Over Sensative Vagus

[Hypersensativevagus]

I have been asking the same questions for many years about how the Vagus nerve may introduce GERD. I started with stomach pains, skin rashes and acid reflux disease when I was in my 20's. I had a surgical procedure done called a Nisan Fundoplication to correct a hiatal hernia and my reflux disease. This helped stop the reflux but did not stop the occasional stomach pain and overproduction of acid. During my testing for the surgery I had vagal syncope when a nasal gastric tube was inserted into me to measure pressure on the esophageal valve. My vagus nerve runs very close to my esophagus and slight pressure can give me the feeling that I might faint. During the nasogastric tube insertion I did lose consciousness. Now I have a 7 year old son who complains of the same stomach pains, nervous stomach (which I have) and has spasming of the diaphragm (which I also have had). I am thinking that there is a direct correlation to a hyper sensitive vagus nerve that anatomically is very close the esophagus and GERD. I would like to see studies done on hypersensitivity of the nervous system and gastrointestinal complaints. Has anyone seen something like this before? I hope to help my son relieve his symptoms.


This discussion is related to VAGUS NERVE and STOMACH or HEART LURCHES (spasms).

[Heiferly]

Vasovagal syncope is mediated by the autonomic nervous system.  Some people with dysautonomia (disorders of the autonomic nervous system) do have gastrointestinal issues as well.  The autonomic nervous system controls digestion, so as Jaynes1 pointed out, gastroparesis can occur if there is significant disorder of the ANS.  I believe an isolated episode of vasovagal syncope is classified differently than recurrent syncope, and most likely not viewed as indicative of ANS disorder.  Still, you may want to post this question in the Dysautonomia community in case any of the members there have insight.  It can't hurt to ask.

[Jaynes1]

Look up gastroparesis