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Supplements

Maisiemay13 profile image
26 Replies

Hi looking for advice,I am a vegetarian used to take supplements, stopped when I got PAF as was on medication.

Had my ablation in March and thankfully was taken off meds in June except Apixaban, I would like to now start taking some supplements as find my joints ache,also aware my diet could lack some vitamins.

I do not want to bother my doctor unless I really have too.

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Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13
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26 Replies
mishugenah profile image
mishugenah

The best thing I like for joints without interfering with my Xarelto is 1200 mg a day of good quality Omega 3 - I personally use Ultimate Omega, and have my husband on it too (he's not an afib patient) and we've both found more flexibility/comfort in our joints. Its also good for cholesterol levels but I'm sure any good quality product will do the same. I was using Turmeric with bioperine, and while that is fine, I think it was simply too strong for me. For what its worth, I'm a supplement junkie and drive my pcp nuts ;) Good luck!

Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13

Thank you I will look into Omega

MyCloud profile image
MyCloud in reply toMaisiemay13

Please be aware that recent research has shown that high doses of omega 3 can be associated with an increased incidence of AF.

Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13 in reply toMyCloud

I had read that as well going to ask the nurse on my next check up

Gladstone001 profile image
Gladstone001 in reply toMaisiemay13

I do not take Omega 3 for this reason.

MyCloud profile image
MyCloud in reply toMaisiemay13

Someone once threw a whole bottle of omega 3 tablets at me. Fortunately the injuries were only super fish oil !!

milehighlinnie profile image
milehighlinnie in reply toMaisiemay13

It probably depends on what blood thinner you are on but if it is Eliquis, they do not want you to take any type of fish oil as it can cause an increased risk of bleeding. I would love to take Omega 3 but avoid it on Eliquis. Other blood thinners may be different as it relates to fish oils.

mrgwair567 profile image
mrgwair567 in reply tomilehighlinnie

Thank you for pointing this out as I too would like to take Omega 3

TracyAdmin profile image
TracyAdminPartner

It is always worth checking with your GP \ Arrhythmia nurse or pharmacist before introducing any supplements or over the counter medications to ensure they will not have any adverse effects with current prescribed medications.

Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13 in reply toTracyAdmin

I have a telephone appointment with Arrhythmia nurse in September I will ask her

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Unless dual trained, very few GP’s seem to have any knowledge of nutrition or supplementation but it is improving.

I take a few supplements on the advice of my doctor, who is dual trained. They are:- CoQ10 on advice from my EP and I now take 200mg/daily. Vitamin C - slow release. VitD with K2 - GP is very insistent upon that one and Glucosamine with Chondroitine +Rose Hip on advice from another GP who specialises in osteoarthritis - he said I needed to take at least 1g/daily for over a month to see any improvement and he was correct.

Apart from that I eat garlic, fresh herbs, Tumeric and a lot of Cinnamon as foods but would avoid taking any as supplements as there is some concern in some quarters that these could exacerbate the affect of the anticoagulant.

I take a teaspoon of Chia seeds - best food source for plant based Omega3 daily but again avoid the supplements.

If your diet is well balanced you should get all of the nutrients from food so I try to do that as much as possible organic produce as possible and avoiding any ultra processed foods which are sparse in micro-nutrients and high in chemicals which our bodies just don’t recognise as food.

Maybe talk to a nutritionist?

Hope some of that helps.

PS - I use magnesium oil for muscle cramps and Arnica Gel for sore joints.

Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13 in reply toCDreamer

Thank you I put chia and seeds on my breakfast daily,I will look into CoQ10

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply toMaisiemay13

Seeds and whole grains are the best sources of micro-nutrients.

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toMaisiemay13

As you don't eat oily fish ( the best dietary source of vit D ) you should get your levels checked unless you are able to sunbathe exposing your torso and legs with no sunscreen for 15/20 mins a day between 11 am and 3pm. Yes I know we are told to keep out of sun at that time but that is the best time for skin to make vit D especially in northern countries. Also iron can often be low in vegetarians. If you need to supplement vit D you should also take vit K and magnesium.

Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13 in reply toAuriculaire

I am fair skinned so no exposure for me,had recent routine blood test all ok but will check re vitd

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toMaisiemay13

I too am fair skinned but that is an advantage as we make the vit D quicker and need less time in the sun than darker skinned people. I am lucky as I can start sunbathing in late March on warm days as soon as the sun's angle here is high enough to produce vit D in the skin. I build up slowly 5 mins each side to start with and by August I can do 30min each side without burning. I never use sunscreen as it is full of poisonous chemicals.

Mrsvemb profile image
Mrsvemb

I asked my haematologist about taking glucosamine with chondroiton with anticoagulants. He said that it is fine with the new anticoagulants but not to take with warfarin.

Obviously, that is the advice I was given, but you should also check with your doctor first.

LaceyLady profile image
LaceyLady

You need to check with your GP about Vitamin B12, mist vegetarians lack this important vitamin due to not eating red meat. A friends friend would eat marmite every day.

PrinzMongo profile image
PrinzMongo in reply toLaceyLady

While we vegans and some/many vegetarians have the deck stacked against us because there aren't enough B¹² producing bacteria in/on our veg, a 2000 USDA report found that upward of 40% of US consumers are borderline B¹² deficient. Given that vegans are 3-5% of the population, that suggests omnivores might want to supplement their B¹² ingestion as well.

Never could figure out how anyone eats Marmite™ and I don't need the salt load. But 1,000/2,500 mcg B¹² runs me a couple of cents a day

Gladstone001 profile image
Gladstone001

Hi Maisiemay13,I take a cocktail of supplements and have achieved what the meds alone could not. I have been AF free for over one year. Please see my story here:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...............

I am taking Apixaban and have also noted that the supplements enhance the blood thinning effect. I have reduced my daily dose of Apixaban although my EP is not keen on this strategy (but this has stopped nose bleeds and hematuria).

The comments by CDreamer are worth a good look too.

Best,

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toGladstone001

What have you reduced it to?

Gladstone001 profile image
Gladstone001 in reply toAuriculaire

I reduced it by 25%.

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toGladstone001

I have tried that too. My blood still takes ages to clot after cutting or scratching myself.

Dee5165 profile image
Dee5165

I can relate to a post below from Gladstone001 as well. I take a cocktail of supplements and have achieved what the meds alone could not. I have been AF free for 3 months. I had Afib and Flutter from January to April. I went for Cardioversion. Worked for 2 weeks only then back into Afib and Flutter. Followed research for Supplements and have been Afib free. However it takes 6-8 weeks to show benefits. I am still on BP meds and Eliquis.

I do not eat meat. I take supplements 3 times per day with doses of 1/3 total mgs. Once a day I take a B12 with Glucosimine, and Co-Q10 with L-Carnitine, but 3 times a day I take 500 mgs. of Hawthorn Berry, 50 mgs. of Vitamin C, 600 Wild Alaskan Fish Oil, and 250 mgs. 3 times per day of Magnesium Taurate and Glycinate. Only 40% of Magnesium is absorbed and the rest is lost in urine causing many people to be deficient in magnesium. This has helped me eliminate both Afib and Flutter. My resting HR has been between 57 and 65 so I feel great. Hope I could be of some help to those that rely on natural supplements. I had too many bad side effects from meds. Doctors are not educated in natural methods nor are there major studies to be able to recommend supplements. Please do your own research on these supplements that treat Afib. They used these herbs and vitamins for hundreds of years.

PrinzMongo profile image
PrinzMongo

I'm a 10-years heart attack survivor and when I discovered whole-food vegan diet and the research Dr Michael Greger presented on cardio health and prostate health I incorporated a ¼ cup flax *meal* into my daily porridge. I won't touch flax *oil* out of concern about endothelium inflammation. Neither my primary cardiologist nor my EP are concerned and I've had no problems.

I attribute my incorporating flax meal to the regression & quiescence of a suspicious prostate nodule that sent me to the urologist for a biopsy

Maisiemay13 profile image
Maisiemay13

Just caught up on all your replies thank you,had my telephone appointment with nurse,who told me to ask pharmacist so will do this and ask about your suggestions 😊

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