Guest guest Posted January 18, 2006 Report Share Posted January 18, 2006 Hello, I was wondering if any of you had experience (and success) treating patients with atrial fibrillation? I have included a short bio of myself to explain the situation I'm in. I generally am in very good health these days, except for the afib. Most times, it doesn't bother me at all, but I wish there a way to really strengthen my heart muscle. Thanks for any advice! Elizabeth Elizabeth Monacelli has been a lifelong cardiac patient. In 1966, Ms. Monacelli was born with a ventricular septal defect the size of a quarter. Throughout her childhood, she underwent three open heart surgeries to correct this defect. With the success of the third surgery, Ms. Monacelli went on to become a concert violinist and started her professional career at age thirteen. She studied and graduated from the Juilliard School and New England Conservatory of Music. Since then, Ms. Monacelli has performed with such artists as Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Luther Vandross, Barry White, Marvin Hamlisch, Tony Bennet, Johnny Matthis and Ray Charles. On Valentine's Day 2003, tragedy struck once again. Ms. Monacelli had any musician's worst nightmare come true. She collapsed of a heart attack, a stroke which paralyzed her on the left side and liver failure. Ms. Monacelli had to re-learn how to play the violin all over again. After many months of rigorous work, Ms. Monacelli was back on the professional music scene only to be struck once again. On Thanksgiving weekend 2003, Ms. Monacelli was re-hospitalized with severe congestive heart failure and full body edema. With a month- long hospital stay, doctors removed 215 lbs. of water from her body. Currently, Ms. Monacelli is back to health and performs with the San Diego Symphony, the Riverside Philharmonic and is the owner of Monacelli Music Studio which provides private instruction for violin, viola, piano, voice, and performances of live entertainment for weddings and various functions. In November 2005, Ms. Monacelli was awarded " Model of Miraculous Qigong Healing " at the Eighth World Congress of Qigong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 Hi Elizabeth, Atrial fibrillation is Western science's name to discribe a symptom. Do you recall what the TCM assessment was that you based your personal Qigong routine on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 20, 2006 Report Share Posted January 20, 2006 I went to visit Dr. Effie Chow in San Francisco. I basically follow her method of qigong but also add other exercises too. When she took her pilse diagnosis, she said my afib was not a " true " afib, but posture related and stress related. She also told me I was getting a strong, balanced pulse from all five organs. She believes I am not that sick, or sick at all. Funny, I went to see another Chinese dogotr in LA at the beginning of the sumnmer, and she gave me the same exact diagosis! I did not tell either doctor (on purpose) I was seeing the other. Before I had my stroke though, I went to yet another Chinese doctor in San Diego. She told me my heart was very weak! I went to my cardiologist in March 2005, and they took an echocardiogram. He was schocked to see that my heart was functioning the same (25%) as it was in the hospital. Basically, he was telling me I was dying! I had a tech that messed up my satistics though, so I have always wondered whether this was a " true " reading??? Anyway, Dr, Chow did wonders for me, and suggested I try to practice as much qigong as possible (2+) hours daily. I hope this answers your question. Take care, Elizabeth Chinese Traditional Medicine , " hyldemoer " <hyldemoer> wrote: > > Hi Elizabeth, > Atrial fibrillation is Western science's name to discribe a symptom. > Do you recall what the TCM assessment was that you based your > personal Qigong routine on? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2006 Report Share Posted January 21, 2006 " Elizabeth " <tazzyviolin> wrote: > I went to visit Dr. Effie Chow in San Francisco. > I basically follow her method of qigong but also > add other exercises too. When she took > her pilse diagnosis, she said my afib was not a > " true " afib, but posture related and stress related. > She also told me I was getting a strong, balanced > pulse from all five organs. She believes I am not > that sick, or sick at all. Hi Elizabeth, This might sound like a weird question. Did you bring your violin with you or play her a recording of your music on your visit with Dr. Chow? I ask because if you spend a large part of your time playing it or even thinking about it, perhaps the posture you currently use or the frame of mind you have while playing it might be a factor??? I'm not suggesting your violin technique as a violinist is wrong just that it might be facilitating a less than desirable flow of qi while you do it as you currently do it. I imagine you've consulted a lot of specialists in your art to perfect your craft to avoid obvious occupational injury due to ergonomics. I'm just curious if there is any difference in your pulse assessment by Chinese med. theory if taken in " Classic " violin playing posture. The pulse can reflect the immediate state of balance. (versus, generally speaking, the tongue reflecting a more long term state of balance.) Did Dr. Chow or the other TCM practicioners offer you a tongue assessment as well? Penel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.