I just got out of the hospital AGAIN. Now I've been dx'd with cardiac arrhythmia. I was having PVCs all over the place. Unfortunately, the hospital here isn't really more than a band-aid and transfer station, so they told me I have it, said stay away from caffeine (I haven't touched caffeine since May), and call my cardiologist right away Monday. Yay! More SA complications. I wish they hadn't cancelled that stress test Friday...now I'm really scared. My heart's always been good...


_________________
"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."- Thomas Dekker

You should for sure follow up with your cardiologist at first opportunity, pvc's can be caused by many things.

But what worked for me was the supplement magnesium, it TOTALLY eliminated my PVC's. I had them bad too, they were disturbing and making me very tired, especially after a strong string of them.

Try some Magnesium Citrate 200mg tabs. Start with two, after a few days add a third one. You will find that if taken at bedtime magnesium also helps you sleep very well, so you might want to take most or all the tabs at bedtime.

Check out the link...

http://tinyurl.com/6ghhqc


Neil

Careful w/magnesium. It can loosen stools. Magnesium Citrate is so effective at loosening stools that it is often used as a prep for colonoscopies!!! Of course, at a much larger dose than one would consider using as a supplement.


_________________
Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs.
Resmed VPAP Auto. Humidaire 3i, Simplicity & Micro masks, ResScan 3.4, S8 ResLink, Embla oximeter.

The dose for laxative purposes is a gross overdose, a 10oz laxative prep bottle delivers about 17 grams of magnesium, I am recommending milligram doses for a very different purpose. I personally take 1000mg of magnesium citrate with no bowel upset, but I recommend lower especially to start. My last magnesium labs were...

Magnesium, serum 2.5mg/dl (1.6-2.6)

This is right where my doctor wants them.

Magnesium ions are essential to all living cells, and is the 11th most abundant element by mass in the human body, and is needed by the body for over 300 functions...the heart has an especially critical need for magnesium, and since around 80% of the people walking around are deficient magnesium is a good bet.

Anyway, in my four years of reading message boards I have seen many people cured of their PVC's by taking magnesium.

Neil

the following is written by a cardiologist
http://www.trackyourplaque.com/library/fl_03-002magnesium.asp
"Magnesium—crucial nutrient for health

Magnesium is a crucial nutrient required for the proper functioning of approximately 300 enzymes in the human body. Functions as diverse as blood pressure regulation, muscle contraction, heart rhythm stabilization, and nervous system communication are all magnesium-dependent processes. Humans cannot survive without magnesium in the food or water supply.

Magnesium blood levels are routinely monitored in hospitalized patients, particularly if diuretics (e.g., furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide) are administered. It is an everyday fact of life in hospitals that when blood levels of magnesium are low, abnormal heart rhythms can suddenly develop. Dangerous ventricular rhythms (ventricular tachycardia and Torsade de Pointes) can result. People suffering from congestive heart failure are especially susceptible to these rhythms when magnesium levels are low. People prone to a common rhythm, atrial fibrillation, can suffer recurrences due to low magnesium levels. In the hospital, magnesium is easily replaced through intravenous supplementation.

Blood magnesium levels are, however, poor reflections of true body (intracellular) magnesium. If blood magnesium is low, you do indeed have low—very low— cellular magnesium levels. But if your blood magnesium is normal, you may still have low cellular or tissue levels of magnesium. The most striking reduction in tissue magnesium is found in heart muscle (myocardium). Unfortunately, determination of tissue magnesium levels is not easy to obtain in living, breathing humans. In one study, only 7.7% of coronary patients were low in blood measures of magnesium, while tissue levels were reduced in an astounding 53%. (Some cardiologists will therefore administer intravenous magnesium to patients with rhythm disorders, even when blood magnesium is in the normal range.) In effect, a blood magnesium test only helps if it’s low. Normal levels don’t necessarily mean anything.

Thanks for the suggestions.The hospital did a bunch of blood work. They said my electrolytes are fine. Potassium, magnesium, all normal. They checked everything and couldn't find why I was having them. BTW, I'm still having them now. Sometimes I go a full 4 beats before I skip, sometimes it's what they called bigeminy (every other beat skips). So, I guess I won't know anything until I see my cardiologist. I feel lousy...worse than I usually do.    


_________________
"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."- Thomas Dekker

They also told me I was "fine" and ran basic labs....but I did not feel fine. They told me not to worry about the PVC's, that they were harmless. But I tried the magnesium and they totally --->100%<--- went away. There is a big difference in my mind between being "in range" and having "optimal" levels of magnesium. Also, in my previous post that cardiologist wrote "The most striking reduction in tissue magnesium is found in heart muscle (myocardium)". I take that to mean that the heart uses up it's magnesium first while other tissue in the body can be normal, and that the heart has a special critical need for magnesium.

I spend about $3 bucks a month on magnesium, it's the best money I have ever spent on anything. I try to supplement to top of range with most things, folic acid, B12, Vitamin D3, hormones, etc, I have been in the hospital heart cath lab too many times in the past. But I have not been there once since seeing my new doctor and since he has me taking everything to optimal levels or top of range....actually I have not felt better in 20 years.

Neil

When I had I a Tia in April, I was told to stop taking everything because they didn't know what caused it since I'm only 35. Before that, I was taking prenatal vitamins (for the higher doses, not cuz I'm pregnant), calcium w/ vit. D, B-complex, Super omega-3 complex, magnesium 250, and 20mg of liptor for my cholesterol. They told me to stop it all. What is vit. D3? I've never heard of that. I'll ask my cardiologist about starting all of it again. Thanks!


_________________
"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."- Thomas Dekker

I found online that magnesium deficiency can cause stomach pain too. My stomach has been killing me for a week. Forget waiting for the Dr. I'm taking it now.


_________________
"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."- Thomas Dekker

I was looking into different types of magnesium, and the National Institute of Health has information about it and bioavailability (what percentage is actually absorbed). I hope they let me post this link:

http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp

Neil, you said you take magnesium citrate. I have magnesium oxide here, so I just wanted find out the differences in the body and thought I'd pass along what I found...


_________________
"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."- Thomas Dekker

MrsBaddawg Talk to your Doctor first before taking magnesium, or any other type of mineral or vitamin supplement, to much magnesium can be just as bad for you as to little, and with throwing PVC's it is not worth  it and possibly not safe taking this stuff unsupervised. Even if you do need it you wouldn't know what amount you need. If your blood work shows the levels are ok then there is no reason to take it unless your Doctor prescribes it. What works for one person might not work for you, and it could make things worse, I know of what I speak, see your Doctor! Good Luck to You


_________________
White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0

Hi Mrs. Baddawg,

Did they ever figure out why you had the TIA? Have you had other physical things going on as well (if I may ask). Have you had a brain bleed?

Doctor's will vary quite a lot over supplements. Probably 90% of doctors say you don't need vitamins or supplements, others (like my new doctor) say they are critical to good health. My new guy is especially big on high dose fish oil, niacin, magnesium, vitamin D3, etc. He checks my labs on all of these. I have my wife and father in law on all this stuff as well with excellent results.

I think the doctors might have stopped your supplements before because patients often don't tell doctors when they are taking some strange herb...often patients take goat weed and crazy stuff, so they just told you to stop everything. I can't imagine that your previous normal doses of fish oil or a B complex would cause your TIA, but maybe you should ask them. If they say you don't need any supplements, ask "can magnesium hurt me if I choose to take some??" and see what they say.

I was told that magnesium citrate was well absorbed and was easy on the stomach, so that's the one I have always taken (for about 4 years). Here is a link for the exact one I take.

http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails.aspx?c=1&pid=691&at=0

Like I said before, I take 5 tabs a day, two in the AM, three in the PM. I don't recommend that as a starting dose, I would start with one or two tabs and make sure it does not upset your bowels suddenly. One of the symptoms of really excessive magnesium is your blood pressure goes low, but I think you would be so beyond bowel tolerance by that point you would be forcing yourself to take that much magnesium. My BP is fine, indeed a bit high at 130/80, my bowels normal as well with this amount. And my labs I posted before show I am in range and my PVC's are gone.

Magnesium also helps you sleep very well, there is a magnesium drink called "Calm" that is very popular as well for this purpose. Here is a link for that....

http://www.calmnatural.com/aboutmagnesium

This product also uses magnesium citrate.

Anyway, if you ask your doctors I would be interested in knowing what they say. And if you decide to take some magnesium I can't imagine how it could hurt you, but keep in mind I am not a doctor and of course I don't know your medical history. If your PVC's vanish with magnesium I will do a happy dance for you!

Feel well,

Neil

I should've read more about magnesium before started taking it again. I've had a headache for over a week, and I didn't know that magnesium opens blood vessels further until I woke up screaming from the pain in my head! Luckily, I was able to get a script for a vaso-constrictor and now my headache is just back to what it was so I can at least function. I finally have another stress test scheduled for next Monday, but now my cardiologist doesn't even want me on the treadmill. They're going to hook me up and give me drugs to increase my heartbeat while I just lie there. My doctor knew every supplement I was taking when I had the TIA, but since we still don't know what caused it, he doesn't want me taking anything. I'm surprised he even allowed the vaso-constrictor. Anyway, here's my symptoms (all are worsening since the TIA):
falling asleep anytime inactive
easily exhausted when active
dizziness, sometimes with blurry vision
periodic limb numbness
headaches every day
muscle pain and twitches
periodic skin flushing
lack of memory, concentration
stomach pain and nausea
and, of course, SA
Did any of you ever see a show on TLC called Mystery Diagnosis? I feel like I could be on that show. Until April, I was perfectly healthy except for tiredness from what I thought was still just mild SA. Now I've had almost every test known to man, and seen almost every kind of specialist. Each specialist finds something, but no one can tell me how, or if, all these things tie together. Every day it's getting harder to function, and I'm finding it harder and harder to feel optimistic. So I guess, just wish me luck!


_________________
"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."- Thomas Dekker

MrsBaddawg I have had both types of stress test, the drug induced one is not difficult, but it definitely is different, it will make you  feel like your heart  is beating out of your chest, but it only last for a short time and  they will monitor you closely, and after they get the information they need, they will give you meds to bring your heart rate back to normal. The drug induced stress test is much safer than the treadmill, that is probably why your cardiologist want you to have it, they actually have more control over what happens. Be careful of what supplements you take til after you see your cardiologist and doctor, Good Luck to You.


_________________
White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0

MrsBadDawg,

How many of your symtoms do your doctors attribute to your TIA?  It must be difficult for them to untangle it all.  Harley Howard was the topic of a TLC Mystery Diagnosis.  Similar to you actually:

Personal Stories

Vicki


_________________
That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

They "can't really say for certain" what came from my TIA and what didn't. Neurologist said I have migraines (no testing, just based on symptoms), pulmonologist says early asthma, cardiologist says cardiac arrhythmia. My PCP gets all these reports from various specialists, but still just shrugs and says it must be anxiety. Today, my PCP told me to go to ER for additional tests for my headache, and all the ER doc did was give me a shot that didn't work and sent me home w/ no tests done. I'm about to lose my job because I can't function with this headache anymore. I'm to the point where I wish they'd find a terminal brain tumor or something, just so I'd know. I'm tired of being told I'm a hypochondriac just because they don't know exactly what it is. I've read Harley's story...sounds very familiar.


_________________
"Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together."- Thomas Dekker