Re: Sinus Days Are Here Again

[Guest guest]

Great news - I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Interestingly I upped my calcium intake by upping my milk intake.

After seeing a very slight improvement (16-20 day cycle rather than 14-18 day

cycle) I seemed to have slipped back to 14-18 day cycle. I have quite a high

dairy diet so I may look into weaning myself of it as my next experiment.

I'm quite keen on keeping my calcium intake high but not keen on taking

supplements - I'd prefer a healthy diet without popping pills. (I'll do some

searching for calcium rich foods other than dairy)

Thanks for your continued input to the group both with information and support -

it's greatly appreciated.

--

D

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/3/2001 3:19:42 PM Pacific Standard Time,

james@... writes:

<< I have quite a high

dairy diet so I may look into weaning myself of it as my next experiment.

I'm quite keen on keeping my calcium intake high but not keen on taking

supplements - I'd prefer a healthy diet without popping pills. (I'll do some

searching for calcium rich foods other than dairy) >>

,

It might be worth a try to experiment with the nondairy diet for about three

months. I probably would have given up on it after the first two weeks if

Angus hadn't warned me that it took three months for him to show improvement

and that it would get worse before it got better. I was drinking three

glasses of milk daily as well as eating ricotta, mozzarella, cottage cheese

and yogurt. In essence I was a vegetarian, getting all protein from dairy

products and eating almost no meat. Ironically, I thought that the dairy

diet would improve my stomach problems, but when I stopped the dairy

products, I was at a point where almost everything seemed to upset my

stomach. I would dread eating because of the inevitable stomach upheaval.

For that reason, I have had to get all of my required calcium from

supplements since I stopped the dairy consumption. I have been taking

calcium citrate with magnesium and calcium carbonate (oyster shell) with

vitamin D. Like you, I would like to stop popping more pills, especially

since I am already taking so many for afib. Perhaps now that my stomach

problems have virtually disappeared, I will be able to eat a more balanced

diet and get my calcium from natural food sources such as green vegetables

(Oops! There goes my INR. I'll probably have to take more Coumadin.) or

salmon. I have already started eating more vegetables, experimenting with

adding one at a time to my diet. My cardiologist tells me that there is no

restriction on green vegetables but that it may be necessary to have my

Protime test more frequently.

Thanks for your words of encouragement, and I'll also keep my fingers crossed

for you and pray for you whether or not you decide to try the nondairy

experiment. You probably don't need a reminder of the advice you gave to me

in the beginning when I stopped dairy products cold turkey and had problems

as a result. Your suggestion that I taper off slowly really helped, and I

would advise anyone who is considering a dairy-free diet to taper off slowly.

Best wishes,

in sinus in Seattle

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much, , for posting your ideas and experience. Here's

an overdue public thank you for being so supportive when I freak to

you off line, too!

Well, I'm doing the much less sugar thing, and am going to try no

dairy and see if that helps. This is sure helping my diet :-) Since

I'm also trying no vitamin supplements, and I'm a vegetarian, I have

to really sit down and map out some food planning to be sure I get

enough nutrients.

[Guest guest]

Good Morning & Trudy:

Fantastic news ...I too add my compliments to those extended by

. Your posts and continued support are so appreciated. You are

both such an asset to our Group. I can't thank you enough.

Ellen

68 NC

(posting from daughter's computer)

****************************

In AFIBsupport@y..., Starfi6314@a... wrote:

(big snip) > I have only had two afib episodes since the beginning of

September, (big snip)

*****************************

[Guest guest]

Glad that you are doing better.

Avoidance of milk is a mandatory protocol for all adults interested to be in

optimum health. It is also part of my LAF protocol ( number 5) .

For more on milk, read this:

http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/2003-No2-Milk.cfm

Best to you

Dr Lam

Sinus Days Are Here Again

Strange but welcome developments have been occurring with my afib status. I

have only had two afib episodes since the beginning of September, whereas

previously I was having episodes on a regular 11-14 day schedule. During the

entire month of October, I had only one 24 hour episode. Normally during the

two month period I would have spent at least twelve days in afib. I still

have occasional short bursts of sinus tachycardia about once or twice a day,

but I have had those since I was a teenager. They have not been leading to

afib as they so often have in the past.

Of course, this dramatic improvement has inspired me to endless thinking

about the possible reasons for the change. I thought I would share some of

those thoughts here since it may very well be information from someone in

this group that has helped me. Also, hearing of my improvement may offer

encouragement to others who may remember the many times I have written about

my depression and anxiety over a prolonged afib episode, the same depression

and anxiety that some may be feeling right now at the possible prospect of

permanent afib.

At the top of my list of suspected reasons for my reduced afib episodes is my

new dairy-free existence. For the past four months, not one molecule of

milk, cheese, or other dairy product has passed my lips. Previously I was

virtually living on dairy products. When a lactose intolerance test revealed

that I supposedly do not have lactose intolerance, I decided to persist

anyway in the dairy-free existence which I had already started. My decision

to persist was due to the fact that the lactose intolerance test had made me

violently sick for the rest of the day and to the fact that Angus had written

here that ending his dairy consumption had also ended his afib. Maybe some

of you remember that he wrote about another substance in milk which can also

cause problems even if one is not lactose intolerant: opioids in the casein.

In case you don't remember, he said that " the casein protein is made of many

peptides. Some, if not most, are bioactive casein locks. They remain intact

in acid but unlock in the small intestine, releasing these peptides. Opioid

peptides are my best guess at this stage for afib. They get in via casein

and imitate endorphins. Endorphins are endogenous opioid peptides which have

an affinity for receptors on the vagus system. All would be fine and

unnoticed if our immune system didn't take exception to this and cause damage

in the process of removing these foreign peptides or confusing endogenous

ones for foreign. " Those were the words of Angus which inspired me to

continue my dairy-free experiment. He said that it would take about three

months to see results and that it would get worse before it got better. That

is exactly what happened. My stomach/indigestion problems have virtually

disappeared now and along with their disappearance, the afib has also made

less frequent visits. This seems to validate the theory of so many that afib

is caused by stomach upheaval.

Because I can't be sure that this change in diet is the source of my good

fortune, I have also been looking at other changes since last July. (Perhaps

the improvement is due to a combination of factors.) For example, in July I

switched from Synthroid thyroid medication to Levoxyl because I had read that

the dose in Synthroid was likely to be inconstant. I have been taking .125

of Levoxyl four times a week since an ill-fated experiment devised by me

indicated that cutting thyroid dosage did not stop the afib. Perhaps an

excess of thyroid caused by the instability of Synthroid was playing a role

in my afib.

Another change which might play a role is the treatment of an infected tooth

by root canal last summer. After that root canal, I had my longest ever

episode of afib: ten days. However, I have read that toxin from an abscessed

tooth can affect both the heart and the stomach. As so many of us know,

anything that affects the stomach can also cause afib. Perhaps removing the

toxins has removed the stomach irritation.

Aside from these changes, I have done nothing differently. If anything, my

life has been more stressful lately. I continue, of course, with my usual

meds (Atenolol, Verapamil, and Coumadin) and with all the strategies that I

have been practicing for years: avoiding acid, stress, overfatigue, certain

foods, and certain postures; getting enough sleep; drinking only room

temperature or warm liquids; eating small amounts slowly; and using care when

bending over. None of these practices have been enough to prevent afib in

the past. That's why I'm searching for changes in the past two to four

months. At present the dairy product avoidance has my vote as the most

likely reason for improvement, but I will continue to search. Of course, I

am not foolish enough to hope that this is the absolute end of my afib, but I

will rejoice over any degree of improvement I can get! I may go into afib

tomorrow, but at least I've enjoyed two practically afibless months.

I should mention that I cut the milk and dairy with the blessing of my

doctor, and I would encourage all of you to check with your doctor before you

make any changes, too. I will keep you posted on future developments and

continue to visit here even if my afib continues to disappear for a while. I

feel so grateful to all of you who have offered me words of encouragement and

to people like Angus who have offered very practical suggestions. As someone

said, it's important to participate in this group when one is NOT having afib

problems because that offers hope and encouragement to others in the

realization that their afib could also improve.

in sinus in Seattle

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[Guest guest]

Dr. Lam:

Is skim milk (non-fat) to be avoided? It seems like it's all water. Please

advise.

Rich

[Guest guest]

Skim milk is milk without the butter-fat. It is sold as a health food, but the

truth is that butter-fat is in milk to aid absorption. Without 's the

butter-fat,

the body's ability to absorb and utilize the vitamins and minerals in the water

fraction of the milk is decreased. Any milk althogether should be avoided for

the health conscious adult. Here are the reasons why:

http://www.drlam.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/2003-No2-Milk.cfm

Re: Sinus Days Are Here Again

Dr. Lam:

Is skim milk (non-fat) to be avoided? It seems like it's all water. Please

advise.

Rich

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

The following is a response to your question asked a few days back as follows:

" I have eliminated all dairy products but butter and cream. Some years ago,

a nutritionist told me these two products react differently in the body and

particularly the sinuses (dealing with drainage at the

back of the throat) than milk-based products. Is this true? "

My Comment:

People that have Lactose Intolerance should avoid butter and cream, because

small amounts of lactose is found in these products. Lactose is the sugar in

milk and dairy products which include milk (any kind including breast milk

but not lactose reduced milk) cream, cheese, ice cream, ice milk, yogurt and

sherbet. Butter and margarine contain trace amounts of lactose.

Check labels carefully for the following ingredients: " milk, " " whey, " " dried

milk solids, " " casein, " " lactalbumin, " " sodium caseinate, " " potassium

caseinate, " " calcium caseinate, " " butter, " " cheese, " " margarine " and

" curds. " Do not eat any of the following foods:

Milk

Cream

Yogurt

Lactaid

Acidophilus milk

Ice cream and ice milk, sherbets made with milk or frozen yogurt

Cream sauces and soups, white sauces

Butter or margarine (except parve)

Cheese

Baked goods made with milk, including breads

Mashed potatoes and other vegetables prepared with milk, cheese, butter or

cream

Instant cocoa, breakfast mixes and cereals containing dried milk.

As far as sinus is concern, it is the protein of the milk that cause the

mucous. It is caused by your immune system reacting because it believes the

protein in the milk is a threat to your body. Your immune system will do

it's best to get rid of the invader, just as it would a foreign virus or

poison. During the allergic reaction your body releases histamine, a

chemical which causes blood vessels to dilate and leak, mucous membranes to

start producing and other effects. The leaking blood vessels causes redness

and itching over certain parts of the body or even all of it. The increased

mucous may make you congested. Other reactions include nausea, vomiting,

diarrhoea and behavioural changes.

Terms that indicate the presence of cow's-milk protein you should be attentive

to

are:

ammonium caseinate, lactalbumin phosphate, artificial butter flavor, lactose

butter fat, butter solids, magnesium caseinate, buttermilk, milk derivative

calcium caseinate, milk protein, casein, milk solids, cheese, potassium

caseinate cream, rennet casein, curds, sodium caseinate, delactosed whey, sour

cream

demineralized whey, sour cream solids, dry milk solids, sour milk solids,

half & half whey, protein concentrate, lactalbumin, yogurt.

Hope the above helps you to understand more.

Dr Lam.

Re: Sinus Days Are Here Again

Dear Dr. Lam,

I have eliminated all dairy products but butter and cream. Some years ago,

a nutritionist told me these two products react differently in the body and

particularly the sinuses (dealing with drainage at the

back of the throat) than milk-based products. Is this true?