Do not read this unless you are tired of doctors not helping you

Why does no one pay attention to my 45 years of dealing with panic attacks and skipped heartbeats? I like many of you have tried lots of doctors and their remedies to no avail. Thanks to the internet and tons of searching I have found what not only helped me but will help lots of the folks on this site. The answer is magnesium, you must use the right kind and the right amount. It is cheap and cannot harm you, oh wait it's cheap and that's why your doctor probably has never studied it or he can't get a free golf trip for having you try it. Do yourself a favor and study everything you can amount this miracle mineral, or keep on doing what you have been doing over and over again . Doing something over and over again and expecting a different result is called insanity. If anyone is interested I will share what I found works for me, and for the last 6 months of my life it's been quite enjoyable. If this helps just one person it will make me very happy

[rilesnic]

I'm looking up magnesium right now. Thanks viperron!

[DeltaDawn23]

Went the route where everything was attributed to my "panic" attacks.  Shrink, anxiety drugs, etc.   Just recently learned that my symptoms are what one should expect from Afib -- would've been nice to know 9 years ago.  I'd be interested in what you've learned about magnesium.

I guess we can all agree that -- at least some of the time -- the patient's comfort or convenience is not first on the healthcare providers agenda.  It makes me mad, but I am trying to let it go, because getting mad just makes my symptoms worse and I REALLY don't need that.  I have a wonderful primary care provider for which I am very grateful.  Some of the specialists just don't seem to see me as a person -- just a disease.

It is really important to be your own advocate, be medically informed and question, question, question.  I survived cancer 20 years ago and learned that early on -- then I got heart disease and (apparently) forgot!  This message board is the best thing that's happened to me since I started having Afib.  I have learned so much from others' experience, and shared my experience and hopefully been of some help to others.  I think the message board gives us a sense of control, which illness often takes away.

[mrsboston3122]

I am interested, I probably would try anything to get rid of these things. Please let me in on your secret:)  

[viperron]

If you simply read the symptoms of low mg it will hit you right between the eyes. Once I saw the symptoms I read everything I could about mg. After tying it I found that I had to take it 3 to 5 times a day and ended up using one called Natural Calm but my body needed so much I was getting some diaheria. I found and read about Angstrom mg which does not go thru your digestive system so it cannot cause diaheria. Now I use both but mostly Natural Calm. I cannot find anywhere that says it can be bad for you but tons of places that sing it's praises. I ever read if you ever have a heart attack make sure that they start you on a mg drip immediately, it is the # 1 thing that will save your life. If you want more let me know and I'll share some web sites with you. Good luck.

[DeltaDawn23]

Please send website re magnesium.

[RNRita]

Magnesium worked for me for about 10 months...then it didn't.  Now my heart is worse than ever....thought I had the answer......oh well...back to the old drawing board.

[olf_art]

Am also looking for magnesium supplements for my irregular heartbeat, but they also upset my stomach. Please exxplain how you use Angstrom without it going through your digestive system as from what I read it is a liquid that you swallow. Do you have any more info on it? Thanks

[curmudgen]

Mg oxide is a laxative which explains why excess amounts leads to diarrhea.  More soluble forms are citrate, gluconate and chloride.  Angstrom form appears to be a marketing gimmick.
Not to be a wet blanket but all the web sites on Mg seem to be self supporting and anecdotal at best.  Hard to believe all of us with palpitations are suffering from Mg deficiency. It might work for a few people but it is not the magic bullet for most of us.

[dmacd74]

I just started on mg a few weeks ago.  I am horrible skeptical and negative.  My pvcs are way less frequent.  I also stopped the fish oil.  Did that first  - fewer skips, then added the mag - even better (but who knows?).  Also, after I delivered my son 18 years ago, I had high blood pressure from pre-eclampsia.  I had a mag drip for a week to keep my blood pressure down and prevent a dangerous arrhythmia (I didn't even have pvcs back then).  Viperron, you are so right.

Debbie

[viperron]

What kind of mg did you use?

[viperron]

I am not a doctor nor do I have any relationship to any of these products. Here are a few places to look however there are hundreds on the web. Hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.  www.krispin.com/magnes.html          natural calm magnesium citrate supplements by peter gillham         www. ***********.com/miraclemagnesium

[Mom2four85]

magnesium as well as potassium deficiency is one of the first things my dr's checked - mine was right in line and so has all of my other blood work - I've read many here say mag & potassium do help

the only thing I would caution is; over medicating with things can be just as dangerous as having a deficiency; so it may be helpful to get your electrolytes checked first by your doctor

[bbxx]

Viperon I love that this works for you. That said, natural is not without flaws.  Magnesium in high amounts is not safe for people with heart block. It also can cause irregular heart beats and low blood pressure. True, it generally is tolerated well and is beneficial for many, but like all things, research and be careful.

[bbxx]

I wanted to add that dark chocolate has a good amount of magnesium in it. (what about those of us with pvcs though?) sign...
Pumpkin seeds are a good source.

[tom_h]

What cured my wife of her anxiety neurosis was Paxil, Xanax, and hours of counciling from a psychologist who specializes only in panic disorders. The root of my wife's problem was discovered to be her overbearing mother who demanded only the best, and the final cure was in her death (unfortunately).  Today, my wife can go anywhere, and do just about anything without symptoms.  But if she feels a little twinge (as she puts it), she has the tools to deal with it where formerly it would run amok until it overwhealmed her.

[bbxx]

Your post made me laugh. Puts a new perspective on getting rid of stress in your life. lol

[viperron]

What kind of test did you doctor run, if he ran a simple blood test it will NOT tell you the true amount of mg you have. Check this out on the net and you will find out that this is a fact. It takes a special test for mg and in all my years not one doctor has ever done the correct test for mg.

[Mom2four85]

luckily I had a very thorough EP; who not only did a special electrolyte panel but out of the normal blood tests plus sleep study and many other tests =) can't say as much for my first cardiologist I had :P

I wish electrolytes were the root of my problems though, that would have been an easy fix.

[bbxx]

This is true about the mag tests typically done. I have found integrated doctors are great for this sort of thing. They are real medical doctors that think outside the box. Can be very helpful.

[viperron]

Look up www.***************com/importance_of_magnesium_to_human.htm and read the whole article. Let me know what you think about anstrom minerals, they go straight into your cells and any that your body can't use it just diguards. It really works for me however I use more natural calm because it is cheaper but you must learn how to use it.

[DeltaDawn23]

Thanks for the info.  I will be going to the dr's. office tomorrow -- and will ask to be tested.

[viperron]

remember a regular blood test will not tell you anything about your mg levels

[Mom2four85]

make sure you ask for a electrolyte panel that is not the one on the regular CBC (at least I think that's what it's called)

[viperron]

You really do not need a test.........all you have to do is to read the syptoms (symptoms) of low mg , compare it to yourself and listen to your body

[viperron]

Another great magnesium article....WWW.afibbers.org/magnesium.html