Atrial Fibrillation & Stomach Gas, Digestive Tract Problems?

[delcocat]

I saw another post about atrial fibrillation and stomach gas possible association or connection.  I too have the same thing so it may not be all in your head if your suspect this to be the case.  Most dr.'s think your crazy or never heard of this when you even suggest it.  Thats whats wrong with most dr's atleast in my experience in that they don't think outside the box enough possibly because this is what they learned.  I think I/we can guess or prognose just as well or better than they can at times particularly if we know something about health and or ourselves and our own health.  Never be afraid to speak up because I feel strongly that digestive tract problems are real and translate into other real nasty symptoms like this.  Fortunately we can prevent much of this & need to prevent it from happening. I do feel the more you get afib the worse it can become either physically, emmotionally or both no matter what the cause.  I thought up until now that I may have been the first to discover this but would like to know if anyone else has any real answers to this as being a connection?  I would like to know how many people feel that they get atrial fibrillation and feel that it may be related to gas or full, bloated stomach, intestinal or digestive tract troubles etc?  Isn't it possible
that the gas, bloat, perhaps inflamed digestive or intestinal tract can disturb the vagus nerve thereby possibly causing
you to go into an afib attack?  Any real dr's out there any more with some real info about this?  Even conjecture?
Any way I also would be interested in what anyone might have to say about it and or what they may have learned from this?   If you know or even think this to be the case for you I would also like to correspond with you to trade stories and info on what you''ve learned and done. Be well.  Sincerely, Rich - delcocat at aol *******

[BarbieDawl]

Hey everyone,
Just wanted to update. I had my endoscopy today (I almost chickened out) and the doctor said everything looks beautiful. Nothing to see of report. He didn't even do a biopsy of my stomach for the H.Pylori because he said it looked great. Now I was just given a quick update because I was so out of it from the sedation but I don't think the report he send to my GP will say much more than that.
Doctors want to believe its all been anxiety related. I'm inclined to believe them. Everything keeps coming up negative. I have a consultation with a 2nd cardiologist on November 12th though so Ill update again if I get some other news.
Sharyn

[delcocat]

With digestive woes we all have to figure out our own triggers.  For some it may be gluten and for others it could be chocolate, coffee, alcohal, spicy foods, dairy, gaseous foods, eating too fast, eating too much, eating too close to bed time, not having enough friendly bacteria (probiotics), too much bad bacteria and or parasites and many many more.  If you are going to eat something you believe triggers off gas, bloat and acid try using a good broad spectrum enzyme supplement prior to eating.  You can also take a few charcoal caps.  Sometimes I'll use curcumin (particularly when eating beans) and it works well in keeping the gas down as well as the inflamation as it is a natural anti inflamatory.  Most acid and bloat comes by way of inflamation and the trigger for inflamations in your digestive tract are anything like mentioned above that you may be sensitive to.  OTC's may give temporary relief but they in and of themselves can trigger more inflamation and acid.  Of course my main objective is to keep the digestive tract clean and healthy in helping to avoid triggers to what I have been calling for the last few years and on this blog digestive tract related afib.  

[SmokChsr]

Yes, do keep us up to date on how you are doing.  It's a good possibility that the belching and gas are related to H-Pylori. Then again it may not be. My Dr. Friend (an Internist) has told me that gas is a sign of excessive acid, and recommended taking Omeprazole daily. When I did that I will say that it did help quite a bit. I'm just not good about taking daily meds.

As for myself, I've now completed taking the "Prev pack" to hopefully kill the H-Pylori. I have to wait another month or so to do the follow up testing and see if it's gone. The prev pack is a bit rougher than I thought, it includes Flagyl, which definitely lets you know it's in your system.

One other item that might be of interest to some, I also purchased a personal ECG monitor. http://www.amperordirect.com/pc/c-ecg-ekg-monitor/choice-personal-ecg-monitor-md100a12.html  While it's only a single lead unit it does give a nice accurate display. Just don't expect the computer analysis to be helpful. It picks up on some things but doesn't recognize Afib. If you know how to read the output or have someone that can, it will let you see and save your ECG when things are getting wacky.   With it I can see that I like to throw in a few PJC's on the U-wave.  

    

[BarbieDawl]

I also just wanted to add I agree with the idea this is completely digestive in nature(aggravating the heart-possibly vagus nerve?) I had a couple rounds of antibiotics about 10 yrs ago because of a kidney infection and from that I developed C.Dificile and although I got over it I've never been quite 'right' (self diagnosed IBS when eating garbage food)
I've also wondered about my gallbladder being involved. Hm.
Anyways just wanted to add that.

[BarbieDawl]

I also just wanted to add I agree with the idea this is completely digestive in nature(aggravating the heart-possibly vagus nerve?) I had a couple rounds of antibiotics about 10 yrs ago because of a kidney infection and from that I developed C.Dificile and although I got over it I've never been quite 'right' (self diagnosed IBS when eating garbage food)
I've also wondered about my gallbladder being involved. Hm.
Anyways just wanted to add that.

[BarbieDawl]

Hi there. I have never posted before but I have all the symptoms everyone here describes as well. This began 8 months ago suddenly one night after drinking a latte. I thought I was having a heart attack because of the pressure in my chest. I was told it was a panic attack but truly felt it was not.(Ironiclly I have since-about a month later-developed anxiety and panic disorder) I also have had a loop monitor for 2 months and although I didnt have another 'heart attack' feeling episode, i did have this fluttering and SVT. The doctors felt these were mostly benign and left it at that, unconcerned. I also had an echocardioandy and stress test and all were fine. (BTW- very healthy, active 28 year old female with no prior medical history except for a few food allergies) Since that evening(of the 'heart attack' feeling) I have PVC's and SVT's they don't usually last long but are very annoying. I also belch constantly and feel there is gas in my chest which I've never had before. I also seem to have reflux as food comes up my throat but I don't have burning like heartburn(which I had during pregnancy) I've had a barium swallow done to rule out hiatial hernia but they said it was fine.
I saw  a gastroenterologist today and he agreed that digestive issues could aggravate the heart and create fluttering, tachycardia etc. which was a relief to hear. I asked him about the H.Pylori connection and although he didn't feel it was connected he didn't completely rule it out either. He is going to preform and endoscopy on Oct. 12 and I think he may take a biopsy to test for H.Pylori while he is at it.
I'm terrified although it's a fast and easy procedure. I hate the idea of IV sedation but I want to get to the bottom of this.
I usually go the most natural route with health issues and am currently taking Vitamin D3, quality probiotics, a digestive enzyme, B vitamin and a multi. I also occasionally take a vitamin with a combination of mastic gum, zinc-carnosine, potassium nitrate and vitamin C called Gastro Relief by AOR. It helps with heartburn, puts acid back in the stomach, heals ulcers and if taken daily will kill H.Pylori(I just bought this and only take it occasionally tho) I also do not eat gluten or grains(except quinia and rice)sugar(very occasionally I'll have honey), chocolate, legumes, nuts, seeds, caffeine or dairy and only low glycemic fruit.
Anyways. I hope I can get some answers to this for everyone because this had been disrupting my life heavily for the last 8 months. I've also developed panic disorder because of the fear that I was having a heart attack even though I've checked out. That feeling was so terrifying I continue to have small panic attacks and when the gas begins to build up I freak out. I'm seeing a neuropsychologist for the panic and it is helping to the point life is becoming semi-normal again in regards to the panic. The PVC's and tachy still come out of no where though.
I will continue to check back then post again when I have the results of my endoscopy.
Sharyn