Rik Ivens

I’m 40 now and since the age of 32 I’ve had heart function irregularities due to:

• Caffeine – (tea or coffee)
• Lack of sleep
• Lack of food
• White carbohydrate intake (white bread, pasta, potatoes etc)
• Sugar intake


I remember the problems all started when during a game of squash; I had an involuntary severe heart muscle spasm (extreme rapid firing heart beat), which then afterwards left me out of breath with irregular beats, weak beats, as well as stopping then starting with harder beats. These symptoms occurred on a daily basis for about 4 years but thankfully over time has largely corrected itself.

I haven’t drank tea or coffee in years since caffeine has caused me to have palpitations ever since. I came to the conclusion that it must have effected my heart’s natural electrical pulse.

My diet plays a huge part in my well being.
Thankfully, my doctor - (Dr Farmhi), recognised my symptoms as glycaemic related and suggested I try and follow a GI Low diet, which has helped to a large extent but hasn’t by any means eliminated my problems. There is a definite link to my problems with my intake of any white carbohydrates or sugar intake:
Eg: - 1 biscuit, 1 small piece of chocolate, etc causes the above nasty heart spasm and breathless symptoms which stay in my system for 4 + days, (are these what’s known as sugar spikes?). My blood is being polluted and putting my life in danger and I feel powerless.

I’m afraid that my condition might be worsening and that not enough is being done for the prevention of my condition. I need some answers. I’ve been disappointed in previous visits to different doctors and even heart specialists who have failed to even acknowledge my symptoms as being linked to carb and sugar intake. Instead they have said it’s in my mind which it clearly is not. This has left me feeling depressed, my whole faith in them is in question.

Having kept a health diary and monitoring my diet - I now know that my unpleasant symptoms are a direct result of carb and sugar intake. Health forums on the internet re-affirm this conclusion with many people sharing my problems with similar problems following the same pattern:

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ:
http://www.healthboards.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-58551.html

Is there a name for this condition? Can you direct me to a specialist who knows about it?

I feel that everyday I’m running the gauntlet with my food intake and have had many nasty shocks by eating foods with hidden sugars which have left me literally fearing for my life.
Is there any medication I should be taking to prevent these problems?
Eg:
• Statins?
• Beta blockers?
• Any vitamin supplements?
(I take magnesium every other day)
• Should I take half an aspirin every day?

Two weeks ago I started cycling on a regular basis incuding climbing and walking. I felt my fitness really improving and felt my life changing for the better. However all that was dashed when 2 nights ago I had 2 belgium chock chip cookies and have been suffering for it ever since. I woke in the middle of that night with palpitations and weak heart beat, with the usual pains and tingling sensations in my leg vains. Over the next 70+ hrs I’m experiencing heart muscle spasms when I barely exert myself - Eg - walking etc. It’s really unpleasant!!

The other symptoms I experience are simultaneous pains in my veins (mainly legs). Could this sensation be due to sugar or cholesterol clotting? Even though I’ve been experiencing this discomfort for quite some time now, it’s still very distressing and debilitating for me.

Is it a heart condition that I have or blood/circularity problem?
My grandad died aged 56 from a heart attack and my father has a history of high blood preasure.

Do I need to be tested for the following?
Malfuctioning pancreas
Metabolic syndrome
Ketoacidosis
Do I have abnormally high heart plaque?
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I’ve had some blood tests but nothing irregular had shown up. Is this because my body changes so rapidly?
　
I have so many unanswered questions and worry about my future – please help me.