Conundrum - The Saga Continues

jUST SAW SURGEON:  (From Last Night)

by donr - 2020-01-02 15:55:47 Edit

He said he cannot do surgery in current state of heart health..  Problem is that I am in constant state of Tri-Geminy.  Too much risk while on the table.

Appt w/ Cardioo Mon AM to see what he can do - if anythying.  Surgeon came off w/ thids statement - "Perhaps you can do what I do - 500Mg of Magnesium daily.  Cures my PVC problems."

I have been fighting PVC's all my PM life of 16 years.  This is not a death seentence, just a life sentence of misery.  Guess it's time to open up a lemonade stand!

Donr

Electrolytes ?? (More from last night)

by Gemita - 2020-01-02 18:33:36

Have your electrolytes been checked recently ??  I have tried Magnesium in the form of magnesium taurate which is helpful for rhythm disturbances. Maybe you need IV magnesium in some form. I also take Vit C powder (as Magnesium Ascorbate) which is a good stress supplement.  My EP also has my heart rate set at 70 bpm to outpace (if correct expression) my ectopics esp. PACs which often lead to AF.  I used to get awful PVC attacks (bigeminy, trigeminy, couplets, triplets).  My EP now believes a lot of my PVCs were wrongly interpreted and should have been recorded as PACs with a RBBB pattern. All a bit above me but I realise machines do get it wrong and needs a trained eye to decipher sometimes. Your heart is obviously very irritated from a variety of causes.  You sound as though you have a good cardiologist so I hope he can stabilise your rhythms and give you some much needed respite.  Maybe ask for a med review and new upgraded PM ??  I stopped Flecainide and Digoxin and now only on PM pacing and low dose Bisoprolol !!  Both anti arrhythmic meds proved pro arrhythmic for me and EP agreed.  Nice calm NSR most of the time.

Magnesium ( Last from last night)

by donr - 2020-01-02 22:34:38 Edit

I have a plan all worked out for tomorrow.   Gonna sit down w/ Cardio nurse friend to discuss strategy.  See Cardio on Monday.  Will discuss Mg and its uses.  Never been tried on me before.  Got the suggestion rom Surgeon, who runs low on it & takes a 500 MG dose every day.  Said he gets good PVC control from that.

Apparently I am running at 1/3 PVC's now.  Surg says that in his book I am too fragile in cardiac end of surgery.  Probably would not make it off table alive, let alone through recovery  period.

 I saw him yesterday - Thurs -  & told him I was going to cancel surgery for that reason - before he had a chance to give me his opinion.  Probably a good decision on my part.

Donr.

FRI AM:   This AM I am running only about 3 - 4 PVC's per minute.  What a goat rope.

Donr


3 Comments

Magnesium

by AgentX86 - 2020-01-03 13:28:20

All the dietary metals (aka "electrlytes" - sodium, potassium, magnesium) are required for the heart's electrical system.  With the Western diet we almost always get more than enough sodium and usually potassium isn't a problem but magnesium is very often overlooked.  Forget "sports drinks".  They're all salt and sugar which few of us need. OTOH, it's probably a good idea for any of us with heart issues to take at least some additional magnesium.  A bit too much can't hurt.  As you note (whether you knew it or not) only the organic compounds are useful (you mentioned taurate, another is glycinate).  Magnesium oxide is almost useless; only about 10% is absorbed into the system. Amazon has very good prices on all forms of magnesium (and other useful suppliments like turmeric).

There is no serious problem taking too much magnesium.  It's sorta, um, self-limiting and you'll know if you've taken more than necessary. Think "milk of magnesia".  ;-)

Magnesium

by Theknotguy - 2020-01-03 13:53:13

DonR:

Don't know if it works or not but my EP suggested I take it.  Was running an afib session about once a day.  Bad afib session about once every six weeks.  The afib session where I'd have to retreat to the recliner and just lay there still it stopped.  So the EP says, "Are you taking Magnesium?"  So I got over-the-counter bottle and started taking.  

Fast forward to five years later.  Still have the afib but I'm at the point where the pacemaker running the two afib programs can take care of it.  EP says hold off on ablation as I'm living a "normal" life and only have an occasional flutter that I can feel.  He's more concerned with damaging the heart so no ablation until it starts bothering me again.  EP kinda held everything out there as an open ended problem but don't do anything until it really bothers you.  

Must be working as I just had to have my pacemaker adjusted because it couldn't keep up with my activity level.  Sleeping better and I have to watch my appetite. Other job I need to start is the kitchen table exercise - you know, the kind where you put your hands on the side of the table and push yourself away.  Food is looking too good right now and the holidays didn't help.  

Hope I said something that will help you.  Don't know what we'd do without your comments on the forum.  
 

PVC and surgery

by Selwyn - 2020-01-04 13:40:53

Hi Donr,

Sorry to hear about your health problems. Hopefully the New Year with bring you some better health.

Firstly, re. your incisional hernia. For those unfit for surgery, an abdominal binder may help.  I trust your weight is within the normal range and you are not increasing your intra-abdominal pressure with fat storage.

 I expect you don't take alcohol or caffeine with your PVC problem, and have had all the usual medical tests ( electrolytes, thyroid, echocardiogram etc.). If you have probably tried all the usual drugs  ( betablockers, flecainide, propafenone,, verapramil etc), I expect you could try to see an electrocardiologist for ablation ( that is for the ectopic conducting tissue!).

I know your medic daughter will be on your case (  I have one too!). You will have to remind her that anxiety worsens PVCs!!!

With best wishes,

Selwyn 

 

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