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You do realize that after medical school, there is residency, right? It’s not just like you go to medical school and they “teach” you stuff and you are good to go. You go through medical school, do the match, and if you do internal medicine, you might decide to further specialize and do a fellowship that requires even more training. Most doctors I’ve gone to recommend more than just drugs. They’ve recommended natural options, supplements, etc. in addition to prescription medication.
Good, I"m glad your doctors have recommended other options too.
I've gone to integrative MD's for so many years and YES, they all go to medical schools, do residency and then go on to advanced healing techniques. Choose a school that fits their desires. It's been so long since I went to a total allopathic MD that I don't know what some or most recommend to their patients. I think the last allopathic MD's I saw was from 1991-2002 when I was trying to get my thyroid supported. None of the 5 or so helped me...they all went by numbers and I had symptoms that they didn't acknowledge, just numbers.
Kept handing out anti depressant meds though.
Finally my D.O. I saw for my back called in for thyroid support, no labs and that was it. That was in 2002 and that all changed my thinking.
If your friend is an RN, she probably realizes she needs to work with her cardiologist to minimize the afib and its adverse effects as much as possible. There's no surprise, IMO, that she'd have at least some depression if her afib isn't under control, and she's in afib a lot of the time, or there is no telling when it will act up. Afib makes the person feel lousy, with the heart fluttering like that, the circulation is compromised to some extent and the person is tired, short of breath, and maybe with some chest discomfort, and somehow, when the heart isn't acting right the person just tends to feel as though they might die, even if it's not a life threatening arrthymia.
Treatments for controlling atrial fibrillation range from medications to control the heart rate (lowering it to a normal range) and/or heart rhythm (out of afib to a normal sinus rhythm), cardiac ablations, life style modifications including weight loss, elimination of triggering events (these are different for each person) exercise as tolerated. The success of any of these measures for controlling or eliminating afib differs with each person, sometimes it's a matter of trying a number of things till something works.
Your friend no doubt knows this too, but since a diagnosis of afib carries with it an increased risk of stroke (due to blood clots formed in the "fibrillating"atria getting into the circulation and into the brain), the person needs to be on an anticoagulant, like coumadin or one of the newer anticoagulants such as Eloquis or Xarelto.
I know quite a few people with afib, including my sister and a friend. My sister has had three events where she had to go to the hospital to be cardioverted, she takes a calcium channel blocker drug (diltiazem, I think) to control her heart rate and Eloquis, and says she has been successful in more or less keeping it under control by deep breathing and relaxation techniques when she starts feeling those warning palpitations and that funky feeling that accompanies afib. My friend has had one stroke already (pretty well recovered from it since her husband recognized what was happening and got her to the ER in time to get the clot-busting drug before her stroke caused permanent damage), she's working with her cardiologist to control her afib, she has other health issues probably related to the afib, and takes a number of drugs, including Xarelto. Her cardiologist has also recommended exercise and weight loss to help the afib, and got her enrolled in our local hospital's cardiac rehab program, which consists of a monitored exercise program tailored to each patient's needs and condition of his/her health. My friend thinks this is helping her fib.
My cardiologist told me one time that he'd learned in a continuing education course that moderate exercise can have a significant positive effect on afib- he said
the source stated moderate exercise could cut the chances of recurring afib by 75%- not sure in what context this number came from but the take home message is that exercise is good for afib.
There's a lot out there in the way of managing and controlling afib, but the successes of these measures really depends on the individual, which is why it's up the the individual to work with a professional to determine the best course for him or her.
Thanks, I have a call into her to see if she'd like me to forward your info to her. She probably sees the heart specialist every month, it seems like, she is always going to see him.
I just sent her your info.
BTW: She's on meds, how many now I don't know they are always changing it seems. She belongs to a woman's gym, is so STRICT with her diet, maybe she'll read something in your notes that she doesn't know. She's a bit OCD so that could be working against her.
Last edited by jaminhealth; 08-22-2018 at 07:26 PM..
es when she starts feeling those warning palpitations and that funky feeling that accompanies afib. My friend has had one stroke already (pretty well recovered from it since her husband recognized what was happening and got her to the ER in time to get the clot-busting drug before her stroke caused permanent damage), she's working with her cardiologist to control her afib, she has other health issues probably related to the afib, and takes a number of drugs, including Xarelto. Her cardiologist has also recommended exercise and weight loss to help the afib, and got her enrolled in our local hospital's cardiac rehab program, which consists of a monitored exercise program tailored to each patient's needs and condition of his/her health. My friend thinks this is helping her fib.
My cardiologist told me one time that he'd learned in a continuing education course that moderate exercise can have a significant positive effect on afib- he said
the source stated moderate exercise could cut the chances of recurring afib by 75%- not sure in what context this number came from but the take home message is that exercise is good for afib.
Amazing! It's great to hear an example of a doctor researching and recommending exercise! It sounds like a well-rounded approach in combination with meds.
Thanks, I have a call into her to see if she'd like me to forward your info to her. She probably sees the heart specialist every month, it seems like, she is always going to see him.
I just sent her your info.
BTW: She's on meds, how many now I don't know they are always changing it seems. She belongs to a woman's gym, is so STRICT with her diet, maybe she'll read something in your notes that she doesn't know. She's a bit OCD so that could be working against her.
Yeah, I'm sure she's "googled" afib and all things related to the ends of the internet ( I know I would if I had afib) so probably knows all this, but you never know, I guess. Poor thing is probably trying to get it under some kind of control and hasn't yet found a medication or combination that does it for her.
If you talk to her tell her I can sympathize with her, and wish her the best of luck in getting it under control.
Amazing! It's great to hear an example of a doctor researching and recommending exercise! It sounds like a well-rounded approach in combination with meds.
Actually, from what I've heard ( from my circle of old F@rt friends who regularly see cardiologists, LOL), this group of cardiologists strongly advocates life style measures, including exercise, to control and manage cardiac disease and issues.
The doctor I see there has always asked me about my diet, level and type of activity during my checkups, and I imagine if I couldn't report a healthy diet and regular exercise I'd hear about it. But I've seen the benefits of doing this, so I'm a believer and I don't need nudging from the doc, LOL.
And believe it or not, this cardiologist has actually decreased the number of meds I've taken for high blood pressure, including a diuretic ( he said I didn't need one), and a calcium channel blocker ( he said it was too much with the beta blocker I take to control my tachycardia/irregular heart beat). Of course he did triple the dose of the beta blocker I take after they got the results of my last heart monitor, but that's because the *$#@%^ thing was threatening to take over my life and was out of control.
Believe it or not, exercise helps that too, although I have to pace it, stop and take a break as I need to to get the heart rate out of the stratosphere and back where it should be. As I read about afib and exercise, I see this is what they also recommend for keeping the afib under control when exercising.
As an RN myself, I can't even imagine asking people on C-D for advice about my health issues. Your RN friend really asked you to ask us - a bunch of total strangers, most without any health care background at all, for advice about her issues? Bizarre!
That being said, I will add that there are very strong connections with thyroid issues and heart function, but I think that as an RN, your friend should be well aware of all of that. The fact that you stated she is seeing a cardiologist that she is happy with, makes me really wonder why she would ask you for the opinions of a bunch of strangers on C-D.
The fact that you are on a "relatively high dose of thyroid and your heart is fine" has nothing to do with anyone else's dosages. The dose of thyroid medication is for an individual person, their circumstances and lab work. People need to be on the dose of medication that works for them. Any deviation from that individualized dose can wreak havoc if it falls out of what is needed to control their thyroid issues.
This statement you made - "Finally my D.O. I saw for my back called in for thyroid support, no labs and that was it." What does that even mean?
Any GOOD doctor is going to do more than just prescribe medicine! They are also going to discuss lifestyle, diet, etc. with you. If they don't, then you need to find another who will.
As an RN myself, I can't even imagine asking people on C-D for advice about my health issues. Your RN friend really asked you to ask us - a bunch of total strangers, most without any health care background at all, for advice about her issues? Bizarre!
That being said, I will add that there are very strong connections with thyroid issues and heart function, but I think that as an RN, your friend should be well aware of all of that. The fact that you stated she is seeing a cardiologist that she is happy with, makes me really wonder why she would ask you for the opinions of a bunch of strangers on C-D.
The fact that you are on a "relatively high dose of thyroid and your heart is fine" has nothing to do with anyone else's dosages. The dose of thyroid medication is for an individual person, their circumstances and lab work. People need to be on the dose of medication that works for them. Any deviation from that individualized dose can wreak havoc if it falls out of what is needed to control their thyroid issues.
This statement you made - "Finally my D.O. I saw for my back called in for thyroid support, no labs and that was it." What does that even mean?
Any GOOD doctor is going to do more than just prescribe medicine! They are also going to discuss lifestyle, diet, etc. with you. If they don't, then you need to find another who will.
Not so bizarre..good grief. I have told her about C-D and she just doesn't sit still long enough to join one of these groups. She was asking for other's experiences. I almost didn't post but thought oh why not.
Got one good post which I forwarded to her and she's thankful for that.
My own thyroid issue got "fixed" after 10 yrs of labs from allopathic MD's and no help as my numbers were "normal"...the D.O. was from the old school before labs and gave patients thyroid by symptoms. Did you not hear about the history before labs...Dr. Broda Barnes and his fellow doctors.. Doctors would give their patients theraputic doses of desiccated thyroid when they came in with the mile long list of symptoms. There were no numbers .. that's what the D.O. did for me, called in low dose and we went from there.
Some of us have been around a lot longer than some.
Last edited by jaminhealth; 08-23-2018 at 11:55 AM..
I had Afib in January, 156 bpm, they wound up doing a cardioversion procedure under general anaesthesia, Ive been on Eliquis, Amiodarone and Metaprolol since then, a leaky mitral valve is what caused it and I'm having both fixed in October. They are doing a MAZE procedure to fix the Afib when they do the valve surgery.
Apparently the leaking valve causes dilation of the atrium, which in turn can change the path the electrical signals go, so they kind of "short circuit" and go the wrong way, the MAZE procedure creates a line of small scars that keeps the electrical signal going the right way
Hopefully your friend doesn't use alcohol or marijuana; both can increase a-fib (research shows this). My husband had a-fib for years, with numerous ER visits for cardioversion (shocking), long-time meds, and finally an ablation that didn't control it completely. When he stopped drinking (never more than 2 drinks a day, but 2 drinks every day), never had it again.
From an online cardiologist, Dr. Sinatra - Link1, Link2
"First, be sure to cut down on sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. - sugar control very important
Supplement daily with 250–500 mg daily of magnesium and 500–1,000 mg of potassium. But there’s one very important caution: You must not take potassium and/or magnesium supplements if you have renal insufficiency or, even worse, renal failure."
"If patients can't tolerate digoxin, I've had some success using hawthorn berry, 500 mg three times a day.
For patients who go "in and out" of atrial fibrillation, they can see a greatly improved quality of life by taking my Awesome Foursome plus 1–2 grams of fish oil daily(Fish oil depletes Gamma E, I would take with fish oil). Daily doses for a-fib are:
CoQ10: 100–200 mg
L-carnitine: 1–3 grams of a broad-spectrum combination
Magnesium: 200 mg once or twice , of a broad-spectrum combination
D-ribose: 5 grams 2–3 times a day Together, these will provide the raw materials your heart needs to keep itself in regular rhythm.
Other possibilities are grounding or Earthing(bare feet on the ground), and 100 mg of nattokinase daily. Either of these will help thin your blood, but as of yet there's not enough evidence to suggest they are enough in cases of a-fib.
Remember, you must work with your physician to make the transition to these therapies."
Other links with similar advice Dr Steve Ryan - He mentions Taurine and BCAA+G Jon Barron - Mentions B vitamins( 2 a day multi from LEF or Thorne would be good option)
I would add K2, collagen, and try to limit your salt intake.
Try to get some walking in
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Your RN friend really asked you to ask us - a bunch of total strangers, most without any health care background at all, for advice about her issues? Bizarre!
