First let me add, you have to listen to your doctor and if in doubt, get a second opinion. Dont play doctor on yourself or anyone else.
With that said, my whole life, not sure if I would go as far as say conspiracy but did everything (as a human with faults) I could do to stay off medications. Long family history on the male side of diabetes and heart disease in the worst degree.
Anyway, I swore (as a human with faults) to eat as healthy as I could and as best I could maintain proper weight as many deaths in my family of early death was a result of those.
Ive been pretty successful so far but the latest was my much posted heart experience, not major though a very large amount of PVC's, caught VERY early and limited 20% arterial plaque and an ablation. (I've also had multiple, stress tests, Echo's and one
cardiac catheterization (which I encouraged to be done) showed minimal 20% blockage For reference a stress test can only detect 60 or 70% blockage) (im in good shape)
Directly related to the quotes above. I was given the option of the Drug Flecainide which the cardio electrophysiologist said I would be fine with because my heart is strong or an ablation. I couldn't make up my mind and asked what he would do, he wouldnt answer said my decision, I finally got him to say Flecianide he reasoned my heart is strong and he prescribes it to athletes, to his credit he said, I can try it and when I do the follow up in 3 months if I change my mind just let his staff know and they will schedule an ablation.
He offered ablation has risks, though low too.
To further this and when I knew this drug was a serious drug I was also scheduled for a one week (or there about) follow up after starting the drug, the follow up was for an EKG to make sure I was tolerating it. The other follow up was three months later.
here I was being prescribed a drug and having to go back for an EKG literally less than a week or two weeks later and another in 3 months.
I started the drug, one week (roughly) EKG was fine. PVCs completely gone, felt like I was missing a heart beat in my chest, no more fluttering feeling, no more waking up in the middle of the night, felt great. UNTIL I started looking up the side effects. Turns out this drug so dangerous is considered a last resort drug, FDA black box (or something) and not called for my condition of PVCs as the drug is more dangerous than the PVCs. On top of that, even taking it s short time like I did, increased my risk of dying from sudden cardiac (something) for like maybe the rest of my life. Geez... anyway, to back up the statements of those above, know what you are taking, get opinions, Im NOT saying play doctor I am saying be an advocate for your medical treatment.
SO at the three month follow up I told them do the ablation, was amazing experience, arrived at the hospital in the morning and roughly 7 or 8 hours later that day I walked out.
So my heart is great, ablation went prefect as previous posts show, to this day, retired now, all I take is a 5mg statin, a baby aspirin and a prostrate drug (no cancer after 3 biopsies so far, next one maybe next spring) LDL is routinely around 40 with the statin, it was always under 100 without. My doctors know I dont want drugs so when I questioned my regular cardiologist. He was adamant (in a gentle way) the statin is important as it has other good effects on the veins as I do have at this point classified as arterial disease even if its limited and statin completely safe. I seem to find the same in my research.
I think I have done well but Im not a hero, I learned from family members past mistakes. Be your own advocate, do what needs to be done to minimize the drugs with your doctors blessing only of course. I think as a nation we tend to take drugs to make up for the poor western diet and food we eat. Thankfully past family members taught me and I went Mediterranean a long time ago (for the vast majority of the time) Even with this family history, I kind of felt at times maybe some of my siblings thought I was a bit extreme and now they are like wow it paid off being proactive and an advocate.
Flecainide is an anti-arrhythmic drug. It works by blocking specific electrical signals in the heart that cause an irregular heartbeat.
my.clevelandclinic.org
Drugs serve a purpose, I have a family member who would not be alive right now if not for a triplant implant and taking serious heart meds and they can still go out, golf, bowl ect. But the key is, know what you are taking, after all, we research what oil we put in our cars for goodness sakes *LOL* even though they have the same approvals but I am willing to bet less than 20% of the population researches what drugs they are taking nor are they asking their doctors questions about them,
Really sorry about another insane long post, just passionate about the subject and informing ones self on the seriousness of the meds you put in your body to ask and ask your doctor informed questions. Thats all I am saying, you do it for the oil you use, do it for your body. Look at what you are taking, inform yourself so you can have an informed discussion with your doctor and bring a pad and pen!
