Heart rate issues

[Dale Moss]

My mom, age 88, is now living with us after having fallen ill last winter. She was diagnosed, first, with a pulmonary embolism (following an episode of syncope), and some days later, after it was clear she was in no shape to return home, with heart block. (They discovered she had a heart rate of 39.)
Using Dr. Roz's Fibonacci technique, I managed to get her in shape for implantation of a pacemaker, then took her home to recuperate. Recuperation proceeded well, but she still lacked energy. Thanks to a sympathetic cardiologist here, we discovered the hospital had discharged her on too high a dose of BP meds (Diovan). She's now on one-quarter of her previous dose, plus HCTZ and coumadin -- and she's doing very, very well.
However, she has had occasional episodes of dizziness, and during her pacemaker check yesterday, the dr. found that her atrium was beating too fast (100); the ventricle was keeping in synch most of the time, but not always. He wants to lower the heart rate of the top chamber and suggested a low dose (12.5 mg) of Lopressor, once in the morning and once in the evening.
I'm starting to get nervous about this cocktail of meds and am wondering what the homeopathic alternatives are. This is not a simple case of tachycardia, however, because of the pacemaker involvement. Anyone with experience in this area?
Other than the heart issues, she's quite healthy and is on no other medications. BTW, I believe her original bradycardia (and the consequent episodes of syncope) was caused by too high a dose of Atenolol, which her primary care dr. never properly monitored.
Peace,
Dale

[Lisa Livingston]

Hi Dale:
Of course the remedy that best covers all of her symptoms would help the most; however, there is an amazing mother tincture that helps strengthen and regulate the heart: craetagus. I think you have to have a medical license to purchase this particular herb--it would be worth it to do a little research on it and see if you can acquire it for your mom.
All the best,
Lisa

[Rochelle Marsden]

My mother had a stent put in at age 85 ish - I know it is not the same thing - but when she came out she nearly died from the cocktail of medication - 9 drugs they put her on. My mum had never taken a drug really throughout her life. I put her on Crateagus MT - she called it her 20 drops which she took until she felt she didn't need them any more. The medication was decreased to one or two drugs after the effects of the Crateagus showed up and she lived a good life until she died suddenly of a heart attack at 93!!
Rochelle
Registered Homeopath with The Society of Homeopaths
EFT (Advanced) Practitioner
www.southporthomeopathy.co.uk

[Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD]

Pretty complicated........
The Lopressor (beta blocker) will slow her atrial rate but will also interfere with the BP medication.
Tweaking the pacemaker could be possible but it might need replacement with a dual chamber pacemaker, meaning surgery again (although not that a big deal....).
One way to have a local effect is with Digitalis very low dose still with local pharmacological action, e.g a 1X of the Digitalis starting at 1 drop and adjusting the dose. The cardiologist might be happy monitoring it as it is a real material dose.
Did they check her electrolytes, K, Ca, Mg?
Joe.
 
Dr. J. Rozencwajg, NMD.
"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind"
Visit my new website www.naturamedica.webs.com

[Jean Doherty]

I was going to say that too I use it in a 3x to strengthen heart.
Lopressor like Atenolol a channel blocker too. Jean

[Rona]

Craetagus oxyacantha is readily available as the herb Hawthorn – no need for medical license.
Donna

D C Rona, PhD,ND,DHM
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lisa Livingston
Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 6:05 PM
To: minutus@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Minutus] Heart rate issues
Hi Dale:
Of course the remedy that best covers all of her symptoms would help the most; however, there is an amazing mother tincture that helps strengthen and regulate the heart: craetagus. I think you have to have a medical license to purchase this particular herb--it would be worth it to do a little research on it and see if you can acquire it for your mom.
All the best,

Lisa

[Dale Moss]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. She is already on Crataegus MT (though I can't vouch that she always remembers to take it).
Dr. Roz's suggestion of using Digitalis MT is intriguing -- if I can get it. Of course, they did not check her electrolytes, and the problem may well lie there. Up until now there's been no suggestion of any anomalies in her heartbeat, and she's been doing very well on the low levels of HCTZ and Diovan that she takes. So why suddenly a problem? She's fond of her coffee and tea, so perhaps there's too much diuresis. Think I'll have to mix her up an electrolyte drink!
Peace,
Dale
Pretty complicated........
The Lopressor (beta blocker) will slow her atrial rate but will also interfere with the BP medication.
Tweaking the pacemaker could be possible but it might need replacement with a dual chamber pacemaker, meaning surgery again (although not that a big deal....).
One way to have a local effect is with Digitalis very low dose still with local pharmacological action, e.g a 1X of the Digitalis starting at 1 drop and adjusting the dose. The cardiologist might be happy monitoring it as it is a real material dose.
Did they check her electrolytes, K, Ca, Mg?
Joe.
 
Dr. J. Rozencwajg, NMD.
"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind"
Visit my new website www.naturamedica.webs.com

[Dr. Joe Rozencwajg, NMD]

Have the electrolytes checked first, you do not want to add K if she is already hyperkaliemic, or muck around without knowing where you start........use vegetable juices and kelp instead of electrolyte solutions.
Joe.
 
Dr. J. Rozencwajg, NMD.
"The greatest enemy of any science is a closed mind"
Visit my new website www.naturamedica.webs.com

[healthinfo6]

Hi Dale,
I've been taking Atenolol 25mg on and off for about a year. My resting heart rate is about 90-100 but I'll have racing about 120. This constant increase of heart rate along with higher blood pressure became worse a about 5 years ago when I became full blown type 2 diabetic. I was able to control it when strictly on The Atkins Diet (no/low carb ketogenic diet) as this is insulin related, though I find it has become more difficult as my fasting blood insulin levels remain high even on Atkins though my blood pressure normalizes.
My heart EKGs are normal when I have them done when on Atkins but will strongly suggest going for an elaborate stress test when I've been eating too many carbs thus having even higher insulin levels resulting in cardiac disturbances.
Homeopathic treatment since 1998 hasn't prevented this miasm from progressing nor has curbed it, yet. I have one suggested sycotic miasm based on family history of early heart attacks. A newer more revealing VAPP cholesterol test, which measures 9 types of LDL called VLDLs, show genetic tendency towards the wrong sizes of LDL. Treatments are niacin and fish oil depending on the levels of these 9 VLDLs.
The herb tincture hawthorn hasn't reduced rapid heart rate.
What has noticeably helped is higher EPA/DHA dose fish oil. When I take a 1200 mg softgel my racing heart rate decreases. Also, consistent aerobics, getting my heart rate up to 150 BPM, a few times a week does occasionally lower the resting rate, though I suspect your mother will not be at the gym.
Also, NO added refined sugar foods/candy/... and using organic sugar, evaporated cane juice sweetened foods could help. Try to make your mother's diet as natural as possible.
Best regards,
Susan

[Dale Moss]

Hi, Susan
Interesting to hear of your experience with Atenolol, which I believe caused my mom's problem last winter (bradycardia). Rest assured, she is on a wholesome and organic diet now. That was one of the reasons for bringing her to live with my husband and me: she wasn't eating properly. No more cookies or candy or processed foods now. They're not banned from the house; it's just that my husband and I don't eat them, and she's chosen to follow our example, even though she's not pre-diabetic.
We're intrigued by the changes a better diet has wrought. Her hair, which had turned snowy white when she was ill last winter, is growing in black, her natural color. At her age, that's pretty cool.
And no, she won't be going to the gym. You can lead a horse to water...
Peace,
Dale