Machaon
10-15-2008, 02:24 PM
I am near 70 and have had Congestive Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Chronic Tachycardia, Chronically High Blood Pressure, Immune System Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, Pre-Diabetes and Asthma for over twenty years.
I have learned four essential steps for lowering my blood pressure down to very healthy levels, reducing my heart rhythm problems, improving my heart failure, improving my Immune System/Neurohormonal System problems, and at the same time improving my general health. These four essential steps could also provide significant improvements to immune disorders, such as Multiple sclerosis (MS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia.
I have no medical training or education, so I don't know how much these four essential steps would help others, but I'll document them here anyway.
The four essential steps are:
Being on a healthy diet.
In my opinion, the overall healthiest diet, especially for those with chronic disease(s), consists of frequent, small portion, high fiber, low calorie, balanced meals, based on the Glycemic Index.
Because of the profound improvement in my health, I intend to stay on this small, frequent, high fiber diet the rest of my life. I love it!
Finding out, and avoiding, the things (triggers) that cause over-activation of the Immune System and the NeuroHormonal System.
Heart Failure, and other heart problems, result in over-active Hormonal Systems, which is the body's attempt to increase the pumping ability of the heart by pouring out excess "helpful" hormones.
There are also things that trigger either the Immune System or the Neurohormonal System to cause even additional hormones and other body chemicals to be produced, causing unhealthy stress to our systems, and resulting in a worsening of heart failure, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, and many other health problems, such as immune systems disorders like MS, CFS and Fibromyalgia. Who would have thought that a curative impact on all these diseases would be as simple, easy and inexpensive, as understanding and avoiding the things that trigger these diseases to get progressively worse!?
The "helpful" chemicals, hormones and cytokines, are not so helpful when they are over-produced and are constantly circulating in the body. The over-production of these body chemicals need to be blocked or inhibited through either medications, avoiding the "triggers", or both.
The over-production and over-circulation of hormones, cytokines, etc., can cause damage to organs, glands, joints and nerves, and make you feel sick as a dog, with fatigue, anxiety, mental confusion, headaches, etc..
Medicines, like Ace Inhibitors, Calcium Channel Blockers, Beta Blockers, Renin Blockers all attempt to block, or inhibit, the overproduction of hormones, and to block or inhibit inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) and Interleukin-6 (IL). These inflammatory cytokines are additionally produced by the body to counteract the over-production of Hormones, but these inflammatory cytokines can be very damaging, and are what causes worsening Heart Failure and worsens other health problems.
The more "triggers" of the Immune System, or the NeuroHormonal System, that can be avoided, the less medication that is required. Make sense? For instance, if you can avoid triggers that cause even more over-activation of the adrenal glands, you might thusly require lower dosages of medication that attempt to block the Adrenal Glands, like Beta Blockers.
The triggers that cause an over-active NeuroHormonal System and the triggers that cause an over-active immune system can be the same triggers or completely different triggers.
Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Exercise is important, but until my health got better through proper diet and avoiding triggers that cause Heart Failure to get progressively worse, I could only do very limited exercise. Very slowly and gradually I was able to increase physical activity and exercise. Many times I would overdo it and suffer from difficult breathing, chest pains, over-sweating, increased heart rhythm problems and fatigue.
My current exercise schedule, spread throughout the day, is about fifty pushups a day, 300 lifts with 10 pound weights per day per arm, 450 steps per day, per leg, on my stepper; and power walking one hour per day in two 30 minute sessions. Not bad for a elderly guy suffering from Heart Failure for over 20 years, huh?
One benefit that I didn't expect to see is a significant improvement in my varicose veins. Who'd of thunk!
Taking the correct meds on the correct schedule.
Finding out which medicines work best, and when is the best time to take them, is complex and extremely difficult. I've taken, and suffered with, many different heart/blood pressure medications before I figured out what works best for me.
To be on the most effective medications, for your unique health problems, you must be in the care of an effective, skilled, caring medical professional. If you are not getting, or feeling better, you should question the ability and effectiveness of your health professional(s).
I currently take 12.5mg Coreg twice a day; .25mg Digoxin once a day; Warfarin 2.5mg once a day, Flovent and Flonase. You have to admit, that is a very low level of medication for treating all of my chronic diseases.
Note 3/30/2009: I Love Coreg!!! :)
Heart Failure is a progressive disease. That means that it usually gets worse with time, not better. I was limited prior to age 60, but I felt that I was holding my own. Entering my 60's, my health got much worse, with worsening fatigue and weakness, constant chest pains, mental confusion and constant problems breathing, especially when lying down. I was forced to sleep sitting up to limit my breathing and heart rhythm problems.
Now..... close to my 70's, my health is quite good, although I am still limited by my disease(s). My heart is damaged, and while improved, my heart will always be compromised. The most important lesson, I've learned, has been that, even during one's 60's, heart failure does not necessarily have to lead to death and morbidity.
When my symptoms worsened, back in 1998, I started taking my blood pressure many times per day. It wasn't until 2004, when I incorporated all four essential steps, that my blood pressure, and health, started the long journey back towards better health. I started documenting my journey, right here on HealthBoards, in January 2005 on a thread, I called, Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure? The link to that thread is: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=242229 At that time, I did not really know if I would continue to improve, or continue to get worsening heart failure.
These were my annual "average" blood pressure readings from 1998 through 2008.
1998: 152/97, readings=1016; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 15 and Diastolic of 9
An average of 152/97 for the ENTIRE YEAR! Is it any wonder why I was getting worse!?
1999 : 146/92, readings=3599; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 14 and Diastolic of 9
An average of 146/92, each and every day, for the entire year. Better than 1998, but still a serious health problem!
2000 : 145/92, readings=3322; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 8
2001 : 147/92, readings=2375; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
2002 : 150/96, readings=1423; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 13 and Diastolic of 8
2003 : 151/96, readings=1032; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 13 and Diastolic of 8
2004 : 146/90, readings=2065; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 14 and Diastolic of 8
2005 : 139/86, readings=2526; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 8
2006 : 136/79, readings=3269; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
2007 : 126/74, readings=2720; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
An average of 126/74 for the entire year. There is hope that I can survive these nasty diseases! :)
2008 : 122/72, readings=2543; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
My Cholesterol Numbers are also great, without ever having to take statins!
Total Cholesterol: around 160
HDL: around 60
LDL: around 90
Trig: around 60
Ratio: < 3
As long as I adhere to the four essential steps, I don't have to worry about my blood pressure or worsening heart failure or heart rhythm problems, etc.
The solution, and steps, one must take, to significantly improve most cases of high blood pressure, worsening heart failure, most heart rhythm disorders and many other immune system diseases are amazingly simple, but takes a lot of work.
My health is slowly improving day by day. I feel younger, stronger, more alert, and with more energy. I never expect my heart to fully recover, but at this point, who cares! After 20+ years of dealing with Heart Failure, I am certainly not going to complain! :D
I have learned four essential steps for lowering my blood pressure down to very healthy levels, reducing my heart rhythm problems, improving my heart failure, improving my Immune System/Neurohormonal System problems, and at the same time improving my general health. These four essential steps could also provide significant improvements to immune disorders, such as Multiple sclerosis (MS), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Fibromyalgia.
I have no medical training or education, so I don't know how much these four essential steps would help others, but I'll document them here anyway.
The four essential steps are:
Being on a healthy diet.
In my opinion, the overall healthiest diet, especially for those with chronic disease(s), consists of frequent, small portion, high fiber, low calorie, balanced meals, based on the Glycemic Index.
Because of the profound improvement in my health, I intend to stay on this small, frequent, high fiber diet the rest of my life. I love it!
Finding out, and avoiding, the things (triggers) that cause over-activation of the Immune System and the NeuroHormonal System.
Heart Failure, and other heart problems, result in over-active Hormonal Systems, which is the body's attempt to increase the pumping ability of the heart by pouring out excess "helpful" hormones.
There are also things that trigger either the Immune System or the Neurohormonal System to cause even additional hormones and other body chemicals to be produced, causing unhealthy stress to our systems, and resulting in a worsening of heart failure, high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, and many other health problems, such as immune systems disorders like MS, CFS and Fibromyalgia. Who would have thought that a curative impact on all these diseases would be as simple, easy and inexpensive, as understanding and avoiding the things that trigger these diseases to get progressively worse!?
The "helpful" chemicals, hormones and cytokines, are not so helpful when they are over-produced and are constantly circulating in the body. The over-production of these body chemicals need to be blocked or inhibited through either medications, avoiding the "triggers", or both.
The over-production and over-circulation of hormones, cytokines, etc., can cause damage to organs, glands, joints and nerves, and make you feel sick as a dog, with fatigue, anxiety, mental confusion, headaches, etc..
Medicines, like Ace Inhibitors, Calcium Channel Blockers, Beta Blockers, Renin Blockers all attempt to block, or inhibit, the overproduction of hormones, and to block or inhibit inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF) and Interleukin-6 (IL). These inflammatory cytokines are additionally produced by the body to counteract the over-production of Hormones, but these inflammatory cytokines can be very damaging, and are what causes worsening Heart Failure and worsens other health problems.
The more "triggers" of the Immune System, or the NeuroHormonal System, that can be avoided, the less medication that is required. Make sense? For instance, if you can avoid triggers that cause even more over-activation of the adrenal glands, you might thusly require lower dosages of medication that attempt to block the Adrenal Glands, like Beta Blockers.
The triggers that cause an over-active NeuroHormonal System and the triggers that cause an over-active immune system can be the same triggers or completely different triggers.
Exercise, exercise, exercise!
Exercise is important, but until my health got better through proper diet and avoiding triggers that cause Heart Failure to get progressively worse, I could only do very limited exercise. Very slowly and gradually I was able to increase physical activity and exercise. Many times I would overdo it and suffer from difficult breathing, chest pains, over-sweating, increased heart rhythm problems and fatigue.
My current exercise schedule, spread throughout the day, is about fifty pushups a day, 300 lifts with 10 pound weights per day per arm, 450 steps per day, per leg, on my stepper; and power walking one hour per day in two 30 minute sessions. Not bad for a elderly guy suffering from Heart Failure for over 20 years, huh?
One benefit that I didn't expect to see is a significant improvement in my varicose veins. Who'd of thunk!
Taking the correct meds on the correct schedule.
Finding out which medicines work best, and when is the best time to take them, is complex and extremely difficult. I've taken, and suffered with, many different heart/blood pressure medications before I figured out what works best for me.
To be on the most effective medications, for your unique health problems, you must be in the care of an effective, skilled, caring medical professional. If you are not getting, or feeling better, you should question the ability and effectiveness of your health professional(s).
I currently take 12.5mg Coreg twice a day; .25mg Digoxin once a day; Warfarin 2.5mg once a day, Flovent and Flonase. You have to admit, that is a very low level of medication for treating all of my chronic diseases.
Note 3/30/2009: I Love Coreg!!! :)
Heart Failure is a progressive disease. That means that it usually gets worse with time, not better. I was limited prior to age 60, but I felt that I was holding my own. Entering my 60's, my health got much worse, with worsening fatigue and weakness, constant chest pains, mental confusion and constant problems breathing, especially when lying down. I was forced to sleep sitting up to limit my breathing and heart rhythm problems.
Now..... close to my 70's, my health is quite good, although I am still limited by my disease(s). My heart is damaged, and while improved, my heart will always be compromised. The most important lesson, I've learned, has been that, even during one's 60's, heart failure does not necessarily have to lead to death and morbidity.
When my symptoms worsened, back in 1998, I started taking my blood pressure many times per day. It wasn't until 2004, when I incorporated all four essential steps, that my blood pressure, and health, started the long journey back towards better health. I started documenting my journey, right here on HealthBoards, in January 2005 on a thread, I called, Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure? The link to that thread is: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=242229 At that time, I did not really know if I would continue to improve, or continue to get worsening heart failure.
These were my annual "average" blood pressure readings from 1998 through 2008.
1998: 152/97, readings=1016; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 15 and Diastolic of 9
An average of 152/97 for the ENTIRE YEAR! Is it any wonder why I was getting worse!?
1999 : 146/92, readings=3599; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 14 and Diastolic of 9
An average of 146/92, each and every day, for the entire year. Better than 1998, but still a serious health problem!
2000 : 145/92, readings=3322; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 8
2001 : 147/92, readings=2375; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
2002 : 150/96, readings=1423; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 13 and Diastolic of 8
2003 : 151/96, readings=1032; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 13 and Diastolic of 8
2004 : 146/90, readings=2065; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 14 and Diastolic of 8
2005 : 139/86, readings=2526; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 8
2006 : 136/79, readings=3269; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
2007 : 126/74, readings=2720; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
An average of 126/74 for the entire year. There is hope that I can survive these nasty diseases! :)
2008 : 122/72, readings=2543; Standard Deviation= Systolic of 12 and Diastolic of 7
My Cholesterol Numbers are also great, without ever having to take statins!
Total Cholesterol: around 160
HDL: around 60
LDL: around 90
Trig: around 60
Ratio: < 3
As long as I adhere to the four essential steps, I don't have to worry about my blood pressure or worsening heart failure or heart rhythm problems, etc.
The solution, and steps, one must take, to significantly improve most cases of high blood pressure, worsening heart failure, most heart rhythm disorders and many other immune system diseases are amazingly simple, but takes a lot of work.
My health is slowly improving day by day. I feel younger, stronger, more alert, and with more energy. I never expect my heart to fully recover, but at this point, who cares! After 20+ years of dealing with Heart Failure, I am certainly not going to complain! :D
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Machaon
10-17-2008, 12:26 PM
... I have noticed, as I have gotten older, that I need to eat a more balanced meal. If I snack on carbohydrates, without including a "proper" amount of fats and protein, my symptoms, especially heart arrythmia and shortness of breath, will get worse.
I do not eat after 7pm at night. I especially do not eat carbohydrates, because, at night, carbohydrates will really get my heart beating badly. At night, once my heart starts jumping, racing, thumping and skipping, it stays that way for hours, and sometimes for the entire night. ...
The quote at the top of this post is one of mine from 2003 during the time in my life when I was trying to figure out why the eating of carbs was causing me to suffer from increased breathing and heart rhythm problems. I did not find out, or accept, the reason for my increase, in nasty heart problems, until 2005 and my nasty, uncomfortable misery continued, and worsened from 2003, until 2005. I went on a healthy diet, December 2004, eventually lost 50 pounds, and my health, and heart failure, slowly and dramatically improved since then.
I can now eat after 7pm without suffering any of the old nasty problems.
Here is the link to the 2003 post: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showpost.php?p=716822&postcount=4
You can take every single medication known to mankind, and it won't take the place of a healthy diet. That is why I listed "diet" as essential step #1.
I do not eat after 7pm at night. I especially do not eat carbohydrates, because, at night, carbohydrates will really get my heart beating badly. At night, once my heart starts jumping, racing, thumping and skipping, it stays that way for hours, and sometimes for the entire night. ...
The quote at the top of this post is one of mine from 2003 during the time in my life when I was trying to figure out why the eating of carbs was causing me to suffer from increased breathing and heart rhythm problems. I did not find out, or accept, the reason for my increase, in nasty heart problems, until 2005 and my nasty, uncomfortable misery continued, and worsened from 2003, until 2005. I went on a healthy diet, December 2004, eventually lost 50 pounds, and my health, and heart failure, slowly and dramatically improved since then.
I can now eat after 7pm without suffering any of the old nasty problems.
Here is the link to the 2003 post: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showpost.php?p=716822&postcount=4
You can take every single medication known to mankind, and it won't take the place of a healthy diet. That is why I listed "diet" as essential step #1.
paulieboy908
10-17-2008, 09:11 PM
Keep up the good work! nice to hear your feeling better.
nosa47
10-18-2008, 10:13 PM
Machaon:
Just a few lines to let you know that what you are doing is very commandable. Not only are you facing and beating a tough foe in heart disease and getting rewarded for it by feeling better and living your life as normal as possible, but you are also an inspiration to others who are facing the same battle.
I have been dealing with heart disease for almost 22 years where I had a heart attack at the ripe old age of 34. There is no doubt in my mind that diet and exercise are among the top factors along with stress reduction and others needed in fighting this battle.
You are absolutely right in saying that there are great heart medications out there but if you rely solely on them, you will not be getting the best outcome in your treatment. Many, if not most, of the side effects of the various medications are dose-related, and if you make the necessary life-style changes, you can minimize the dosage or even completely eliminate some of them. In the past 22 years, Plavix has been the only heart medication that I took after a stent implant in 2006. I stopped taking it 13 months later. I have been taking aspirin all along (now taking 325 mg daily).
Heart disease is tricky and tough to deal with, but it is not a death sentence. The key is to have self-motivation and to dedicate the time and effort to do your utmost and not to be passive about your treatment. There are a lot of resources on the internet, so educate yourself and work with your cardiologist on what is best for your indvidual case.
There was a time after my initial heart attack where I felt that I will never live to see 40. Now that I am almost 57, I thank God every day for giving me the strength and the will to go on and do the right things. In my own case, faith has been the key catalyst that made everything else possible. I have long ago stopped asking myself why me and rather look at the whole experience as a positive one in that I was given another chance at life and I am making the best of it. My personal inspiration has been my father who at the age of 53 had his first heart attack in 1975. He is now 86 and gets up every morning for his early one-hour walk with my mother. Of course, she has been the one handling the diet factor of his life-style changes.
I wish you continued success in dealing with your condition(s) and hope that others share their success stories. Keep the faith and hope.
Just a few lines to let you know that what you are doing is very commandable. Not only are you facing and beating a tough foe in heart disease and getting rewarded for it by feeling better and living your life as normal as possible, but you are also an inspiration to others who are facing the same battle.
I have been dealing with heart disease for almost 22 years where I had a heart attack at the ripe old age of 34. There is no doubt in my mind that diet and exercise are among the top factors along with stress reduction and others needed in fighting this battle.
You are absolutely right in saying that there are great heart medications out there but if you rely solely on them, you will not be getting the best outcome in your treatment. Many, if not most, of the side effects of the various medications are dose-related, and if you make the necessary life-style changes, you can minimize the dosage or even completely eliminate some of them. In the past 22 years, Plavix has been the only heart medication that I took after a stent implant in 2006. I stopped taking it 13 months later. I have been taking aspirin all along (now taking 325 mg daily).
Heart disease is tricky and tough to deal with, but it is not a death sentence. The key is to have self-motivation and to dedicate the time and effort to do your utmost and not to be passive about your treatment. There are a lot of resources on the internet, so educate yourself and work with your cardiologist on what is best for your indvidual case.
There was a time after my initial heart attack where I felt that I will never live to see 40. Now that I am almost 57, I thank God every day for giving me the strength and the will to go on and do the right things. In my own case, faith has been the key catalyst that made everything else possible. I have long ago stopped asking myself why me and rather look at the whole experience as a positive one in that I was given another chance at life and I am making the best of it. My personal inspiration has been my father who at the age of 53 had his first heart attack in 1975. He is now 86 and gets up every morning for his early one-hour walk with my mother. Of course, she has been the one handling the diet factor of his life-style changes.
I wish you continued success in dealing with your condition(s) and hope that others share their success stories. Keep the faith and hope.
Machaon
10-19-2008, 01:20 PM
... You are absolutely right in saying that there are great heart medications out there but if you rely solely on them, you will not be getting the best outcome in your treatment.
When my heart failure and health was starting to get worse, about 10 years ago, I started experimenting with my meds. Over and over again, I increased some, decreased some, tried new medications, went back and tried increasing or decreasing the same meds again, stopped a med, stopped another med, took a particular med twice a day, or three times a day, instead of once a day, etc.
Sometimes, my playing around with my meds helped, but most of the time, any perceived benefit was short-lived. My health continued to get worse.
I was looking for a magic bullet, a pill that would come to my rescue and stop my nasty, worsening health problems. Research shows that these miracle meds extend life and improve the quality of life. So...... why weren't my meds more effective!?
I got my answer when I went on a healthy diet. Only then did I experience significant improvements in my health. As you posted in your note: "but if you rely solely on them, you will not be getting the best outcome in your treatment."
Many people, like myself, just want to pop a pill and do not want to fight the hard fight. It is only after illness gets debilitating, that we resign ourselves to doing the right thing.
Many, if not most, of the side effects of the various medications are dose-related, and if you make the necessary life-style changes, you can minimize the dosage or even completely eliminate some of them.
I agree.
I experience very few side effects, if any, from my current meds, but if I increase them, the side effects can get nasty.
Just as you have experienced, in my case, thru life-style changes, I have eliminated most of my meds, and only take minimum doses of my current meds, and I am feeling better and better with each passing week.
Heart disease is tricky and tough to deal with, but it is not a death sentence. The key is to have self-motivation and to dedicate the time and effort to do your utmost and not to be passive about your treatment. There are a lot of resources on the internet, so educate yourself and work with your cardiologist on what is best for your indvidual case.
I couldn't agree more. Doctors don't take the time, and don't have the time or inclination, to properly research each patient. Patients should use their doctor's input and diagnosis as just one of the many resources available in order to get the best outcome.
Thanks for your words of encouragement, and for posting about your own heart problems, and your success story.
Regards, and take care! :wave:
When my heart failure and health was starting to get worse, about 10 years ago, I started experimenting with my meds. Over and over again, I increased some, decreased some, tried new medications, went back and tried increasing or decreasing the same meds again, stopped a med, stopped another med, took a particular med twice a day, or three times a day, instead of once a day, etc.
Sometimes, my playing around with my meds helped, but most of the time, any perceived benefit was short-lived. My health continued to get worse.
I was looking for a magic bullet, a pill that would come to my rescue and stop my nasty, worsening health problems. Research shows that these miracle meds extend life and improve the quality of life. So...... why weren't my meds more effective!?
I got my answer when I went on a healthy diet. Only then did I experience significant improvements in my health. As you posted in your note: "but if you rely solely on them, you will not be getting the best outcome in your treatment."
Many people, like myself, just want to pop a pill and do not want to fight the hard fight. It is only after illness gets debilitating, that we resign ourselves to doing the right thing.
Many, if not most, of the side effects of the various medications are dose-related, and if you make the necessary life-style changes, you can minimize the dosage or even completely eliminate some of them.
I agree.
I experience very few side effects, if any, from my current meds, but if I increase them, the side effects can get nasty.
Just as you have experienced, in my case, thru life-style changes, I have eliminated most of my meds, and only take minimum doses of my current meds, and I am feeling better and better with each passing week.
Heart disease is tricky and tough to deal with, but it is not a death sentence. The key is to have self-motivation and to dedicate the time and effort to do your utmost and not to be passive about your treatment. There are a lot of resources on the internet, so educate yourself and work with your cardiologist on what is best for your indvidual case.
I couldn't agree more. Doctors don't take the time, and don't have the time or inclination, to properly research each patient. Patients should use their doctor's input and diagnosis as just one of the many resources available in order to get the best outcome.
Thanks for your words of encouragement, and for posting about your own heart problems, and your success story.
Regards, and take care! :wave:
Machaon
10-24-2008, 01:25 PM
... The more "triggers" of the Immune System that can be avoided, the less medication that is required. Make sense? For instance, if you can avoid triggers that over-activate the adrenal glands, you might thusly require lower dosages of medication that attempt to block the Adrenal Glands, like Beta Blockers. ...
For the past week, I've had a significant increase in breathing difficulties, chest pains, fatigue, feeling lousy and heart rhythm problems. I have had major difficulties in sleeping at night.
I tried avoiding additional "minor" triggers, but that didn't help. I increased my Asthma meds. That didn't help.
So....... then what I did was increase my Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg. I was guessing that, the increase in my symptoms were due to an increase in Adrenal Hormones caused by a "seasonal" increase in allergens in our environment. The increase in Coreg would help to increase the blockage of Adrenal hormones, and hopefully help to relieve some of my misery. Shortly after I took the increased Coreg, I started feeling better, and continued to improve throughout that day and the next day. *For the past two days and nights, I've felt much better.
The bottom line? Well...... as I quoted in my prior post, the more immune system triggers that can be avoided, the less medication is needed. In this case, the increase in seasonal allergens can not be avoided and I needed additional medication, resulting in the increase in Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg. Coreg will stay at 9.375mg until the season changes and there is a reduction in the current level of seasonal allergens.
One problem could be that I won't be able to tolerate the side effects of 9.375mg Coreg, and then would have to reduce it to 6.5mg Coreg, and then see if it was effective at that level.
Another problem could be that Coreg 9.375mg would lower my low, healthy blood pressure too much. That hasn't happened yet. I would like to stay at 9.375mg.
Another problem could be that the improvements in my health were just a coincidence and had nothing to do with the increased Coreg. That, of course, is possible, but improbable. I don't think it is all just a remarkable coincidence.
Patients expect their doctors to have all the answers. Doctors are expected to prescribe the correct medications for our very unique, individual bodies, environments and lifestyles, at the correct levels and on a correct medicine schedule. It just ain't possible. The best way to get better is to be very proactive in one's own care, follow the four essential steps, and be very lucky in hitting the mark.
One other thing that I do know is that surviving Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, Tachycardia, Asthma, Insulin Resistance and an overactive Immune System is a full time job that NEVER lets me forget that I have these nasty health problems.
* 10/25/08 4th day on 9.375mg Coreg, and still feeling good! :)
Not getting syncope (fainting) this time, on the increased Coreg. Probably because I am no longer taking either my CCB or my AceI. I am also able to come into contact with some Immune System "triggers" for the first time in a long time, without health problems. This makes things a lot easier on me!
It's too early to fully assess, but I would LOVE to get my dose of Coreg up to at least 25mg per day. At least there is hope that, without the interaction with other meds, I can finally increase Coreg up to a much more beneficial dosage.
For the past week, I've had a significant increase in breathing difficulties, chest pains, fatigue, feeling lousy and heart rhythm problems. I have had major difficulties in sleeping at night.
I tried avoiding additional "minor" triggers, but that didn't help. I increased my Asthma meds. That didn't help.
So....... then what I did was increase my Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg. I was guessing that, the increase in my symptoms were due to an increase in Adrenal Hormones caused by a "seasonal" increase in allergens in our environment. The increase in Coreg would help to increase the blockage of Adrenal hormones, and hopefully help to relieve some of my misery. Shortly after I took the increased Coreg, I started feeling better, and continued to improve throughout that day and the next day. *For the past two days and nights, I've felt much better.
The bottom line? Well...... as I quoted in my prior post, the more immune system triggers that can be avoided, the less medication is needed. In this case, the increase in seasonal allergens can not be avoided and I needed additional medication, resulting in the increase in Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg. Coreg will stay at 9.375mg until the season changes and there is a reduction in the current level of seasonal allergens.
One problem could be that I won't be able to tolerate the side effects of 9.375mg Coreg, and then would have to reduce it to 6.5mg Coreg, and then see if it was effective at that level.
Another problem could be that Coreg 9.375mg would lower my low, healthy blood pressure too much. That hasn't happened yet. I would like to stay at 9.375mg.
Another problem could be that the improvements in my health were just a coincidence and had nothing to do with the increased Coreg. That, of course, is possible, but improbable. I don't think it is all just a remarkable coincidence.
Patients expect their doctors to have all the answers. Doctors are expected to prescribe the correct medications for our very unique, individual bodies, environments and lifestyles, at the correct levels and on a correct medicine schedule. It just ain't possible. The best way to get better is to be very proactive in one's own care, follow the four essential steps, and be very lucky in hitting the mark.
One other thing that I do know is that surviving Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, Tachycardia, Asthma, Insulin Resistance and an overactive Immune System is a full time job that NEVER lets me forget that I have these nasty health problems.
* 10/25/08 4th day on 9.375mg Coreg, and still feeling good! :)
Not getting syncope (fainting) this time, on the increased Coreg. Probably because I am no longer taking either my CCB or my AceI. I am also able to come into contact with some Immune System "triggers" for the first time in a long time, without health problems. This makes things a lot easier on me!
It's too early to fully assess, but I would LOVE to get my dose of Coreg up to at least 25mg per day. At least there is hope that, without the interaction with other meds, I can finally increase Coreg up to a much more beneficial dosage.
Angelincorth
10-28-2008, 12:20 PM
Many people, like myself, just want to pop a pill and do not want to fight the hard fight. It is only after illness gets debilitating, that we resign ourselves to doing the right thing.
I believe that diet and exercise are important factors that maintain a healthy lifestyle and good heart health, what if you have problems exercising, I have found Q10 has helped me exercise and I am getting fitter by the day, just a suggestion that may help you.
Helen
I believe that diet and exercise are important factors that maintain a healthy lifestyle and good heart health, what if you have problems exercising, I have found Q10 has helped me exercise and I am getting fitter by the day, just a suggestion that may help you.
Helen
Beefsteak
10-29-2008, 12:19 PM
Helen,
Interesting that you find Q10 helpful. The last time I tried it - a few years back - I could not detect any energy increase, so I gave it up. It is of course supposed to be the source of "cellular energy" , whatever that is. I tried a few different doses. What dose did you find was effective, and for what sort of energetic activities?
Thanks for your help, Beefy.
Interesting that you find Q10 helpful. The last time I tried it - a few years back - I could not detect any energy increase, so I gave it up. It is of course supposed to be the source of "cellular energy" , whatever that is. I tried a few different doses. What dose did you find was effective, and for what sort of energetic activities?
Thanks for your help, Beefy.
Machaon
10-31-2008, 10:00 PM
For the past week, I've had a significant increase in breathing difficulties, chest pains, fatigue, feeling lousy and heart rhythm problems. I have had major difficulties in sleeping at night.
...
So....... then what I did was increase my Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg.
...
Shortly after I took the increased Coreg, I started feeling better, and continued to improve throughout that day and the next day. *For the past two days and nights, I've felt much better. ...
I have been feeling excellent since I increased my Coreg from 3.125mg, EXCELLENT! I am sleeping through the night, lying down, and waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and alert, despite all my nasty health problems. So...... I've decided a futher increase in Coreg was warranted. I've increased my Coreg from 9.375mg to 12.5mg. It's been nine days since I increased Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg; and four days since I increased Coreg from 9.375mg to 12.5mg. Time will tell how well I tolerate 12.5mg. I've never been able to tolerate either 9.375mg or 12.5mg, but I had always been on multiple medications, which I think interacted with the Coreg. More and more, I feel that multiple similar medications cause more problems than their benefits. Now that I am just on Digoxin, Warfarin, Flonase and Coreg; I think that I have a much better chance surviving the increased dose of Coreg.
So far, no side effects from Coreg, only feeling much better on Coreg. I love Coreg! :D
...
So....... then what I did was increase my Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg.
...
Shortly after I took the increased Coreg, I started feeling better, and continued to improve throughout that day and the next day. *For the past two days and nights, I've felt much better. ...
I have been feeling excellent since I increased my Coreg from 3.125mg, EXCELLENT! I am sleeping through the night, lying down, and waking up in the morning feeling refreshed and alert, despite all my nasty health problems. So...... I've decided a futher increase in Coreg was warranted. I've increased my Coreg from 9.375mg to 12.5mg. It's been nine days since I increased Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg; and four days since I increased Coreg from 9.375mg to 12.5mg. Time will tell how well I tolerate 12.5mg. I've never been able to tolerate either 9.375mg or 12.5mg, but I had always been on multiple medications, which I think interacted with the Coreg. More and more, I feel that multiple similar medications cause more problems than their benefits. Now that I am just on Digoxin, Warfarin, Flonase and Coreg; I think that I have a much better chance surviving the increased dose of Coreg.
So far, no side effects from Coreg, only feeling much better on Coreg. I love Coreg! :D
earl1964
11-11-2008, 11:03 PM
I think your post is an excellent one however I was disallusioned to hear of new study by Dr. Christopher O' Connor of Duke University that says heart failure patients do not benefit from excercise. This was on MSNBC's homepage under the health heading. What does everyone think?
flowergirl2day
11-11-2008, 11:05 PM
How are you managing on 12.5 mg of Coreg? I hope you continue to feel great and that you can tolerate the increased dose.
Your post is very inspiring. How good of you to share your insights and triumphs! Yours is an amazing story! It shows that the road to success can be a long one, with many twists and turns. The trick is to learn from the setbacks and use them to one's advantage.
What have you done to overcome your shortness of breath? I am finding it very restricting.
Wishing you good health and continued success. :)
flowergirl
Your post is very inspiring. How good of you to share your insights and triumphs! Yours is an amazing story! It shows that the road to success can be a long one, with many twists and turns. The trick is to learn from the setbacks and use them to one's advantage.
What have you done to overcome your shortness of breath? I am finding it very restricting.
Wishing you good health and continued success. :)
flowergirl
Machaon
11-12-2008, 10:39 AM
... Study by Dr. Christopher O' Connor of Duke University that says heart failure patients do not benefit from excercise.
How can a doctor say that?!
Physical exercise is essential to our metabolism and the overall health of our bodies, even for those with heart failure. It doesn't matter if the patient has heart failure, or diabetes, or immune system dysfunction, or allergies, or headaches, etc., exercise and diet are the two best medications that we can take, PERIOD!
One thing to think of is that the medical world does not make too much money from healthy patients, who exercise and eat healthy diets.
For those, like me, with Heart Failure, you have to start slow and easy, within the limitations of the injured heart. To me, my limitation level was easy. If I overdid it, I would suffer from nasty breathing problems and "increased" heart rhythm problems, for up to three days.
At first I could not do any physical exercise. When I would go shopping, I would tire easily. I usually had to return home within about an hour. The slightest effort caused increased symptoms. But, I could walk. My wife and I walked an hour per day, in our home, in two 30 minute sessions. Sometimes, of course, I could not even walk without increased symptoms and breathing problems. Sometimes, I could not walk for several days, due to breathing problems and weakness, etc.
The biggest impact on my health was going on a very healthy, frequent feeding, small meal, low calorie, low carb diet. The first two years of that diet brought my blood pressure down to much healthier levels, and my health improved quite a bit. During that time, we continued our one hour a day walking, even though, at times I had to stop due to breathing problems.
As I improved, due to diet, I was also able to increase my exercise, but with very limited physical exercise. I've also slowly learned about the things/irritants that trigger the over-production of Immune System, and NeuroHormonal body chemicals, which are responsible for worsening Heart Failure, and Immune System diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The Pharmaceutical Industry makes expensive medications that help to block, or inhibit, the "triggers", but they don't document the obvious "triggers", probably because too many sufferers would become much better, and need fewer medications and fewer doctor visits, causing huge, billion dollar loses for both the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Medical Industry! :eek:
Currently, as a result of diet, exercise, taking the most effective medications and avoiding the "triggers", I am doing about 100 pushups per day, 300 lifts per day with two ten-pound weights, and 300 steps per leg per day, and I am feeling much better and stronger. My heart is still damaged, but it is stronger and I can do much more without increased symptoms. Even so, once in a while, I'll do my lifts too close together and strain my heart and I will have breathing problems, and my heart will start jumping around, but that only lasts for about an hour, instead of lasting three days as before.
Exercise works for me. But........ I started slow and easy.
How can a doctor say that?!
Physical exercise is essential to our metabolism and the overall health of our bodies, even for those with heart failure. It doesn't matter if the patient has heart failure, or diabetes, or immune system dysfunction, or allergies, or headaches, etc., exercise and diet are the two best medications that we can take, PERIOD!
One thing to think of is that the medical world does not make too much money from healthy patients, who exercise and eat healthy diets.
For those, like me, with Heart Failure, you have to start slow and easy, within the limitations of the injured heart. To me, my limitation level was easy. If I overdid it, I would suffer from nasty breathing problems and "increased" heart rhythm problems, for up to three days.
At first I could not do any physical exercise. When I would go shopping, I would tire easily. I usually had to return home within about an hour. The slightest effort caused increased symptoms. But, I could walk. My wife and I walked an hour per day, in our home, in two 30 minute sessions. Sometimes, of course, I could not even walk without increased symptoms and breathing problems. Sometimes, I could not walk for several days, due to breathing problems and weakness, etc.
The biggest impact on my health was going on a very healthy, frequent feeding, small meal, low calorie, low carb diet. The first two years of that diet brought my blood pressure down to much healthier levels, and my health improved quite a bit. During that time, we continued our one hour a day walking, even though, at times I had to stop due to breathing problems.
As I improved, due to diet, I was also able to increase my exercise, but with very limited physical exercise. I've also slowly learned about the things/irritants that trigger the over-production of Immune System, and NeuroHormonal body chemicals, which are responsible for worsening Heart Failure, and Immune System diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). The Pharmaceutical Industry makes expensive medications that help to block, or inhibit, the "triggers", but they don't document the obvious "triggers", probably because too many sufferers would become much better, and need fewer medications and fewer doctor visits, causing huge, billion dollar loses for both the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Medical Industry! :eek:
Currently, as a result of diet, exercise, taking the most effective medications and avoiding the "triggers", I am doing about 100 pushups per day, 300 lifts per day with two ten-pound weights, and 300 steps per leg per day, and I am feeling much better and stronger. My heart is still damaged, but it is stronger and I can do much more without increased symptoms. Even so, once in a while, I'll do my lifts too close together and strain my heart and I will have breathing problems, and my heart will start jumping around, but that only lasts for about an hour, instead of lasting three days as before.
Exercise works for me. But........ I started slow and easy.
nosa47
11-12-2008, 09:23 PM
I think your post is an excellent one however I was disallusioned to hear of new study by Dr. Christopher O' Connor of Duke University that says heart failure patients do not benefit from excercise. This was on MSNBC's homepage under the health heading. What does everyone think?
The headline on this subject on MSNBC home page is very misleading. I researched the subject from other sources on the internet which gave a completely different picture than what was headlined on MSNBC. As usual, it seems the the news media would rather highlight bad news rather than good ones.
It appears that they did a secondary study with certain adjustments on "specific baseline characteristics" which took into account clinical factors predicting hospitalization or death, and they found that exercise is not only safe but SIGNIFICANTLY beneficial for patients with heart failure. They went on to say that the study will change the old belief system that exercise might be too risky for heart failure patients. If you do a research under Duke study on heart failure patients, you can read the articles that conclude that the outcome of the study is completely different from what you read on MSNBC headlines.
This is another example of the importance of each patient being active in his/her own treatment and evaluating their own condition and listening to their body and not just rely on what is being dictated to them. I wonder how many poor souls out there who read the headlines and did not follow through on researching the subject, and decided to stop exercising even though they were feeling and doing better with the exercise. That is really sad and makes one very :mad:
The headline on this subject on MSNBC home page is very misleading. I researched the subject from other sources on the internet which gave a completely different picture than what was headlined on MSNBC. As usual, it seems the the news media would rather highlight bad news rather than good ones.
It appears that they did a secondary study with certain adjustments on "specific baseline characteristics" which took into account clinical factors predicting hospitalization or death, and they found that exercise is not only safe but SIGNIFICANTLY beneficial for patients with heart failure. They went on to say that the study will change the old belief system that exercise might be too risky for heart failure patients. If you do a research under Duke study on heart failure patients, you can read the articles that conclude that the outcome of the study is completely different from what you read on MSNBC headlines.
This is another example of the importance of each patient being active in his/her own treatment and evaluating their own condition and listening to their body and not just rely on what is being dictated to them. I wonder how many poor souls out there who read the headlines and did not follow through on researching the subject, and decided to stop exercising even though they were feeling and doing better with the exercise. That is really sad and makes one very :mad:
Machaon
11-14-2008, 04:40 PM
How are you managing on 12.5 mg of Coreg? I hope you continue to feel great and that you can tolerate the increased dose.
So far, no reaction to the increased dose, except for an acceptable bounce up in blood pressure, which usually goes back down after about 10 days.
Your post is very inspiring. How good of you to share your insights and triumphs! Yours is an amazing story! It shows that the road to success can be a long one, with many twists and turns. The trick is to learn from the setbacks and use them to one's advantage.
Your comment, that it is a long road to success, is right on. There are many twists and turns, and not everything makes sense. The more pro-active a patient can get, the better chance of making an improvement. We are basically on our own due to our broken medical system.
What have you done to overcome your shortness of breath? I am finding it very restricting.
My breathing difficulties have improved quite a bit, but it is still an ongoing problem. I've got Heart Failure, Asthma and Insulin Resistance (pre-diabetes II state), all of which cause my breathing problems. A week ago, I got too close to someone who was smoking, and I suffered with a tight chest for two days. It was nasty, especially at night.
Sugar is like poison to me, and causes breathing difficulties. So I stay away from simple carbs, and stick closely to low glycemic foods.
If I exert myself too much, I also have problems breathing. I lift two 10 pound weights, in two sets of 30, and then do a set or two of at least 10 pushups. If I do them too close together, I'll have breathing difficulties.
So....... in my case, too much physical exertion, too many carbs or contact with various irritants or allergens cause my breathing problems. How about you? Have you found any major causes of your breathing problems?
Wishing you good health and continued success. :)
flowergirl
I hope that this is the start of your best times!
Take care. :wave:
So far, no reaction to the increased dose, except for an acceptable bounce up in blood pressure, which usually goes back down after about 10 days.
Your post is very inspiring. How good of you to share your insights and triumphs! Yours is an amazing story! It shows that the road to success can be a long one, with many twists and turns. The trick is to learn from the setbacks and use them to one's advantage.
Your comment, that it is a long road to success, is right on. There are many twists and turns, and not everything makes sense. The more pro-active a patient can get, the better chance of making an improvement. We are basically on our own due to our broken medical system.
What have you done to overcome your shortness of breath? I am finding it very restricting.
My breathing difficulties have improved quite a bit, but it is still an ongoing problem. I've got Heart Failure, Asthma and Insulin Resistance (pre-diabetes II state), all of which cause my breathing problems. A week ago, I got too close to someone who was smoking, and I suffered with a tight chest for two days. It was nasty, especially at night.
Sugar is like poison to me, and causes breathing difficulties. So I stay away from simple carbs, and stick closely to low glycemic foods.
If I exert myself too much, I also have problems breathing. I lift two 10 pound weights, in two sets of 30, and then do a set or two of at least 10 pushups. If I do them too close together, I'll have breathing difficulties.
So....... in my case, too much physical exertion, too many carbs or contact with various irritants or allergens cause my breathing problems. How about you? Have you found any major causes of your breathing problems?
Wishing you good health and continued success. :)
flowergirl
I hope that this is the start of your best times!
Take care. :wave:
Machaon
12-16-2008, 03:19 PM
... I've increased my Coreg from 9.375mg to 12.5mg. It's been nine days since I increased Coreg from 3.125mg to 9.375mg; and four days since I increased Coreg from 9.375mg to 12.5mg.
I've been on 6.25mg Coreg, twice a day (12.5mg total), for about 46 days. Doing quite well on it. I do not intend any additional increase in Coreg.
Now that I am just on Digoxin, Warfarin, Flonase and Coreg; I think that I have a much better chance surviving the increased dose of Coreg.
During August, I increased my calories which caused an increase in my blood pressure. My average blood pressure was getting too low, so I wondered what an increase in calories would do. After I increased the size of my meals, as time progressed, my average blood pressure kept creeping up, week after week, month after month.
For reference:
For the entire year 2002 : 150/96
For the entire year 2003 : 151/96
Current year readings:
In August, BP was 112/69
In Sept, BP was 116/68
In Oct, BP was 124/73
In Nov, BP was 126/74
December 1st, I started taking a Nitro under my tongue at 4pm, for it's lowing effect on my blood pressure, during the evening hours when blood pressure is at it's highest.
My blood pressure averages are based on daily blood pressure readings, normally ranging from 6am to 10pm.
On December 6th, I stopped taking the Nitro and started taking 10mg of Quinapril, an Ace Inhibitor. As a result, my average blood pressure, for December, has dropped down to more reasonable levels.
For December, so far, my average BP has been 123/72.
I decided to resume taking Quinapril because of positive articles about Coreg and Ace Inhibitors reversing Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy, and because I wanted a lower, average BP.
So far, no side effects from the increased Coreg, or the Quinapril, even though I have very high levels of potassium in my diet.
It has not been easy battling Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Immune System Dysfunction, Asthma, Sinusitis, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Chronically High Blood Pressure all at the same time.
.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Doing well after 20+ years of Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Asthma, MCS, Insulin Resistance, Hypertension, Immune Dysfunction.
I've been on 6.25mg Coreg, twice a day (12.5mg total), for about 46 days. Doing quite well on it. I do not intend any additional increase in Coreg.
Now that I am just on Digoxin, Warfarin, Flonase and Coreg; I think that I have a much better chance surviving the increased dose of Coreg.
During August, I increased my calories which caused an increase in my blood pressure. My average blood pressure was getting too low, so I wondered what an increase in calories would do. After I increased the size of my meals, as time progressed, my average blood pressure kept creeping up, week after week, month after month.
For reference:
For the entire year 2002 : 150/96
For the entire year 2003 : 151/96
Current year readings:
In August, BP was 112/69
In Sept, BP was 116/68
In Oct, BP was 124/73
In Nov, BP was 126/74
December 1st, I started taking a Nitro under my tongue at 4pm, for it's lowing effect on my blood pressure, during the evening hours when blood pressure is at it's highest.
My blood pressure averages are based on daily blood pressure readings, normally ranging from 6am to 10pm.
On December 6th, I stopped taking the Nitro and started taking 10mg of Quinapril, an Ace Inhibitor. As a result, my average blood pressure, for December, has dropped down to more reasonable levels.
For December, so far, my average BP has been 123/72.
I decided to resume taking Quinapril because of positive articles about Coreg and Ace Inhibitors reversing Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy, and because I wanted a lower, average BP.
So far, no side effects from the increased Coreg, or the Quinapril, even though I have very high levels of potassium in my diet.
It has not been easy battling Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Immune System Dysfunction, Asthma, Sinusitis, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Chronically High Blood Pressure all at the same time.
.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Doing well after 20+ years of Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Asthma, MCS, Insulin Resistance, Hypertension, Immune Dysfunction.
Machaon
01-07-2009, 01:01 PM
... During August, I increased my calories which caused an increase in my blood pressure. My average blood pressure was getting too low, so I wondered what an increase in calories would do. After I increased the size of my meals, as time progressed, my average blood pressure kept creeping up, week after week, month after month.
For reference:
For the entire year 2002 : 150/96
For the entire year 2003 : 151/96
Current year readings:
In August, BP was 112/69
In Sept, BP was 116/68
In Oct, BP was 124/73
In Nov, BP was 126/74
For December, so far, my average BP has been 123/72.
For Dec, BP was 126/73, so as can be seen, my blood pressure continued to climb in December. The net effect of the increase in calories in my diet, since August was 14 points Systolic and 5 points Diastolic, all other things considered equal. Dumb, dumb, DUMB!!! :dizzy:
Starting on Jan 4th, 2009 I decided to, once again, cut back my diet, reducing daily calories down to less than 1700, sodium to less than 1600mg , and potassium to around 5300mg. I eat seven times per day, ranging from 160 to 360 calories. I am already experiencing benefits from the improved diet.
My diet is currently at approximately 54% Carbs, 20% Proteins and 26% fat.
My Body Mass Index (BMI) is around 18, which is a little underweight, but acceptable to me. If I ever need to hide behind a telephone pole, I will be able to do it! :D
I deal with serious, life threatening heart disease, combined with immune system dysfunction. It has been quite a challenge, especially after I entered my 60's. I was foolish to increase my diet. :mad: This is not a game. :nono: I've got to get more serious. :(
My best chance to have a good quality of enjoyable life, and to survive and control these nasty diseases of Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Insulin Resistance, Immune Dysfunction, Asthma and Chronic High Blood Pressure, is to stay with the healthiest diet, significant exercise, avoiding "triggers" which make all types of diseases worse, and take the most beneficial medications.
For reference:
For the entire year 2002 : 150/96
For the entire year 2003 : 151/96
Current year readings:
In August, BP was 112/69
In Sept, BP was 116/68
In Oct, BP was 124/73
In Nov, BP was 126/74
For December, so far, my average BP has been 123/72.
For Dec, BP was 126/73, so as can be seen, my blood pressure continued to climb in December. The net effect of the increase in calories in my diet, since August was 14 points Systolic and 5 points Diastolic, all other things considered equal. Dumb, dumb, DUMB!!! :dizzy:
Starting on Jan 4th, 2009 I decided to, once again, cut back my diet, reducing daily calories down to less than 1700, sodium to less than 1600mg , and potassium to around 5300mg. I eat seven times per day, ranging from 160 to 360 calories. I am already experiencing benefits from the improved diet.
My diet is currently at approximately 54% Carbs, 20% Proteins and 26% fat.
My Body Mass Index (BMI) is around 18, which is a little underweight, but acceptable to me. If I ever need to hide behind a telephone pole, I will be able to do it! :D
I deal with serious, life threatening heart disease, combined with immune system dysfunction. It has been quite a challenge, especially after I entered my 60's. I was foolish to increase my diet. :mad: This is not a game. :nono: I've got to get more serious. :(
My best chance to have a good quality of enjoyable life, and to survive and control these nasty diseases of Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Insulin Resistance, Immune Dysfunction, Asthma and Chronic High Blood Pressure, is to stay with the healthiest diet, significant exercise, avoiding "triggers" which make all types of diseases worse, and take the most beneficial medications.
Machaon
02-07-2009, 10:20 AM
For Dec, BP was 126/73, so as can be seen, my blood pressure continued to climb in December. The net effect of the increase in calories in my diet, since August was 14 points Systolic and 5 points Diastolic, all other things considered equal. Dumb, dumb, DUMB!!! :dizzy:
For January, 2009, BP was 127/73 based on 384 readings. So far for February, 2009, BP is 129/74. For the first time in a long time, my blood pressure has been trending up, with higher peaks up around 160 over 90! That hasn't happened in well over a year!
Starting on Jan 4th, 2009 I decided to, once again, cut back my diet, reducing daily calories down to less than 1700, sodium to less than 1600mg , and potassium to around 5300mg. I eat seven times per day, ranging from 160 to 360 calories. I am already experiencing benefits from the improved diet.
Despite the change in diet, my blood pressure is trending up. I've been checking my fasting blood glucose and my one hour postprandial and two hour postprandial blood glucose levels, and they have been at the healthiest levels in 20 years, so I know it is not related to Insulin Dysfunction.
My diet is currently at approximately 54% Carbs, 20% Proteins and 26% fat.
I've been getting high potassium levels in my blood, so I've had to reduce my high potassium foods. My diet is currently at approximately 40% Carbs, 26% Protein and 34% mostly healthy fats.
I had tried to stay closer to the recommended balance of 50% Carbs, 20% Proteins and 30% fat, but I couldn't make it work. One benefit of the new distribution of calories is that my bowels are much improved, so perhaps my body is sending me a message. :)
Now to figure out why my blood pressure is trending back up, after all these months of great readings. I track my blood pressure at least seven times per day, and lately more than that, in order to associate higher readings and peaks with events. I have looked back at past records, reports and charts in order to compare blood pressure trends in the past and current. I think that I have made some findings about "cause and effect". I have made some changes and my blood pressure has been trending back down over the past few days. Time will tell whether this is an anomaly, or the real deal!
Taking my blood pressure 26,000+ times, since 1998, charting it many different ways, producing reports and doing analysis has made a huge change in my life and health and has definitely saved my life and the quality of my life.
Plus, I don't have to rely too much on a non-caring, over-burdened, too busy, too expensive and demeaning medical care system. That I like! :D
For January, 2009, BP was 127/73 based on 384 readings. So far for February, 2009, BP is 129/74. For the first time in a long time, my blood pressure has been trending up, with higher peaks up around 160 over 90! That hasn't happened in well over a year!
Starting on Jan 4th, 2009 I decided to, once again, cut back my diet, reducing daily calories down to less than 1700, sodium to less than 1600mg , and potassium to around 5300mg. I eat seven times per day, ranging from 160 to 360 calories. I am already experiencing benefits from the improved diet.
Despite the change in diet, my blood pressure is trending up. I've been checking my fasting blood glucose and my one hour postprandial and two hour postprandial blood glucose levels, and they have been at the healthiest levels in 20 years, so I know it is not related to Insulin Dysfunction.
My diet is currently at approximately 54% Carbs, 20% Proteins and 26% fat.
I've been getting high potassium levels in my blood, so I've had to reduce my high potassium foods. My diet is currently at approximately 40% Carbs, 26% Protein and 34% mostly healthy fats.
I had tried to stay closer to the recommended balance of 50% Carbs, 20% Proteins and 30% fat, but I couldn't make it work. One benefit of the new distribution of calories is that my bowels are much improved, so perhaps my body is sending me a message. :)
Now to figure out why my blood pressure is trending back up, after all these months of great readings. I track my blood pressure at least seven times per day, and lately more than that, in order to associate higher readings and peaks with events. I have looked back at past records, reports and charts in order to compare blood pressure trends in the past and current. I think that I have made some findings about "cause and effect". I have made some changes and my blood pressure has been trending back down over the past few days. Time will tell whether this is an anomaly, or the real deal!
Taking my blood pressure 26,000+ times, since 1998, charting it many different ways, producing reports and doing analysis has made a huge change in my life and health and has definitely saved my life and the quality of my life.
Plus, I don't have to rely too much on a non-caring, over-burdened, too busy, too expensive and demeaning medical care system. That I like! :D
gidi
02-07-2009, 11:26 AM
For Dec, BP was 126/73, so as can be seen, my blood pressure continued to climb in December. The net effect of the increase in calories in my diet, since August was 14 points Systolic and 5 points Diastolic, all other things considered equal. Dumb, dumb, DUMB!!! :dizzy:
Starting on Jan 4th, 2009 I decided to, once again, cut back my diet, reducing daily calories down to less than 1700, sodium to less than 1600mg , and potassium to around 5300mg. I eat seven times per day, ranging from 160 to 360 calories. I am already experiencing benefits from the improved diet.
My diet is currently at approximately 54% Carbs, 20% Proteins and 26% fat.
My Body Mass Index (BMI) is around 18, which is a little underweight, but acceptable to me. If I ever need to hide behind a telephone pole, I will be able to do it! :D
I deal with serious, life threatening heart disease, combined with immune system dysfunction. It has been quite a challenge, especially after I entered my 60's. I was foolish to increase my diet. :mad: This is not a game. :nono: I've got to get more serious. :(
My best chance to have a good quality of enjoyable life, and to survive and control these nasty diseases of Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Insulin Resistance, Immune Dysfunction, Asthma and Chronic High Blood Pressure, is to stay with the healthiest diet, significant exercise, avoiding "triggers" which make all types of diseases worse, and take the most beneficial medications.
Starting on Jan 4th, 2009 I decided to, once again, cut back my diet, reducing daily calories down to less than 1700, sodium to less than 1600mg , and potassium to around 5300mg. I eat seven times per day, ranging from 160 to 360 calories. I am already experiencing benefits from the improved diet.
My diet is currently at approximately 54% Carbs, 20% Proteins and 26% fat.
My Body Mass Index (BMI) is around 18, which is a little underweight, but acceptable to me. If I ever need to hide behind a telephone pole, I will be able to do it! :D
I deal with serious, life threatening heart disease, combined with immune system dysfunction. It has been quite a challenge, especially after I entered my 60's. I was foolish to increase my diet. :mad: This is not a game. :nono: I've got to get more serious. :(
My best chance to have a good quality of enjoyable life, and to survive and control these nasty diseases of Heart Failure, Persistent Atrial Fibrillation, Insulin Resistance, Immune Dysfunction, Asthma and Chronic High Blood Pressure, is to stay with the healthiest diet, significant exercise, avoiding "triggers" which make all types of diseases worse, and take the most beneficial medications.
gidi
02-07-2009, 11:30 AM
I took good advice of your comment ofeating 7 times a day i just had mi with lvef 55starting to do some walking
would appreciate saring advices thanks
would appreciate saring advices thanks
Machaon
02-07-2009, 01:51 PM
I took good advice of your comment of eating 7 times a day
Have you just started the new diet? How many calories per meal?
My meals range in calores (less fiber) from the largest being 267 calories at 6am, the lowest being 166 calories at 8:30pm; for a total of 1544 calories (minus fiber).
My ratios are: 40.0% carbs (not counting fiber), 26.0% protein and 34.0% healthy fat. I am not saying that these are the best ratios, but it is what I'm having to do at this point. My diet has changed frequently (especially when I've cheated :nono:) but the premise has always stayed the same, and the positive impact, on my health and my heart failure, has been dramatic.
i just had mi with lvef 55
Sorry to hear about your heart attack. At least the LVEF, @ 55, isn't too bad. I hope that you are recovering well, and doing quite well since the MI.
starting to do some walking
Good idea. Exercise and diet are two very powerful natural medications, especially the diet.
would appreciate saring advices thanks
It would be my pleasure! :)
B'hatzlacha! :wave:
Have you just started the new diet? How many calories per meal?
My meals range in calores (less fiber) from the largest being 267 calories at 6am, the lowest being 166 calories at 8:30pm; for a total of 1544 calories (minus fiber).
My ratios are: 40.0% carbs (not counting fiber), 26.0% protein and 34.0% healthy fat. I am not saying that these are the best ratios, but it is what I'm having to do at this point. My diet has changed frequently (especially when I've cheated :nono:) but the premise has always stayed the same, and the positive impact, on my health and my heart failure, has been dramatic.
i just had mi with lvef 55
Sorry to hear about your heart attack. At least the LVEF, @ 55, isn't too bad. I hope that you are recovering well, and doing quite well since the MI.
starting to do some walking
Good idea. Exercise and diet are two very powerful natural medications, especially the diet.
would appreciate saring advices thanks
It would be my pleasure! :)
B'hatzlacha! :wave:
Machaon
02-27-2009, 10:41 AM
I have significantly increased my calories and sodium again, and have decided to live with the increased, but still reasonably healthy, higher blood pressure.
I have only gained a couple of pounds from the increased diet, and my blood sugar levels, even with increased carbs, are at healthy levels that I haven't experienced in 20 years! I have more energy, more strength and improved cognitive powers.
My fasting blood sugar has been hovering around 90. My one hour and two hour postprandial levels are well within healthy levels. In fact, my blood sugar levels are so good that I thought that there might be something wrong. I spent some time researching and have determined, at least at present, that my results are reflective of better health. Plus..... I feel great!
After over four years of a strict, low calorie, frequent feeding, small meal diet; combined with strong daily physical exercise, taking the most effective, low cost medications; and avoiding those triggers that negatively effect one's health; ...... approaching age 70, I am experiencing improvements to my health that I didn't think were possible.
And..... by being proactive, I keep my costs for dealing with Heart Failure, Chronically High Blood Pressure, Asthma, Insulin Resistance, Pre-Diabetes and Immune Dysfunction at very affordable levels. I insist on low cost generics, except for my Asthma, for which I have no choice. I get my meds at the local store for $10 for three months. I see my doctor only when I have to.
Just wanted to, once again, post about the significant curative effects of healthy diet and exercise. Plus...... eating a healthier diet does not have to be expensive, and, of course, exercise is free!
I have only gained a couple of pounds from the increased diet, and my blood sugar levels, even with increased carbs, are at healthy levels that I haven't experienced in 20 years! I have more energy, more strength and improved cognitive powers.
My fasting blood sugar has been hovering around 90. My one hour and two hour postprandial levels are well within healthy levels. In fact, my blood sugar levels are so good that I thought that there might be something wrong. I spent some time researching and have determined, at least at present, that my results are reflective of better health. Plus..... I feel great!
After over four years of a strict, low calorie, frequent feeding, small meal diet; combined with strong daily physical exercise, taking the most effective, low cost medications; and avoiding those triggers that negatively effect one's health; ...... approaching age 70, I am experiencing improvements to my health that I didn't think were possible.
And..... by being proactive, I keep my costs for dealing with Heart Failure, Chronically High Blood Pressure, Asthma, Insulin Resistance, Pre-Diabetes and Immune Dysfunction at very affordable levels. I insist on low cost generics, except for my Asthma, for which I have no choice. I get my meds at the local store for $10 for three months. I see my doctor only when I have to.
Just wanted to, once again, post about the significant curative effects of healthy diet and exercise. Plus...... eating a healthier diet does not have to be expensive, and, of course, exercise is free!
Machaon
03-06-2009, 05:55 PM
I have significantly increased my calories and sodium again, and have decided to live with the increased, but still reasonably healthy, higher blood pressure.
Blood Pressure average for Feb, 2009 was 129/74, based on 447 readings. That represents 16 blood pressure readings per day! :eek:
The reason for my much increased blood pressure tracking is due to my increase in calories, and a major medicine change for which I am experimenting. I am doubling one of my meds, Coreg, and have stopped taking my Ace Inhibitor. At the same time, I am experimenting with other methods of reducing blood pressure. I am more than satisfied with the results, so far. Time will tell.
I am doubling my Coreg to gain benefit from it's powerful, clinically proven NeuroHormonal blocking. I realize that by stopping the Ace Inhibitor, I will be losing the benefit of additional and different NeuroHormonal Inhibition, but I am willing to lose that added benefit for gains elsewhere.
The result of my increased calories has been obvious, though, reflected in an increase in average Blood Pressure.
During 2008, on my lower calorie diet, my average blood pressure was 122/72, based on 2543 readings. During 2009, on my higher calorie diet, my average blood pressure has been 128/73, based on 834 readings.
I am willing to sacrifice having higher, but still healthy blood pressure averages, in order to better enjoy my diet.
To me, a healthy, appropriate diet is the most important factor towards good health and healthy blood pressure. One can take all of the different classes of blood pressure medications, and all of them combined won't make up for an unhealthy, inappropriate diet.
But, alas......, this is a case of do what I say, not what I do, as I increase my calories in order to have more enjoyable meals, even if it means some increase in blood pressure and heart rhythm dysfunction. I am betting that the increases will not be damaging to my heart disease, and my heart failure, etc., will continue to get better, as it has over the past few years.
Blood Pressure average for Feb, 2009 was 129/74, based on 447 readings. That represents 16 blood pressure readings per day! :eek:
The reason for my much increased blood pressure tracking is due to my increase in calories, and a major medicine change for which I am experimenting. I am doubling one of my meds, Coreg, and have stopped taking my Ace Inhibitor. At the same time, I am experimenting with other methods of reducing blood pressure. I am more than satisfied with the results, so far. Time will tell.
I am doubling my Coreg to gain benefit from it's powerful, clinically proven NeuroHormonal blocking. I realize that by stopping the Ace Inhibitor, I will be losing the benefit of additional and different NeuroHormonal Inhibition, but I am willing to lose that added benefit for gains elsewhere.
The result of my increased calories has been obvious, though, reflected in an increase in average Blood Pressure.
During 2008, on my lower calorie diet, my average blood pressure was 122/72, based on 2543 readings. During 2009, on my higher calorie diet, my average blood pressure has been 128/73, based on 834 readings.
I am willing to sacrifice having higher, but still healthy blood pressure averages, in order to better enjoy my diet.
To me, a healthy, appropriate diet is the most important factor towards good health and healthy blood pressure. One can take all of the different classes of blood pressure medications, and all of them combined won't make up for an unhealthy, inappropriate diet.
But, alas......, this is a case of do what I say, not what I do, as I increase my calories in order to have more enjoyable meals, even if it means some increase in blood pressure and heart rhythm dysfunction. I am betting that the increases will not be damaging to my heart disease, and my heart failure, etc., will continue to get better, as it has over the past few years.
flowergirl2day
03-08-2009, 03:54 AM
Hi, :)
I am doubling my Coreg to gain benefit from it's powerful, clinically proven NeuroHormonal blocking. I realize that by stopping the Ace Inhibitor, I will be losing the benefit of additional and different NeuroHormonal Inhibition, but I am willing to lose that added benefit for gains elsewhere.
Coreg is an excellent drug. ACE inhibitors are just as important for people with heart failure, even though they do not provide a complete blockade of RAS due to the ANG II alternative pathways. In contrast, ARBs act at the receptor level and offer a better blockade of the action of ANG II. The inhibition of RAS is essential to preservation of cardiovascular function in heart failure and glomerular function in CKD. I am looking into the pros and cons of combining ACE Is and ARBs. I'd like to ask my internist about it when I see him later this month - but only if I figure the benefits would be greater than the risks.
Anyway, I wish you luck with your "experiment". I too have experimented with medication - without any ill effects.
Your current dose of Coreg is probably low and well tolerated. Doubling it could result in adverse effects.
Pleae be careful! :wave:
flowergirl
I am doubling my Coreg to gain benefit from it's powerful, clinically proven NeuroHormonal blocking. I realize that by stopping the Ace Inhibitor, I will be losing the benefit of additional and different NeuroHormonal Inhibition, but I am willing to lose that added benefit for gains elsewhere.
Coreg is an excellent drug. ACE inhibitors are just as important for people with heart failure, even though they do not provide a complete blockade of RAS due to the ANG II alternative pathways. In contrast, ARBs act at the receptor level and offer a better blockade of the action of ANG II. The inhibition of RAS is essential to preservation of cardiovascular function in heart failure and glomerular function in CKD. I am looking into the pros and cons of combining ACE Is and ARBs. I'd like to ask my internist about it when I see him later this month - but only if I figure the benefits would be greater than the risks.
Anyway, I wish you luck with your "experiment". I too have experimented with medication - without any ill effects.
Your current dose of Coreg is probably low and well tolerated. Doubling it could result in adverse effects.
Pleae be careful! :wave:
flowergirl
Machaon
03-08-2009, 06:29 PM
Hi, :)
Coreg is an excellent drug.
I LOVE Coreg, it's NeuroHormonal blocking properties, and it's lack of side effects (so far).
ACE inhibitors are just as important for people with heart failure, even though they do not provide a complete blockade of RAS due to the ANG II alternative pathways.
Good point! I have no medical education, and I struggle reading complex medical jargon, so, naturally, I am always worried about making good decisions, especially since there is a lot at stake.
I really struggled with the decision to drop my ACE, because of just what you say....... that it is an important medical treatment for Heart Failure. I have decided that my diet was more "medicinal" than my ACE Inhibitor, so I dropped the ACE for good, and I will continue to slowly increase my Coreg.
In contrast, ARBs act at the receptor level and offer a better blockade of the action of ANG II. The inhibition of RAS is essential to preservation of cardiovascular function in heart failure and glomerular function in CKD.
I won't take an ARB because of the same dietary interactions that I encountered with the ACE; and because there isn't a low cost generic. My three heart meds, Coreg, Digoxin and Coumadin all cost $10 each for a three month's supply. I only have to go to the Cardiologist once a year, so my medical costs are very low.
I am looking into the pros and cons of combining ACE Is and ARBs. I'd like to ask my internist about it when I see him later this month - but only if I figure the benefits would be greater than the risks.
From what I have read, the combination of both ACE and ARB have been shown to have additive, beneficial effects.
Anyway, I wish you luck with your "experiment".
Thanks! So far so good. I am trying to take it slow. I am tempted to increase the Coreg at a faster rate, but I aim to increase it slowly, so I don't mess things up.
I dropped the ACE cold turkey, and for about a week, I had to stop strenuous exercise. For instance, for that week, if I tried to do push-ups, I would suffer with a tight chest, difficult breathing and chest pains for about 24 hours. But...... now I am back up to doing about 150 push-ups per day, along with my other demanding exercises.
I too have experimented with medication - without any ill effects.
You're lucky and probably smarter about doing that than I am. I have almost always had problems either dropping a medicine too fast, or taking too much of a med, or causing a bad interaction between my meds. It has not been an easy battle against Heart Failure over the past 20 years. Fortunately, for the past few years, my quality of life and health have improved quite a bit.
Your current dose of Coreg is probably low and well tolerated. Doubling it could result in adverse effects.
Please be careful! :wave:
I always appreciate your informed opinion. You do a lot of research and always bring something to the conversation that causes me to go back to the drawing board. :)
Thanks! :wave:
Coreg is an excellent drug.
I LOVE Coreg, it's NeuroHormonal blocking properties, and it's lack of side effects (so far).
ACE inhibitors are just as important for people with heart failure, even though they do not provide a complete blockade of RAS due to the ANG II alternative pathways.
Good point! I have no medical education, and I struggle reading complex medical jargon, so, naturally, I am always worried about making good decisions, especially since there is a lot at stake.
I really struggled with the decision to drop my ACE, because of just what you say....... that it is an important medical treatment for Heart Failure. I have decided that my diet was more "medicinal" than my ACE Inhibitor, so I dropped the ACE for good, and I will continue to slowly increase my Coreg.
In contrast, ARBs act at the receptor level and offer a better blockade of the action of ANG II. The inhibition of RAS is essential to preservation of cardiovascular function in heart failure and glomerular function in CKD.
I won't take an ARB because of the same dietary interactions that I encountered with the ACE; and because there isn't a low cost generic. My three heart meds, Coreg, Digoxin and Coumadin all cost $10 each for a three month's supply. I only have to go to the Cardiologist once a year, so my medical costs are very low.
I am looking into the pros and cons of combining ACE Is and ARBs. I'd like to ask my internist about it when I see him later this month - but only if I figure the benefits would be greater than the risks.
From what I have read, the combination of both ACE and ARB have been shown to have additive, beneficial effects.
Anyway, I wish you luck with your "experiment".
Thanks! So far so good. I am trying to take it slow. I am tempted to increase the Coreg at a faster rate, but I aim to increase it slowly, so I don't mess things up.
I dropped the ACE cold turkey, and for about a week, I had to stop strenuous exercise. For instance, for that week, if I tried to do push-ups, I would suffer with a tight chest, difficult breathing and chest pains for about 24 hours. But...... now I am back up to doing about 150 push-ups per day, along with my other demanding exercises.
I too have experimented with medication - without any ill effects.
You're lucky and probably smarter about doing that than I am. I have almost always had problems either dropping a medicine too fast, or taking too much of a med, or causing a bad interaction between my meds. It has not been an easy battle against Heart Failure over the past 20 years. Fortunately, for the past few years, my quality of life and health have improved quite a bit.
Your current dose of Coreg is probably low and well tolerated. Doubling it could result in adverse effects.
Please be careful! :wave:
I always appreciate your informed opinion. You do a lot of research and always bring something to the conversation that causes me to go back to the drawing board. :)
Thanks! :wave:
flowergirl2day
03-08-2009, 11:54 PM
I came across the following interesting information while reading about atherosclerotic vulnerable plaques in a recently published book.
I didn't know this, but, in addition to reducing blood pressure, stroke risk and mortality in CHF, and helping prevent reinfarction, the ACE inhibitors also reduce the progression of atherosclerosis. Several mechanisms may be responsible, including the antiinflammatory action of ACE inhibitors. You can imagine my surprise - until now, I've never read anything along those lines (inflammatory properties of ACE inhibitors), or seen any references to it. I can't wait to find out more. I have known about the antiinflammatory properties of statins, because we had discussed them with my doctor even before the Jupiter study results were published. My statin dose has just been doubled. I wonder if the antiinflammatory effects of the two drugs are additive....Wouldn't that be interesting? :)
I'll try to find and read some studies relating to these issues. I know you've researched the ACE inhibitors thoroughly. Have you been aware of this?
I thought I'd mention it.
flowergirl
I didn't know this, but, in addition to reducing blood pressure, stroke risk and mortality in CHF, and helping prevent reinfarction, the ACE inhibitors also reduce the progression of atherosclerosis. Several mechanisms may be responsible, including the antiinflammatory action of ACE inhibitors. You can imagine my surprise - until now, I've never read anything along those lines (inflammatory properties of ACE inhibitors), or seen any references to it. I can't wait to find out more. I have known about the antiinflammatory properties of statins, because we had discussed them with my doctor even before the Jupiter study results were published. My statin dose has just been doubled. I wonder if the antiinflammatory effects of the two drugs are additive....Wouldn't that be interesting? :)
I'll try to find and read some studies relating to these issues. I know you've researched the ACE inhibitors thoroughly. Have you been aware of this?
I thought I'd mention it.
flowergirl
Machaon
03-12-2009, 05:50 PM
I didn't know this, but, in addition to reducing blood pressure, stroke risk and mortality in CHF, and helping prevent reinfarction, the ACE inhibitors also reduce the progression of atherosclerosis. ... I know you've researched the ACE inhibitors thoroughly. Have you been aware of this?
I thought I'd mention it.
flowergirl
Once again, thanks for your research efforts. You always bring up interesting issues for one to ponder! :)
Ace Inhibitors are considered a very beneficial medication for the treatment of Heart Failure, which I have had for over 20 years. Ace inhibitors should be prescribed to anyone suffering from Heart Failure, if tolerated. Plus..... Ace Inhibitors work very well when combined with a Beta Blocker, like Coreg, which I am taking.
That said...... then why am I refusing to take my Ace Inhibitor?
My Heart Failure and health got progressively worse, since 1986, until I went on a low calorie, frequent, small meal diet, starting December 2004. Since then my health and Heart Failure has significantly improved and I feel great! Except...... when I am on the Ace Inhibitor I have to limit the potassium in my diet, or I suffer from some nasty problems. My diet consists of high potassium foods and I consume over 5,000 mgs of Potassium per day. My choice is either to change the diet, which has significantly improved my health, or dump the Ace Inhibitor. Since the combination of Coreg and Digoxin has been shown to be very effective at improving my health problems, I felt that the choice was an easy one....... the Ace Inhibitor had to go!
This is a case of trusting my own results and not following the advice of the medical professionals.
Based on your research, and my own, I wish I could have stayed on the Ace Inhibitor, but, alas, can't do it.
Thanks again, Flowergirl! Take care............. :wave:
I thought I'd mention it.
flowergirl
Once again, thanks for your research efforts. You always bring up interesting issues for one to ponder! :)
Ace Inhibitors are considered a very beneficial medication for the treatment of Heart Failure, which I have had for over 20 years. Ace inhibitors should be prescribed to anyone suffering from Heart Failure, if tolerated. Plus..... Ace Inhibitors work very well when combined with a Beta Blocker, like Coreg, which I am taking.
That said...... then why am I refusing to take my Ace Inhibitor?
My Heart Failure and health got progressively worse, since 1986, until I went on a low calorie, frequent, small meal diet, starting December 2004. Since then my health and Heart Failure has significantly improved and I feel great! Except...... when I am on the Ace Inhibitor I have to limit the potassium in my diet, or I suffer from some nasty problems. My diet consists of high potassium foods and I consume over 5,000 mgs of Potassium per day. My choice is either to change the diet, which has significantly improved my health, or dump the Ace Inhibitor. Since the combination of Coreg and Digoxin has been shown to be very effective at improving my health problems, I felt that the choice was an easy one....... the Ace Inhibitor had to go!
This is a case of trusting my own results and not following the advice of the medical professionals.
Based on your research, and my own, I wish I could have stayed on the Ace Inhibitor, but, alas, can't do it.
Thanks again, Flowergirl! Take care............. :wave:
flowergirl2day
03-19-2009, 12:49 AM
Hi, :)
My Heart Failure and health got progressively worse, since 1986, until I went on a low calorie, frequent, small meal diet, starting December 2004. Since then my health and Heart Failure has significantly improved and I feel great! Except...... when I am on the Ace Inhibitor I have to limit the potassium in my diet, or I suffer from some nasty problems. My diet consists of high potassium foods and I consume over 5,000 mgs of Potassium per day. My choice is either to change the diet, which has significantly improved my health, or dump the Ace Inhibitor. Since the combination of Coreg and Digoxin has been shown to be very effective at improving my health problems, I felt that the choice was an easy one....... the Ace Inhibitor had to go!
The potassium level is a big a concern - that is why our doctors monitor it so closely. I've had to reduce the amount of fruits & veggies in order to keep the potassium level within a normal range. My drug regimen includes an ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker bisoprolol and spironolactone - a diuretic and an aldosterone antagonist. ACE inhibitors and spironolactone are potassium-building drugs. Discontinuing my ACE inhibitor is not an option. I hope I can keep taking the diuretic. My doctor says it is needed for the heart. I see that you don't use any diuretics.
This is a very helpful thread. Thanks for sharing. I am glad you feel great, and hope you continue to do so without the ACE inhibitor. I feel much better myself, my breathing has improved significantly since I've returned to work. :)
Good luck with your coreg therapy.
flowergirl
My Heart Failure and health got progressively worse, since 1986, until I went on a low calorie, frequent, small meal diet, starting December 2004. Since then my health and Heart Failure has significantly improved and I feel great! Except...... when I am on the Ace Inhibitor I have to limit the potassium in my diet, or I suffer from some nasty problems. My diet consists of high potassium foods and I consume over 5,000 mgs of Potassium per day. My choice is either to change the diet, which has significantly improved my health, or dump the Ace Inhibitor. Since the combination of Coreg and Digoxin has been shown to be very effective at improving my health problems, I felt that the choice was an easy one....... the Ace Inhibitor had to go!
The potassium level is a big a concern - that is why our doctors monitor it so closely. I've had to reduce the amount of fruits & veggies in order to keep the potassium level within a normal range. My drug regimen includes an ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker bisoprolol and spironolactone - a diuretic and an aldosterone antagonist. ACE inhibitors and spironolactone are potassium-building drugs. Discontinuing my ACE inhibitor is not an option. I hope I can keep taking the diuretic. My doctor says it is needed for the heart. I see that you don't use any diuretics.
This is a very helpful thread. Thanks for sharing. I am glad you feel great, and hope you continue to do so without the ACE inhibitor. I feel much better myself, my breathing has improved significantly since I've returned to work. :)
Good luck with your coreg therapy.
flowergirl
Machaon
03-20-2009, 10:33 AM
Hi, :)
The potassium level is a big a concern - that is why our doctors monitor it so closely. I've had to reduce the amount of fruits & veggies in order to keep the potassium level within a normal range.
Do you still get several servings of fruits and veggies in your daily diet?
As I said, I reluctantly gave up my Ace Inhibitor :( in order to avoid cutting back on fruits and veggies.
My drug regimen includes an ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker bisoprolol and spironolactone - a diuretic and an aldosterone antagonist. ACE inhibitors and spironolactone are potassium-building drugs. Discontinuing my ACE inhibitor is not an option. I hope I can keep taking the diuretic. My doctor says it is needed for the heart. I see that you don't use any diuretics.
I have greatly improved my health through diet, exercise, taking the most effective medications, and avoiding the things/irritants that cause (trigger) over-reactions of both the NeuroHormonal and Immune systems.
Ace Inhibitors, Aldosterone Antagonists, Calcium Channel Blockers, Diuretics, Arbs, Renin Blockers, Sodium Channel Blockers, Potassium Channel Blockers, etc., and on and on and on and on, all attempt to limit, block, inhibit the damage done by over-active NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems.
As I have learned the extremely complex rules of how to limit the over-activity of my own NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, through natural means, my health has improved dramatically and I require less medication and fewer doctor visits because my health problems are getting progressively better rather than the normal progressive worsening. In other words, if I can limit the activity of my own NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, it is only logical and reasonable that I would need less blocking/inhibiting medications and fewer doctor visits (of course the medical industry and the pharmaceutical industry doesn't want us to know about this). If I was unable to limit the NeuroHormonal/Immune over-activity, I would require more medication and more doctor visits. This would apply to my health regardless of whether I suffered from Heart Failure, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Environmental Illness or any other Immune System/NeuroHormonal diseases. These diseases ALL get worse because of over-responsive Immune and NeuroHormonal Systems.
This is a very helpful thread. Thanks for sharing. I am glad you feel great, and hope you continue to do so without the ACE inhibitor.
Thanks for the encouragement! :)
What opened the door to the significant improvement in my heath and quality of life, was when I started closely tracking my blood pressure. It's now been over ten years, and 27,000 BP readings (average 7 per day). You would be amazed at what closely tracking the blood pressure can do to significantly improve chronic disease.
I feel much better myself, my breathing has improved significantly since I've returned to work. :)
That is great! :bouncing:
As I've said before, I worry about you. You've been through a lot and have spent countless hours researching your own health problems and medication requirements, and sharing your findings with us. Sounds like your significant research efforts have paid off!
Good luck with your coreg therapy.
flowergirl
And good luck with being back at work, and feeling better!
Coreg, IMHO, was a huge medical breakthrough, many of whose benefits were more accidental rather than by design. There have been a large number of clinical trials using Coreg (Carvedilol). The more that the Pharmaceutical world tested Coreg, the more benefits they found. Coreg has blocking effects against both the NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, improves Insulin Sensitivity and is especially effective against Diastolic Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation, when combined with Digoxin. Plus...... one of it's best attributes is that it is available as a cheap GENERIC that can be purchased without insurance at $4 per month ($10 for 3 months). :D
The potassium level is a big a concern - that is why our doctors monitor it so closely. I've had to reduce the amount of fruits & veggies in order to keep the potassium level within a normal range.
Do you still get several servings of fruits and veggies in your daily diet?
As I said, I reluctantly gave up my Ace Inhibitor :( in order to avoid cutting back on fruits and veggies.
My drug regimen includes an ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker bisoprolol and spironolactone - a diuretic and an aldosterone antagonist. ACE inhibitors and spironolactone are potassium-building drugs. Discontinuing my ACE inhibitor is not an option. I hope I can keep taking the diuretic. My doctor says it is needed for the heart. I see that you don't use any diuretics.
I have greatly improved my health through diet, exercise, taking the most effective medications, and avoiding the things/irritants that cause (trigger) over-reactions of both the NeuroHormonal and Immune systems.
Ace Inhibitors, Aldosterone Antagonists, Calcium Channel Blockers, Diuretics, Arbs, Renin Blockers, Sodium Channel Blockers, Potassium Channel Blockers, etc., and on and on and on and on, all attempt to limit, block, inhibit the damage done by over-active NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems.
As I have learned the extremely complex rules of how to limit the over-activity of my own NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, through natural means, my health has improved dramatically and I require less medication and fewer doctor visits because my health problems are getting progressively better rather than the normal progressive worsening. In other words, if I can limit the activity of my own NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, it is only logical and reasonable that I would need less blocking/inhibiting medications and fewer doctor visits (of course the medical industry and the pharmaceutical industry doesn't want us to know about this). If I was unable to limit the NeuroHormonal/Immune over-activity, I would require more medication and more doctor visits. This would apply to my health regardless of whether I suffered from Heart Failure, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Environmental Illness or any other Immune System/NeuroHormonal diseases. These diseases ALL get worse because of over-responsive Immune and NeuroHormonal Systems.
This is a very helpful thread. Thanks for sharing. I am glad you feel great, and hope you continue to do so without the ACE inhibitor.
Thanks for the encouragement! :)
What opened the door to the significant improvement in my heath and quality of life, was when I started closely tracking my blood pressure. It's now been over ten years, and 27,000 BP readings (average 7 per day). You would be amazed at what closely tracking the blood pressure can do to significantly improve chronic disease.
I feel much better myself, my breathing has improved significantly since I've returned to work. :)
That is great! :bouncing:
As I've said before, I worry about you. You've been through a lot and have spent countless hours researching your own health problems and medication requirements, and sharing your findings with us. Sounds like your significant research efforts have paid off!
Good luck with your coreg therapy.
flowergirl
And good luck with being back at work, and feeling better!
Coreg, IMHO, was a huge medical breakthrough, many of whose benefits were more accidental rather than by design. There have been a large number of clinical trials using Coreg (Carvedilol). The more that the Pharmaceutical world tested Coreg, the more benefits they found. Coreg has blocking effects against both the NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, improves Insulin Sensitivity and is especially effective against Diastolic Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation, when combined with Digoxin. Plus...... one of it's best attributes is that it is available as a cheap GENERIC that can be purchased without insurance at $4 per month ($10 for 3 months). :D
flowergirl2day
03-21-2009, 01:35 AM
Machaon,
Do you still get several servings of fruits and veggies in your daily diet?
I get between four and six servings of lower-potassium fruits and vegetables a day, down from ten to twelve, and avoid high potassium foods like beans (in any shape and form), bananas, canteloupes, figs and oranges. I figure six servings a day should be nutritionally adequate, if not ideal. I have not seen a nutritionist yet and plan on asking my internist for a referral. I want to be sure my diet is well-balanced.
Ace Inhibitors, Aldosterone Antagonists, Calcium Channel Blockers, Diuretics, Arbs, Renin Blockers, Sodium Channel Blockers, Potassium Channel Blockers, etc., and on and on and on and on, all attempt to limit, block, inhibit the damage done by over-active NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems.
As I have learned the extremely complex rules of how to limit the over-activity of my own NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, through natural means, my health has improved dramatically and I require less medication and fewer doctor visits because my health problems are getting progressively better rather than the normal progressive worsening. In other words, if I can limit the activity of my own NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, it is only logical and reasonable that I would need less blocking/inhibiting medications and fewer doctor visits
Blocking and inhibiting various processes is indeed what all these drugs do - thanks for the reminder. So, the question is: how does one do this using only natural means? For instance, can ongoing inflammatory processes be reduced or halted by avoidance of certain foods and inclusion of others? Does an increase in physical activity help? I have read about a specific, very strict and (in my opinion) unpalatable anti-inflammatory diet that seems to have worked in a clinical setting. For an average person, such a diet is unrealistic and hardly an option. As you point out, many of our problems originate with the malfunctioning immune and hormonal systems, parts of which we have no control over.
What are the extremely complex rules of limiting the over-activity of one's neurohormonal and immune systems, simplified? How is it done?
What opened the door to the significant improvement in my heath and quality of life, was when I started closely tracking my blood pressure. It's now been over ten years, and 27,000 BP readings (average 7 per day). You would be amazed at what closely tracking the blood pressure can do to significantly improve chronic disease.
I have no doubt that this is true. High blood pressure is so detrimental to our health -everyone should have it tested at least occassionally. Those of us with high blood pressure issues should monitor its fluctuations and try to determine what triggers them. I would like to find out how helpful/harmful having low blood pressure (on medication) is for a person with kidney disease in terms of heart function. The treatment guidelines call for lower blood pressure targets in these circumstances - but what is the acceptable treshold? I think that having it consistently too low (as I do, in my opinion) could be damaging in the long term.
As I've said before, I worry about you.
Thank you for being concerned. Please do not worry. Measures have been taken to manage the CVD risk factors more aggressively. I have a great health care team. I intend to do my part by following instructions and watching what I eat.
I don't understand what triggers the change in breathing. The shortness of breath can be very bad, not so bad, or, sometimes (rarely) just barely there. I am not talking about being short of breath during exertion, but SOB in general. Does a healthy diet have a positive effect on breathing? I know that edema only makes it worse. I would imagine that's how it is for most people - some days are good, others not so good.
flowergirl
Do you still get several servings of fruits and veggies in your daily diet?
I get between four and six servings of lower-potassium fruits and vegetables a day, down from ten to twelve, and avoid high potassium foods like beans (in any shape and form), bananas, canteloupes, figs and oranges. I figure six servings a day should be nutritionally adequate, if not ideal. I have not seen a nutritionist yet and plan on asking my internist for a referral. I want to be sure my diet is well-balanced.
Ace Inhibitors, Aldosterone Antagonists, Calcium Channel Blockers, Diuretics, Arbs, Renin Blockers, Sodium Channel Blockers, Potassium Channel Blockers, etc., and on and on and on and on, all attempt to limit, block, inhibit the damage done by over-active NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems.
As I have learned the extremely complex rules of how to limit the over-activity of my own NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, through natural means, my health has improved dramatically and I require less medication and fewer doctor visits because my health problems are getting progressively better rather than the normal progressive worsening. In other words, if I can limit the activity of my own NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, it is only logical and reasonable that I would need less blocking/inhibiting medications and fewer doctor visits
Blocking and inhibiting various processes is indeed what all these drugs do - thanks for the reminder. So, the question is: how does one do this using only natural means? For instance, can ongoing inflammatory processes be reduced or halted by avoidance of certain foods and inclusion of others? Does an increase in physical activity help? I have read about a specific, very strict and (in my opinion) unpalatable anti-inflammatory diet that seems to have worked in a clinical setting. For an average person, such a diet is unrealistic and hardly an option. As you point out, many of our problems originate with the malfunctioning immune and hormonal systems, parts of which we have no control over.
What are the extremely complex rules of limiting the over-activity of one's neurohormonal and immune systems, simplified? How is it done?
What opened the door to the significant improvement in my heath and quality of life, was when I started closely tracking my blood pressure. It's now been over ten years, and 27,000 BP readings (average 7 per day). You would be amazed at what closely tracking the blood pressure can do to significantly improve chronic disease.
I have no doubt that this is true. High blood pressure is so detrimental to our health -everyone should have it tested at least occassionally. Those of us with high blood pressure issues should monitor its fluctuations and try to determine what triggers them. I would like to find out how helpful/harmful having low blood pressure (on medication) is for a person with kidney disease in terms of heart function. The treatment guidelines call for lower blood pressure targets in these circumstances - but what is the acceptable treshold? I think that having it consistently too low (as I do, in my opinion) could be damaging in the long term.
As I've said before, I worry about you.
Thank you for being concerned. Please do not worry. Measures have been taken to manage the CVD risk factors more aggressively. I have a great health care team. I intend to do my part by following instructions and watching what I eat.
I don't understand what triggers the change in breathing. The shortness of breath can be very bad, not so bad, or, sometimes (rarely) just barely there. I am not talking about being short of breath during exertion, but SOB in general. Does a healthy diet have a positive effect on breathing? I know that edema only makes it worse. I would imagine that's how it is for most people - some days are good, others not so good.
flowergirl
Machaon
03-27-2009, 09:50 AM
... I have not seen a nutritionist yet and plan on asking my internist for a referral. I want to be sure my diet is well-balanced.
Sounds like a good idea. It is important that the diet advice that we get comes from a competent nutritionist, who will take the time to take into consideration the medications that we are on, how they interact with foods and drinks, and to balance our nutritional needs with our own unique health problems.
I don't understand what triggers the change in breathing. The shortness of breath can be very bad, not so bad, or, sometimes (rarely) just barely there. I am not talking about being short of breath during exertion, but SOB in general. Does a healthy diet have a positive effect on breathing?
I am sorry that you continue to have breathing difficulties.
I suffered from breathing difficulties over the past 20+ years, dealing with Heart Failure, Asthma, Immune System Dysfunction and Pre-Diabetes/Insulin Resistance. For a long time, I had no idea which of my health problems were causing the breathing difficulties.
As I've approached 70, and my health has dramatically improved, my breathing problems have also significantly improved.
Over the years I found that interactions between my medications and also between what I ate or drank, were causing increased health problems, including breathing difficulties, fatigue and heart rhythm problems.
Also...... going to a frequent eating, low calorie, small meal diet significantly reduced my breathing, heart rhythm and blood pressure problems, especially at night.
And...... because of my allergies and immune system dysfunction, I learned to avoid irritants that caused my breathing, heart rhythm, fatigue and blood pressure problems.
Lastly, the Beta Blocker Coreg has also reduced my breathing problems, especially at night.
The most important, healthy "medication" of all is a healthy, balanced, low calorie, small serving, frequent feeding diet. Diet is critically important to good health, especially to those with health problems.
Have you found a nutritionist, recommended by your doctor, yet?
Sounds like a good idea. It is important that the diet advice that we get comes from a competent nutritionist, who will take the time to take into consideration the medications that we are on, how they interact with foods and drinks, and to balance our nutritional needs with our own unique health problems.
I don't understand what triggers the change in breathing. The shortness of breath can be very bad, not so bad, or, sometimes (rarely) just barely there. I am not talking about being short of breath during exertion, but SOB in general. Does a healthy diet have a positive effect on breathing?
I am sorry that you continue to have breathing difficulties.
I suffered from breathing difficulties over the past 20+ years, dealing with Heart Failure, Asthma, Immune System Dysfunction and Pre-Diabetes/Insulin Resistance. For a long time, I had no idea which of my health problems were causing the breathing difficulties.
As I've approached 70, and my health has dramatically improved, my breathing problems have also significantly improved.
Over the years I found that interactions between my medications and also between what I ate or drank, were causing increased health problems, including breathing difficulties, fatigue and heart rhythm problems.
Also...... going to a frequent eating, low calorie, small meal diet significantly reduced my breathing, heart rhythm and blood pressure problems, especially at night.
And...... because of my allergies and immune system dysfunction, I learned to avoid irritants that caused my breathing, heart rhythm, fatigue and blood pressure problems.
Lastly, the Beta Blocker Coreg has also reduced my breathing problems, especially at night.
The most important, healthy "medication" of all is a healthy, balanced, low calorie, small serving, frequent feeding diet. Diet is critically important to good health, especially to those with health problems.
Have you found a nutritionist, recommended by your doctor, yet?
flowergirl2day
03-28-2009, 03:05 PM
Over the years I found that interactions between my medications and also between what I ate or drank, were causing increased health problems, including breathing difficulties, fatigue and heart rhythm problems.
I am starting to realize just how much our diet affects our health. Tailoring the diet to one's individual needs can be complicated in the presence of several dietary restrictions, and seem like a daunting task. Getting expert guidance should prove very helpful. I'll have to wait for a referral until my next doctor's appointment in two weeks. This time, I would like to see a dietitian or a nutritionist who specializes in renal diets.
The most important, healthy "medication" of all is a healthy, balanced, low calorie, small serving, frequent feeding diet. Diet is critically important to good health, especially to those with health problems.
Absolutely! It has taken me a long time to begin understanding how diet affects our health. Taking a few simple steps to improve one's eating habits can go a long way. It is inexpensive and something that most of us, if MOTIVATED enough, can do. :)
I am starting to realize just how much our diet affects our health. Tailoring the diet to one's individual needs can be complicated in the presence of several dietary restrictions, and seem like a daunting task. Getting expert guidance should prove very helpful. I'll have to wait for a referral until my next doctor's appointment in two weeks. This time, I would like to see a dietitian or a nutritionist who specializes in renal diets.
The most important, healthy "medication" of all is a healthy, balanced, low calorie, small serving, frequent feeding diet. Diet is critically important to good health, especially to those with health problems.
Absolutely! It has taken me a long time to begin understanding how diet affects our health. Taking a few simple steps to improve one's eating habits can go a long way. It is inexpensive and something that most of us, if MOTIVATED enough, can do. :)
Machaon
03-31-2009, 12:38 PM
I am starting to realize just how much our diet affects our health.
The value of a healthy, balanced diet also depends upon the condition of one's health. The sicker, and weaker, we are, the greater the importance of our diet.
In my case, when my heart failure, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, palpitations, heart rhythm, swelling, fatigue, concentration and breathing problems were much worse, a small meal, frequent feeding, low calorie diet was essential and critical to my recovery.
Now, although I still adhere to the four essential steps, I am able to eat far more, and greatly expand my diet, without significant negative consequences.
I have also, especially fallen in LOVE with Coreg. What an effective, powerful, inexpensive and curative medication. :D I just wish that I had been on it years before. What an amazing difference it makes!
Tailoring the diet to one's individual needs can be complicated in the presence of several dietary restrictions, and seem like a daunting task.
I took my blood pressure more than seven times per day, since I first started a UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center diet targeting Insulin Resistance. I soon found out that too many carbs during a meal or during the day would cause increased blood pressure and other nasty problems. I actually closely monitored my blood pressure in order to closely monitor my diet. It worked! Buts....... as you say, it was complicated, and I learned a lot through trial and error. I am still learning. :dizzy:
Getting expert guidance should prove very helpful. I'll have to wait for a referral until my next doctor's appointment in two weeks. This time, I would like to see a dietitian or a nutritionist who specializes in renal diets.
I am anxious to find out how you do, and if you can find a dietitian that you like and who will work with you, and listen to you, and get you on a diet that you can enjoy.
Regards, take care, and best of health to you! :wave:
The value of a healthy, balanced diet also depends upon the condition of one's health. The sicker, and weaker, we are, the greater the importance of our diet.
In my case, when my heart failure, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, palpitations, heart rhythm, swelling, fatigue, concentration and breathing problems were much worse, a small meal, frequent feeding, low calorie diet was essential and critical to my recovery.
Now, although I still adhere to the four essential steps, I am able to eat far more, and greatly expand my diet, without significant negative consequences.
I have also, especially fallen in LOVE with Coreg. What an effective, powerful, inexpensive and curative medication. :D I just wish that I had been on it years before. What an amazing difference it makes!
Tailoring the diet to one's individual needs can be complicated in the presence of several dietary restrictions, and seem like a daunting task.
I took my blood pressure more than seven times per day, since I first started a UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center diet targeting Insulin Resistance. I soon found out that too many carbs during a meal or during the day would cause increased blood pressure and other nasty problems. I actually closely monitored my blood pressure in order to closely monitor my diet. It worked! Buts....... as you say, it was complicated, and I learned a lot through trial and error. I am still learning. :dizzy:
Getting expert guidance should prove very helpful. I'll have to wait for a referral until my next doctor's appointment in two weeks. This time, I would like to see a dietitian or a nutritionist who specializes in renal diets.
I am anxious to find out how you do, and if you can find a dietitian that you like and who will work with you, and listen to you, and get you on a diet that you can enjoy.
Regards, take care, and best of health to you! :wave:
flowergirl2day
04-03-2009, 01:11 AM
Thank you, Machaon, for the good wishes and for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us. Your posts are a pleasure to read, the information they contain unique. I wonder if others appreciate their significance. Your posts should be titled "A recipe for good health". :) The knowledge you so generously share with others has taken years to acquire. Your achievements are an inspiration to those willing to improve their health, regardless of their medical situation.
flowergirl
flowergirl
bluepepsi
04-03-2009, 09:42 AM
Hi to everyone, I am new to this but am looking for advise and friends. I myself have been diagnosed with heart failure unfortunately my heart can not be saved and in need of a transplant all this information is very useful and very true.
Machaon
04-03-2009, 12:30 PM
... unfortunately my heart can not be saved and in need of a transplant ...
I'm sorry to hear about the condition of your heart. Are you on the Heart Transplant waiting list?
How long have you had Heart Failure? Do you know what caused it? Mine was caused by seven months of uncontrolled Tachycardia. My doctors weren't concerned about my fast heart rate, so I ignored it. :eek: I've paid for that little bit of stupidity for over 20 years!
all this information is very useful and very true.
It has been a long, difficult struggle; from the days when just taking out the garbage, or hammering "one" nail, would cause days of breathing problems, chest pains, sweating, erratic heartbeat and fatigue.
I am glad that you find the information useful. I hope that it helps you.
Take care!................. :wave:
I'm sorry to hear about the condition of your heart. Are you on the Heart Transplant waiting list?
How long have you had Heart Failure? Do you know what caused it? Mine was caused by seven months of uncontrolled Tachycardia. My doctors weren't concerned about my fast heart rate, so I ignored it. :eek: I've paid for that little bit of stupidity for over 20 years!
all this information is very useful and very true.
It has been a long, difficult struggle; from the days when just taking out the garbage, or hammering "one" nail, would cause days of breathing problems, chest pains, sweating, erratic heartbeat and fatigue.
I am glad that you find the information useful. I hope that it helps you.
Take care!................. :wave:
bluepepsi
04-03-2009, 03:13 PM
My heart failure was probably on going for a long time just not diagnosed in time. Poor diet, extreme stress and high blood pressure. My first run in was back in october where i completely fainted without cause. Needless to say the beginning of my life seems like the end right now. 41 medications on going doctors visits and just complete isolation from the world. I can barely breathe walking short distances and the medication kills me. Thank you for taking the time out to respond back not alot of people I know really care whats going on and Ive been down and looking for friends to chat with.
Machaon
04-03-2009, 07:40 PM
bluepepsi, now that you are under a doctor's care for heart failure, and you are taking quite a bit of medication, hopefully your heart failure will start to improve and you will feel better as the medications do their job.
There are others, who have posted on Healthboards, who have had heart transplants, and are doing very well. Perhaps they will start a thread and share their experiences with you.
Take care......... :wave:
There are others, who have posted on Healthboards, who have had heart transplants, and are doing very well. Perhaps they will start a thread and share their experiences with you.
Take care......... :wave:
flowergirl2day
04-04-2009, 12:32 AM
Blue,
I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Keeping a positive attitude in these circumstances may be a challenge, but is absolutely essential. Your need to connect with others dealing with health issues is not surprising. It could well be that one of the things many of us have in common is that there isn't anyone to share our innermost feelings and thoughts with. People around us who have not had to contend with serious health concerns cannot be expected to understand. There is comfort in knowing that others on these boards have gone through the same ups and downs when dealing with their illness, and that the seemingly strange symptoms and side effects we face are also experienced by others.
Did you have long-standing, uncontroled hypertension prior to fainting? Any other symptoms that may have required cardio consultations? It just seems strange that your condition had not been diagnosed (and treated) at an earlier stage. Sorry about the questions. I just wanted you to know that you've come to the right place for support. Stay strong and think positive! :angel:
flowergirl
I am so sorry you are having to go through this. Keeping a positive attitude in these circumstances may be a challenge, but is absolutely essential. Your need to connect with others dealing with health issues is not surprising. It could well be that one of the things many of us have in common is that there isn't anyone to share our innermost feelings and thoughts with. People around us who have not had to contend with serious health concerns cannot be expected to understand. There is comfort in knowing that others on these boards have gone through the same ups and downs when dealing with their illness, and that the seemingly strange symptoms and side effects we face are also experienced by others.
Did you have long-standing, uncontroled hypertension prior to fainting? Any other symptoms that may have required cardio consultations? It just seems strange that your condition had not been diagnosed (and treated) at an earlier stage. Sorry about the questions. I just wanted you to know that you've come to the right place for support. Stay strong and think positive! :angel:
flowergirl
bluepepsi
04-04-2009, 10:36 AM
There ws never any indication that I had high blood pressure until that day. However my day to day life ws very stressful and full of poor dieting as well the long line of family members who have had serious heart problems. My grandmother stroke, my mom died last year of heart failure, sister with angina and now me. Im recently engaged My fiance is very supportive but at times I feel its a huge burden on him to understand all the mood changes, pains and just what im faced day to day. Lost is what I feel sometimes, isolated from the world and completely angry at times that im going through this. however I do have a positive outlook towards things and feel that sometimes certain things in life happen for a reason. Im greatful to have joined this health board and maybe be able to share this as it goes and feel that im not alone. Thanks so much for answering me back. there are angels out there that care.
Machaon
06-19-2009, 10:21 AM
For Dec, BP was 126/73, so as can be seen, my blood pressure continued to climb in December. The net effect of the increase in calories in my diet, since August was 14 points Systolic and 5 points Diastolic, all other things considered equal. Dumb, dumb, DUMB!!! :dizzy:
Starting on Jan 4th, 2009 I decided to, once again, cut back my diet, reducing daily calories down to less than 1700, sodium to less than 1600mg , and potassium to around 5300mg. I eat seven times per day, ranging from 160 to 360 calories. I am already experiencing benefits from the improved diet.
I have significantly increased my calories and sodium again, and have decided to live with the increased, but still reasonably healthy, higher blood pressure.
The more I deviated from a small meal, low calorie, frequent feeding diet, the worse I got. At first, the effects of increasing serving sizes, and calories, wasn't bad, and I enjoyed the larger, "healthy" meals. I thought that, since I had been eating basically healthy foods, albeit small servings, it didn't sound bad to eat more of them with each meal. :nono: I hadn't been eating pizza, or subs, or take-outs, or candy, or ice cream, etc., and I was feeling better than ever, on the small meals, so why not see if my new, improved body was now able to deal with increased calories. :rolleyes:
As time passed, I started having increased problems with higher blood pressure, labored breathing, feeling flush and too warm, increased palpitations and heart rhythm problems, increased weakness and tiredness, and increased blood sugar readings. :dizzy: My waist line kept getting larger, even though my weight increased only a couple of pounds and I was underweight at only 125 pounds at 5'9". I started, once again, having problems breathing while trying to go to sleep, unless I slept sitting up. I hadn't had that problem since 2004! :eek:
Oh well...... back to a small meal, frequent eating, low calorie, balanced diet targeting Insulin Resistance. :( I started back on the diet on the 17th, two days ago, and last night I was able to sleep lying down, my breathing problems have improved, I can exercise more, and I don't feel as flush and as warm, but I still don't feel as good as I did before.
It's still too early to definitively determine that the effects of the change in diet, are responsible for my improved health, but, based on previous results, and the rapid improvements to my health in a very short time, I am pretty sure that it's the diet.
For those of us with Heart Failure combined possibly with Atrial Fibrillation, and over-sensitive NeuroHormonal/Immune Systems, living with Heart Failure is a full time job. The frequent eating diet is a lot of work and takes a lot of time, and just when I am really enjoying the meal, THE PLATE IS EMPTY!!! :mad:
I also try to do 150 pushups, 400 steppers, 300 weight lifts split into four sessions, and two 30 minute power walks per day. Lately, it has been very difficult getting through each session. Plus...... I must avoid the many things that over-stimulate the NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, one of the main reasons for worsening Heart Failure in everyone.
I guess I will have to stay on the small meal, frequent feeding, low calorie, balanced diet, targeting Insulin Resistance. :( I don't make the rules. I must just follow them if I want to survive Heart Failure with a reasonably good quality of life.
Think about it, though...... with all the billions that are spent on the bad effects of High Blood Pressure, and the treatment of Heart Failure, there is a better answer than tons of drugs and doctor visits and worry and feeling sickly and morbidity and death, and that answer is an inexpensive dietary "cure" that doesn't require health insurance and is very cost effective. Millions suffer and die from Heart Failure, and other health problems, when they could, instead, be eating their way to better health.
Starting on Jan 4th, 2009 I decided to, once again, cut back my diet, reducing daily calories down to less than 1700, sodium to less than 1600mg , and potassium to around 5300mg. I eat seven times per day, ranging from 160 to 360 calories. I am already experiencing benefits from the improved diet.
I have significantly increased my calories and sodium again, and have decided to live with the increased, but still reasonably healthy, higher blood pressure.
The more I deviated from a small meal, low calorie, frequent feeding diet, the worse I got. At first, the effects of increasing serving sizes, and calories, wasn't bad, and I enjoyed the larger, "healthy" meals. I thought that, since I had been eating basically healthy foods, albeit small servings, it didn't sound bad to eat more of them with each meal. :nono: I hadn't been eating pizza, or subs, or take-outs, or candy, or ice cream, etc., and I was feeling better than ever, on the small meals, so why not see if my new, improved body was now able to deal with increased calories. :rolleyes:
As time passed, I started having increased problems with higher blood pressure, labored breathing, feeling flush and too warm, increased palpitations and heart rhythm problems, increased weakness and tiredness, and increased blood sugar readings. :dizzy: My waist line kept getting larger, even though my weight increased only a couple of pounds and I was underweight at only 125 pounds at 5'9". I started, once again, having problems breathing while trying to go to sleep, unless I slept sitting up. I hadn't had that problem since 2004! :eek:
Oh well...... back to a small meal, frequent eating, low calorie, balanced diet targeting Insulin Resistance. :( I started back on the diet on the 17th, two days ago, and last night I was able to sleep lying down, my breathing problems have improved, I can exercise more, and I don't feel as flush and as warm, but I still don't feel as good as I did before.
It's still too early to definitively determine that the effects of the change in diet, are responsible for my improved health, but, based on previous results, and the rapid improvements to my health in a very short time, I am pretty sure that it's the diet.
For those of us with Heart Failure combined possibly with Atrial Fibrillation, and over-sensitive NeuroHormonal/Immune Systems, living with Heart Failure is a full time job. The frequent eating diet is a lot of work and takes a lot of time, and just when I am really enjoying the meal, THE PLATE IS EMPTY!!! :mad:
I also try to do 150 pushups, 400 steppers, 300 weight lifts split into four sessions, and two 30 minute power walks per day. Lately, it has been very difficult getting through each session. Plus...... I must avoid the many things that over-stimulate the NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems, one of the main reasons for worsening Heart Failure in everyone.
I guess I will have to stay on the small meal, frequent feeding, low calorie, balanced diet, targeting Insulin Resistance. :( I don't make the rules. I must just follow them if I want to survive Heart Failure with a reasonably good quality of life.
Think about it, though...... with all the billions that are spent on the bad effects of High Blood Pressure, and the treatment of Heart Failure, there is a better answer than tons of drugs and doctor visits and worry and feeling sickly and morbidity and death, and that answer is an inexpensive dietary "cure" that doesn't require health insurance and is very cost effective. Millions suffer and die from Heart Failure, and other health problems, when they could, instead, be eating their way to better health.
flowergirl2day
06-21-2009, 01:21 AM
It's still too early to definitively determine that the effects of the change in diet, are responsible for my improved health, but, based on previous results, and the rapid improvements to my health in a very short time, I am pretty sure that it's the diet.
How do you ensure that the diet is nutritionally well-balanced? Figuring out what to eat isn't easy. I have just seen a nutritionist, because I needed some perspective on dietary issues. A two-hour appointment and a bunch of handouts have left me dissapointed and more confused than ever. :confused:
Good to hear your health has improved. :) Besides the dietary changes, is there anything else you can think of that might have contributed to the improvement?
How do you ensure that the diet is nutritionally well-balanced? Figuring out what to eat isn't easy. I have just seen a nutritionist, because I needed some perspective on dietary issues. A two-hour appointment and a bunch of handouts have left me dissapointed and more confused than ever. :confused:
Good to hear your health has improved. :) Besides the dietary changes, is there anything else you can think of that might have contributed to the improvement?
Machaon
06-21-2009, 10:25 AM
How do you ensure that the diet is nutritionally well-balanced?
I have a spreadsheet that contains everything in my diet, per serving. I've entered calories, Carbs, fiber, total fat, saturated fat, protein, Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, Sodium, Sugar, Calcium, and Potassium, per serving.
Then, lower on the spread sheet, I've entered each meal, or snack, with the number of servings. Then, in the next portion of the spreadsheet, I've got the total calories, proteins, carbs, fats, potassium, etc., for each meal or snack.
In another portion of the spreadsheet I've got a list of low glycemic vegetables and fruits, and their corresponding calories and fiber, whether they are in my diet, or not. I keep this extra list just in case I want to vary my diet, which is often.
In another portion of the spreadsheet, I've got all of the different healthy cereals available and their corresponding proteins, fats, and carbs, so that I can easily change cereals.
In the summary portion of the spreadsheet I've got the percentage of proteins, carbs and fats, over an entire daily diet, along with the recommended values and limits.
So...... anytime I want to change something in my diet, which is often, I make the changes to the spreadsheet and instantly see how the changes effect the total calories and the dietary balance of each meal and for the entire day.
For instance, as of this morning, the total calories, discounting fiber, for each of my meals are 193, 269, 209, 182, 370, 188 and 230, for a total of 1,640 calories (discounting fiber) and 1,858 calories including fiber.
I consume 2,043 grams of sodium (recommended < 1500), 2236 grams of calcium (recommended 1000), 12 grams saturated fat, 739 calories of carbs, 361 calories of Proteins, and 540 calories of fat.
My diet seems to be fairly well balanced according to the following:
Carbs make up 45% of my diet..... the recommended is 50%.
Proteins make up 22% of my diet..... the recommended is 20%
Fats make up 33% of my diet..... the recommended is 30%.
I am now consuming 91 grams of protein, where a recommended limit, for my body, is 45. This I have never been able to reconcile. Perhaps I am not understanding something. I don't consume, what I consider is a lot of protein, so how can I be eating over twice the limit of protein? :confused: If I cut back on protein, my balance of proteins, carbs and fats will be way off. So..... I ignore this issue, for now.
Figuring out what to eat isn't easy.
You got that right! :dizzy:
I've spend countless hours working on my diet, as you can see. Back in 2004, when I attempted to try a strict diet, for the first time in my life, I was basically lost. I started trying to follow a diet recommended to counter Insulin Resistance, a problem which effects a majority of the people in this world. Not knowing exactly what I was doing, I began the diet in December of 2004 and, after experiencing rapid and remarkable improvements in my health, I started posting about it in January 2005.
The thread I started in January 2005 was called: Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure?, and the link is
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=242229
But, as you say, determining what to eat isn't easy. Since 2004, my diet has changed drastically, as my health has improved, and my diet keeps changing, almost on a daily basis.
I have just seen a nutritionist, because I needed some perspective on dietary issues. A two-hour appointment and a bunch of handouts have left me dissapointed and more confused than ever. :confused:
A nutritionist knows the basics and can really direct people towards better diets. How much a nutritionist would be able to fit a person into a diet tailored for that person's unique health problems, and metabolism, I don't know.
Did the nutritionist mention anything about Insulin Resistance, or a diet targeting Insulin Resistance?
Good to hear your health has improved. :)
Thanks! :)
Everything is relative, though. My health has improved, yes, but it is quite a daily struggle dealing with these stupid, nasty diseases of heart failure, AFib and Immune System Dysfunction. I basically have to live in a clinical environment, and my life is very restricted. If I want to exist with a good quality of life, I have to follow strict diet, and avoid contact with a significant number of "irritants" or "triggers". It can be very frustrating! :mad: But...... the end result is good! :D
Besides the dietary changes, is there anything else you can think of that might have contributed to the improvement?
No.
If a person consumes more calories per meal, or for the day, than the body can use for energy, then the excess calories cause all kinds of misery to happen..... to blood pressure...... to organs...... to glands........ to nerves......... to muscles........ and our metabolism gets out of balance and begins to malfunction, slowly worsening our overall health.
How handy are you with spreadsheets? Is there anyway that you can think to break down your diet into carbs, proteins and fats, by meal or snack? Do you have any idea how many calories you consume with each meal or snack?
For instance, how many calories did you consume yesterday, or on an average day?
Thanks for your questions. I hope that you are having a great day! :wave:
I have a spreadsheet that contains everything in my diet, per serving. I've entered calories, Carbs, fiber, total fat, saturated fat, protein, Glycemic Index, Glycemic Load, Sodium, Sugar, Calcium, and Potassium, per serving.
Then, lower on the spread sheet, I've entered each meal, or snack, with the number of servings. Then, in the next portion of the spreadsheet, I've got the total calories, proteins, carbs, fats, potassium, etc., for each meal or snack.
In another portion of the spreadsheet I've got a list of low glycemic vegetables and fruits, and their corresponding calories and fiber, whether they are in my diet, or not. I keep this extra list just in case I want to vary my diet, which is often.
In another portion of the spreadsheet, I've got all of the different healthy cereals available and their corresponding proteins, fats, and carbs, so that I can easily change cereals.
In the summary portion of the spreadsheet I've got the percentage of proteins, carbs and fats, over an entire daily diet, along with the recommended values and limits.
So...... anytime I want to change something in my diet, which is often, I make the changes to the spreadsheet and instantly see how the changes effect the total calories and the dietary balance of each meal and for the entire day.
For instance, as of this morning, the total calories, discounting fiber, for each of my meals are 193, 269, 209, 182, 370, 188 and 230, for a total of 1,640 calories (discounting fiber) and 1,858 calories including fiber.
I consume 2,043 grams of sodium (recommended < 1500), 2236 grams of calcium (recommended 1000), 12 grams saturated fat, 739 calories of carbs, 361 calories of Proteins, and 540 calories of fat.
My diet seems to be fairly well balanced according to the following:
Carbs make up 45% of my diet..... the recommended is 50%.
Proteins make up 22% of my diet..... the recommended is 20%
Fats make up 33% of my diet..... the recommended is 30%.
I am now consuming 91 grams of protein, where a recommended limit, for my body, is 45. This I have never been able to reconcile. Perhaps I am not understanding something. I don't consume, what I consider is a lot of protein, so how can I be eating over twice the limit of protein? :confused: If I cut back on protein, my balance of proteins, carbs and fats will be way off. So..... I ignore this issue, for now.
Figuring out what to eat isn't easy.
You got that right! :dizzy:
I've spend countless hours working on my diet, as you can see. Back in 2004, when I attempted to try a strict diet, for the first time in my life, I was basically lost. I started trying to follow a diet recommended to counter Insulin Resistance, a problem which effects a majority of the people in this world. Not knowing exactly what I was doing, I began the diet in December of 2004 and, after experiencing rapid and remarkable improvements in my health, I started posting about it in January 2005.
The thread I started in January 2005 was called: Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure?, and the link is
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=242229
But, as you say, determining what to eat isn't easy. Since 2004, my diet has changed drastically, as my health has improved, and my diet keeps changing, almost on a daily basis.
I have just seen a nutritionist, because I needed some perspective on dietary issues. A two-hour appointment and a bunch of handouts have left me dissapointed and more confused than ever. :confused:
A nutritionist knows the basics and can really direct people towards better diets. How much a nutritionist would be able to fit a person into a diet tailored for that person's unique health problems, and metabolism, I don't know.
Did the nutritionist mention anything about Insulin Resistance, or a diet targeting Insulin Resistance?
Good to hear your health has improved. :)
Thanks! :)
Everything is relative, though. My health has improved, yes, but it is quite a daily struggle dealing with these stupid, nasty diseases of heart failure, AFib and Immune System Dysfunction. I basically have to live in a clinical environment, and my life is very restricted. If I want to exist with a good quality of life, I have to follow strict diet, and avoid contact with a significant number of "irritants" or "triggers". It can be very frustrating! :mad: But...... the end result is good! :D
Besides the dietary changes, is there anything else you can think of that might have contributed to the improvement?
No.
If a person consumes more calories per meal, or for the day, than the body can use for energy, then the excess calories cause all kinds of misery to happen..... to blood pressure...... to organs...... to glands........ to nerves......... to muscles........ and our metabolism gets out of balance and begins to malfunction, slowly worsening our overall health.
How handy are you with spreadsheets? Is there anyway that you can think to break down your diet into carbs, proteins and fats, by meal or snack? Do you have any idea how many calories you consume with each meal or snack?
For instance, how many calories did you consume yesterday, or on an average day?
Thanks for your questions. I hope that you are having a great day! :wave:
flowergirl2day
06-22-2009, 04:48 AM
Machaon,
So...... anytime I want to change something in my diet, which is often, I make the changes to the spreadsheet and instantly see how the changes effect the total calories and the dietary balance of each meal and for the entire day.
how brilliant! It must have taken a long time to gather, research and compile the necessary information and build your very impressive and functional spreadsheet. Sounds like the data you've somehow managed to fit into your spreadsheet could fill an entire workbook! How far ahead of time do you plan your menus? At which point are the foods consumed entered into the database? Right after each meal, or once a day from a running list?
Did the nutritionist mention anything about Insulin Resistance, or a diet targeting Insulin Resistance?
Not at all. I know though that insulin resistance and high insulin levels often accompany high blood pressure and are associated with various cardiovascular symptoms. The goal is to improve the diminished insulin sensitivity in salt-sensitive hypertensives, because it contributes to our increased cardiovascular risks. My diet is, due to reduced protein, supposed to include more complex carbs and sugars to make up for the loss of protein energy, while limiting potassium (fruits and veggies) and sodium. I have three lists of food and its values (proteins, potassium, sodium) that have to be cross-checked everytime I want to eat something. Just because a certain food item appears under the "recommended" heading on one of the lists, does not mean that I can actually eat it, because it can be a banned item on list #2 or list #3. Of course, many of the good, healthy things I am used to eating - nuts, beans, my favorite-dairy products and cheese, many veggies and fruits, are out, leaving little to choose from. To make this way of eating nutritionally balanced requires skills I do not possess.
The thread I started in January 2005 was called: Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure?
I have read this thread and plan to re-read it. I have read all of your threads. Thanks for providing the link. Insulin is a very important hormone that effects many of the body's functions. Its importance should not be underestimated.
How handy are you with spreadsheets? Is there anyway that you can think to break down your diet into carbs, proteins and fats, by meal or snack? Do you have any idea how many calories you consume with each meal or snack?
Working with spreadsheets was an essential part of my previous job. It has been a while but I am sure I still remember a thing or two. :) I will look for the tables I remember seeing online when researching diets, to help with the nutritional breakdown and caloric values. Unfortunately, I don't know how many calories I consume, eating the same (healthy) things over and over.
Thank you for all the insights and very detailed information about your database. It is a lot to think about. A project of this magnitude would be a challenge, but it can be done.
flowergirl
So...... anytime I want to change something in my diet, which is often, I make the changes to the spreadsheet and instantly see how the changes effect the total calories and the dietary balance of each meal and for the entire day.
how brilliant! It must have taken a long time to gather, research and compile the necessary information and build your very impressive and functional spreadsheet. Sounds like the data you've somehow managed to fit into your spreadsheet could fill an entire workbook! How far ahead of time do you plan your menus? At which point are the foods consumed entered into the database? Right after each meal, or once a day from a running list?
Did the nutritionist mention anything about Insulin Resistance, or a diet targeting Insulin Resistance?
Not at all. I know though that insulin resistance and high insulin levels often accompany high blood pressure and are associated with various cardiovascular symptoms. The goal is to improve the diminished insulin sensitivity in salt-sensitive hypertensives, because it contributes to our increased cardiovascular risks. My diet is, due to reduced protein, supposed to include more complex carbs and sugars to make up for the loss of protein energy, while limiting potassium (fruits and veggies) and sodium. I have three lists of food and its values (proteins, potassium, sodium) that have to be cross-checked everytime I want to eat something. Just because a certain food item appears under the "recommended" heading on one of the lists, does not mean that I can actually eat it, because it can be a banned item on list #2 or list #3. Of course, many of the good, healthy things I am used to eating - nuts, beans, my favorite-dairy products and cheese, many veggies and fruits, are out, leaving little to choose from. To make this way of eating nutritionally balanced requires skills I do not possess.
The thread I started in January 2005 was called: Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure?
I have read this thread and plan to re-read it. I have read all of your threads. Thanks for providing the link. Insulin is a very important hormone that effects many of the body's functions. Its importance should not be underestimated.
How handy are you with spreadsheets? Is there anyway that you can think to break down your diet into carbs, proteins and fats, by meal or snack? Do you have any idea how many calories you consume with each meal or snack?
Working with spreadsheets was an essential part of my previous job. It has been a while but I am sure I still remember a thing or two. :) I will look for the tables I remember seeing online when researching diets, to help with the nutritional breakdown and caloric values. Unfortunately, I don't know how many calories I consume, eating the same (healthy) things over and over.
Thank you for all the insights and very detailed information about your database. It is a lot to think about. A project of this magnitude would be a challenge, but it can be done.
flowergirl
sandsprite
06-22-2009, 11:39 PM
Machaon,
Your post was very enlightening for me - I appreciated reading about your experience with your diet and your advice to stay away from triggers.
I was recently diagnosed with three leaky heart valves as well as an enlarged ventricle. I didn't realize how much trouble this was causing me, but when I talked to the cardiologist and described my symptoms, he kept saying "Of course those symptoms are indicative of your heart problems." I had noticed also that I feel worse and my heart misbehaves more when the allergies are acting up and when I overdo the physical exertion - both things you talked about having dealt with.
The cardio put me on a beta blocker and I seem to be really susceptible to the side effects of them. I know its the treatment of choice for my conditions but I want to be on as low a dose as possible and try to use other methods to regain my health.
I'm just curious (and I know it's different for each person) but could you talk about some of your triggers and about what kinds of things you eat at each of your meals?
And have you had any experience with breathing exercises or meditation to lower heart rate?
Thanks so much for talking about your experiences. I appreciate knowing I am not alone in working some of these health questions out! :)
Your post was very enlightening for me - I appreciated reading about your experience with your diet and your advice to stay away from triggers.
I was recently diagnosed with three leaky heart valves as well as an enlarged ventricle. I didn't realize how much trouble this was causing me, but when I talked to the cardiologist and described my symptoms, he kept saying "Of course those symptoms are indicative of your heart problems." I had noticed also that I feel worse and my heart misbehaves more when the allergies are acting up and when I overdo the physical exertion - both things you talked about having dealt with.
The cardio put me on a beta blocker and I seem to be really susceptible to the side effects of them. I know its the treatment of choice for my conditions but I want to be on as low a dose as possible and try to use other methods to regain my health.
I'm just curious (and I know it's different for each person) but could you talk about some of your triggers and about what kinds of things you eat at each of your meals?
And have you had any experience with breathing exercises or meditation to lower heart rate?
Thanks so much for talking about your experiences. I appreciate knowing I am not alone in working some of these health questions out! :)
Machaon
06-24-2009, 12:46 PM
Machaon,
Your post was very enlightening for me - I appreciated reading about your experience with your diet and your advice to stay away from triggers.
Hi sandsprite! :wave:
Thanks. I'm glad that you found my post helpful. :)
I was recently diagnosed with three leaky heart valves as well as an enlarged ventricle.
Sorry to hear that. Is the problem with your left ventricle? How much enlargement is there?
My problems started with an enlarged left Atrial, and then years later led to a slightly enlarged left Ventricle. I just had an Echo which did not indicate any problems with the Ventricles, but still significant enlargement of the Left Atrial. I was hoping for more progress, after years of diet, exercise, meds and avoiding irritants (triggers), but I guess I should be happy with feeling much better, and stronger, and with the possible improvement to my Left Ventricle, if I can believe the accuracy of their measurements.
I didn't realize how much trouble this was causing me, but when I talked to the cardiologist and described my symptoms, he kept saying "Of course those symptoms are indicative of your heart problems." I had noticed also that I feel worse and my heart misbehaves more when the allergies are acting up and when I overdo the physical exertion - both things you talked about having dealt with.
What kind of problems do you experience, that your cardiologist is attributing to your heart?
What you say about allergies makes sense. With Heart Failure, the body over-produces hormones in order to force the heart to pump at full volume. In addition, an allergic reaction, or Immune System reaction, or reaction to ANY irritant, causes the body to produce additional hormones as defensive reaction. This over-production of Hormones, and Cytokines, is what can do damage throughout the body, and is actually what causes Heart Failure, and many other diseases, to get progressively worse.
It's not the damaged heart, per se, that is at fault for worsening heart failure, and the misery of heart failure, it is the excess body chemicals that are the villains. That is why almost ALL heart/blood pressure medications attempt to block or inhibit hormones.
The cardio put me on a beta blocker and I seem to be really susceptible to the side effects of them. I know its the treatment of choice for my conditions but I want to be on as low a dose as possible and try to use other methods to regain my health.
I'm on the Beta Blocker, Coreg, which I have read, and experienced, is the most effective medication for the treatment, and recovering of Heart Failure. It works better for me that anything that I have taken over the past 20+ years. It is great stuff!
The "other methods" that I've learned that helped me lower my blood pressure down to very healthy levels, and have greatly improved my health have been diet, exercise and avoiding irritants (triggers). But these three steps are not enough to deal with heart failure and other diseases. Meds are absolutely necessary to block the hormones that are constantly over-produced in response to a weak or damaged heart, or to metabolic imbalance.
I'm just curious (and I know it's different for each person) but could you talk about some of your triggers and about what kinds of things you eat at each of your meals?
I've also got some type of Immune/NeuroHormonal Dysfunction, which makes me extremely reactive to irritants or triggers. I consider myself like a canary in a mine. The slightest exposure to various chemicals, odors, pollens, pollutants, etc., will cause an immediate negative reaction, such as getting very weak and tired, higher blood pressure, my heart strongly or weakly racing and/or jumping and/or thumping and/or beating too weak and slow and general malaise. Most of these negative reactions, if not all, are the result of my body over-producing body chemicals, such as Hormones and Cytokines. :dizzy:
One of the worst "triggers" is cigarette smoke, even if only from someone's clothes hours after they last smoked. If someone has smoked two hours prior, and then walks in my front door, and I am in the back of my home, even though I don't know that they have entered my home, I know it immediately because of the nasty health reactions. :(
And have you had any experience with breathing exercises or meditation to lower heart rate?
The combination of Coreg and Digoxin keeps my heart behaving itself very well, as long as I don't encounter an irritant, or trigger.
However....... I use deep, slow breathing almost every day, sometimes several times per day. For me, after at least three full, slow breaths, my heart will pump stronger and apparently better, and provide relief for "labored" breathing problems.
Thanks so much for talking about your experiences. I appreciate knowing I am not alone in working some of these health questions out! :)
Sadly, you are not alone. There are many of us. :(
Thanks for the positive feedback. :)
I'd like to hear some more about what you've been through, and what specifically happens to you during an exposure to an irritant, such as you mentioned regarding your allergies.
Regards. Take care............. :wave:
Your post was very enlightening for me - I appreciated reading about your experience with your diet and your advice to stay away from triggers.
Hi sandsprite! :wave:
Thanks. I'm glad that you found my post helpful. :)
I was recently diagnosed with three leaky heart valves as well as an enlarged ventricle.
Sorry to hear that. Is the problem with your left ventricle? How much enlargement is there?
My problems started with an enlarged left Atrial, and then years later led to a slightly enlarged left Ventricle. I just had an Echo which did not indicate any problems with the Ventricles, but still significant enlargement of the Left Atrial. I was hoping for more progress, after years of diet, exercise, meds and avoiding irritants (triggers), but I guess I should be happy with feeling much better, and stronger, and with the possible improvement to my Left Ventricle, if I can believe the accuracy of their measurements.
I didn't realize how much trouble this was causing me, but when I talked to the cardiologist and described my symptoms, he kept saying "Of course those symptoms are indicative of your heart problems." I had noticed also that I feel worse and my heart misbehaves more when the allergies are acting up and when I overdo the physical exertion - both things you talked about having dealt with.
What kind of problems do you experience, that your cardiologist is attributing to your heart?
What you say about allergies makes sense. With Heart Failure, the body over-produces hormones in order to force the heart to pump at full volume. In addition, an allergic reaction, or Immune System reaction, or reaction to ANY irritant, causes the body to produce additional hormones as defensive reaction. This over-production of Hormones, and Cytokines, is what can do damage throughout the body, and is actually what causes Heart Failure, and many other diseases, to get progressively worse.
It's not the damaged heart, per se, that is at fault for worsening heart failure, and the misery of heart failure, it is the excess body chemicals that are the villains. That is why almost ALL heart/blood pressure medications attempt to block or inhibit hormones.
The cardio put me on a beta blocker and I seem to be really susceptible to the side effects of them. I know its the treatment of choice for my conditions but I want to be on as low a dose as possible and try to use other methods to regain my health.
I'm on the Beta Blocker, Coreg, which I have read, and experienced, is the most effective medication for the treatment, and recovering of Heart Failure. It works better for me that anything that I have taken over the past 20+ years. It is great stuff!
The "other methods" that I've learned that helped me lower my blood pressure down to very healthy levels, and have greatly improved my health have been diet, exercise and avoiding irritants (triggers). But these three steps are not enough to deal with heart failure and other diseases. Meds are absolutely necessary to block the hormones that are constantly over-produced in response to a weak or damaged heart, or to metabolic imbalance.
I'm just curious (and I know it's different for each person) but could you talk about some of your triggers and about what kinds of things you eat at each of your meals?
I've also got some type of Immune/NeuroHormonal Dysfunction, which makes me extremely reactive to irritants or triggers. I consider myself like a canary in a mine. The slightest exposure to various chemicals, odors, pollens, pollutants, etc., will cause an immediate negative reaction, such as getting very weak and tired, higher blood pressure, my heart strongly or weakly racing and/or jumping and/or thumping and/or beating too weak and slow and general malaise. Most of these negative reactions, if not all, are the result of my body over-producing body chemicals, such as Hormones and Cytokines. :dizzy:
One of the worst "triggers" is cigarette smoke, even if only from someone's clothes hours after they last smoked. If someone has smoked two hours prior, and then walks in my front door, and I am in the back of my home, even though I don't know that they have entered my home, I know it immediately because of the nasty health reactions. :(
And have you had any experience with breathing exercises or meditation to lower heart rate?
The combination of Coreg and Digoxin keeps my heart behaving itself very well, as long as I don't encounter an irritant, or trigger.
However....... I use deep, slow breathing almost every day, sometimes several times per day. For me, after at least three full, slow breaths, my heart will pump stronger and apparently better, and provide relief for "labored" breathing problems.
Thanks so much for talking about your experiences. I appreciate knowing I am not alone in working some of these health questions out! :)
Sadly, you are not alone. There are many of us. :(
Thanks for the positive feedback. :)
I'd like to hear some more about what you've been through, and what specifically happens to you during an exposure to an irritant, such as you mentioned regarding your allergies.
Regards. Take care............. :wave:
sandsprite
06-24-2009, 11:42 PM
Hi Machaon!
Thanks for your response! It's so helpful to me to hear what you've experienced. My cardio is able to keep me informed, but he isn't *living* this - that's a whole new perspective.
Actually it was somewhat of a fluke that I was diagnosed. I switched internists and went in just to meet the new doctor and ended up with an ekg the same day and a cardiac stress test a week later. I've had high blood pressure for about 15 years (I'm 54) and had been taking a calcium channel blocker for it. About 10 years ago, I learned I had a leaky mitral valve, so i knew those two things were going on. My high blood pressure wasn't controlled well enough over the years and apparently thats what got the ventricle (I think it's the left- I'm still sort of stunned by the whole thing!). But I also learned the other two heart valves were also leaking.
My cardio feels that by lowering my blood pressure, I might be able to resolve the enlarged ventricle, so we added lisinopril and a beta blocker, which seems to be lowering the blood pressure to good levels.
For a couple of years now, I have had extreme fatigue. I was able to rest in the afternoons when I worked part time, but last fall I took a full time job. I'm on the go all day in a high stress job (which doesn't help!) so I'd come home and fall asleep. I've had to curtail nearly all of my evening activities -- I found I had to chew gum to stay awake during evening activities. (Have you heard the joke about the blonde listening to the ipod -- she was listening to "Breathe In. Breathe Out".....bad joke, but thats what I felt like.) So having a diagnosis was a relief in a way because there was a reason for feeling so tired. The other thing I recently started having trouble with was getting breathless when I went for walks. I've walked for years - usually a couple of miles per day - but it was getting harder to do that. Now I know why.
I have allergies and find I get bad palpitations when I've eaten something I'm allergic to -- corn is a big problem for me (it's in EVERYTHING - think high fructose corn syrup!) and mold - I don't do leftovers very well. I've also noticed I feel better when I don't overeat, so I have been trying to limit the amount of food I eat.
I'm really curious about the foods you eat in your small meals. Would you mind telling me more about that? Do you feel hungry?
I've been practicing meditation for a few years and learned about a breathing system for lowering blood pressure. Those two things will lower my heart rate and calm a mild case of palps, but I really have to work at those two practices - they are not automatic by any means.
It seems like I need to spend more time on my body to make it work as well as it can and I struggle with being diligent in that.
Thanks for listening! I'm trying to stay positive and to take a pro-active approach. It's great to read your posts and see your sucess in dealing with similar issues over the years. I would appreciate any advice you have for me! Sand
Thanks for your response! It's so helpful to me to hear what you've experienced. My cardio is able to keep me informed, but he isn't *living* this - that's a whole new perspective.
Actually it was somewhat of a fluke that I was diagnosed. I switched internists and went in just to meet the new doctor and ended up with an ekg the same day and a cardiac stress test a week later. I've had high blood pressure for about 15 years (I'm 54) and had been taking a calcium channel blocker for it. About 10 years ago, I learned I had a leaky mitral valve, so i knew those two things were going on. My high blood pressure wasn't controlled well enough over the years and apparently thats what got the ventricle (I think it's the left- I'm still sort of stunned by the whole thing!). But I also learned the other two heart valves were also leaking.
My cardio feels that by lowering my blood pressure, I might be able to resolve the enlarged ventricle, so we added lisinopril and a beta blocker, which seems to be lowering the blood pressure to good levels.
For a couple of years now, I have had extreme fatigue. I was able to rest in the afternoons when I worked part time, but last fall I took a full time job. I'm on the go all day in a high stress job (which doesn't help!) so I'd come home and fall asleep. I've had to curtail nearly all of my evening activities -- I found I had to chew gum to stay awake during evening activities. (Have you heard the joke about the blonde listening to the ipod -- she was listening to "Breathe In. Breathe Out".....bad joke, but thats what I felt like.) So having a diagnosis was a relief in a way because there was a reason for feeling so tired. The other thing I recently started having trouble with was getting breathless when I went for walks. I've walked for years - usually a couple of miles per day - but it was getting harder to do that. Now I know why.
I have allergies and find I get bad palpitations when I've eaten something I'm allergic to -- corn is a big problem for me (it's in EVERYTHING - think high fructose corn syrup!) and mold - I don't do leftovers very well. I've also noticed I feel better when I don't overeat, so I have been trying to limit the amount of food I eat.
I'm really curious about the foods you eat in your small meals. Would you mind telling me more about that? Do you feel hungry?
I've been practicing meditation for a few years and learned about a breathing system for lowering blood pressure. Those two things will lower my heart rate and calm a mild case of palps, but I really have to work at those two practices - they are not automatic by any means.
It seems like I need to spend more time on my body to make it work as well as it can and I struggle with being diligent in that.
Thanks for listening! I'm trying to stay positive and to take a pro-active approach. It's great to read your posts and see your sucess in dealing with similar issues over the years. I would appreciate any advice you have for me! Sand
Machaon
06-27-2009, 12:40 PM
... I've had high blood pressure for about 15 years (I'm 54) and had been taking a calcium channel blocker for it.
To me, for anyone with heart disease, the best medication is Coreg, a Beta Blocker. It is truly a wonder drug. When they first created Coreg, they didn't realize it's healing effects. The additional curative effects were only discovered after MANY clinical trials, of hundreds of patients, testing many different scenarios.
About 10 years ago, I learned I had a leaky mitral valve, so i knew those two things were going on. My high blood pressure wasn't controlled well enough over the years and apparently thats what got the ventricle (I think it's the left- I'm still sort of stunned by the whole thing!). But I also learned the other two heart valves were also leaking.
My blood pressure was also not controlled very well. It was only after I started monitoring my blood pressure, at home, throughout the day and night, that I learned that my blood pressure was chronically and dangerously high.
Now...... 27,600 blood pressure readings later, I've learned that blood pressure is more of a gauge of the health of the metabolic system, than just a reading of pressure in the coronary system.
The damage to the heart and valves, thusly, is caused by both higher blood pressures and excess body hormones and cytokines produced by dysfunctional NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems.
My cardio feels that by lowering my blood pressure, I might be able to resolve the enlarged ventricle, so we added lisinopril and a beta blocker, which seems to be lowering the blood pressure to good levels.
Great! It's comforting that you are seeing a positive response to the medications! :)
What were your average daily blood pressure readings before the change in medication, versus after? Is your blood pressure higher in the afternoon than during the earlier part of the day? Does your blood pressure increase during the late evening, decrease, or stay the same?
Blood Pressure trends during the day, to me, are an essential diagnostic tool, or gauge, for treating, not only, heart disease, but many other diseases.
For a couple of years now, I have had extreme fatigue. I was able to rest in the afternoons when I worked part time, but last fall I took a full time job. I'm on the go all day in a high stress job (which doesn't help!) so I'd come home and fall asleep. I've had to curtail nearly all of my evening activities -- I found I had to chew gum to stay awake during evening activities.
Following are some of the main reasons for Heart Failure patients to suffer from fatigue, IMHO.
The medications.
The heart is pumping poorly.
Too many calories consumed during the day.
NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems activation.
The other thing I recently started having trouble with was getting breathless when I went for walks. I've walked for years - usually a couple of miles per day - but it was getting harder to do that. Now I know why.
One of the main reasons for difficult, or labored, breathing among heart disease patients is when there is a fluid buildup in the sac surrounding the heart (pericardial effusion). Once the fluid builds up, it makes it more difficult to breath, and it can take hours for the fluid to be re-absorbed and effortless breathing to be restored.
I've also noticed I feel better when I don't overeat, so I have been trying to limit the amount of food I eat.
With Heart Failure, the body has problems converting calories to energy. If you consume more calories than the heart failure condition can process effectively, all hell breaks out in the body, including fluid around the heart and worsening metabolism dysfunction.
I'm really curious about the foods you eat in your small meals. Would you mind telling me more about that? Do you feel hungry?
As my health has improved, so has my appetite and energy levels. I do feel hungry, but since I eat 7-8 meals per day, it isn't long until my next face stuffing! :)
I started documenting my diet, in January 2005, on a thread, I called, Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure? The link to that thread is: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=242229. At that time, I did not really know if I would continue to improve, or continue to get worsening heart failure.
There are a lot of extraneous posts in that thread, but the basic essence of my diet is provided in detail.
My diet has changed, and changes frequently, as my health has improved. I am able to consume larger meals, containing more calories, but the basics are still the same as back in 2005.
Thanks for listening! I'm trying to stay positive and to take a pro-active approach.
The more pro-active you can be, the better. I believe in close monitoring of blood pressure and getting copies of all test results, AND reviewing those test results as much as possible using the Internet, and through HealthBoards.
It's great to read your posts and see your success in dealing with similar issues over the years. I would appreciate any advice you have for me! Sand
Thanks for your response!
With your positive attitude and determination, I have no doubt that you will continue to improve.
Best of luck with your health and your future. I'll be interested in knowing how you do, and what changes you make.
Take care............ :wave:
subnote: Keep in mind that I am just a fellow patient, and have no medical training or education. So....... everything I say should be treated as anecdotal opinion and not gospel.
To me, for anyone with heart disease, the best medication is Coreg, a Beta Blocker. It is truly a wonder drug. When they first created Coreg, they didn't realize it's healing effects. The additional curative effects were only discovered after MANY clinical trials, of hundreds of patients, testing many different scenarios.
About 10 years ago, I learned I had a leaky mitral valve, so i knew those two things were going on. My high blood pressure wasn't controlled well enough over the years and apparently thats what got the ventricle (I think it's the left- I'm still sort of stunned by the whole thing!). But I also learned the other two heart valves were also leaking.
My blood pressure was also not controlled very well. It was only after I started monitoring my blood pressure, at home, throughout the day and night, that I learned that my blood pressure was chronically and dangerously high.
Now...... 27,600 blood pressure readings later, I've learned that blood pressure is more of a gauge of the health of the metabolic system, than just a reading of pressure in the coronary system.
The damage to the heart and valves, thusly, is caused by both higher blood pressures and excess body hormones and cytokines produced by dysfunctional NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems.
My cardio feels that by lowering my blood pressure, I might be able to resolve the enlarged ventricle, so we added lisinopril and a beta blocker, which seems to be lowering the blood pressure to good levels.
Great! It's comforting that you are seeing a positive response to the medications! :)
What were your average daily blood pressure readings before the change in medication, versus after? Is your blood pressure higher in the afternoon than during the earlier part of the day? Does your blood pressure increase during the late evening, decrease, or stay the same?
Blood Pressure trends during the day, to me, are an essential diagnostic tool, or gauge, for treating, not only, heart disease, but many other diseases.
For a couple of years now, I have had extreme fatigue. I was able to rest in the afternoons when I worked part time, but last fall I took a full time job. I'm on the go all day in a high stress job (which doesn't help!) so I'd come home and fall asleep. I've had to curtail nearly all of my evening activities -- I found I had to chew gum to stay awake during evening activities.
Following are some of the main reasons for Heart Failure patients to suffer from fatigue, IMHO.
The medications.
The heart is pumping poorly.
Too many calories consumed during the day.
NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems activation.
The other thing I recently started having trouble with was getting breathless when I went for walks. I've walked for years - usually a couple of miles per day - but it was getting harder to do that. Now I know why.
One of the main reasons for difficult, or labored, breathing among heart disease patients is when there is a fluid buildup in the sac surrounding the heart (pericardial effusion). Once the fluid builds up, it makes it more difficult to breath, and it can take hours for the fluid to be re-absorbed and effortless breathing to be restored.
I've also noticed I feel better when I don't overeat, so I have been trying to limit the amount of food I eat.
With Heart Failure, the body has problems converting calories to energy. If you consume more calories than the heart failure condition can process effectively, all hell breaks out in the body, including fluid around the heart and worsening metabolism dysfunction.
I'm really curious about the foods you eat in your small meals. Would you mind telling me more about that? Do you feel hungry?
As my health has improved, so has my appetite and energy levels. I do feel hungry, but since I eat 7-8 meals per day, it isn't long until my next face stuffing! :)
I started documenting my diet, in January 2005, on a thread, I called, Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure? The link to that thread is: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=242229. At that time, I did not really know if I would continue to improve, or continue to get worsening heart failure.
There are a lot of extraneous posts in that thread, but the basic essence of my diet is provided in detail.
My diet has changed, and changes frequently, as my health has improved. I am able to consume larger meals, containing more calories, but the basics are still the same as back in 2005.
Thanks for listening! I'm trying to stay positive and to take a pro-active approach.
The more pro-active you can be, the better. I believe in close monitoring of blood pressure and getting copies of all test results, AND reviewing those test results as much as possible using the Internet, and through HealthBoards.
It's great to read your posts and see your success in dealing with similar issues over the years. I would appreciate any advice you have for me! Sand
Thanks for your response!
With your positive attitude and determination, I have no doubt that you will continue to improve.
Best of luck with your health and your future. I'll be interested in knowing how you do, and what changes you make.
Take care............ :wave:
subnote: Keep in mind that I am just a fellow patient, and have no medical training or education. So....... everything I say should be treated as anecdotal opinion and not gospel.
Machaon
08-15-2009, 12:28 PM
... I started documenting my diet, in January 2005, on a thread, I called, Does an "Insulin Resistance" diet improve blood pressure? The link to that thread is: http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=242229. At that time, I did not really know if I would continue to improve, or continue to get worsening heart failure.
...
My diet has changed, and changes frequently, as my health has improved. I am able to consume larger meals, containing more calories, but the basics are still the same as back in 2005.
As my metabolism has improved, through the four essential steps, so has my health and quality of life. I am getting stronger and am able to do more physical exercise and physical labor. Nearing age 70, I can lift more, and do more strenuous work than I could 20 years ago. In fact, about 20 years ago I could barely get out of bed, I was so weak with heart failure and I had constant breathing difficulties.
I am currently eating fewer, and larger meals, and my blood sugar and my blood pressure are still at very healthy levels. Which means, to me, that my body has become stronger and more healthy, but it has taken many years of healthy living.
I hope that others are benefiting as much as me from following these basic, logical four steps.
For August, so far, my average blood pressure is 121/71 based on 68 readings. For July, it was 120/71 based on 187 readings. When compared against my Blood Pressure average of 147/93 from 1998-2004, with peaks around 207/126, the importance of healthy diet, exercise, taking the most effective medication, and avoiding bad-health triggers become much more apparent. 1998 through 2004 were among the most anxiety-filled, frustrating times of my life. Nothing I tried, during those long years, did anything to significantly improve my blood pressure; and my health continued to deteriorate.
My wife is no longer suffering from the anxiety and despair from watching me deteriorate. The bad news? I no longer get the pampering that I was used to getting. Somethings are just not fair! :(
...
My diet has changed, and changes frequently, as my health has improved. I am able to consume larger meals, containing more calories, but the basics are still the same as back in 2005.
As my metabolism has improved, through the four essential steps, so has my health and quality of life. I am getting stronger and am able to do more physical exercise and physical labor. Nearing age 70, I can lift more, and do more strenuous work than I could 20 years ago. In fact, about 20 years ago I could barely get out of bed, I was so weak with heart failure and I had constant breathing difficulties.
I am currently eating fewer, and larger meals, and my blood sugar and my blood pressure are still at very healthy levels. Which means, to me, that my body has become stronger and more healthy, but it has taken many years of healthy living.
I hope that others are benefiting as much as me from following these basic, logical four steps.
For August, so far, my average blood pressure is 121/71 based on 68 readings. For July, it was 120/71 based on 187 readings. When compared against my Blood Pressure average of 147/93 from 1998-2004, with peaks around 207/126, the importance of healthy diet, exercise, taking the most effective medication, and avoiding bad-health triggers become much more apparent. 1998 through 2004 were among the most anxiety-filled, frustrating times of my life. Nothing I tried, during those long years, did anything to significantly improve my blood pressure; and my health continued to deteriorate.
My wife is no longer suffering from the anxiety and despair from watching me deteriorate. The bad news? I no longer get the pampering that I was used to getting. Somethings are just not fair! :(
Machaon
08-29-2009, 10:50 AM
... It was only after I started monitoring my blood pressure, at home, throughout the day and night, that I learned that my blood pressure was chronically and dangerously high.
Now...... 27,600 blood pressure readings later, I've learned that blood pressure is more of a gauge of the health of the metabolic system, than just a reading of pressure in the coronary system.
The body has a gauge that reflects an unhealthy metabolism, and that is the Blood Pressure Gauge. When the Blood Pressure Gauge is frequently at unhealthy high levels it usually reflects an unhealthy metabolism.
There are hundreds of hormones in the human body. When someone's metabolism is unhealthy, the body over-produces various hormones and/or under-produces various hormones, causing or worsening many nasty illnesses, such as Heart Failure, CFS, Firbromyalgia, etc. Heart Failure doesn't get worse just because the heart is damaged and weak, it gets worse because of the constant stress on the heart caused by excess hormones.
The medical industry has developed all kinds of medications that attempt to block, or inhibit, the over production of hormones, that are caused by an unhealthy metabolism; medicines such as Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Ace Inhibitors, Aldosterone Blockers, etc.
These meds are very helpful, but because they are imperfect, and cannot overcome an unhealthy metabolism, in most cases the patient will slowly continue to get worse.
That said, there are four essential steps to a healthy metabolism, as outlined in my first post of this thread.
Diet
Avoiding irritants or stimulants "triggers" that cause over-production of hormones
Exercise
Effective, hormone blocking medications.
My blood pressure database is now holding over 28,000 readings. My blood pressure average for August, so far, is 120/70 based on 151 readings. Reports and charts and notes provide the input for me to determine which diet is best for my body, which triggers to avoid, which exercises to do and which medications are most effective.
Taking blood pressure many times a day is more than just a compulsive "habit", it can provide the information for many to survive and improve their lives when faced with serious disease like Heart Failure. In my case, my health is rapidly improving and my Heart Failure, which at one time made it difficult for me to get out of bed, is now more of an inconvenience than a disabling or life threatening disease.
Now...... 27,600 blood pressure readings later, I've learned that blood pressure is more of a gauge of the health of the metabolic system, than just a reading of pressure in the coronary system.
The body has a gauge that reflects an unhealthy metabolism, and that is the Blood Pressure Gauge. When the Blood Pressure Gauge is frequently at unhealthy high levels it usually reflects an unhealthy metabolism.
There are hundreds of hormones in the human body. When someone's metabolism is unhealthy, the body over-produces various hormones and/or under-produces various hormones, causing or worsening many nasty illnesses, such as Heart Failure, CFS, Firbromyalgia, etc. Heart Failure doesn't get worse just because the heart is damaged and weak, it gets worse because of the constant stress on the heart caused by excess hormones.
The medical industry has developed all kinds of medications that attempt to block, or inhibit, the over production of hormones, that are caused by an unhealthy metabolism; medicines such as Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Ace Inhibitors, Aldosterone Blockers, etc.
These meds are very helpful, but because they are imperfect, and cannot overcome an unhealthy metabolism, in most cases the patient will slowly continue to get worse.
That said, there are four essential steps to a healthy metabolism, as outlined in my first post of this thread.
Diet
Avoiding irritants or stimulants "triggers" that cause over-production of hormones
Exercise
Effective, hormone blocking medications.
My blood pressure database is now holding over 28,000 readings. My blood pressure average for August, so far, is 120/70 based on 151 readings. Reports and charts and notes provide the input for me to determine which diet is best for my body, which triggers to avoid, which exercises to do and which medications are most effective.
Taking blood pressure many times a day is more than just a compulsive "habit", it can provide the information for many to survive and improve their lives when faced with serious disease like Heart Failure. In my case, my health is rapidly improving and my Heart Failure, which at one time made it difficult for me to get out of bed, is now more of an inconvenience than a disabling or life threatening disease.
Machaon
09-20-2009, 10:07 AM
... My blood pressure database is now holding over 28,000 readings. My blood pressure average for August, so far, is 120/70 based on 151 readings.
Final, Average Blood Pressure for August was 120/70 based on 164 readings. Blood Pressure for September is 117/69 based on 102 readings.
My blood pressure has been gradually getting lower, as I continue to eat a very healthy diet, tailored towards my particular metabolism; continue to do significant daily exercise; and avoid the pollutants, irritants, chemicals and allergens that directly cause either high blood pressure or other health problems.
As a result of my blood pressure getting too low, I've had to reduce my Coreg down from 24mg per day to 9mg per day. I am hoping that I can stay at 9mg per day in order to take advantage of the wonderful curative benefits of Coreg. But, as my metabolism continues to get healthier, I am finding out that I have no choice but to reduce the dose of medication.
I've also learned that Digoxin offers some wonderful protection against the various pollutants, irritants, chemicals and allergens that directly cause either high blood pressure or other health problems. It is well known that Digoxin acts against pro-inflammatory cytokines. I found out about it first hand. I reduced my Digoxin dosage for over two months. During those two months my symptoms increased significantly when encountering various pollutants, irritants, chemicals and allergens. I had increased breathing problems, malaise, tiredness, weakness and fatigue. I guess that, nearing age 70, I am not as clear-thinking as I used to be, and it took me a couple of months to connect the reduced Digoxin to the increased symptoms. Since I've been back at .25mg Digoxin, the increased symptoms, especially the breathing difficulties, have disappeared. It is so nice to not feel that constant, nagging breathing pressure in my chest. I refer to it as "labored" breathing, where I am aware of each breath, and it seems to take a little more effort than it should to breath normally.
One benefit of living a very healthy lifestyle is that I can increase the size and calorie load of my meals, and still keep my one hour and two hour Post-Prandial, and fasting blood sugar levels at healthy levels.
We all look for magic bullets to cure our heart disease, heart failure and other nasty diseases, while, at the same time, a possible solution lays at our feet, in the form of Diet and Exercise. Diet and Exercise are the magic bullets! :D
Final, Average Blood Pressure for August was 120/70 based on 164 readings. Blood Pressure for September is 117/69 based on 102 readings.
My blood pressure has been gradually getting lower, as I continue to eat a very healthy diet, tailored towards my particular metabolism; continue to do significant daily exercise; and avoid the pollutants, irritants, chemicals and allergens that directly cause either high blood pressure or other health problems.
As a result of my blood pressure getting too low, I've had to reduce my Coreg down from 24mg per day to 9mg per day. I am hoping that I can stay at 9mg per day in order to take advantage of the wonderful curative benefits of Coreg. But, as my metabolism continues to get healthier, I am finding out that I have no choice but to reduce the dose of medication.
I've also learned that Digoxin offers some wonderful protection against the various pollutants, irritants, chemicals and allergens that directly cause either high blood pressure or other health problems. It is well known that Digoxin acts against pro-inflammatory cytokines. I found out about it first hand. I reduced my Digoxin dosage for over two months. During those two months my symptoms increased significantly when encountering various pollutants, irritants, chemicals and allergens. I had increased breathing problems, malaise, tiredness, weakness and fatigue. I guess that, nearing age 70, I am not as clear-thinking as I used to be, and it took me a couple of months to connect the reduced Digoxin to the increased symptoms. Since I've been back at .25mg Digoxin, the increased symptoms, especially the breathing difficulties, have disappeared. It is so nice to not feel that constant, nagging breathing pressure in my chest. I refer to it as "labored" breathing, where I am aware of each breath, and it seems to take a little more effort than it should to breath normally.
One benefit of living a very healthy lifestyle is that I can increase the size and calorie load of my meals, and still keep my one hour and two hour Post-Prandial, and fasting blood sugar levels at healthy levels.
We all look for magic bullets to cure our heart disease, heart failure and other nasty diseases, while, at the same time, a possible solution lays at our feet, in the form of Diet and Exercise. Diet and Exercise are the magic bullets! :D
Machaon
10-06-2009, 06:57 AM
Final, Average Blood Pressure for August was 120/70 based on 164 readings. Blood Pressure for September is 117/69 based on 102 readings.
Blood Pressure for October, so far, is: 121/72 based on 32 readings.
As a result of my blood pressure getting too low, I've had to reduce my Coreg down from 24mg per day to 9mg per day. I am hoping that I can stay at 9mg per day in order to take advantage of the wonderful curative benefits of Coreg. But, as my metabolism continues to get healthier, I am finding out that I have no choice but to reduce the dose of medication.
I have had to reduce my Coreg from 9mg to 6mg. This is now Day 6 of 6mg Coreg. I feel that I am adjusting well to the reduced dosage and am having fewer side effects from the reduction.
When all look for magic bullets to cure our heart disease, heart failure and other nasty diseases, while, at the same time, a possible solution lays at our feet, in the form of Diet and Exercise. Diet and Exercise are the magic bullets! :D
I cannot believe the great health benefits from exercise. I'm becoming an exercise maniac as I approach 70. I have increased my steppers well over 600 per day, I have doubled my time on the exercise bike, I am doing much more than my normal 150 pushups per day. Next I hope to be able to increase my curls and lifts. The more exercise I do, the better I get, the more stable my blood sugar, the more stable my blood pressure and the more I can eat!! :D
Blood Pressure for October, so far, is: 121/72 based on 32 readings.
As a result of my blood pressure getting too low, I've had to reduce my Coreg down from 24mg per day to 9mg per day. I am hoping that I can stay at 9mg per day in order to take advantage of the wonderful curative benefits of Coreg. But, as my metabolism continues to get healthier, I am finding out that I have no choice but to reduce the dose of medication.
I have had to reduce my Coreg from 9mg to 6mg. This is now Day 6 of 6mg Coreg. I feel that I am adjusting well to the reduced dosage and am having fewer side effects from the reduction.
When all look for magic bullets to cure our heart disease, heart failure and other nasty diseases, while, at the same time, a possible solution lays at our feet, in the form of Diet and Exercise. Diet and Exercise are the magic bullets! :D
I cannot believe the great health benefits from exercise. I'm becoming an exercise maniac as I approach 70. I have increased my steppers well over 600 per day, I have doubled my time on the exercise bike, I am doing much more than my normal 150 pushups per day. Next I hope to be able to increase my curls and lifts. The more exercise I do, the better I get, the more stable my blood sugar, the more stable my blood pressure and the more I can eat!! :D
gglovessunshine
10-11-2009, 07:06 PM
Hope your still around. Just read your encouraging words. Thanks so much
gglovessunshine
10-11-2009, 07:08 PM
I am inspired
Machaon
10-16-2009, 07:43 AM
Hope your still around. Just read your encouraging words. Thanks so much ... I am inspired
Yes...... I am still around and kicking, and improving, as I near my 70s.
Thanks for the supportive comments! :wave:
I didn't think that anyone was really interested in what I had to say, except for me and my wife! I've had heart failure for over 22 years, among other serious health problems, and my wife hasn't had to deal with a husband in the hospital, except for 22 years ago when I was first hospitalized.
I take it that either you, or a loved one, has heart failure, or some other serious heart problems.
If you don't mind me asking, what is it about my "encouraging words" that you think will benefit your situation? Are you planning to make any changes, based on what I have posted, or is it that you are just encouraged by my success in dealing with my heart-failure struggles?
Yes...... I am still around and kicking, and improving, as I near my 70s.
Thanks for the supportive comments! :wave:
I didn't think that anyone was really interested in what I had to say, except for me and my wife! I've had heart failure for over 22 years, among other serious health problems, and my wife hasn't had to deal with a husband in the hospital, except for 22 years ago when I was first hospitalized.
I take it that either you, or a loved one, has heart failure, or some other serious heart problems.
If you don't mind me asking, what is it about my "encouraging words" that you think will benefit your situation? Are you planning to make any changes, based on what I have posted, or is it that you are just encouraged by my success in dealing with my heart-failure struggles?
Machaon
10-17-2009, 10:55 AM
Blood Pressure for October, so far, is: 121/72 based on 32 readings.
Blood Pressure for October, so far, is: 117/70 based on 98 readings. This is day three of my new seven meal, 1500 calorie diet. I discovered that almost all of my increasing nasty symptoms were coming from my diet, not my wonderful, miracle medication, COREG.
I have had to reduce my Coreg from 9mg to 6mg. This is now Day 6 of 6mg Coreg. I feel that I am adjusting well to the reduced dosage and am having fewer side effects from the reduction.
This is now day 4 of being on 12mg Coreg. I've bumped my Coreg up from 6mg per day to 12mg per day, and intend to go back to 24mg per day, if I can get there again. The Coreg is great at allowing me to consume larger meals, without effecting my blood sugar too much , but there is only so much this great medication can do if it has to fight Heart Failure, Permanent Atrial Fibrillation and a never-ending, no-self-control, unhealthy diet! :mad: :(
I cannot believe the great health benefits from exercise. I'm becoming an exercise maniac as I approach 70. I have increased my steppers well over 600 per day, I have doubled my time on the exercise bike, I am doing much more than my normal 150 pushups per day. Next I hope to be able to increase my curls and lifts. The more exercise I do, the better I get, the more stable my blood sugar, the more stable my blood pressure and the more I can eat!! :D
Yeh! Keep telling yourself that as your health worsens despite the exercise and the Coreg, YOU DUMMY!!! :mad: :eek: :dizzy: :(
I cannot believe that, after 22 years of fighting major diseases, somethings just don't penetrate this thick skull of mine! :jester:
Anyways........ in a short period of time, on less calories, smaller and more frequent meals, I am already sleeping better, without breathing problems, have more energy and strength, and just feel a lot healthier. This is the first morning in a long time where I have not woken up with my heart jumping around in my chest! My fasting blood sugar at 3am was 94 (needs to get into the 80's again) and my one hour postprandial at 7am was 117!!! :D What does that tell me about eating a healthy balanced diet? Will I listen to my body this time and behave myself, or will I give into temptation and start stuffing my face once again!? :confused:
Will this trend continue? I don't know. It has been 22 years of testing different things and learning about my health from charting the results of changes to diet, meds, lifestyle and environment through my 28,303 blood pressure readings.
I will stay with the current low calorie, frequent feeding, balanced diet; and give up all of the wonderful goodies that I had added back to my diet, and stay on 12mg Coreg for, at least, the rest of the month prior to deciding whether or not to increase the dosage, once again, on this merry-go-round of heart disease!
But...... as the old say: The proof is in the pudding. I'll find out if I am correct as I get past age 70 and head towards age 80. Will I make 80?!
I really enjoy HealthBoards and hope that my health and well-being will allow me to continue to post here for another seven to ten years or more.
Blood Pressure for October, so far, is: 117/70 based on 98 readings. This is day three of my new seven meal, 1500 calorie diet. I discovered that almost all of my increasing nasty symptoms were coming from my diet, not my wonderful, miracle medication, COREG.
I have had to reduce my Coreg from 9mg to 6mg. This is now Day 6 of 6mg Coreg. I feel that I am adjusting well to the reduced dosage and am having fewer side effects from the reduction.
This is now day 4 of being on 12mg Coreg. I've bumped my Coreg up from 6mg per day to 12mg per day, and intend to go back to 24mg per day, if I can get there again. The Coreg is great at allowing me to consume larger meals, without effecting my blood sugar too much , but there is only so much this great medication can do if it has to fight Heart Failure, Permanent Atrial Fibrillation and a never-ending, no-self-control, unhealthy diet! :mad: :(
I cannot believe the great health benefits from exercise. I'm becoming an exercise maniac as I approach 70. I have increased my steppers well over 600 per day, I have doubled my time on the exercise bike, I am doing much more than my normal 150 pushups per day. Next I hope to be able to increase my curls and lifts. The more exercise I do, the better I get, the more stable my blood sugar, the more stable my blood pressure and the more I can eat!! :D
Yeh! Keep telling yourself that as your health worsens despite the exercise and the Coreg, YOU DUMMY!!! :mad: :eek: :dizzy: :(
I cannot believe that, after 22 years of fighting major diseases, somethings just don't penetrate this thick skull of mine! :jester:
Anyways........ in a short period of time, on less calories, smaller and more frequent meals, I am already sleeping better, without breathing problems, have more energy and strength, and just feel a lot healthier. This is the first morning in a long time where I have not woken up with my heart jumping around in my chest! My fasting blood sugar at 3am was 94 (needs to get into the 80's again) and my one hour postprandial at 7am was 117!!! :D What does that tell me about eating a healthy balanced diet? Will I listen to my body this time and behave myself, or will I give into temptation and start stuffing my face once again!? :confused:
Will this trend continue? I don't know. It has been 22 years of testing different things and learning about my health from charting the results of changes to diet, meds, lifestyle and environment through my 28,303 blood pressure readings.
I will stay with the current low calorie, frequent feeding, balanced diet; and give up all of the wonderful goodies that I had added back to my diet, and stay on 12mg Coreg for, at least, the rest of the month prior to deciding whether or not to increase the dosage, once again, on this merry-go-round of heart disease!
But...... as the old say: The proof is in the pudding. I'll find out if I am correct as I get past age 70 and head towards age 80. Will I make 80?!
I really enjoy HealthBoards and hope that my health and well-being will allow me to continue to post here for another seven to ten years or more.
Machaon
10-19-2009, 05:11 AM
Blood Pressure for October, so far, is: 117/70 based on 98 readings. This is day three of my new seven meal, 1500 calorie diet. I discovered that almost all of my increasing nasty symptoms were coming from my diet, not my wonderful, miracle medication, COREG.
I am starting day five of my new, or otherwise resumed, seven meal, 1500 calorie diet. I usually don't provide an update this soon after making a change, because any trend usually means more to me if I wait a month or more to verify, but the results are startling!
Anyways........ in a short period of time, on less calories, smaller and more frequent meals, I am already sleeping better, without breathing problems, have more energy and strength, and just feel a lot healthier. This is the first morning in a long time where I have not woken up with my heart jumping around in my chest!
I have more energy. I not only feel better, I feel good!
My fasting blood sugar at 3am was 94 (needs to get into the 80's again) and my one hour postprandial at 7am was 117!!! :D What does that tell me about eating a healthy balanced diet? Will I listen to my body this time and behave myself, or will I give into temptation and start stuffing my face once again!? :confused:
My fasting blood sugar on the 17th was 94, this morning 89!
My one hour PostPrandial on the 17th, at 7:11am, was 117; at 3:13pm was 127, at 6:07pm was 122, on the 18th at 9:50am was 86!!!, my 2 hour PostPrandial on the 18th at 1pm was 74!!!
For the past month or so, my fasting blood sugar has ranged between a less than healthy reading of 100 and 105. These body gauges of blood pressure and blood sugar are great at informing us if we are dieting and exercising correctly, if we would only listen to them! :( :mad:
My blood pressure when I woke up today, at 2:39am, was 112/67, which is more or less kinda normal.
The important thing is that I feel good! I have had heart failure, with significant damage to my heart, permanent Atrial Fibrillation, Immune System Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, and previously chronic, malignant high blood pressure for over 20 years, and I feel good and my numbers are great! Heart Failure is not a death sentence!
Blood Pressure, in my unprofessional opinion, is just a number that reflects what is going on in one's body. In order to learn exactly what it means, a doctor, or other health professional, would have to fully evaluate someone's daily blood pressure patterns over an extended period of time, Dietary requirements, current Exercise regime, Immune System Functioning and Neuro-Hormonal Imbalance, and then prescribe corrective medication, and recommend environmental, dietary and lifestyle changes.
When someone has their metabolism in balance through environmental, dietary, exercise and lifestyle changes, almost any disease, including advanced diseases, can be cured, especially when medication is re-evaluated AFTER one's metabolism is at it's healthiest level due to these other changes.
Think about it. Wouldn't it be better to live a healthier life, with a minimum of absolutely required medication, because of proper diet, exercise, environment and lifestyle? :D
Will anyone else believe in the tremendous health benefits of proper diet and exercise because of my results, and improve their health and/or heart disease also? There is always hope! :D
I am starting day five of my new, or otherwise resumed, seven meal, 1500 calorie diet. I usually don't provide an update this soon after making a change, because any trend usually means more to me if I wait a month or more to verify, but the results are startling!
Anyways........ in a short period of time, on less calories, smaller and more frequent meals, I am already sleeping better, without breathing problems, have more energy and strength, and just feel a lot healthier. This is the first morning in a long time where I have not woken up with my heart jumping around in my chest!
I have more energy. I not only feel better, I feel good!
My fasting blood sugar at 3am was 94 (needs to get into the 80's again) and my one hour postprandial at 7am was 117!!! :D What does that tell me about eating a healthy balanced diet? Will I listen to my body this time and behave myself, or will I give into temptation and start stuffing my face once again!? :confused:
My fasting blood sugar on the 17th was 94, this morning 89!
My one hour PostPrandial on the 17th, at 7:11am, was 117; at 3:13pm was 127, at 6:07pm was 122, on the 18th at 9:50am was 86!!!, my 2 hour PostPrandial on the 18th at 1pm was 74!!!
For the past month or so, my fasting blood sugar has ranged between a less than healthy reading of 100 and 105. These body gauges of blood pressure and blood sugar are great at informing us if we are dieting and exercising correctly, if we would only listen to them! :( :mad:
My blood pressure when I woke up today, at 2:39am, was 112/67, which is more or less kinda normal.
The important thing is that I feel good! I have had heart failure, with significant damage to my heart, permanent Atrial Fibrillation, Immune System Dysfunction, Insulin Resistance, and previously chronic, malignant high blood pressure for over 20 years, and I feel good and my numbers are great! Heart Failure is not a death sentence!
Blood Pressure, in my unprofessional opinion, is just a number that reflects what is going on in one's body. In order to learn exactly what it means, a doctor, or other health professional, would have to fully evaluate someone's daily blood pressure patterns over an extended period of time, Dietary requirements, current Exercise regime, Immune System Functioning and Neuro-Hormonal Imbalance, and then prescribe corrective medication, and recommend environmental, dietary and lifestyle changes.
When someone has their metabolism in balance through environmental, dietary, exercise and lifestyle changes, almost any disease, including advanced diseases, can be cured, especially when medication is re-evaluated AFTER one's metabolism is at it's healthiest level due to these other changes.
Think about it. Wouldn't it be better to live a healthier life, with a minimum of absolutely required medication, because of proper diet, exercise, environment and lifestyle? :D
Will anyone else believe in the tremendous health benefits of proper diet and exercise because of my results, and improve their health and/or heart disease also? There is always hope! :D
Machaon
10-25-2009, 03:59 AM
... Since I've been back at .25mg Digoxin, the increased symptoms, especially the breathing difficulties, have disappeared. It is so nice to not feel that constant, nagging breathing pressure in my chest. I refer to it as "labored" breathing, where I am aware of each breath, and it seems to take a little more effort than it should to breath normally.
I am still on .25mg of Digoxin. For me it is an inexpensive and very beneficial medication and greatly helps to relieve my breathing problems.
One benefit of living a very healthy lifestyle is that I can increase the size and calorie load of my meals, and still keep my one hour and two hour Post-Prandial, and fasting blood sugar levels at healthy levels.
It just shows me that, after battling with heart failure for over 20 years, my biggest enemy is my lack of self control when it comes to eating. For someone with heart failure, or other major diseases that cause a metabolic dysfunction, even moderate levels of calories are poison.
Every time I increase either the size of my meals, or the calories load, my symptoms get worse. It happens every single damn time, but I don't think that I will ever learn my lesson and just get used to smaller, more frequent meals! :mad:
Oh well..... if at first you don't succeed, try try again. Back to even smaller, more frequent meals. The good news is that my health continues to improve. The bad news is that I cannot enjoy the same reckless, fun lifestyle that I enjoyed when I was 50 years younger! :(
It's all good though, isn't it! :D
I am still on .25mg of Digoxin. For me it is an inexpensive and very beneficial medication and greatly helps to relieve my breathing problems.
One benefit of living a very healthy lifestyle is that I can increase the size and calorie load of my meals, and still keep my one hour and two hour Post-Prandial, and fasting blood sugar levels at healthy levels.
It just shows me that, after battling with heart failure for over 20 years, my biggest enemy is my lack of self control when it comes to eating. For someone with heart failure, or other major diseases that cause a metabolic dysfunction, even moderate levels of calories are poison.
Every time I increase either the size of my meals, or the calories load, my symptoms get worse. It happens every single damn time, but I don't think that I will ever learn my lesson and just get used to smaller, more frequent meals! :mad:
Oh well..... if at first you don't succeed, try try again. Back to even smaller, more frequent meals. The good news is that my health continues to improve. The bad news is that I cannot enjoy the same reckless, fun lifestyle that I enjoyed when I was 50 years younger! :(
It's all good though, isn't it! :D
Machaon
10-25-2009, 06:22 PM
As I improved, due to diet, I was also able to increase my exercise, but with very limited physical exercise. I've also slowly learned about the things/irritants that trigger the over-production of Immune System, and NeuroHormonal body chemicals, which are responsible for worsening Heart Failure, and Immune System diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
I just located probably the most important trigger EVER of my NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems. I did not believe that this highly individual, seemingly innocuous trigger could possibly be negatively effecting my health, but it did! :eek:
After an extremely difficult and painful removal process, I got it out of my home. Almost immediately I felt better with more energy, feeling younger, more strength, very easy breathing, wanting to do more activity. I am actually going nuts because I am so bored and need things to do!
So..... yesterday, in an experiment, I came back into contact, and I reacted much worse than ever, and was deathly ill all day long. It seems that, when a trigger is removed, all rules change.
So...... last night I again removed the trigger from my home and all day today I am running around like a chicken with my head off. I feel GREAT! I am wanting, near age 70, to go back to work, believe it or not!
The Pharmaceutical Industry makes expensive medications that help to block, or inhibit, the "triggers", but they don't document the obvious "triggers", probably because too many sufferers would become much better, and need fewer medications and fewer doctor visits, causing huge, billion dollar loses for both the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Medical Industry! :eek:
Couldn't have said this better myself! :jester:
Anyway, this trigger is so individual to my own environment and metabolism that to further elaborate would do more harm than good, especially if no one believed me, which is what would happen. :D
The important reason for this post is to pass the word to suspect anything and everything. Do not rule anything out when it comes to health problems. I started over 20 years ago, removing things from my environment, lifestyle and diet and after considerable trial, effort, misery, pain, malaise and despair, I finally have HOPE! :angel:
Best of luck and health to everyone! :wave:
I just located probably the most important trigger EVER of my NeuroHormonal and Immune Systems. I did not believe that this highly individual, seemingly innocuous trigger could possibly be negatively effecting my health, but it did! :eek:
After an extremely difficult and painful removal process, I got it out of my home. Almost immediately I felt better with more energy, feeling younger, more strength, very easy breathing, wanting to do more activity. I am actually going nuts because I am so bored and need things to do!
So..... yesterday, in an experiment, I came back into contact, and I reacted much worse than ever, and was deathly ill all day long. It seems that, when a trigger is removed, all rules change.
So...... last night I again removed the trigger from my home and all day today I am running around like a chicken with my head off. I feel GREAT! I am wanting, near age 70, to go back to work, believe it or not!
The Pharmaceutical Industry makes expensive medications that help to block, or inhibit, the "triggers", but they don't document the obvious "triggers", probably because too many sufferers would become much better, and need fewer medications and fewer doctor visits, causing huge, billion dollar loses for both the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Medical Industry! :eek:
Couldn't have said this better myself! :jester:
Anyway, this trigger is so individual to my own environment and metabolism that to further elaborate would do more harm than good, especially if no one believed me, which is what would happen. :D
The important reason for this post is to pass the word to suspect anything and everything. Do not rule anything out when it comes to health problems. I started over 20 years ago, removing things from my environment, lifestyle and diet and after considerable trial, effort, misery, pain, malaise and despair, I finally have HOPE! :angel:
Best of luck and health to everyone! :wave:
Machaon
10-26-2009, 10:27 AM
So...... last night I again removed the trigger from my home and all day today I am running around like a chicken with my head off. I feel GREAT! I am wanting, near age 70, to go back to work, believe it or not!
I've got to get out of my home and go shopping or something! I am going NUTS!!! :blob_fire
It is a beautiful day down here in Florida. Time to look up into the pastel, light blue sky, the high hanging white clouds, the graceful soaring birds, and appreciate the wonders of our world! :D
I've got to get out of my home and go shopping or something! I am going NUTS!!! :blob_fire
It is a beautiful day down here in Florida. Time to look up into the pastel, light blue sky, the high hanging white clouds, the graceful soaring birds, and appreciate the wonders of our world! :D
Machaon
10-28-2009, 08:32 AM
I've got to get out of my home and go shopping or something! I am going NUTS!!! :blob_fire
I felt great. I went shopping for hours! More energy that I have had for decades, and almost no breathing problems! :D
However........... I bought something that I should not have purchased, brought it home and put it on a table and forgot about it. It turned out to be a bad-health trigger and I got deathly ill. We removed it from our home, and aired our place out real good, but it was too late. :( :dizzy: :mad:
I was sick the rest of the day, and had major breathing problems that night. Got about 3 hours of poor sleep. :(
The next day, yesterday, Tuesday, I was lethargic and sickly feeling, with breathing problems, all day long until about 7pm when, all of a sudden I started feeling great again and my breathing problems went away TOTALLY! I slept better that night, than I had slept in years, without any labored, or sluggish breathing, and felt great and refreshed in the morning, and still feel great! :blob_fire
So..... the bottom line is: Just because I am feeling and doing this good, I must constantly remind myself that my health problems will never go away, never be cured, and that I am suffering from major health issues that require constant care and caution.
It's all good though, isn't it!? :D
I felt great. I went shopping for hours! More energy that I have had for decades, and almost no breathing problems! :D
However........... I bought something that I should not have purchased, brought it home and put it on a table and forgot about it. It turned out to be a bad-health trigger and I got deathly ill. We removed it from our home, and aired our place out real good, but it was too late. :( :dizzy: :mad:
I was sick the rest of the day, and had major breathing problems that night. Got about 3 hours of poor sleep. :(
The next day, yesterday, Tuesday, I was lethargic and sickly feeling, with breathing problems, all day long until about 7pm when, all of a sudden I started feeling great again and my breathing problems went away TOTALLY! I slept better that night, than I had slept in years, without any labored, or sluggish breathing, and felt great and refreshed in the morning, and still feel great! :blob_fire
So..... the bottom line is: Just because I am feeling and doing this good, I must constantly remind myself that my health problems will never go away, never be cured, and that I am suffering from major health issues that require constant care and caution.
It's all good though, isn't it!? :D
Machaon
10-29-2009, 06:56 PM
... The next day, yesterday, Tuesday, I was lethargic and sickly feeling, with breathing problems, all day long until about 7pm when, all of a sudden I started feeling great again and my breathing problems went away TOTALLY! I slept better that night, than I had slept in years, without any labored, or sluggish breathing, and felt great and refreshed in the morning, and still feel great! :blob_fire
Today was a wonderful day. I feel great from head to toe! :D
So...... I went out shopping again today, for a couple of hours, and bought a huge-faced digital atomic clock (so a near-sighted old bat like me can see it), a rechargeable shaving and trimming kit and some groceries. I came home with more energy than what I had when I left! And...... I still feel GREAT!! After 22 years of battling Heart Failure, Chronically high blood pressure, Insulin Resistance, pre-Diabetes Type II, Asthma and Immune Dysfunction, I feel that I am experiencing significant improvements in both my quality of life and my chances for survival! :D If I can do it, anyone can do it! Diet, exercise, avoiding NeuroHormonal/Immune System over-stimulators and taking effective medications.
Also, today, I have successfully changed my daily diet to seven meals/snacks totaling 1800 calories, or 1600 calories excluding fiber, without cheating one time! Let's see if we can do this two days in a row! :eek: :angel:
I am doing 93 grams of protein, and my dietary balance is 48% carbs, 24% Protein and 29% fat, which is very close to my desired targets. It's almost impossible to get the balance exactly on target.
Today was a wonderful day. I feel great from head to toe! :D
So...... I went out shopping again today, for a couple of hours, and bought a huge-faced digital atomic clock (so a near-sighted old bat like me can see it), a rechargeable shaving and trimming kit and some groceries. I came home with more energy than what I had when I left! And...... I still feel GREAT!! After 22 years of battling Heart Failure, Chronically high blood pressure, Insulin Resistance, pre-Diabetes Type II, Asthma and Immune Dysfunction, I feel that I am experiencing significant improvements in both my quality of life and my chances for survival! :D If I can do it, anyone can do it! Diet, exercise, avoiding NeuroHormonal/Immune System over-stimulators and taking effective medications.
Also, today, I have successfully changed my daily diet to seven meals/snacks totaling 1800 calories, or 1600 calories excluding fiber, without cheating one time! Let's see if we can do this two days in a row! :eek: :angel:
I am doing 93 grams of protein, and my dietary balance is 48% carbs, 24% Protein and 29% fat, which is very close to my desired targets. It's almost impossible to get the balance exactly on target.
Machaon
10-31-2009, 05:37 PM
Today was a wonderful day. I feel great from head to toe! :D
Three days in a row feeling great! I feel 40 years younger and healthier!!! :D
I still feel GREAT!! After 22 years of battling Heart Failure, Chronically high blood pressure, Insulin Resistance, pre-Diabetes Type II, Asthma and Immune Dysfunction, I feel that I am experiencing significant improvements in both my quality of life and my chances for survival!
This is the reason for my post. If a non-professional novice, like me, with absolutely no formal medical training or experience can greatly improve my own health and quality of life, imagine what someone else who also has life-threatening, seriously disabling diseases can do if paired with competent, effective, caring medical care! :(
Also, today, I have successfully changed my daily diet to seven meals/snacks totaling 1800 calories, or 1600 calories excluding fiber, without cheating one time! Let's see if we can do this two days in a row! :eek: :angel:
It has now been four straight days of religiously following my diet. No deviation at all. No cheating! :nono: I have thought about cheating on my diet (many times) but, the positive feedback I am getting from my own body (I feel great!), is convincing me not to be STUPID again! :mad:
Three days in a row feeling great! I feel 40 years younger and healthier!!! :D
I still feel GREAT!! After 22 years of battling Heart Failure, Chronically high blood pressure, Insulin Resistance, pre-Diabetes Type II, Asthma and Immune Dysfunction, I feel that I am experiencing significant improvements in both my quality of life and my chances for survival!
This is the reason for my post. If a non-professional novice, like me, with absolutely no formal medical training or experience can greatly improve my own health and quality of life, imagine what someone else who also has life-threatening, seriously disabling diseases can do if paired with competent, effective, caring medical care! :(
Also, today, I have successfully changed my daily diet to seven meals/snacks totaling 1800 calories, or 1600 calories excluding fiber, without cheating one time! Let's see if we can do this two days in a row! :eek: :angel:
It has now been four straight days of religiously following my diet. No deviation at all. No cheating! :nono: I have thought about cheating on my diet (many times) but, the positive feedback I am getting from my own body (I feel great!), is convincing me not to be STUPID again! :mad:
Machaon
11-10-2009, 10:17 AM
Three days in a row feeling great! I feel 40 years younger and healthier!!! :D
One of the main reasons for the amazing improvement in my Heart Failure and Health, is that we had to put our Poodle of 14 years to sleep. It was doubly sad because he was in great physical shape. But.... as soon as he was out of our home, I experienced a noticeable and dramatic improvement in my health, and my overall feeling of well being. I feel great almost every day. Every looks beautiful. I am enjoying the sky and the white, power-puff clouds and the brisk breezes and the beauty of life itself. I had no idea that my immune system was being offended so much by a sensitivity to dogs?! :mad:
My wife was extremely close to Bungee. Her and him were inseparable. The decision to euthanize him was heart breaking and torments both of us.
Bungee's legacy to me, is a better chance for me to survive Heart Failure and my Immune Dysfunction, which is actually worse than the Heart Failure. Heart Failure is a picnic compared to Immune Dysfunction.
Blood Pressure average through November 9th, so far, is 117/71 based on 34 readings, or 4 readings per day (down from 7).
I feel great! :blob_fire
One of the main reasons for the amazing improvement in my Heart Failure and Health, is that we had to put our Poodle of 14 years to sleep. It was doubly sad because he was in great physical shape. But.... as soon as he was out of our home, I experienced a noticeable and dramatic improvement in my health, and my overall feeling of well being. I feel great almost every day. Every looks beautiful. I am enjoying the sky and the white, power-puff clouds and the brisk breezes and the beauty of life itself. I had no idea that my immune system was being offended so much by a sensitivity to dogs?! :mad:
My wife was extremely close to Bungee. Her and him were inseparable. The decision to euthanize him was heart breaking and torments both of us.
Bungee's legacy to me, is a better chance for me to survive Heart Failure and my Immune Dysfunction, which is actually worse than the Heart Failure. Heart Failure is a picnic compared to Immune Dysfunction.
Blood Pressure average through November 9th, so far, is 117/71 based on 34 readings, or 4 readings per day (down from 7).
I feel great! :blob_fire
Machaon
11-21-2009, 02:14 PM
Three days in a row feeling great! I feel 40 years younger and healthier!!! :D
It has now been four straight days of religiously following my diet. No deviation at all. No cheating! :nono: I have thought about cheating on my diet (many times) but, the positive feedback I am getting from my own body (I feel great!), is convincing me not to be STUPID again! :mad:
I, once again, got off my diet, and this time I greatly increased the proteins. :nono: What an idiot! :mad: No self control any more at all! :rolleyes:
At least I have learned the difference in nasty symptoms between a high protein diet and a high carbohydrate diet for someone my age, with Heart Failure! :eek:
Good Grief, will I ever learn!!! :mad: :(
The excesses in diet have not effected my average blood pressure for the month of November 1-21, which is 115/69 based on 76 readings, or an average of 4 readings per day.
For the entire year, 2009, my blood pressure average is 124/72 based on 2558 blood pressure readings.
If I want to continue to progressively improve from Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, Immune Dysfunction and Insulin Resistance, I must stay on my healthy small meal, low calorie, frequent eating diet, or I am not going to like the outcome of having no dietary self control!
Above all else, my diet must be balanced between Carbs, Proteins and Fats. Why is that? The body needs a healthy blend of Carbs (50%), Proteins (20%) and Fats (30%) in order for the metabolism to work effectively and to be in balance.
Sadly, the better I feel the more I want to eat, and especially SNACK!!! And...... snacking is the worst of all eating because it is totally unbalanced, either too many carbs or too many proteins all during the same eating binge! It's hardly fair, is it!? :confused:
It has now been four straight days of religiously following my diet. No deviation at all. No cheating! :nono: I have thought about cheating on my diet (many times) but, the positive feedback I am getting from my own body (I feel great!), is convincing me not to be STUPID again! :mad:
I, once again, got off my diet, and this time I greatly increased the proteins. :nono: What an idiot! :mad: No self control any more at all! :rolleyes:
At least I have learned the difference in nasty symptoms between a high protein diet and a high carbohydrate diet for someone my age, with Heart Failure! :eek:
Good Grief, will I ever learn!!! :mad: :(
The excesses in diet have not effected my average blood pressure for the month of November 1-21, which is 115/69 based on 76 readings, or an average of 4 readings per day.
For the entire year, 2009, my blood pressure average is 124/72 based on 2558 blood pressure readings.
If I want to continue to progressively improve from Heart Failure, Atrial Fibrillation, Immune Dysfunction and Insulin Resistance, I must stay on my healthy small meal, low calorie, frequent eating diet, or I am not going to like the outcome of having no dietary self control!
Above all else, my diet must be balanced between Carbs, Proteins and Fats. Why is that? The body needs a healthy blend of Carbs (50%), Proteins (20%) and Fats (30%) in order for the metabolism to work effectively and to be in balance.
Sadly, the better I feel the more I want to eat, and especially SNACK!!! And...... snacking is the worst of all eating because it is totally unbalanced, either too many carbs or too many proteins all during the same eating binge! It's hardly fair, is it!? :confused: