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My First Post for Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Geplaatst: vr apr 27, 2007 3:19 pm
door Douglas
Hello all,
Finally found my way into the forum. WOW there are some amazing posts here.
I guess I would like to try and develop a protocol that suits me.

The following should give an outline of where I am at.

I am 44 years old and live in the Northern Territory in Australia.
I was diagnosed in 2002 with dilated cardiomyopathy, familial causes, my Grandfather had it and an uncle has it.

My current condition is very stable, I have been blessed with an excellent cardioligist. I currently exhibit Class 2 with some Class 3 symptoms.

My ejection fraction is 23%, a significant increase from when I was diagnosed. I have been stable on 23% for a couple of years.

My blood pressure is around 115/70.

I restrict my salt intake, and try to limit water to 2L day.

Meds.
1000mg Magnesium daily.
12.5mg Carvedilol 2 x day.
125mcg Digoxin daily.
75mg Irbesartan Daily
20mg Frusemide (Lasix) Daily
20mg Spironalactone Every Second Day
150mcg of Thyroxine daily. (I was on amiodarone but was able to come off it).
3.5mg Warfarin daily. (INR currently 2.5).

I get tired sometimes, but I am an extremely heavy consumer of sugar.

I can skip meals or eat at odd times with no problems.

Generally I am overweight, about 110kg at 183cm high. I can walk quite long distances without getting too breathless.

Nearly forgot,
I have an implanted Cardio-defibrillator, mainly to combat Ventricular Tachycardia and AF.

Any help you can give me would be fantastic.
Cheers
Doug 8)

Geplaatst: vr apr 27, 2007 4:30 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hello Douglas,

First of all, welcome to this forum. :D
Do you think your cardiologist would mind you using supplements to improve your health?
And could you find out if you can get the supplements by the makes of Solgar or Pharma Nord or Now?

Do you also suffer with cardiac arrhythmia?
If this is so then there is a special test you can do to see if you have a shortage of potassium, this is often a cause of the problem.
You can see if this is the case with you by eating 4 or 5 ripe bananas a day. If you have cardiac arrhythmia and it gets less by eating the bananas then we can always proceed to taking potassium tablets.


I suggest that you start with 200mcg Chromium GFT, you can start this without a problem.
MSM, the final dosage is 3000 mg but we’ll build it up slowly, I suggest 500 mg for the first few days, If this goes well then 500 extra untill you are at the 3000 mg.
You have to build it up slowly because MSM detoxifies and it can cause headache, diarrhoea or tiredness.
Msm and chromium are not a part of the heart failure protocol but they are meant to give you more energy.

Just build up the MSM slowly and don’t hesitate to ask me anything you want.


Furthermore I would like to advice you to start with acetyl L-Carnitine 3x 500 mg a day.

The link below gives you more info on L-Carnitine

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/quer ... t=Abstract

Now my last piont at this moment,

I get tired sometimes, but I am an extremely heavy consumer of sugar

:-?

I want you to stop consuming sugar.

Sugar is a sweet, crystalline carbohydrate typically extracted from sugar cane and sugar beets. It is a non-nutritive empty calorie that robs the body of vitamins and minerals. Refined sugars have many different names, such as granulated (table) sugar, powdered sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, raw sugar, turbinado sugar, and malt. Even much commercial fructose is really pure refined sugar.

Many people believe that sugar is only bad for you when ingested in enormous amounts, when actually "normal" amounts are damaging to the body.

Here is a partial list of physical conditions caused or exacerbated by sugar in the diet.


overweight
heart disease

--raised blood triglycerides
--sticky blood platelets
duodenal ulcers
--increased stomach acidity
hypoglycemia
diabetes
hyperactivity
kidney enlargement
liver enlargement
increase in uric acid in blood
cancer
hindered breakdown of dietary protein
cavities
--calcium leached from teeth

weakened immune system
PMS
yeast overgrowth
dependency
Refined sugar consumption is often at the root of these lesser physical symptoms:


intense sleepiness not caused by lack of sleep
muscle fatigue
lethargy
pallor
coated tongue and persistent thirstiness
bad breath
heartburn/sour stomach
excessive and/or foul-smelling intestinal gas
flu-like symptoms
--upset stomach
--body ache
--feeling run-down


Sugar is addicting. The more you get, the more you want! Some would say it is more addicting than heroin. It used to be only the rich could afford the luxury of sugar, but by 1840 the sugar pushers were handing out free samples. Now, the sugar industries have the largest advertising in the world. Less than 10 years ago the average American consumed something like 153 pounds of sugar a year, with a whopping 24% of their calories coming from sugar. No doubt today the figures would be even more astounding. Many wonderful people are hooked on the stuff, and those who attempt to quit the sugar habit find they have quite a struggle on their hands. Going off sugar, like quitting most drugs, invites withdrawal symptoms. The most common are headaches, chills, and body aches. Sugar, like alcohol, is intoxicating. It creates an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain. Mental and emotional disorders are often linked to sugar in the diet.

Below are some of the mental/emotional symptoms that may be linked to eating refined sugar:


irritability
manic-depressive tendencies
chronic or frequent bouts of depression
difficulty concentrating
forgetfulness or absentmindedness
lack of motivation
increasing undependability
loss of enthusiasm for plans and projects
inconsistency in thoughts and actions
situational personality changes
irrational thoughts
emotional outbursts
eating disorders


Only one third of a person’s sugar consumption is purchased as packaged sugar. The rest is consumed in manufactured foods. Almost everything on store shelves has sugar in it, even salt and cigarettes. Some foods are even required to have sugar in them by the FDA. For instance, catsup cannot be called catsup if it does not contain sugar.

When sugar is eliminated from the diet, all foods start to taste better. Taste buds become more sensitive to the natural sweetness of foods. Soon, sugar cravings begin to dwindle and control over ones eating becomes easier and easier. Bodies start feeling better, calmer, and sleep improves.

regards,
Corrij

Sigh, I knew sugar would have to go.

Geplaatst: za apr 28, 2007 2:02 am
door Douglas
Hi Corrij,
Thank you so much for the quick response.
Answers to your questions.

"Do you think your cardiologist would mind you using supplements to improve your health?"

Not at all, he is a great doctor and says I should try anything I think may help me, but get advice if it is really unusual. He approved CoQ10.

"And could you find out if you can get the supplements by the makes of Solgar or Pharma Nord or Now?"

We can definitely get SOME of their products here, if I can't find their product, I can look up some alternatives and post them here for your comment/approval.

" Do you also suffer with cardiac arrhythmia?"
YES YES YES, it is driving me mad since I came off Amiodarone, but given that the Amiodarone was killing me, I guess I am better off. I live near a banana farm, so bananas it will be.

I will source the MSM, Chromium and acetyl L-Carnitine and start on them. This will take a while. I live in Nhulunbuy which is in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia, we are very remote, most of our supplies come in on a barge.

"I want you to stop consuming sugar."

:( I knew it would have to go. I have known for some time it is poison, :evil: but it is just so darned addictive. This will make my family very happy :P as they have been trying to get me off it for some time.

It will happen.

Thanks for your help

Talk to you soon.

Geplaatst: za apr 28, 2007 8:03 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hi Douglas,

You`re living in the middle of knoware????
I`ve looked on google for the name Nhulunbuy and I found it :D

Do you know we have here in the Netherlands a city called Arnhem?

I believe the best way is to order the supplements from phase two at the same time,what do you think?Do you agree?

You`re writing,most of our supplies come in on a barge,how often is this barge coming?

It would`nt be very nice if you must take the next step of the protocol and you must wait several weeks for the supplements arrived :D

I give you the names of the supplements from phase two,

Q 10
Taurine
Alhpa-lipioc acid

I hope you will succeed in stop eating sugar :D I promise you that you feel much better if you do,and I will be very proud of you :D :P

In the futere I`ll give you more advice about you`re "diet"" :wink:
you`re a little bit overweight,and for you`re heartcondition it is better to lose some weight :D but don`t panic we take it step by step :P

regards,
Corrij

Barge Times

Geplaatst: zo apr 29, 2007 4:24 am
door Douglas
Hi Corrij,
The barge comes weekly, but it is still not easy, it comes from Darwin, the Capital City of the N.T, vitamins have to come from Sydney or Another Major City down south, so they have to go to Darwin, then to here. If I can I will try to fly them in, that is much quicker of course.

I have not had much luck with Solgar, Pharma-Nord or Now vitamins in Australia.
Now just do not exist here.
The others, well some shops have some of their products, but not the ones we want it appears.

As I said previously, I will try to use good quality supplements in their place.

I can easily order the phase 2 supplements at the same time.

I already have some Q10 - it is fermented in Japan, and has good reviews from Sydney University. I haven't commenced taking it yet.


I gave up caffeine, I can give up sugar. :P

Talk to you later.

Potassium

Geplaatst: di mei 01, 2007 3:38 pm
door Douglas
Hi Corrij,
I think we can safely rule out a potassium deficiency with my arrythmias. I ate 3 bananas yesterday, 1 this morning, and my AF and Tachycardia got significantly worse.
I have stopped the bananas, and will skip a spironalactone to allow the excess potassium to purge from my body.

I have the Chromium and am taking that.

The MSM and acetyl L-Carnitine will be here in 10 - 15 days.

All the best.

(Arnhem Land was discovered by the Dutch).

Geplaatst: di mei 01, 2007 6:05 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hi Douglas,

I`am sorry that you have arythmias,but this we know for sure now,you`re don`t have a potassium deficiency.

I hope youre feeling well now?

Do you have recent blood results,I can`t find the right word :oops:

greetings,
Corrij

Geplaatst: ma mei 07, 2007 11:05 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hi Douglas,

Maybe you`ve read it allready,but it is such a positive reaction,that I want to share it with you.

It`s gives a lot of hope for the future, :D

http://www.candida-fibromyalgie-hypogly ... 4&start=30

greetings,
Corrij

Supplements

Geplaatst: wo mei 16, 2007 12:50 am
door Douglas
Hi Corrij,
At long last everything has arrived, and today I kicked off on the full protocol.

As you have suggested, I am taking
500mg Acetlyl - l -Carnitine 3 x day.
500mg MSM working up to 3000mg.
Chromium. Now about the chromium, I saw somewhere else that someone questioned about Chromium Picolinate, which is what I am taking. I have not been able to source GTF in Australia. Is this a major issue? :-?

Cheers,
Doug.

Geplaatst: wo mei 16, 2007 4:18 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hello Douglas,

Chromium GTF,the GTF stands for glucose tolerant factor.

it helps with stabilising the blood sugar levels.

The chromium picolinate can be used for all kind of applications where other forms of chromium are used.

The chromium picolinate is especially used at weight control and the controle of body fat.

How is life,without sugar :wink: Is it very difficult for you?

The best way to take the carnitine is half an hour before breakfast or two hours after breakfast.

The Chromium and the MSM you can take with your meals.

greetings,
Corrij

Sugar

Geplaatst: do mei 17, 2007 12:47 am
door Douglas
Hi Corrij,
Life without sugar is OK> :D I take 1 day at a time. My worst weakness is when other people walk up and offer me lollies. Very hard to say no! :-?

I will keep trying to find Chromium GTF.

I am taking my supplments and looking forwards.

All is going very well.

Thank you.
Doug. 8)

Geplaatst: do mei 17, 2007 1:41 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hi Douglas,

Youre addicted to lollies :D :P

I always knew that big man are little boys inside :D

greetings,
Corrij

Geplaatst: do mei 17, 2007 3:20 pm
door Douglas
:lol: Little boy with a big heart in every sense of the word :P

Good news on the GTF front. A workmate is bringing me some back from New Zealand next week. Silly isn't it?

I live in outback Australia, and can only get Solgar etc from New Zealand. :-?

Geplaatst: do mei 17, 2007 4:32 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hi Douglas,

Yes, the fact that you have a big heart in more than one sense is obvious, and luckily for me you also have a sense of humor.

Is it that difficult to get supplements?
Can't you even get the big brands like NOW and Pharma Nord?
That makes it a bit more difficult for you I hope it's still affordable?

Supplements here in the Netherlands are not cheap and a lot of people have to leave other things to be able to afford it. I find this quite frustrating but there is not much I can do.

Joking apart, I think it's very good that you try to reduce the sugar intake. Don't you feel it, have any detoxification phenomena.

I wonder if using chromium reduces your need for sweet things,

Greetings,
Corrij

Geplaatst: do mei 17, 2007 4:42 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hi Douglas,

I`m sorry but I still have one question(I forgot to ask :oops: )

Have you ever had your blood tested for potassium?
It's possible that your potassium level is too high, and too much potassium also causes arrhythmia.

You take 1000 mg of magnesium a day and magnesium helps the cells to take up potassium. I would try to leave the magnesium for now Douglas and see what the effect is on thew arrhythmia.

Try to avoid products that contain potassium like; soya flour, white beans, lentils, bananas, whole grain flour, fruit juices, vegetables, nuts, fish and meat.

greetings,
Corrij