I agree with the benefits of vitamin D but not necessarily with supplementing methods. Getting direct sunlight is needed for survival which even death row inmates are allowed an hour a day of direct sunlight. This means at least 30% of your body is exposed to sunlight between 10am-2pm at least 30 minutes to minimize chances of skin cancer. Supplementing with Vitamin D in higher dosages is a rby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Every other form of magnesium will give me stomach issues if I go over 1000mg a day, except of course the Jigsaw malate which I have been taking now for over 6 months. Max I took was around 2000mg for a month and then went down to 1500mg. I'll probably try and go down to 1000mg in a month and see if it still works. The difference with Jigsaw which I notice is that it lasts a lot longer and aby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
I take 3-4 pills depending on how I feel every four hours four times a day. You need to count elemental magnesium intake and not overall grams, which are two different things. I had some digestive issues and Malate is basically malic acid which is good for the digestive system. Otherwise both work well just make sure it’s by Albion. QuoteMadMax Yep, zero ectopic beats as I am back on 15by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
I haven’t had any progress with ectopics until I started dividing my doses of magnesium four times a day 300-400mg each time. You also want to stay away from cheap stuff like capsules which dissolve quickly and don’t last long. Stay away from sugar, too much carbs and any calcium rich foods as they all compete with absorption against magnesium. Once I figured that out it was working perfectly untby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
You can try any brand but I stick to those that use Albion labs label which is patented and superior to other brands. I tested dozens of magnesium brands and types and settled with MAGSRT by jigsaw. It’s bascially magnesium malate but it’s slow release which means it will last longer and won’t give you any diarrhea as most forms eventually will. It costs more but worth it in my opinion. You can fby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
RBC labs just aren't reliable imho since my first lab was the highest 7.8 of the four repeats and that was initially done after 3 months of supplementation so I knew it was wrong. Last one was 7.0 almost a year later so I was worried a bit but now exa test confirmed my theory. Good luck on getting your Doctor involved. I couldn't find anyone willing to do it in the State of Idaho, nby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteMadMax Exa test showed my magnesium at 38.7. /quote] Johnny - To be clear, the Exatest results were *without* experiencing ectopic beats, right? Thanks very much for posting. Yep, zero ectopic beats as I am back on 1500mg Malate by jigsaw slow release. I’m assuming some of us waste magnesium faster but I also wonder how much absorption is there?by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
I paid around $295 I believe since it was self pay. Through insurance its around $600by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just an update here regarding my Exa test vs RBC labs. As I posted earlier the only thing that has kept my ectopic beats quiet was taking daily high dosages of magnesium (1500mg elemental per day) I have healthy kidneys. I stopped using magnesium a few times and ectopics return within a week as I was afraid to continue given the high RBC blood labs in the ranges between 7.8 and 7.0. I finally didby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotesafib johnnyS, Have you tried recommended medical treatments for ectopy, like low dose beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or other antiarrhythmics ? Low dose prophylactically can be at very small dosages with a potentially different profile for side effects and sustained efficacy than conventional dosages. For example, Flecainide might be prescribed at 25 mg or less for this purby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
If Exatest isn’t accurate then I’m not so sure RBC is either as I did four different tests and find no pattern. Around a year ago I started dosing heavily around 2000mg of elemental magnesium and 3 months later my RBC was 7.8 I stopped and three months later it showed 7.4, followed by another 7.3 without any dosing for three months. This last one showed 7.0 while I was taking around 2000mg for aby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
For me this comes down to whether something is working or not and I don't know if I caused some other imbalance like with Vitamins D or calcium.. I am not questioning if Mg works, I know it does, If I take Mg in 1500mg daily my Pacs go away, but when I stop for few days or a week they come back. Each time I cut back the Mg intake down to 500mg a day due to my RBC count in the range of 7.0 anby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, Interesting, so I could then still be low is what you’re saying. I just got approved and faxed my info for exatest and they will mail me a kit in couple of days.by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, You seem to know a lot about Magnesium so here's my question if you don't mind? How accurate is the RBC magnesium blood lab? I had 3 different done over 9 months and they are in the high 7.8, 7.4. 7.3. Now let's say that at least one of them is accurate, why haven't I had any rest from ectopics? Im doing another this week just to make sure the range stays the same.by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve, Interesting point which I haven't considered but willing to give it a try. I have been taking this high dose of Mg for over 9 months while keeping Ca low. I'll lower the Mg intake and start VitD see where it takes me. Thank you.by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Colindo, Just wondering how magnesium can trigger AF? I don't have AF but have been taking around 1500mg of elemental magnesium daily and have never heard of anything like that so just curious.by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Steve and others.by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Steve, Let me first explain that I don't have afib yet, I have PACs around 5-20 a day and this has caused me to take drastic measures in order to delay or avoid all together if possible the onset of afib. My dad got afib at 71 and I am probably on my way to getting it eventually via genetics. My diet for the last 9 months consists of salmon, chicken breast and one egg three times a weby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes I did read Steve's website and no I did not see where he discusses anything other than keeping Calcium intake very low and as I stated already my Ca intake is already minimal to none but if I attempt Vitamin D3 supplements even at low dosages then Calcium spikes up quickly and more ectopics occur. So If you understand this better than me and what I am trying to ask then please do help meby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow, I already limit my calcium intake to less than 200mg a day. So being low in Vitamin D right now, how do you go about raising it then?by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Question for all of you experts in electrolytes imbalance. Why is it that every time I take supplement of Vitamin D3 even in smaller dose of 2000iu I get more ectopics and my calcium shoots up around 10mg? I have tested this three different times with blood labs and found definite connection with Vitamin D3 supplements and calcium levels increase.by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been taking taurine for about 6 months now (10 grams a day) and found it to be helpful with ectopic beats and overall better sleep much like magnesium. Arginine on the other hand isn’t really helpful or needed for those that workout frequently or already have normal blood pressure.by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for your input and explanations. I guess for those with early PACs and no Afib are at the mercy of this thing and there’s nothing we can do to alter our genetic course other than lifestyle and supplementation. I was assuming that since they ablate PVCs, why couldn’t they ablate PACs? I mean there’s nothing cardiologists or EPs are doing other than beta blockers which don’t work. I wby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack That’s exactly what studies are concluding; no fibrosis no Afib. Now, wouldn’t the obvious next step be to screen for fibrosis and determine the likelyhood of Afib? I mean isn’t it easier to ultimately ablate individual sources of PACs then Afib with remodeling? AF can certainly occur in a heart with no fibrosis. It did in mine. Fibrosis is a risk factor, not an outright cause.by johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib Quote johnnyS: "Most EPs have no clue about the pacs/afib connection other that the stating "it's benign." That's why I'm looking into research data out there and it pretty much confirms my suspicion of how afib begins. " Quote Wolfpack: "I wouldn't say that. Any competent EP certainly knows that PACs precede AF. They wiby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotemwcf I'd say that how likely PACs are to lead to AF depends on many factors not least fibrosis. I've had lots of PACs since my mid-20s (now 57 yrs old) and have had PAF for the last 20 years and am still paroxysmal rather than persistent or permanent. And I mean a lot of PACs like hundreds or even a thousand or two a day a lot of the time. Over the last 20 years I'd say aby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteThe Anti-Fib Quote johnnyS: "Most EPs have no clue about the pacs/afib connection other that the stating "it's benign." That's why I'm looking into research data out there and it pretty much confirms my suspicion of how afib begins. " Quote Wolfpack: "I wouldn't say that. Any competent EP certainly knows that PACs precede AF. They wiby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotewolfpack Most EPs have no clue about the pacs/afib connection other that the stating "it's benign." That's why I'm looking into research data out there and it pretty much confirms my suspicion of how afib begins. I wouldn't say that. Any competent EP certainly knows that PACs precede AF. They will tell you that PACs are benign, because in the EP worldby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon Thank you Pompon, so you had many pacs and pacs before afib eventually began. I am asking because if you were to minimize them via supplements what difference would it make or are we all just destined to afib given genetics? I feel like having them daily is a constant reminder of things to come. . No, not at all. I never said that. Here's what I wrote here above : "Iby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteJoe Best to see an EP if things get worse in spite of life style/diet changes. Thinking back, i probably did have ectopic or something like that for quite some time prior to afib, but only occasionally. The EP i saw told me that he does not worry if someone has up to 5% ectopics/24 hours. BTW, how can you tell PACs and PVCs apart? Have you had a 24hr monitor? Maybe i'm dreaminby johnnyS - AFIBBERS FORUM