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personal protocol for husbands heart failure

Geplaatst: ma feb 15, 2010 6:24 pm
door jenniliv
I have been trawling the internet for information and any help for my husbands heart failure - he has dilated cardiomyopathy and sleep apnoea, and came across your website and would love to get some information and guidance of a protocol to help my husband, John.
The cause of his onset is uncertain, he has no family history of heart problems, but struggles alot with his breathing and has alot of water retention problems. He cannot sleep on his back, and has had a dry, annoying cough at night time which our pharmacist says could be a side effect of the Ramipril he is taking. He does not suffer from any arrythmias or angina symptoms, and although he is taking a statin, his cholesterol levels are good.
He is 46 years old and weighs around 125 kg and is 5 ft 11. He goes to see the heart nurse who works with the cardiologist and manages his care every few months, but they seem to have kind of 'lost interest' in him. His medications are all up to their maximum dose, and we were told that he would be discharged.... although his symptoms have not settled at all. This completely scared me as I feel we have been left to deal with this on our own.
I demanded he have at least repeat testing, especially a heart scan to show his EJ, (which was 25-30% initially) as we have had no follow up tests or results since initial diagnosis in April 2009. At my request, he had this done this week, in February 2010 and are awaiting the results.
If possible, I would like to get a personal protocol for him to follow. We were both extremely hopeful for the first time since diagnosis after visiting your site, and have bought all the supplements recommended so we can make a start as soon as possible.

Johns current situation is as follows:

*No salt to be added to food
*Water restriction to 2 litres a day
* He is frequently tired and has a difficult time sleeping.
*He smokes 10-15 cigarettes a day (has cut down from 30+)
*He does not drink alcohol


His medications are as follows:

*Ramipril - 10mg a day
*Bisoprolol - 10mg a day
*Furosemide - 40mg 2x2 a day (total 160mg )
*Spironolactone 25 mg. 1 tablet once a day
*Simvastatin 40mg one tablet a day
*Cod Liver oil & Multivitamin supplements each day

Thank you so much for any help or advice you can give us, I am so glad that I found your website, and will eagerly awaiting your advice. :D

Geplaatst: ma feb 15, 2010 9:50 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hello Jenniliv and John,

At first a warm welcome on this forum.

If the heart becomes less efficient as a pump, the body will try to compensate for it. One way it attempts to do this is by using hormones and nerve signals to increase blood volume (by water retention in the kidneys). A drop in blood flow to the kidneys will also lead to fluid retention. Blood and fluid pressure backed up behind the heart result in excess salt water entering the lungs and other body tissues. However, it is important to note that not all swelling due to fluid retention is a reflection of heart failure.

Clinical symptoms due to fluid congestion:


shortness of breath
edema (pooling of fluid in lungs and body)

Most people associate coughing with a lung or airway problem, not with the heart. But patients with heart failure can endure significant coughing not only before treatment, but also because of it.
Although it sounds total and catastrophic -- like a power failure -- "heart failure" doesn't mean that the heart just stops (that's "cardiac arrest"). Heart failure is marked by a drop in the heart's pumping ability: It just doesn't do as good a job at pumping the blood, and one common result is lung congestion.

Since coughing is the body's way of clearing the airway and bronchial passages, it makes sense that it's a prominent symptom of heart failure. In fact, an older term for the condition is "congestive heart failure."

The coughing of heart failure can take several forms. A wet, frothy cough that can be tinged pink with blood is very common. So is a dry, hacking cough that doesn't expel mucous. Patients may waken in the middle of the night gasping and coughing. As a result, many prefer to sleep propped up in a semi-reclined position. Heavy wheezing and labored breathing can also accompany coughing spells, and patients may experience a bubbling feeling or whistling sound in their lungs.

Ironically, coughing is also frequently a side effect of a type of medication that's frequently prescribed for heart failure: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which are also used to treat high blood pressure and other cardiac conditions. They work by dilating the arteries, easing blood flow and decreasing the heart's workload. This class of medications also acts as a diuretic, increasing urine flow and reducing excess fluid that could otherwise contribute to congestion and swelling.

However, many patients who take ACE inhibitors complain of a dry cough and ask to discontinue the medication. In the early 2000s, scientists found that taking an iron supplement helps mitigate this medication-induced coughing because it curbs the production of nitric oxide, which can irritate bronchial passages in the lungs.

Another option for addressing an ACE inhibitor-related cough is switching to an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which has many of the same advantages as the ACE inhibitor, but the ARB doesn't trigger bothersome coughing. However, because fewer clinical studies have been completed on ARBs, they aren't prescribed as often as ACE inhibitors.

I would suggest the following supplements to start with,

MSM 3 x 1000 mg a day
Chromium GTF 2 x 200 mcg a day,

What is MSM-Methyl-sulfonyl-methane?

MSM is an organic sulfur. This sulfur plays an essential role in human nutrition which is commonly overlooked.
MSM is used by the body to continually create new healthy cells to replace the old ones. Sulfur works with thiamine, pantothenic acid, biotin, and lipoic acid, which are needed for metabolism and strong nerve health. Sulfur also plays a part in tissue respiration, the process that oxygen and other substances are used to build cells and release energy. It is an essential mineral for the human body and plays many roles. Sulfur has the following responsibilities in the body: 1) Dehydration and Detoxification, 2) Energy, and 3) Structure and Function.

Supplements of MSM assures that the body has an adequate organic source for the areas that it may be lacking sulfur.

Several studies have examined sulfur-bearing vegetables and herbs and found that they strongly inhibit carcinogens from forming in the body. Carcinogenic substances such as tobacco, pesticide residues, and chemicals found in certain drugs all weaken the immune system. If the body is maintained in good health standing, not abused or overwhelmed with chemicals in foods or drugs, stress, obesity, nutrient deficiencies, then the body can fight off cancerous cells.


What MSM Does
MSM makes cell walls permeable, allowing water and nutrients to flow freely into cells and allowing wastes and toxins to properly flow out. The building blocks of the body, amino acids, are all sulfur bonders and play a major role in the production of hormones and enzymes which regulate the body''s activities.
MSM and Vitamin C supplementation are used by the body together to help build healthy new cells. MSM helps provide the flexible bond between the cells. Without MSM, the new cell is not permeable, and osmosis is hampered. These cells lose their flexibility, like scar tissue, wrinkles, vericose veins, hardened arteries or the damaged lung tissues of a person with emphysema.

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.

If you have questions, don`t hesitate,

greetings,
Corrij

Geplaatst: ma feb 15, 2010 10:18 pm
door jenniliv
hi, thanks for replying so swiftly, I have read your response to John and he will ask our doctor to switch to an ARB instead of his Ramipril when we next go for a check up. The pharmacist had also told us the Ramipril could be the trigger for his coughing, and your advice agrees so we will definately ask to change the tablets.

As I have already studied lots on your site, John had already started taking MSM, increasing the dosage slowly by 500 mg every few days, and is currently at the maximum dosage of 3000mg. He has also started taking the chromium at 200 mcg, and 3 x 500mg of Taurine. He also takes 8.5g of Hoodia Cactus to suppress his appetite as he was taking Orlistat which was prescribed by the doctor, but it did not help his weight loss. Also, he takes 75mg of dispersable aspirin a day - I forgot to mention that before, sorry.

He has been taking these for about a week, with no side effects. He has felt more lively since taking them and has slightly more energy, although starting taking these coincided with starting the spironolactone.

Could you please advise us the next step for the protocol? I know we seem eager, but after reading further posts on the massive improvements you have helped people to achieve, I have so much faith that this programme will help my darling husband to improve his symptoms... Until now I have been so so scared... as Im sure you and others will understand.

Thanking in anticipation

Jenni and John

xx

Geplaatst: di feb 16, 2010 1:41 am
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hello Jenni,

Your fast :D but i understand, i think we all do on this forum :D
The next step is,
Acetyl-l-Carnitine 2000 mg a day, the taurine must be also 2000 mg a day because of your husbands weight. (125 kg)

Always take them on a empty stomach and not together!
For example,

1/2 hour before breakfast 2000 mg of the carnitine
1/2 hour before lunch time or diner the taurine.

The chromiun with the meals,

Do you have recent blood test like,
potassium
cholesterol
and other bloodlipides?

Why does he take asperine? I asume to make his blood thinner, but doesn`t the control his INR?


greetings,
Corrij

Geplaatst: di feb 16, 2010 3:15 am
door jenniliv
hi Corrij,

Thank you for getting back to us, I know I can be annoying but I eagerly anticipate a response as this is sooo important to me.. I guess its the same for everyone affected by heart problems. I have spent alot of time reading the posts on the forum to better understand the problems and solutions of others in the hope that it will, in turn, lead me and John to better understand what to expect.. the bad and the good.

I have taken note of the next steps to take, we already have the vitamins you have prescribed :D I like to be prepared! We have spent a fortune on buying it all in ready... just a quick query though... how will we know when to move onto next steps? Our doctor is not very thorough with testing and reporting results. (I myself had an MRI scan on my spine 5 weeks ago, and no results!)

John was advised in hospital at diagnosis to take the aspirin, he was told it would not harm him and may be beneficial in preventing any blood clots. He was not a candidate for warfarin, and Im quite glad of that. You asked 'I asume to make his blood thinner, but doesn`t the control his INR' - I am sorry, but I do not know what INR is.. Im still quite new to these terms, but if I know what it is, Ill send you the answer:)

His recent potassium tests came back okay, they did those when he first started with the spironolactone, again a week later, and is due a further blood test next week. He is eating on average 3 small bananas daily on the advice of the heart nurse (as a milkshake usually ):)

I assume the other tests you mention have all been fine, he had cholesterol checked April 2009 and was well within the normal range, but takes simvastatin as a precautionary measure. As I posted previously, the echo to show his EF was today, and we are hoping to get the results shortly. I will keep you up to date on anything that occurs.

Thank you again for your assistance, I shall keep checking for any response... my fingers are crossed that this new step goes well.

Regards

Jenni
xx[quote][/quote]

Geplaatst: di feb 16, 2010 1:07 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hello Jenni,

Start only with the supplements I have advice, wait with the others.

INR: International normalized ratio, a system established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Committee on Thrombosis and Hemostasis for reporting the results of blood coagulation (clotting) tests. All results are standardized using the international sensitivity index for the particular thromboplastin reagent and instrument combination utilized to perform the test.

Blood Thinners
Also called: Anti-platelet drugs, Anticoagulants
If you have some kinds of heart or blood vessel disease, or if you have poor blood flow to your brain, your doctor may recommend that you take a blood thinner. Blood thinners reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke by reducing the formation of blood clots in your arteries and veins. You may also take a blood thinner if you have
• An abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation
• Heart valve surgery
• Congenital heart defects
There are two main types of blood thinners. Anticoagulants, such as heparin or warfarin (also called Coumadin), work on chemical reactions in your body to lengthen the time it takes to form a blood clot. Antiplatelet drugs, such as aspirin, prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot.

Blood thinners are part of a class of medicines called anticoagulants. Although they are called blood thinners, these medicines do not really thin your blood. Instead, they decrease the blood's ability to clot. Decreased clotting keeps fewer harmful blood clots from forming and from blocking blood vessels.
Aspirin can irritate the stomach and intestines and cause indigestion, nausea, and vomiting. The “enteric coated,” or EC, form of aspirin is gentler on the intestines and produces milder side effects. Other less common side effects of aspirin include difficulty breathing and intestinal bleeding.

About cholesterol,
The Cholesterol Fear
No foodhypothese has influenced the way of eating of health-conscious consumers than the fear of ‘too high’ cholesterol.
Staub quotes from a seminar already in 1977 in Hamburg about ‘Fats and Infarct-risks’
‘We must abstain from the Fat-hypothesis, because it has not given answers to the Artherosclerosis research at all, and we must have the courage to tell the people that we have been giving wrong foodadvice for the last 20 years.. We must remove the fear in people of eating butter, eggs and meat.. Foods that have been healthy for thousands of years and they still are healthy..

But 25 years later doctors still state that cholesterol blocks the arteries of the heart, and that animal protein causes these cholesteroldeposits in the heartvenes.
Cholesterol is not a dangerous substance in our body, as doctors want us to believe. Cholesterol is soo important for us, that our body produces cholesterol itself! 80% of all cholesterol present in our blood is produced in our liver. Cholesterol is as elimentary building stone of all bodycells for our metabolism, intestinal juices and hormoneproduction of vital importance. The adrenal glands consist 50% of cholesterol. Even the healthy heart consists of 10% of cholesterol, same for the lungs. Mothermilk contains 50% more cholesterol than cowmilk! But it surely is irrational to assume that Mother Nature’s goal is to ‘damage’ the heart of the baby?? The truth is that we cannot live without cholesterol!
Where do we find Cholesterol in our body?
Cholesterol is an essential part of our cellmembranes. It provides cells their stability, and protects the nerves, and is the building stone for bile. This all we need for fatmetabolism and for the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K. Cholesterol is the basic element for most of the sexhormones, like Estrogen. It helps to produce stresshormones, and helps us to fight stress. We need cholesterol for building our immunesystem, and it gives the bloodcells their elasticity.
Still even at the start of a millenium the Lipid, resp. Cholesterol theory is still based on that simple theory that cholesterol and saturated fatty acids in foods increase the serumcholesterol levels and lead to artheriosclerosis and that by lowering the cholesterol in the blood coronary heartdiseases can be prevented.

Where does this utmost ‘acceptable’ level of 200mg% Cholesterol come from? Why do doctors stare at this level? A study of 100.000 people in Bavaria had an average level of 260 mg cholesterol in their blood (6,72 mmol/l). The National Cholesterol Initiative, a private organisation of 13 Medical professors suggested in 1990 that the absolute ‘acceptable’ level should be 200mg% (5,17 mmol/l) and surprisingly they found no opposition at all and could establish this level in the medical records…
Those Medical professors of this Cholesterol Initiative represent Lobbygroups, in which the industrial ‘Deutsche Liga zur Bekämpfung des hohen Blutdruckes’ (Org. to fight high bp) and the ‘Lipid-Liga’ as well as the ‘Deutsche Gesellschaft für Laboratoriumsmedizin’ participate.
By decree of these financially interested Medical Professors the majority of of people above 30 years old were declared ‘risk-patients’..
In the research group of 30-39 years old it was found that this arbitrary level of 5,17mmol/l labelled 68% of the men and 56% of the women suffering from dangerously high cholesterol levels.. In the group of 50-59 years old even 84% of the men and 93% of the women were ‘affected’ by dangerously high cholesterollevels…

Since coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and cholesterol are both synthesized from the same substance, mevalonate, statin drugs (Lipitor, Zocor, etc) also inhibit the body's synthesis of coenzyme Q10. This is not a "side effect," of statins, but a direct, inherent function of the drugs.
In fact, the use of statins can decrease the body's synthesis of coenzyme Q10 by as much as 40%!1

Coenzyme Q10 is a top cardio-friendly nutrient. Your heart has very high energy requirements and never gets to take any time off. Q10 is required for the proper production of energy at an optimal rate, around your body and specifically for your heart. If you lack it, you will be more tired and you will make free radicals instead of energy. If you lack Q10 within your heart it will speed up the aging process and weaken your heart.

Q10 also operates as a direct antioxidant in cell membranes, meaning that it is highly protective to your overall circulatory system, having a direct benefit to support healthy blood pressure. It also acts as an antioxidant team player, helping vitamins E and C maintain their antioxidant roles which provides additional synergistic cardiovascular protection.

It is very clear from the literature that statins interfere with the natural production of Q10, which is evidenced by lower blood levels of Q10 in patients taking statins. It has been known for over a decade that statin drugs reduce Q10 levels as much as 25% and that 100 mg of Q10 is enough to offset a relatively low dose of statins (20 mg of Zocor.)

Since Q10 is essential for energy production within cells, energy is reduced. This results in fatigue, makes it more difficult to exercise, and is part of the reason for muscle aches and pains in some statin-taking patients. The interference with cell energy production results in an increased production of lactic acid, which contributes to muscle aches. In patients with muscle pain associated with statin use a double blind study showed that 100 mg per day of Q10 reduced pain by 40%.

The medical profession does not endorse the widespread use of Q10 with all statin takers because it cannot be proven that a lack of Q10 is the cause of all statin-related muscle pain. This will never be proven, because statins cause muscle pain in multiple ways. Statins turn on gene signals that damage muscles in a percentage of patients, independent of Q10. It seems to elude the logic of doctors that if a drug causes a depletion of a nutrient then the nutrient should be consumed to make up for the deficiency.

One study showed that the adverse side effects in fifty consecutive patients was so bad (muscle pain, fatigue, difficulty breathing, memory loss, and nerve problems) that they were all taken of statins and put on 240 mg a day of Q10 to recover. After a year the great majority of adverse side effects had been cleared up. It is pretty obvious that the side effects of statins are under-reported.

One of the serious side effects of statins is actual damage to the heart resulting in the condition known as cardiomyopathy. The severe side effects of statins in people over 70 are so bad that their use cannot be justified. Indeed, there are now over 450,000 new cases of heart failure per year in this older group of Americans, and it is likely that statins are a cause of this dramatically.

greetings,
Corrij

Geplaatst: wo feb 17, 2010 2:46 pm
door jenniliv
hi corrij,

thank you for your reply, I never knew all these facts about cholesterol.. i had raised levels last year but have managed to lower these with a healthy diet and dropping 42lbs. The things you said about the effects of taking the statins are slightly worrying though, and something I will discuss with John.. if his cholesterol is at a good level, I would prefer he stop taking the statin with the problems you have highlighted.

On the flip side, Q10 sounds great!! I know it is an ingredient in face creams, Im guessing this is for its cell repairing properties to disguise wrinkles (not that I need a wrinkle cream yet :lol:

Just a quick query, its probably unrelated, but since yesterday John has not been well, he has been feeling ill within himself and is having trouble breathing. Sometimes he has complained of a 'hollow' feeling in his chest. He hasnt told me much that I cant see for myself as he doesnt like me to worry, so he has taken to his bed. He is very pale in his face, and is using his CPAP machine to assist him with breathing. I havent seen him this bad for about 6 months. :cry:

It wouldnt be a side effect from the vits would it? Can you recommend anything to help him? He is very phobic of hospitals and refuses to go get checked out... he would literally have to collapse unconscious for me to get him there.. and even then, when he came round he would discharge himself from their care. If you can reassure me, help with any advice I would appreciate it very much

Kind regards and thank you for all your help so far

Jenni
xx

Geplaatst: wo feb 17, 2010 6:42 pm
door Corrij (therapeut)
Hello jenni,

Heart failure may affect the left, right or both sides of the heart.

If the left half of the heart fails (left ventricular failure), fluid will build up in the lungs due to congestion of the veins in the lungs.
If the right half of the heart fails (right ventricular failure), general body vein pressure will increase and fluid will accumulate in the body, especially in the legs and in the abdominal organs, with the liver most likely to be affected.

Let him check his weight every day!

Can he call the doctor?
Maybe he`s taking not enough diuretic, let him drink as little as possible.

And never hesitate to call a doctor, its better to call to much then to little.

greetings,
Corrij

Re: personal protocol for husbands heart failure

Geplaatst: ma feb 08, 2016 12:49 pm
door Willy
Hello

Please help Corrij with here work and post the results of the treatment on the

RESULTS FORUM

viewforum.php?f=106

Explain

1, your condition before treatment
2. what you did
3. and what your have achieved

If you already posted a result message please update this message regularly

Thank You

Willy