CHF

I have been pacemaker dependent for over 40 years and this year it was discovered I was in CHF and a CRT-P was implanted on July 30th.  Since the implant, thankfully I am no worse and can actually breath better at resting, but my heart is still struggling and having what I call- throwing temper tantrums mainly at night.

I have a problem with the very least amount of caffeine whether iced/hot tea, coffee, or chocolate consumed.  Do you all experience the same? A cup or glass would mean a possible trip to the ER.  It is very frustrating to not be able to even have iced tea away from home and fearful in a restaurant that the server won't take you serious in asking for decaf and just give you regular, instead of making a pot. I know, I drink water.... 

 
I was wondering if any of you have read the book by Dr. Stephen T. Sinatra, The Sinatra Solution, Metabolic Cardiology and tried his solution? 

Dr. Sinatra's solution is based on what he calls "awesome foursome" Coenzyme Q10, L-Carnitine, D-ribose and Magnesium. They are suppose to give the diseased/failing heart more energy.  Per his book I started taking them (with approval of my cardiologist, which in his words were- sure go ahead but they won't help).  I have to say I believe the CoQ10, I saw a difference and the D-ribose seems to take away some of the sluggishness/heaviness I feel in my heart about 30 minutes after consuming. I have only been doing this for about 3 weeks and Dr. Sinatra says it may take up to 3 months for full effect.

Thanks everyone!!!

4 Comments

CHF and supliments....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-10-20 23:09:38

Gald to see your researching alternatives.  I have CHF and have done alot experimenting.  The main thing I found is somethings work for some but not for others so it's very much up to you to figure out.  For me,  I take L-carnatine(500mg) and Taurine(500mg) when I first wake up (on an empty stomach).  Then after breakfast I take Magnesium(500mg), L-Arginine(1000mg), and D3(125mcg - 5000IU).  Around 11am I take my morning Ace inhibitor and beta blocker.  Around 3pm it's my Amiodarone and baby aspirin, then after dinner another D3.  Before bed about 11pm beta blocker, ace inhibitor.  I occasionally add a zinc(50mg) suppliment but thats only if I can't get my hear rate below 80.

Good luck!  Research and experiment!

Drinks at home and out....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-10-21 11:01:41

For drinks, I've had the same issues.  I especially noticed it with the iced tea.  So now I make a pot of decaf coffee pretty much every morning.  Then during the day I drink Cranbery/Pomegranite juice with an occasional can of Sprite.  In the evening, a glass or two of wine or a beer or two, or more of the juice/sprite.  I avoid High Fructose Corn Syrup everywhere I can as well as artificial sweetners of any kind.  I'm not diabetic so I don't have worries on that side of things.  Most Sprite cans have no sodium and no HFCS though the bottles seem to be different and I've found some cans to be different as well.  Read the labels!  When eating out, one cup of regular coffee generaly doen't hurt me and I actually find it to be a nice treat.  Unfortunately it does taste better than the decaf!

Getting nutrients from your diet is great but you usually can't get enough of some of them which is why juicing has become so popular so you can concentrate your food down and drink a higher dosage then you could ever eat.  But that is alot of effort and alot of waste so I'll stick to suppliments.  Find a brand/dosage that works for you, take them as recommended (with/without food) and on a regular schedule.

Dark chocolate can also be good for you (sorry Robin) but make sure you get the better varieties with higher % cocoa solids and pay attention to how it's sweetened.

Not CHF

by AgentX86 - 2018-10-21 17:03:18

Caffeine will drive my heart nuts and one cup of coffee will do me in but interestingly a Diet Coke or two doesn't bother me (more will depending on the timing). I keep caffeine-free stuff at home and work.

I've rarely gotten a regular coffee in a restaurant but I have had the morons who fill the coffee machines at work do it to me. I've gotten a bit militant about it but it doesn't help. Morons will always be morons.

As far as supplements go, I'm not a fan. If they worked my cardiologist and EP would be pushing them, like me endocrinologist does with D-3. As others have mentioned,  you don't know what you're buying. If you don't know what you're buying,  you can't know how it's interacting with other meds. At least keep your doctors (and pharmacist) informed, with the _whole_ picture.

 

L-Carnitine research....

by BOBTHOM - 2018-10-27 08:57:01

For those researching, here is an article originally published by the Mayo Clinic in 2013 and republished on this web site.  L-Carnitine was shown to reduce all cause mortality by 27% and reduce ventricular arythmias by 65% and reduce symptoms of angina by 40%.  Keep researching, may not find a cure but hopefully something to help the symptoms and maybe give you a little more time.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025619613001274

And another study from 2000.  Looks like it was originally published in the american heart journal, showing improved survival in L-carnitine use.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002870300043003

 

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I've seen many posts about people being concerned about exercise after having a device so thought I would let you know that yesterday I raced my first marathon since having my pacemaker fitted in fall 2004.