MC, RA and Palpitations
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MC, RA and Palpitations
Hi, I am new. I finally found this board after happening on Tex's MC books earlier this year. I finally got a MC diagnosis 2 years ago. I have had flares for the past 5 years but things always got better until now. (I Just didn't know what I was dealing with yet and I now completely get the term remission). I am struggling with finding the right combination of foods to eat but I do feel I am finally heading in the right direction, (thank you Tex for the books and this board),excpet with my diet being so limited I know I am struggling with deficiencies and I have heart palpitaions after I eat. Cardiologist have done full work ups, 2 weeks of monitoring and a CTA and ultrasounds, and we have found nothing. It only happens during my flare time frames, but I also happen to have a very restritive diet going on because of the flare. I did notice a few posts similar to this and I am surprised more of us are not experiencing the heart palpitations. I also have RA (new diagnosis) and I am wondering if this plays into MC somehow and if others out there have RA symptoms during flares? Thank you in advance for any posts on this subject.
Re: MC, RA and Palpitations
Hello Daisy,
Welcome to the group. Glad you found us.
This might turn out to be a wild goose chase, but consider this: all of these issues (including MC) are due to inflammation, and inflammation makes all of them worse. RA can cause cardiac issues, and it can cause hypothyroidism issues. It can also cause compromised kidney function, and all of these issues tend to be associated, if they develop. So here's the 64 dollar question, (as the old TV game show used to ask), "is your kidney function normal?" In other words, is your eGFR always in the normal range, or is it sometimes well below the normal.
I'm guessing that you might be having the palpitations because of compromised kidney function caused by undertreated hypothyroidism. At least that was the problem, in my case, but I had to figure it out myself, because my doctors didn't have a clue. After I showed my doctor (my GP) all my research findings, he increased my hypothyroidism treatment (Armour thyroid), and I had no more arrhythmia problems. If your kidney function is always in the normal range, however, then I've guessed wrong.
Regardless of whether or not anything I've written here is useful, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
Welcome to the group. Glad you found us.
This might turn out to be a wild goose chase, but consider this: all of these issues (including MC) are due to inflammation, and inflammation makes all of them worse. RA can cause cardiac issues, and it can cause hypothyroidism issues. It can also cause compromised kidney function, and all of these issues tend to be associated, if they develop. So here's the 64 dollar question, (as the old TV game show used to ask), "is your kidney function normal?" In other words, is your eGFR always in the normal range, or is it sometimes well below the normal.
I'm guessing that you might be having the palpitations because of compromised kidney function caused by undertreated hypothyroidism. At least that was the problem, in my case, but I had to figure it out myself, because my doctors didn't have a clue. After I showed my doctor (my GP) all my research findings, he increased my hypothyroidism treatment (Armour thyroid), and I had no more arrhythmia problems. If your kidney function is always in the normal range, however, then I've guessed wrong.
Regardless of whether or not anything I've written here is useful, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: MC, RA and Palpitations
Thank you I will get that checked. I am also going to check Iron, Potassium and at least my Mag. and a metabolic panel. My GP recently ordered a full Thyroid Panel with TSH and was within normal ranges. I did notice my B12 levels on the lab test results were crazy high (1950) and I have not taken my regular vitamins for at least 6 months (due to flares) so I will ask about that too. And of course Vitamin D was low. I have a daughter with Aspergers so I am all about diggin my heels in and self advocacy. The research isn't going to do itself. lol
Thanks so much for the suggestions and encouragement.
Thanks so much for the suggestions and encouragement.
Re: MC, RA and Palpitations
My TSH was always normal, t0o, but my free T4 was always below range. Fortunately, my GP was an old country doctor back in those days, so he prescribed Armour Thyroid for me, after the synthetic thyroid treatment (Synthroid) he first prescribed, didn't help. I doubt that an endocrinologist would have been willing to do that. Most of them seem to go strictly by the book, and these days, that means synthetic thyroid supplements, and if a patient's TSH is normal, they won't write a prescription.
Regarding the high B12 test levels: Bingo! There's a very good chance your palpitations are due to a vitamin B12 deficiency. Don't be fooled by the high test results. That almost surely means that your body is starving for B-12, because you have methylation issues, so that your body is unable to utilize the B12 you normally ingest, because that B12 is in the inactive form, so it continues to build up, as indicated by the high test result. All vitamins are normally in the inactive form, because they have a much better storage life that way. But they have to be activated, by a methylation process, before the body can use them.
Methylation problems are caused by mutations of the MTHFR gene. The mutations can come in many forms, and cause anywhere from slight problems to major problems that result in serious health issues. Slightly over half of us have methylation issues, because of MTHFR gene mutations. Have you ever tried taking the active form of vitamin B12? Most vitamin B12 is sold in the form of cyanocobalamine, because it's relatively cheap. Those of us with methylation issues have to take the activated form, methylcobalamin (or 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin). Methylcobalamin is by far the most popular active form of vitamin B 12. Many of us take a product by Thorne Laboratories known as Methyl Guard, or Methyl Guard Plus, Which Is about Twice As Potent. I've taken one methyl guard plus capsule per day for many years, ever since I discovered that I have MTHFR gene mutations. The reason we take this particular product, is because it contains the proper mix of active vitamins that most of us who have methylation issues need.
Methyl Guard Plus is a generic substitute for a product known as Metanx. Metanx was originally prescribed to me by my Doctor, because I had peripheral neuropathy issues. Metans is often prescribed to diabetics to treat peripheral neuropathy. But over the years, especially after ObamaCare became law, Mwtanx gradually became more and more expensive (like most drugs), so when Thorne Laboratories started selling Methyl Guard Plus on Amazon, I switched to it, and it works just as well is the prescription product.
There's a section on this forum That's specifically deals with methylation issues. You might get some benefit from reading there. Here's a direct link:
viewforum.php?f=78
incidentally, Asperger's is a high form of autism, and autism (along with various other issues, one of which is cardiovascular) is associated with MTHFR gene mutations.
I hope this helps,
Tex
Regarding the high B12 test levels: Bingo! There's a very good chance your palpitations are due to a vitamin B12 deficiency. Don't be fooled by the high test results. That almost surely means that your body is starving for B-12, because you have methylation issues, so that your body is unable to utilize the B12 you normally ingest, because that B12 is in the inactive form, so it continues to build up, as indicated by the high test result. All vitamins are normally in the inactive form, because they have a much better storage life that way. But they have to be activated, by a methylation process, before the body can use them.
Methylation problems are caused by mutations of the MTHFR gene. The mutations can come in many forms, and cause anywhere from slight problems to major problems that result in serious health issues. Slightly over half of us have methylation issues, because of MTHFR gene mutations. Have you ever tried taking the active form of vitamin B12? Most vitamin B12 is sold in the form of cyanocobalamine, because it's relatively cheap. Those of us with methylation issues have to take the activated form, methylcobalamin (or 5-deoxyadenosylcobalamin). Methylcobalamin is by far the most popular active form of vitamin B 12. Many of us take a product by Thorne Laboratories known as Methyl Guard, or Methyl Guard Plus, Which Is about Twice As Potent. I've taken one methyl guard plus capsule per day for many years, ever since I discovered that I have MTHFR gene mutations. The reason we take this particular product, is because it contains the proper mix of active vitamins that most of us who have methylation issues need.
Methyl Guard Plus is a generic substitute for a product known as Metanx. Metanx was originally prescribed to me by my Doctor, because I had peripheral neuropathy issues. Metans is often prescribed to diabetics to treat peripheral neuropathy. But over the years, especially after ObamaCare became law, Mwtanx gradually became more and more expensive (like most drugs), so when Thorne Laboratories started selling Methyl Guard Plus on Amazon, I switched to it, and it works just as well is the prescription product.
There's a section on this forum That's specifically deals with methylation issues. You might get some benefit from reading there. Here's a direct link:
viewforum.php?f=78
incidentally, Asperger's is a high form of autism, and autism (along with various other issues, one of which is cardiovascular) is associated with MTHFR gene mutations.
I hope this helps,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: MC, RA and Palpitations
I just noticed that you mentioned low vitamin D in your post. Not to throw unjustified criticism at doctors, because they do the best they can with the hand that's currently dealt to them, but you will find that you have to take responsibility for your own health, because no one else will, especially regarding the issues we have with MC. For example our immune system operates on vitamin D. And adequate magnesium is required to activate vitamin D. Without adequate amounts of both, our immune systems can't function normally, so healing Will be compromised, or even impossible, since the immune system is in charge of healing. And although the vitamin D levels most doctors recommend is adequate for someone in perfect health, to prevent disease, and to heal disease, most of us need to keep our vitamin D level at least 50% higher than their recommendations, and preferably twice their recommendation, for optimum health.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: MC, RA and Palpitations
Thank you again. I love Thorne Labs and have been using them for years. I am pretty sure I have even had the Meythl Guard in my Thorne cart before but never made the purchase. I will look into the MTHFR gene mutation, hopefully lab work. I occationally get B12 shot at my local AnyLabs, would the Thorne Meythl guard be a better option? In case your wondering the I was not having the injections when my B12 labs came back so high. I stopped the shot because the feeling better benefits did not last. Thorne would be a better option? I have gotten moreinformation in the last few days on this board than the last 2 years of guess work. Thank you.
Re: MC, RA and Palpitations
Unfortunately, those B-12 shots contain only cyanocobalamine, the inactive form of vitamin B 12. So yes, the methyl guard capsules
would actually work. The injections were doing you no good at all, if your body was unable to convert them into methylcobalamin.
Tex
would actually work. The injections were doing you no good at all, if your body was unable to convert them into methylcobalamin.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Re: MC, RA and Palpitations
Thank you. Great to be moving forward finally.