive when I dc'ed the K gluconate. Made a world of difference. Unfortunately, MedicAid's idea of a thyroid test is the TSH level, which as you know, is only part of the story. They won't cover a T3 and/or T4 draw, which is just stupid and short-sighted. I could grab the bloodwork throughby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Shannon- I was taking 1 tsp. of potassium gluconate powder in addition to eating potassium-rich foods. Problem was I went hypotensive from the postassium. Was taking 100mg oral Mag. glycinate (Dr.'s Best) and tolerating it poorly, so I've started with Epsom salt footbaths and am looking at topical mag. Wish I could IV infusion every couple of weeks, but the cost is astronomical anby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
@John: That ER registrar had a great idea. I have some straws around here somewhere that I will keep on hand. Re: flec. In my readings, it's been stated that flec is nothing to mess with, especially for women. We have a longer QR (or is it QRS?) interval, which makes introducing an anti-arrythmic drug a bit trickier since some of them tend to mess with that interval. Scary stuff indeed.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, John! I made good use of my juicer last night and juiced just about everything in my veggie drawer and got a huge hit of potassium that way, along with oral Mag. glycinate, 100mg. The latter really gave me GI hell, but things are quieter today. My neighbor, a retired CCU nurse, suggested I grab an ice pack and place it on my upper chest and throat (good for vagaleps.) and believe it oby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
I don't think ablation is warranted for me a total of three episodes of AF, and please remember this. I am no hurry to consider ablation, especially since I lack the financial and social resources to ensure a safe procedure and a smooth recovery. Methinks that doesn't hold true for some on this board. Also remember that MedicAid varies from state to state. California's form of Mby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
MedicAid covers dirt-basic medical care, and whatever "specialists" they have are bottom of the barrel. Hardly the caliber of doctor I would trust with any aspect of my medical care. My MedicAid network is affiliated with some of the worst hospitals in my region, yet another reason to stay away. I was defaulted onto MedicAid by way of the ACA; definitely not my first choice for coveby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've read his blog, and as a former athlete, I wish I could see the guy. I appreciate his approach to things. I don't have access to the top-flight docs that most of the people on this board have, and good luck finding a decent cardiologist with the medical coverage I got stuck with under the ACA. I may be a lone voice in the wilderness, but I appreciate his approch. I'm certainlyby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
After many months of good control, I'm back in Afib. I had an adrenegenic episode this past Wed., and today I've been in and out of afib, set off by indigestion. I'm back on the Magnesium; taking Mag. Glycinate, but even 100mg of that is giving me horrible gas and diarrhea. Potassium intake has been good. I have Medicaid, and as such, the docs are not of the best caliber. I wanby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi everyone- Doing some dectective work. I've had some brief AF runs early in the morning now that are mitiaged by breathing patterns and very gently walking around. I'm keeping a log of when, where, weather, food intake, activity level, mood, etc. Trying to establish a pattern. The past two eps. happened when I was snoozing away and woke to inreasing heart rate and then going into aby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you everyone for your input! It's most appreciated. This is very frustrating, due to the stress its causing me as well as lack of access to decent medical and supportive resources at this time. Medicaid is horrible.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Had an episode today, and it was raining. Would not be surprised is there is a connection between barometric pressure and AFIB episodes.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you to everyone who responded to my previous post. It's much apprecited. I was driving to an appointment today when pow! Increased heart rate, pounding, and that telltale "butterflies" feeling in my upper left chest. I did some breating (huge breath in, hold to count of 10, exhale for count of 15, total of three times) grabbed my beta-blocker, and chewed it. Things calmedby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
I live in SoCal, and Medi-Cal (CA's version of Medicaid) will not reimburse for any care outside of network, unless its an ER visit. The thought of ablation gives me an anxiety attack, esp. since it's not 100% successful. Don't want to get in the cyle of procedure/touch-up repeat procedure. Medi-cal is extremely restrictive in terms of specialists; it's for the bottom-of-the bby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
I live on SoCal, and there very few EPs listed in the Medi-Cal directory; Medi-Cal reimbursements are horribly low, so very few doctors participate. At any rate, I wouldn't trust a Medi-Cal EP to go anywhere near me. Medi-Cal docs are among the worst, at least around here.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm not sure this is the right place for this, but I am completely discouraged. I had another episode yesterday, despite my best efforts to increase my magnesium and potassium intake. I've stopped going for walks. I've stopped doing nearly everything. The medical community is of very little help. I am on Medicaid, so it's not like I can ring up the top-notch EP and see theby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
I gave EFT/tapping a try when I started having PAC's that progressed right into a brief run of afib. It took a few rounds of tapping, but it worked for me. Anything to avoid a run to the ED and all the hassles and anxiety that come with it. I can't say it aborted the afib run (or maybe it did), but it sure helped. I don't have access to a PIP protocol, so EFT/tapping is my go-to stby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
HI Shannon- Thanks for your input! Just a point of clarification...it's generic Lopressor. I've been made aware of tapering problems with Toprol XL, but thankfully I'm not on the stuff. I'm very drug-sensitive, unfortunately. Makes dosing hard for the few times I've had to take prescription meds; docs shake their head and insist I take X milligrams, whereas I pushby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Agreed. I went from 25mg/day to 19/day, which is where I'm at now. I started the taper on 10/30. I was shocked when the doc suggested that I cut to 12.5 mg./day for one week, and then discontinue altogether. As far as I saw it, it would be the perfect recipe for another trip to the ER, which is something I do not want. The fact that I was having rebound effects at 19mg is what scared me.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I was in the hospital, the attending physician gave me an rx for 25 mg. of metoprolol tartrate, to be taken in two divided doses. Recently, my cardiologist has given me the green light to begin tapering off. Since I'm very sensitive to medications, I decided to step down in 6mg. increments. I take my 12.5mg am dose, and then take 6mg. at night. I was doing OK..Feeling "sharper&by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for your replies! Most appreciaited. Unfortunately, I can only tolerate 100 mg. of Mag. glycinate before I get diarrhea, so I will try the topical and see how I do. Haven't tried the potassium yet; had a major setback last night; I've been weaning off the beta blocker with my doc's OK. Taking it very slowly, but still had some rebound tach with a 5 min. run of a-fibby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hello All: Slowly making my way around the website. On Sept. 30th, I was taken to the hospital when I went into afib. I chemically converted about 5 hours later and am doing well. I've made some minor tweaks to my diet to include more potassium and magnesium. As of last week's blood draw, my serum potassium is 4.0 mmol/L and mag. is 1.9 Both numbers were abysmal when I presented in thby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you, Louise! That's wonderful input. I tried 50 mg. with my lunch and I will see how that goes.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
"Kitty - I certainly have great empathy for you not only with the new afib development but the fact that you were discharged for missing work because of it. That seems criminal. Apparently, employers have no conscience these days as your story is a common one, unfortunately. I’m 77 so I’ve seen a lot of changes in the quality of medical care over the years and I’m currently observing that evby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
No complaints at all about the care I received in the hospital; it's the follow-up care that will be lacking. Hospital care was excellent; it's the quality of follow-up care that will give me pause. Private practitioners dont' want to deal with Medicaid because the reimbursement rate is so low, so the remaining practitioners aren't the best. In other words, doubtful that Natalby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my first AF attack nearly two weeks ago. I saw a doc in the ER for all of five minutes, and then an EP bedside for another five seconds. I chemically converted later that evening, and was discharged the following morning with instructions to take 81mg aspirin, and 12.5 mg. Lopressor b.i.d. I didn't even see the doc again; the nurse discharged me. No one talked to me about anything, i.eby Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
unfortunately, I can't even tolerate 100mg. of Mag. glycinate tablet, so I am going to try the magnesium oil and see if that makes a difference.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
First, I want to thank everyone for their responses to my posts over the past few days. Seems I've run into a problem with tolerating Magnesium....I reach bowel tolerance at only 200mg Mag. glycinate. Would a different form help, or is 200mg. my physiological limit? Currently taking one 200 mg. tablet with food. Very frustrating, needless to say... Cardio consult has been moved to 10/by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Marg- Thanks for the input. I will give that a shot and see what my pulse rate is. I'm a lightweight when it comes to meds, so I'm hoping to take a lesser dose of this. I have a cardio consult next Wed, so I've put it on my list of questions to ask.by Kittymama - AFIBBERS FORUM