As I shared in other posts, I've been experimenting with micronutrients I learned about from studying Metabolic Cardiology. They help me feel significantly better overall, but I've still been having episodes. I suspected that there was something else going on and that I needed help figuring out what it might be. Plus I wanted to have blood tests done before doing more experimenting and wanted to get help figuring out dosages and additional supplements to try.
I discovered Dr. Stephen Sinatra, an integrative cardiologist, in my research on metabolic cardiology several weeks ago. Then I learned that his son, a naturopath, is only 30 minutes away, so I made an appointment to see him. Yesterday was my appt.
I had to fill out quite an extensive questionnaire before the appointment. I had to include medical history, family medical history, and details on the food I typically eat, what I usually do during my days, my support system, basically all aspects of life. The appointment was an hour long.
This was already an interesting contrast to some of the appointments I've had with EPs & my former cardiologist!
After reviewing my info, the first thing Dr. Sinatra mentioned was his concern about Mercury. I was aware of the possible negative influence of having Mercury fillings in my teeth, but learned much more. The fillings are not always a problem, in that they can stay contained and not leak Mercury into other parts of the body.
His concern is that I eat a lot of fish and it's virtually impossible to find Mercury-free fish these days. Studies have shown a link between Mercury toxicity and arrhythmias. He's seen how eliminating fish from the diets of his AF patients has helped them. So my next experiment is not eating fish at all for the next month or two in order to see if makes a difference.
He told me about a lab that tests for Mercury, but I appreciated his suggestion to eliminate fish first, since the test is expensive. So I'll try it and see what I notice, then will consider having the test.
I'll have a bunch of blood tests on Monday and then we'll go from there. I still have to go through my notes and organize the other suggestions, which I'll share in another post.
That really pulled me up that fish and mercury link. I try to source my fish from New Zealand but does that mean no mercury > I know earlier it was recommended not to eat the top of the food chain more than once a week because of mercury.
I eat fish five days a week mostly sardines or salmon and fresh water barramundi ( Australian sourced not the Asian variety )
I just had my blood results this week and all results where exceptional since four months ago when I started trialing supplements.
Glycated Haemglobin down 27%
Electrolytes all in the good range - small % improvements
Lipids - Trig down 50% but LDL need attention ( no cheese ! )
Liver Function over 50% improvement so much so I dont have a fatty liver now.
Magnesium had a lot to do with the absorption of trace supplements so I increased my intake to over 400mg a day.
I have taken no statin since starting on supplements , coincidence !
I have read Statins block certain supplements, CoQ10 I believe. Also I read reducing your cheese will help the absorption of Mg as too much Ca can be a blocker.
Statins block insulin production and in my case reduced my metabolic rate so fat was being laid down instead of being converted to energy.
And they interact with so many heart meds in a negative way.
I am a cheeseaholic ( or was ) cheese is the main culprit for LDL so I have to decrease my intake . My Ca has never shown up as too high but I have had kidney stones so watch any supplement that has calcium as a major ingredient , usually have to find capsules as they dont use binders and fillers.
I was eating fish every day, bought it from Whole Foods, knowing it’s great quality, etc., but Dr. Sinatra said that even so, it’s really not a good idea to eat that much fish.
The Mercury comes from burning coal and just gets into the water. China burns so much of it and the clouds of pollution don’t stay only over China, is what I’m told.
He only eats fish maybe once a month.
I was reading how it messes with cell metabolism and those awesome mitochondria I’ve been fertilizing these past weeks.
I figure it sure can’t hurt to try skipping fish and see what happens!
He has seen changes in lots of patients from dropping fish.
Let me know if you decide to try reducing fish, too. I’m switching to chicken, maybe pork and red meat cause I need animal protein.
Congrats on the labs! I’m very curious to see what I learn on that front.
It’s nice to have companions in this research and approach!
Yes my Dr. was very pleased ( I was fair chuffed too ! ) I eat sardines or salmon for lunch with a large dose of greens . Not worried about salmon but will definitely change my sardine brand ( Vietnam )
I would rather pay extra for a safe seafood than add more meat to the diet.
Trouble is everything "good" has a post script added to it.
Taking fish oil is great for Trig. but can raise LDL. but a different type of LDL which may not show up in the blood test as different .
Already eat a lot of chicken or grass fed beef , not that fond of pork - maybe kangaroo !
My liver results came out of the blue so something is working but I dont really know all I can do is guess it may have been serrapeptase.
I have quite a list of what has measurable results , even more after this latest blood test which has shown positive results even after fifteen years of no change without supplements.
My next real trial ( where results can be easily measured with standard blood tests) is Red Yeast Rice for LDL in the LIPIDS.
We eat Alaskan Atlantic Wild salmon, no farmed salmon as patently not a healthy rearing procedure. It really is so difficult to get good clean food, we are lucky we are able to visit regularly a biodynamic organic farm we trust for meat and dairy.
Are you still having episodes? Or has your approach lessened or eliminated them? I'm very curious to hear from folks who are using micronutrients, etc., to nourish the heart. I've read tales on other forums of people who have successfully eliminated episodes by finding the right combination and dosage of micronutrients.
A few days into dropping fish I do feel a difference. That's the upside of being as sensitive as I am. When a medication is too strong for me, it really knocks me for a loop, but then when I find something that is good for me, I tend to feel the benefit almost immediately.
No episodes at all , never were many anyway while in NSR . Had one episode in three years prior to supplements.
I still have to fine tune a few as I,m finding some side effects are at the opposite to whats been stated before.
All magnesiums have been "anti sleep" with me
Carnitine is too much after 4pm
CoQ10 ( this is taken with Ethyl L Carnitine and R-Alpha Lopoic Acid ) all
separate capsules so I can vary / experiment. Not sure if its helpful for rest or another upper
Taurine as a supplement on its own ( taken with Mag.Orotate 83.5mg ) is very calming but still can keep me awake.
R -Alpha-lipoic acid although I take this for glucose control it is most beneficial for energy as well. Its right at the top of the best supplements I take with Magnesium.
I havent dropped my sea food as I source Tassal salmon grown in the Great Southern Ocean , I did look up some of the sardine brands but no real information available like there is for salmon.
I had always thought of Magnesium as calming, but maybe it's keeping me awake, too. Recently, I've been using the spray Magnesium oil after my bath at bedtime, but last night I decided to skip it and noticed quite a difference in my quality of sleep. Didn't wake up - first time in a few weeks.
I'm aiming for finishing up the main supplements by 4 pm. It seems to be better to take more of them earlier in the day.
I've been taking Alpha Lipoic Acid for years to lower Hemoglobin a1c, which had been pre-diabetic. Interesting how, for 5 years, I was also on a beta blocker. After learning from Dr. Gupta that beta blockers aren't so good for vagally-mediated AF, I worked with my EP to come off of it - and my Ha1c immediately dropped back to normal range! I'd read that Metoprolol tends to influence glucose.
I've been taking Heart Calm (CoQ10, Potassium, Mag, Taurine) and then adding extra Taurine and Mag capsules. I take Kavanace, which has a lot of Taurine in it, in the evening. I love Taurine & can feel the calming influence.
I tried L-Carnitine at the beginning of my experimenting, but it was too much. I'll try again soon once I have a good sense of how much CoQ10 I need.
Have you tried D-Ribose? I may try that again.
The naturopath recommended the following additional supplements, none of which I've tried yet. I want to see what the blood tests show and if I try anything else, I'll go one at a time.
Homeopathic remedy cactus 30 cc potency. He suggested trying 3 pellets under the tongue every day.
Crataegus (Hawthorne) Gemmo therapy; Seroyal or HerbalGem
Cardiac Calm by Restorative Formulations is a possibility, too.
Something else to try is Ashwagandha - 2 caps at night before bed.
I was pre diabetic and went to diabetic 2 since beginning Diltiazem and Flecainide 3 years ago. But after stopping Atorvastatin and switching from Perendopril to Telmisarton I have come back into pre diabetic range ( under 6.7 mmo/L ) thats with the use of supplements / diet and exercise.
I take 1000mg of Taurine twice a day with my Magnesium.
L-Carnitine 735mg x twice a day ( thats half doses - recommended is 1470mg x 2 )
CoQ10 150mg capsules - 2 with every meal = 900mg day
R-Alpha Lapoic Acid - 2 with food = 900mg a day
Read a lot about D-Ribose ( Sinatra ? ) - I'm too wary to try it .
Havent tried any of your Naturopaths supplements thou I did look at Hawthorne .
Ashwagandha - yes I do take it , but suggest you dont start with two at night .It needed with me a gradual increase because it can mess with your emotions.
I started on 1 x 500mg - felt really good , clear headed but not fizzy or hyped up . Went to 2 x 500mg - woke up depressed ( that type of feeling of why bother ) I knew immediately because it was such a foreign feeling with me.
Cut the capsules in half and started again on 1 x 250 mg and have gradually built back to full strength again .
It was well worth persevering with as I could really feel the benefits.
That sounds like a very thorough approach which is great. I will be interested to see how you go with the diet change. My husband is out deep sea fishing today and yesterday caught some fresh squid. We have pretty pristine oceans and I’ve just checked the lists of high risk and low risk fish for mercury and the fish he catches is okay (phew!). I rarely buy fish (and I avoid imported fish from Asia if I do).
Yes I usually buy NZ or Kallis seafood but its bit like Barramundi , theres more sold than whats caught by a factor of 3 - mislabeling , unintentional I'm sure !
Sounds like a thorough investigation, if only all our doctors took this approach!
The advice in UK is to limit fish to once or twice a week because of Mercury but let’s not forget plastic pellets the fish eat. I have Just joined a beach clean up team and you wouldn’t believe the amount we find lying on the surface - never mind digging down. If they are on the beach, they are in the fish. I think it is a good point and certainly worth experimenting with. The problem is what to eat instead? Whatever you choose it is difficult to know there isn’t something nasty lurking but we have to eat something. I will follow your experimenting with interest.
Avoiding all toxins - in our food, in our environment and within is becoming almost impossible and it is poisoning us, some of us more quickly than others. I would appeal to anyone not to use aerosols or sprays I’d any type. Avoid anything perfumed such as candles, especially with Citronella. I now try to avoid chemicals for house cleaning - white vinegar & Bicarb and steam work just as well and a LOT cheaper,
On one of our visits to our holiday home in Spain the gardeners started spraying for mosquitoes - I had to go inside immediately, even though they were some distance away I was conscious I inhaled a few breaths and within moments I was feeling most unwell. The stink lingered for days and I ended up having to stay inside.
I am trying to wean myself off all the exotica (the latest mixture of flavours) in supermarkets and their food in general. Instead we've gone on a journey looking to improve our food sources, keep it simple and scratch cooking all the time. It will never be totally clean unless you grow your own (which we do a bit of) but a little bit of everything of what we used to eat 50yrs ago & fingers crossed the body can deal with the rest.
It was fun to feel a sense that I had found a partner with a spirit of investigation in dealing with AF. A different mindset.
The 3 EPs and 1 cardio I'd spoken to before finding my more open-minded cardio insisted that AF is basically a complete mystery, totally random, nothing at all to be done but ablation and the medications (with awful side effects). Any mention of other influences was dismissed.
I had always figured that doctors would want to do what they could to help a patient, but lately I've wondered if, with the various pressures they're under, if they actually just don't want to be bothered with a case that doesn't easily fit into what they expect. Who knows, but it's mind-boggling to me how narrow-minded some very highly educated people can be!!
Just being in a room with a doctor who shares my views on health, healing, and wellness was healing for my heart. It's stressful to bump up against a narrow-minded doctor mindset.
Today I took a bunch of blood tests, so we'll see what they show.
I've also done my best over the years to eliminate toxins from my home. Without going crazy over it, I use clean products for household cleaning, makeup, shampoo, soap, etc.
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Update on A&E dilemma 2
My story so far, and a future Ablation
Still waiting for an urgent appointment 
Appointment
Changed my cardiologist ;)
