Re: an update

July 25, 2004

>... I just wanted to say that my recent AF attack is doing

> better. So far, so good...

....

>

> I had read through the posts tonight and have seen

> other people that have not totally given up the

> " triggers " . I am also wondering how long did anyone

> wait before either going off and trying them again or

> if they ever went off. Dairy would be hard for me to

> give up since that is really the only vice left that I

> enjoy.

>

Hi, Kat,

You don't write too much. Write as much and as often as you want,

that's what the group is for.

If I have been in a good solid state for a few weeks, I might cheat

and have a tiny piece of chocolate. Although after my flareup in

March/April I no longer do that. Just the thought of the panic I feel

in afib stops my hand when I'm reaching for it.

I am relatively new to the no dairy thing. I occasionally cheat and

have a little something, maybe once a week. I would not do this if I

weren't stable now. By experimenting I've found that milk and cream

sauces seem to bother me. Hard boiled eggs seem to be no problem for

me. I am suspecting eggs may not contain whatever the triggering

ingredient is. I am wondering if the variety of cheese matters. I am

doing tiny little tests.

I am also suspicious of soy and anythng with food coloring in it.

The one thing that makes me really suspect dairy besides what others

have reported is that when I do have some milk, etc. my nose gets

stuffed up.

Of course, I may be wrong and all this stuff may be fine, and it's

just coincidence, it will take longer to figure that out.

It may help to find substitute treats. With no chocolate and no food

coloring, I was bypassing the candy aisle, and then I realized that I

could have Planters Peanut bars, which I love.

Carob may be a substitute for chocolate. I haven't looked on the web

to see if it contains caffeine or the other stimulant found in chocolate.

July 25, 2004

I'm not sure who wrote the note about drinking milk and getting a stuffy nose,

but that rings of a milk allergy... and cream sause and milk, depending on the

type of milk, might indicate a reaction to fats, or again.. if there is a milk

allergy, then anything with milk would likely cause problems? Also, store

bought cream sauses are often full of additives, which I find hard to tolerate!

And soy sauce.. salt salt salt...

I haven't really given up anything except caffeine and drinking or eating very

cold things while standing, which is my primary trigger. I don't eat much

chocolate, although I love it, and occassionally I'll have a little dove square

or something.. I only eat dark chocolate, which is better for your heart

anyway.... the other night I had about a million baby shower gifts to wrap, and

I had a bag of dark chocolate and almond treasures, and I just kept eating them

without thinking, went to bed and at 5am woke up with my heart going about 80

(active for me is about 48 these days)... I was so paranoid that I was on the

verge of afib (and I had JUST gone off coumadin that day) and I couldn't imagine

what had happened, but talking to a gal at work, she mentioned had I had any

caffeine, and then I remembered the chocolate... duh...

I will continue to have chocolate, but only in very small quantities... that was

a stupid lesson learned, and I'm just glad I stayed in rhythm, albeit a bit fast

for a while! I will NOT be trying caffeine anytime soon.. nor the cold drink

thing!

Stef

trudyjhagain wrote: