My story with CoQ10 and how it transformed me
Shortly after giving birth to my first born, I was plagued with a slew of unfortunate circumstances in regards to postpartum health. One night immediately following a nursing session I dropped to the ground dizzy and weak. I immediately sat down and drank a glass of water. My legs felt weak and my head felt dizzy and I knew something wasn’t right. So at 10 pm in the middle of February in the New england chill we packed up my infant daughter and made our way to the closest hospital. The doctors quickly did an ekg and ran some tests. They hooked me up to a heart monitor where they diagnosed me as having postpartum bradycardia. Bradycardia is a slowing of the heart's normal beats. Normally I dealt with a condition in which my heart would beat rapidly but never had I experienced a time where my heart was just not beating enough. My heart rate would drop to around 30 beats per minute which brought on very uncomfortable symptoms and weakness. Although my heart beats were low, the ekg checked out fine and the doctors urged me to return home pending a follow up with a cardiologist.
After weeks of what I called episodes it almost became unbearable. Not only was my heart beating very slowly, I also felt as if my heart was skipping beats. I had awful chest pains and became overwhelmed with anxiety and fear. It became so bad one night that I remember thinking I was going to die so again I went to the er. This time I went to our women and infant hospital as I was a few weeks postpartum and felt like they may have more answers. Due to my condition when I arrived at the hospital I was immediately seen and the doctors performed bloodwork and and again another ekg.
This time the doctors rushed back into the room with the results of the ekg and forcibly administered Tylenol. I was nursing my daughter at the time but they urged the Tylenol to protect against a heart attack. A heart attack I thought, OH MY GOD, how could that be? Although I did feel pretty rough I would never have thought a heart attack could be the culprit. The doctors transferred me from the bed to a stretcher and prepared me to be moved by ambulance to another hospital which they felt could take better care of me.
Upon arrival I was admitted for the night and the following 2 days for observation and tests. After some time the doctors came in with a prognosis as they believed I was suffering from a very serious condition called cardiomyopathy. I was relieved I wasn’t at risk for a heart attack but what was cardiomyopathy. They began to describe it as a disease that constricts the heart muscle and makes it difficult for the heart to deliver blood to the rest of the body. It is so serious that it can potentially lead to heart failure. Of course this news didn’t sit well with me, I was riddled with panic attacks and could not seem to calm down. I needed to feel better, I wanted to get better immediately so I could get back to my new adoring role as a mom.
The doctors told me I was stable for the night and I really needed to get some rest but they would check in on me every hour or two. This made for an almost impossible nights rest. I was also concerned for my daugher who had been solely breastfed since the day she was born. I was too weak to breastfeed and did not want to chance anything with tylenol in my system.
The next day the doctors sent me for an echocardiogram which basically takes pictures and an ultrasound of your heart. With that they were able to rule out the cardiomyopathy and instead diagnosed me with a heart arrhythmia called ventricular bigeminy. Basically your heart does not beat to a normal rhythm. Following every sinus beat or routine beat you would have a PVC or Premature Ventricular Contraction and then a pause prior to the next beat. This can feel like a thumping in your chest followed by a moment of anxiety as it almost feels as though your heart is skipping beats but it is simply not. The beats are just happening prematurely and out of sequence.
This diagnosis was not life threatening and only caused discomfort. It seems to be a very common occurrence in those who have underlying anxiety especially in those undergoing stressful situations or life events. I worked with the doctors to decide a course of action. I am a very holistic being as you can see from my blog and refuse prescription drug use at all times so the doctors advised to speak to my cardiologist in the next few days who could create a better course of action.
I went home exhausted, still feeling not so great but better after being pumped with vitamins and an iv. The next few days were hard but a bit better. My anxieties subsided knowing my condition was no longer life threatening and I was better able to deal with my so called episodes. I went to my cardiologist appointment where I did a stress test and another echocardiogram. The doctor was able to test how well my heart functioned under stress and measured my ejection fraction. All of the tests came back normal and my ejection fraction was within normal range. My Dr. suggested I take some time to rest and recuperate but suggested I take beta blockers in the mean time to mitigate symptoms.
Because the beta blockers were unnecessary I refused them and went on my way to research natural cures. I immediately took up meditation as a way to relax my anxiety and fears and did some light yoga to de stress. I was still suffering from PVCS frequently so I turned to different herbal remedies. That is when I came across Ubiquinol or CoQ10 supplements. After only a few days of taking these supplements my PVCS diminished and after about a week they almost completely disappeared. I was elated to have found a cure. A simple, non invasive, non addictive, drug less cure. I no longer suffer from PVCS and I no longer need to take a COQ10 supplement but I do tend to take it every couple of months as a way to negate any of these potential symptoms from occurring again.
After a few months I started to regain my strength but dealt with other issues such as postpartum depression, anxiety, recurring sinusitis, and restrictions of my diaphragm which caused problems breathing. All of these things I was also able to cure naturally.
Natural remedies do work, prescription medicine is modeled after plant medicine and is the chemical equivalent to many natural resources. I believe that 90 % of disease is connected to the mind and I was in a very stressful situation at the time that I contracted this issue. I have now learned that the body and mind connection is so strong and those that believe they are sick remain sick and those who believe in health stay healthy.
What is CoQ10?
CoQ10 is also known as coenzyme Q10 or ubiquinol. It is a naturally occurring substance produced by the body that is similar to a vitamin or nutrient. We do not refer to it in this way however because the body can produce it in small amounts without the need of absorption from food. However food is another great natural source of CoQ10. Some foods containing CoQ10 are grass fed beef, strawberries, sesame seeds, cauliflower, and much more.
Coenzyme Q10 also acts as an antioxidant as it protects the body from oxidative stress and radical cell damage. The coenzymes also help to digest food and perform other bodily functions and processes necessary in everyday life.
Is CoQ10 good for weight loss?
Over time the amount of CoQ10 the body produces diminishes, as does muscle tissue and bone strength, especially in those over 40 and those with other underlying disease. CoQ10 is said to affect the metabolism as it increases natural energy. It also affects the functions that are necessary for maintaining a fast metabolism.
People continuously say it is harder to lose weight as we age and they may be right. As coQ10 decreases so does your energy level thus preventing you from being as agile as you once were. Lower energy levels can lead to a more sedentary lifestyle and make you gain weight.
Research has shown that a deficiency in CoQ10 can contribute to obesity. Studies have also shown that when given CoQ10 supplementation obese subjects were found to lose more weight.
What are the other benefits of CoQ10?
Heart Protection- I used CoQ10 to alleviate a heart arrhythmia, you can read about my story below. Others may use it in conjunction with heart medication or statin drugs or alone to help aid the body in heart muscle protection. CoQ10 is best used in those with a previous heart condition such a heart attack or angina. It is also proven helpful in my condition especially in curing heart arrhythmias.
Cancer- Scientist discovered low levels of CoQ10 in the blood of those diagnosed with different types of cancers. A study was conducted that showed promising improvement from those that included a coq10 supplement alongside their cancer treatment.
Free radical and anti ageing- Ubiquinol which is the active form of CoQ10 is known to protect cells in regards to oxidative stress which causes premature ageing. When you work out the stress on your muscles causes inflammation and produces free radicals which have damaging effects on your cells and causes premature ageing. CoQ10 taken prior to exercise is shown to protect the body from this type of damage. Although it has not been proven to reverse the signs of ageing it has shown to be effective in slowing down the ageing process.
What brand of CoQ10 do you recommend?
Garden of Life Raw CoQ10- This supplement Supports cellular growth, energy production and physical performance as well as healthy aging and longevity. It is Raw, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, has live Probiotics, No Binders, fillers or carriers.
Jarrow Formulas QH-Absorb- Promotes mitochondrial biogenesis and Supports heart health and cognitive function. It has No wheat, no gluten, no soybeans, no dairy, no egg, no fish/shellfish, no peanuts/tree nuts
Country Life Maxi-sorb Mega CoQ10- This version has 3x the absorption rate and supports cell energy level production. It is Gluten free, no dairy, no wheat, no corn, no sugar, no preservatives, and no magnesium stearate. It is also manufactured by wind power and bottled in recyclable plastic.
*All content on the stay sprouted website is meant for informational purposes only. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. Products and or information are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease. Readers are advised to do their own research and make
decisions in partnership with their health care provider. If you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition or are taking medication, please consult your physician.
*In order to support the stay sprouted blog so that we are able to continue providing you with the best information in regards to health and wellness we may receive monetary compensation for links to products. These products have been tested and used by us and approved for your use.
Stay Sprouted & Stay Grounded