Nel, my feeling now is that cardiologists are so stymied by afib that they don't know what to do except prescribe drugs and say come back in 6 months. They were not trained for this. I don't know why they do not refer us to electrophysiologists, except that their egos are so big they cannot admit they don't know what they're doing. My next visit will be to an electrophysiolby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nancy, my doctors really don't seem to care about anything. Truly. My hr is always irregular 24/7 and the average rate (using the cardiac phone ap or a blood pressure/pulse machine) is anywhere from high 60's to 100 just doing usual things -- higher, of course if I go quickly up stairs, etc. I've vented about doctors enough in other posts, so won't here; however, I am wby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Dan, I look forward to other posts on this. I am very bad about drinking enough water and am focusing on it now. I think a lot of people here are wondering why doctors do things. I think the answer is that most cardiologists don't understand afib and I wish all of them would join this discussion!! THREE doctors put me on Multaq, and, assuming they knew what they were doing, I tooby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike, thanks for the "manly" tip! I'll try it. Noreen, I know you have expressed your desire to lose weight, and besides keeping your blood sugar in tact, eating something (not stuffing yourself) every couple of hours keeps your metabolism burning calories as well. I soooo understand being at an event and going for the wine and cookie (what a combo, huh?) Slowly, we live andby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
John and Jackie, thank you. Yes, my husband tends to get nervous and cranky if he goes too long without food! I guess I shouldn't say "panic attacks," although years ago he got them. He also works out with a group 3 times a week really hard and often has aches. I read somewhere that putting it it the crook of the elbow had relatively quick calming effect. He's a tough oby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Srach1943, how much does your wife use and where does she put it? John21, same question to you. I'm actually taking enough myself, but was thinking of my husband, who works out hard and has occasional panic attacks. Thank you both! Louiseby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you Jackie and James! I am feeling very optimistic about the supplement strategy right now and will continue for several months. I really don't want to get an ablation. I have afib 24/7; however I feel extremely fortunate after reading some of the horrible experiences other people have gone through. I have never gone to the emergency room or into the hospital and my life is quite nby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am tolerating 600 mg of magnesium now (yippee!) on The Strategy regimen. After reading The Strategy, and many other reports/posts on this wonderful site, I am convinced most people are probably magnesium deficient to some extent. This is a little off-topic (I know this site is for afibbers); but I'm wondering if anyone has tried magnesium oil for anxiety (or knows anyone who has) successby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Alex and Jackie, Are you talking about taking supplements at the "same time in your life?" or taking them literally "at the same time" of day, with a meal? I take all of my supplements at the same time -- morning, noon or night; in other words a handful. Does that make any difference -- specifically to the Strategy? Louiseby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Liz, I know what you mean. I am on the afib vitamin/min strategy and trying to change my diet at the same time and it is challenging. I was looking up alkaline recipes and one (for breakfast) was to mix banana and coconut and cinammon, make pancake (shapes) and leave out in direct sunlight for 1 hour! -- then flip over for another hour! And this was for breakfast!! I guess if you weren'by Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Noreen, I certainly feel your pain when it comes to doctors! Why does my pcp continually send me to the cardiologists at UCLA when there is a WHOLE Cardaic Arrythmia Unit? Anyway, I understand about asking the same questions. I have it done it on many posts, too and I think it takes awhile to absorb it to where it becomes "natural thinking!" I have asked this before, andby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Could you please explain to me how you know the difference between PACS, ectopics, PVCs, and afib (which I always thought was "irregular heart beat"). At any time of day or night, if I put my fingers to my neck, I have an irregular heart beat. If I did not check I wouldn't feel anything. In my report from my 24-hour holter monitor in 2010, it made references to: Atrial Fibrilatby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
John, thank you so much for your report and congratulations to you! I have only started The Strategy (a couple of weeks) so it is very encouraging to read these success stories. Have you ever had an ablation or conversion and are you on any medications? I have read of people keeping magnesium or potassium with them "for emergencies." Once you are taking the full amount, are they uby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jackie, thank you -- I have always thought ablation was major surgery, but some people here seem to have a "go get one" attitude. Maybe I am misinterpreting -- also, there is no way I can read every single ablation experience. There do seem to be very different ways to perform an ablation, which I am far from understanding. I am going to go get an echocardiogram soon, to make sureby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Buster, thank you soooo much. What great info. NOBODY at UCLA even mentioned this man OR this department! I am going to contact my pcp next week and see if he can refer me. Thank you again. Where do you live? I can't believe that someone who doesn't even live here referred me here and no one in the UCLA Medical Group has. Hans, none of us can thank you enough for this site.by Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
I understand that as you up magnesium intake, your tolerance improves. Once you get to optimimum levels of all of the supplements, if the afib improves, do you stay on the same regimen for life? Are these recommended levels the highest one should go? I know results vary (cures have been achieved simply by increasing mag and decreasing calcium). It seems like magnesium is the key (not uppiby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Noreen, my heart breaks for you. My pharmacist aslo told me Multaq was bad for me to take with Pradaxa, but the Drs. just ignore it! I stated in a previous post that I went off Multaq a couple of weeks ago, because I didn't think it was working. I am on the Strategy program, but have started taking 1/2 a Multaq again because it seems I am aware of the afib more, but I really am not sure iby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
afhound99, Thank you. I will continue my regimen for now, but also will try to find out how I can see an EP here without paying a fortune to see him/her since I cannot find one in my insurance plan. It's amazing to me how UCLA does not even list ONE! I appreciate your response! Louiseby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Afound99, ablation was mentioned to me when I first got afib in 2010. I've never thought it was bad enough to really consider it, but lately it is 24/7; so I have been thinking more about it and also, since I found this site and have been reading everyone's posts about it. My pcp has only referred me to cardiologists at UCLA Santa Monica, who I have no faith in. They refer me toby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been reading different posts about ablation, but I've read there are minimally invasive procedures and open heart surgery procedures. I'm sure there are lots of posts I haven't read, but could someone please comment on the different types and which you have had? Also, many people talk about their 2nd to 5th? ablation, so it is confusing about the success. Louiseby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Tommyman, I was diagnosed with lone afib in March 2010, so 3 years. I am basically in afib ALL the time. I can never really take an accurate pulse. The drugs given to me for that were first Metroprolol and then Multaq. Neither worked and I have taken myself off anything but Pradaxa. I have never had to go to the hospital for afib -- just noticed the irregularity and mentioned it duringby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Jeez, Noreen. I just came home to have a bite to eat between dog walks and now after reading your post I am exhausted! I have no authority to advise you, but your story reminded me of a man that used to go to our gym who was overweight and would spend HOURS on the stairmaster, treadmill, etc. and never lost any weight. He, too sweated profusely and I was really afraid he was going to pass oby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you so much for responding, Sam. I will google it!by Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
To afhoud99, I am fairly new and didn't discover for about a week that I could "follow a topic." I too, was searching for the topic I had posted on to see if there was a response before I discovered this. You will know right away if someone has responded to your post. Like I said, I'm new, so I don't know if that was always an option or not.by Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Sam, I am 63 and was diagnosed w/afib in March 2010 during an annual physical (and holter monitor.) I have exercised since I was 29 -- aerobics classes, running, biking, weight training. I stopped running or any kind of jumping after back surgery in 2006, but continue to weight train and was walking fast 1 hour a day. Then I started a pet sitting business in 2007 and since I walk dogs aby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Noreen, I am very new to this site also and feel the same way you do about it! I'm sorry to hear about all your problems. I am fortunate to have only afib, but I am in the same situation with my Drs. When I commented that the Multaq wasn't working and should I stay on it, my Dr. "shrugged!" and said yeah! Really! And before he came in his assistant sat down and befoby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for your stories. I just joined and left a couple of posts but see that I need to read more to ask the right questions. I first noticed an irregular heartbeat and occasional rapid heartbeat in early 2010. I went for my annual physical in March and mentioned it to my pcp. He sent me for a 24-hr Holter monitor and then to a cardiologist who put me on motoprolol and coumadin. I hby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have this dilemma also. I am 63, have had afib since 2010, exercised my whole life since I was 29 (running, biking, aerobic classes). I now walk dogs, but that is not really aerobic. When I was first diagnosed I was given a stress test and pulled off the treadmill rather soon and was told my hr was 200. I did not feel it at all; in fact thought I was walking rather slowly with just a low inby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
James, since you have been in permanent afib for so long, I'm wondering how often you get an echocardiogram? I also live a pretty normal life and have never been in the emergency room or hospital for this, but am wondering if constant irregularity causes harm to an otherwise disease-free heart? Louiseby Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi everyone, I am new to the forum and wish I could just spend about a week uninterrupted to soak up all your knowledge and information. I am a 63 year old woman and was diagnosed in March of 2010, so just 3 years, when I went in for my annual physical and mentioned some rapid/irregular heartbeats. I was sent for a 24-hour Holter monitor and here I am! I was first put on Motroprolol (sp?by Louise - AFIBBERS FORUM