Cariomyopathy, Thiamin Deficiency, Sleep Apnea...

[Corrij (therapeut)]

Hi Kevin,

Thank you very much for your update
You`ve had a lot of exercise, I didn`t know we had a famous tennis player on the forum

I am very proud of you, gongratulations with these results on the tenniscourt

And yes youre right, the carvedilol (coreg) can be the reason youre feeling tired and I also believe that it is unreleated to your heart condition.

Thank you for mentioning this website to a cardiomyopathy group, they are very welcome

greetings,
Corrij

[Kevin Guidry]

Corrij,

I noticed on another post that you reccommend:

Vitamin E
Selenium

These are not part of my protocal. Should they be? I'm not searching for extra supplements to add. I take so much now. I'm just curious why it is suggested for some of the others.

Kevin

[Corrij (therapeut)]

Hi Kevin,

The protocol is a standard protocol, but people are not standard
So there can be some changes in what I recommend.

Youre doing very well, your EF is now 45-50% and even your doctor believes that your prognosis is very good.

You can add the selenium and the vitamin E ,the selenium is a important mineral for all people, not only for them with heartfailure,

http://www.candida-fibromyalgie-hypogly ... php?t=3610

Selenium and vitamin E are not expensive

greetings,
Corrij

[Kevin Guidry]

Corrij,

I thought that I would throw this out there just in case there is any benefit. I never thought of this as something worthy of posting until today. All of my life I've typically opted for hot baths vs showers. Here's where I think it may be helping. I have a blood pressure machine and I've noticed that directly after a hot bath my blood pressure is reduced substantially and I feel my heart beating as though I just finished excercising.

It occured to me that it may be one of the things that helped my heart throughout this process. It is my understanding that the lower the blood pressure the better it is for this condition. That stated, the heart rate must remain above a certian point so as not to pass out. Hot baths seem to accomplish all of this during, and for quite a while afterwards. It's like excercising made easy.

Well, that's my observation for the moment.

[Corrij (therapeut)]

Hi Kevin,

Thanks for sharing this with us
I found these articles,

Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University Toyosu Hospital, 4-1-18 Toyosu Koto-Ku, Tokyo 135-8577, Japan. otsukagm@dnh.twmu.ac.jp

Bathing in Japanese style may carry negative effects as water pressure on the chest and thermal stimulus on hemodynamics take place. We have explored the influence of bathing in high temperature water on the change of heart rate variability (HRV). Fourteen young healthy male adults, ageing in range from 28 to 42 years old (the average was 35.8 years old) were selected and took a hot water bath (38 and 41 degrees C) for 15 min long. Bathing in 38 degrees C water brought no significant change in heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP), and the HR in 41 degrees C increased in early stage. In HRV, high frequency (HF) power did not have significant change with little increase in early stages of bathing in 38 degrees C and decreased continuously in 41 degrees C. Low frequency (LF) power and very low frequency (VLF) power decreased gradually in later stages of bathing, but the degree of decrease was larger in 41 degrees C. In this study, data concerning dizziness after bathing at 41 degrees C was obtained (we named it as a "dizzy case"). HF and LF trends in this case followed the same pattern in comparison with others' average, but the decrease was larger. Additionally, there was no increase in the LF/HF at later stage of bathing. It is thought that this reflects a decreased in autonomic nerve activity. In normal subjects the VLF increased in later stages of 38 and 41 degrees C bathing, but in the dizziness-experiencing subject, the increase was very significant. It is conceivable that this reflected excessive parasympathetic reflex. Except the dizzy case HF decreased continuously in later stage of bathing in both 38 and 41 degrees C, but VLF slightly increased. Recently there was an express opinion that the VLF correlates with the prognosis; therefore the change of VLF in this study is very interesting. Based upon the results of this study we propose that the optimum period of time for bathing in water 41 degrees C in temperature is 5 min or less, and that for water 38 degrees C in temperature is 10 min or less.

PMID: 16275514 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Human cardiovascular responses to a 60-min bath at 40 degrees C.Miwa C, Matsukawa T, Iwase S, Sugiyama Y, Mano T, Sugenoya J, Yamaguchi H, Kirsch KA.
Department of Autonomic and Behavioral Neurosciences, Division of Higher Nervous Control, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya.

This study was designed to determine human cardiovascular responses to a 60-min bath at 40 degrees C compared with a thermoneutral bath at 34.5 degrees C. We measured mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), skin blood flow (SBF) and core temperature in 8 healthy young males bathing at two different temperatures, 34.5 degrees C and 40 degrees C. During the thermoneutral bath (34.5 degrees C), heart rate tended to decrease, but all other variables showed no significant change. Ten min after entering the 40 degrees C bath, MBP decreased while HR and SBF increased. At the same time core temperature increased. We conclude that bathing at 40 degrees C may induce remarkable changes in the cardiovascular system by increasing core temperature when immersion in a hot bath for more than 10 min.

PMID: 12703520 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

greetings,
Corrij

[Kevin Guidry]

Hi Corrij,

I just thought that I'd give you an update. I went to the Cardiologist yesterday and it appears that my condition has not changed in the last six months. My ef is still 45 - 50% and my heart size remains slightly dilated. I reminded the dotor that six months ago he suggested that my prognosis is good. I asked for clarification. He stated that in patients such as me (ideopathic, non-eschimic, ef 45-50%, etc.) typically they are still alive in 5 - 10 years from diagnosis. That's what he meant by a good prognosis. Initially, I thought that he was stating that I would likely be dead in 6 - 11 years. Although I did not ask for addtional clarification, I now suspect that a more simplistic meaning is that there is no immediate risk of death.

When asked if it was still possible that my heart could continue to improve, the doctor stated that outcomes with those with my condition are varied. Some improve, some stay the same. He went on to state that it's not all about the ef%. (I've read this many times on the internet.) Some with ef's much lower (25% for example) feel fine and some with ef's like mine cannot walk up a flight of stairs. He reminded me that I am virtually asymptomatic and that's good. I play tennis, walk more than a mile without any shortness of breath, and more. Evenso, I'm feeling a little bit down today because I truly expected more improvement.

[Corrij (therapeut)]

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for your update.

You started the protocol one year ago, youre EF was at that time 30%

Ejection Fraction
Approximately 30%, has recently been retested (Echocardiogram) and hasn't changed since the original diagnosis 6 months ago.

Now your EF is 50% and that is a big improvement 60% is normal.

I really do believe that there will be more improvement, give it some time.
You have already won much.
The last bit is always heaviest.

But I can understand that youre feeling a little bit down.Look to your results.

greetings,
Corrij

[Kevin Guidry]

This morning I received a call from the nurse regarding my latest echo. The doctor further reviewed the results and reported that my EF increased slightly. Last time you may recall that it was 45 - 50%. This time it is apparently a strong 50%. The nurse felt like there was a distinction so, I suppose, I'm encouraged by that. I thought I'd share the new info.

[Corrij (therapeut)]

Thank you for sharing Kevin

This is good news

greetings,
Corrij

[Kevin Guidry]

I read the following statement on www.chfpatients.com written by the website administrator.

"L-carnitine
An amino acid shown in trials to improve heart failure, this is another of the 3 best supplements for us. I take 333mg Carnitor three times a day after meals. This is a prescription form of L-carnitine. If you have drug benefits with your health insurance, ask your heart failure specialist to prescribe this. If not, buy L-carnitine over-the-counter. If using over-the-counter L-carnitine, I recommend 500 to 1000mg 3 times a day. L-carnitine also helps control body weight."

I am interested in knowing if Carnitor is the same as Acetyl L-Carnitine? If so, my insurance would cover this costly supplement. That would be great.

[Willy]

hello kevin

carnitor = levo carnitine = l-carnitine

http://www.carnitormetabolic.com/tabs_oral_pi.html

3 x 2 x 330mg is the correct dose

[Kevin Guidry]

Hey Willy,

So I take it that it's not the same as Acetyl L-Carnitine. If it is, then I will ask my doctor to prescribe it. Over the counter Acetyl L-Carnitine sells for $35 US. My Insurance will pay for prescription medication at 100% but not for Over the Counter supplements. It would be great if I can substitute the prescribed meds.

[Willy]

You can use carnitor. I use it also in the Netherlands, it is called CARNITENE

We suggest always

3 x 500mg acetyl-l-c or

3 x 2 x 330mg l-carnitine (carnitor)

so a little bit higher dosis

so you are fine with CARNITOR at the recommended dose