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 *******

[Neddypoo]

Referring to your post regarding A/Fib and bloated stomach/gas, I too have had the same experience. I believe it is a mechanical effect in that the gas inflates the intestine which in turn pushes on the vagus nerve or the bottom of the heart and triggers the A/F episode.  The sensation is located under the left rib cage not in the chest. I can also induce A/F by swallowing something very cold on an empty stomach. This freaks out the nerve and the A/F proceeds.After I get converted, things are quiet until the sensitivity builds up again (avg of 6 mo.). The DR's call A/Fib the "Crab Grass" of cardiology and are not interested in the research connecting the digestive system disorders to A/Fib. Ablation didn't work well either. How do we get the Dr's to investigate this?--NeddyPoo.

[power4u]

Neddypoo put it pretty well. I get the same symptoms when I am "A Fibbin". In addition to the stomach bloating and upper GI gas, my asthma kicks in. I often need to take my metered dose inhalor when I am "A Fibbn".
However, I will say that I am not entirely sure these symptom, which are certainly related, are not present after the A Fib event. I am not sure whether the A/Fib is causing the gas/bloating and the asthma attack or the other way around.
Another interesting symptom that happened to me was when I went to the ER with an A/Fib event. It took them 14 hours to gain control of my heart rythym. I had to urinate a lot. I'm talking quarts. I found it surprising to me that the doctors did not know why, for I know it was related to the A/Fib event.
Most Doctors are not scientists, nor do they have the time to be. I am not surprised they do not know what causes this. It takes money to do studies on these relationships, and to figure out how to prevent these events.
I have a question for the A/Fibbers out there, who have these GI symptoms that coincide with their A/Fib. How many of you are on a proton pump inhibitor (Nexium, prevacid, aciphex or protonix)? Just curious.

[surfermattg]

I experience the same thing at times-always gas-and the palpitations can hit off and on. After I go, it goes away. Weird! Guess we had better go when we feel the urge and eat slowly. It really bugs me but have to live with it. I did get a bad hit a Afib awhile back when I chugged a huge glass if ice cold lemonaide on an empty stomach. I think there is something to that vegas nerve going bonkers over cetain stimuli.  All of this has scared me, but best to just deal with it and be careful. One lady said she had this and the Dr.s seemed less worried about it than she was. Hmmm?

[barefoottessa]

Most of my afib episodes take place after 2pm...something to do with vagal tone. Lately, I've been trying  unfiltered apple cider vinegar with 8oz purified water before each meal. One month now and no more afib! When I bend down, it feels like it will happen, but doesn't if I sit and breath reguarly. I am convinced my afibbing is a digestive problem. I also take digestive enzymes and have just begun probiotics. I think the key may be keeping stomach alkaline hence ac vinegar. I hope this helps

[Sam220]

I'm sooo glad to hear you guys - knowing I'm not alone.  I never knew if was actual afibbing, but I finally noticed that when I would get a funny, fluttery butterfly feeling in my heart, a short time later I'd get huge belching episodes.  Bizarre levels of belching, believe me.  I asked my internist about it, & he said there's no way it's connected...but of course I never believed him.  I get palpitations at night, could this be something structural I'm wondering?  Maybe lying down, somehow affecting the vagus nerve??  

[laventolina]

Very comforting to read this blog, indeed.    The questions you are posing are mine exactly.....more questions.....why are the episodes becoming more and more freqent?   Sometimes lasting for days and occuring every 10 days?   Because the heart body starts to get 'used to' this state (mimicking?).   Ever try exercising with this gas feeling??   I get extra systoles immediately....goes away with a large glass of water....issue of acid/alkaline very interesting...how many folks out there have elevated uric acid levels who suffer from these episodes.        I have just ordered an ayurvedic remedy from Rillical in Denmark.  Does anybody have any experience with this?   Gas.  Yes.  Stress.  Yes.   More than one thing, which is why this is so difficult for doctors...to a hammer everything is a nail, etc.    Viruses?   Inflammation?   Inflammation which gets worse.    Why do the episdoes self terminate?   As confusing as why they start.     The Afib seems, at least to me to have a 'positive' effect on my body, because when the episode terminates, I feel 'better' and 'cleansed'....the area under my eyes goes blackish during an episode and this disappears when its over....urine has a peculiar, almost yeasty scent during the episode.   And then this passes.   Does ANY of this sound familiar to ANYONE?

[delcocat]

You bring up some interesting things.  First have you been thoroughly examined.  Are your blood test and vitals all good?  Have you had ekg, echo cardo etc?  If you had these and the doctors can't put a finger on it then you are probably in the same boat as I and I'm sure many others.  I can tell you the episodes should not be coming more frequently and should not be lasting for days so that concerns me.  You may be able to tolerate it body wise after a while but the heart itself can actually be weakened by it if it is frequently occurring and it is true afib.  There are people that live with this as a chronic condition and are on medications for it yet there is little known about it?  If you are in true atrial fibrilation it means basically that your heart has gone into a miss fire of sorts in the aortal upper portion of the heart.  It can also occur in the ventrical or lower portion however this is more uncommon and supposedly a little more dangerous.  Once the heart is in this state you are not pumping blood efficiently and you may experience some dizziness and exhaustion.  If you have pain, tightness in the chest and or not able to breath you need to get to the doctor a.s.a.p..  I like that you keep track and take note of the different things going on.  Are you taking any kind of medications or herbal or vitamin supplements?  Do you drink coffee or are you sensitive to caffeine?  I personally don't like to excercise with the gas feeling however if I do some walking and light excercise like a couple situps or bends it may help relieve some gas.  I have never had atrial before during or after actual working out but have heard that a possible remedy to stop the afib in its tracks is to exercise.  I can tell you that its the last thing I feel like doing when I have it and I've tried other things like the cold water on the face to no avail.  There were actually one or two times I sneezed and it went away but usually in my case it seems to come from gas, bloat which is probably brought on by inflamation in the gut which in turn is probably brought on by eating the wrong foods where by ultimately every thing doesn't move along as it should in the digestive tract including trapped gas kind of like a sewer pipe being clogged and backed up.  Read my other post for things I done or that seemed to help.  You can feel a sense of cleansing or deep relief when the episode is over however whether there is any kind of actually cleansing going on I'm not so sure and would probably doubt it.  If you were toxic and this is how your body reacts to get rid of it then I suppose there could be a possibility of that but then I would have to question whether its afib or just rapid heart rate which are different.  All the things I brought up and the questions you had ie., stress, gas, inflamation, virus, parasites, bacteria, eating fast, eating wrong, food allergies etc. in my opinion all can contribute and have an impact to getting these episodes and all have negative affects on your health in general.  The portion of the digestive tract that sits close to the vagus nerve may be whats impacted and contributing to this thing especially when there is inflamation it probably touches or comes closer to it?  As far as the dark circles I'm not a doctor but can speculate since your blood is not being circulated as it should it is probably pooling up under your eyes giving the dark appearance and once you get back to sinus rythm the blood flows and  the pools are removed and so are the dark circles.  The yeast scent you get when you urinate I can not say what that is and again can only speculate.  The first thing that comes to mind and is a concern is whether you are diabetic or have you had your sugar checked?  If you have sugar you can sometimes get an odor to your urine and if you have sugar/dibetes it can be a big factor as to why you get this in the first place so if your not sure get it checked.  If your uric acid levels are high you need to monitor your diet and if this is a cause of inflamation in your body then I see no reason why it couldn't be a contributing factor in all this but it is the first time I've heard of it.  Just trying to use common sense.  You never expanded on the product you ordered.  I too heard of a product that is supposedly a cure for this and it comes from Europe.  I forget what it was and have it written some where.  You know with all the burocracy here in the states regarding health and medical it won't get any green light so you decide to try it and it helps please let us know.  Just make sure you take precautions I mentioned above first before trying things out and know whats in it and what your taking and that it poses no harm or known side effects.  I hope this helps.  Check back in and let us know.  -Rich P.-

[jheaven]

I have been experiencing the same symptoms for about six months now.  I seem to have sometimes dull sometimes sharp pains under my breast bone.  I get bloated very easily after eating.  I burp a lot of stomach gas.  Lots of belching ensues.  Sometimes I feel like my esophagus swells up and then I can feel my heart beating in my chest, the fluttering and butterfly feeling.  Then, this irregular beating in my chest scares me and causes anxiety, then the viscous cycle repeats.  The anxiety causes more chest pain, more gas, and more discomfort.  I have been trying everything to treat myself.  Changed my diet (was drinking lots of soda and taking NSAID pain relievers every day) for the most part, but due to my work schedule I do eat too much fast food to this day.  I drink nothing but water now, I have been watching everything I do.  I wait tables at night so being on my feet seems to always help, and these pains occur a lot less.  Also they seem to have gotten better by doing 2 weeks course of Prylosec OTC.  But still I am not "cured" and I just had an episode today.

My doctor visits all said the same thing. That anxiety, ibs, and stress have led to ulcers and my stomach being torn to shreds with acid. And then they give me antacids and send me on my way.  Well, all of this seems logical, but why has my stomach not healed after months and months of diet changing and antacid treating?  

I have been noticing that anxiety (watching a big football game) along with eating gassy food (like a bratwurst) can bring this on as apposed to just another day.  Also my episode today was brought on by me eating less than 3 hours before I went to sleep (around 1.5 hours).  When I woke up this morning I could tell my stomach and esophogus were upset with me, and when I finally ate lunch (several tums, water, and a prilosec later) 15 minutes or so later the bloating and heart fluttering kicks in.  

Please if anyone knows a way to heal yourself from this condition let me know.  I have been living in discomfort for 6 months and I am afraid that my 29 years of Moutain Dew and Taco Bell finally caught up with me....

[delcocat]

Hello j.  Sorry to hear of your dilemna.  By the sound of it you are describing what I and others have experienced.  It sounds also like you have also visited the doctors and other than the stomach & digestive troubles you are relatively healthy.  Have you read the other posts by myself.  Please look at them and you'll get some more insight as to what i have gone thru and some things that i've done that helped more than I can do here.  I will try and give you a quick overview and some suggestions.  First it is entirely possible to get afib via gas bloat and other stomach and digestive tract disorders.  If your stomach and digestive tract is as described then you must have inflamation.  All this inflamation and bloat and gas will push up on your diaphram and surrounding areas and cause great discomfort and pain but also can press upon nerves.  One of the nerves could be the vagus nerve and the afib may be vagul induced afib by exerting pressure on it and cause your heart to pump harder and disrupt the firing pattern of your heart causing it to go into fibrilation.  You still need to re-evaluate your eating.  There are many foods and beverages that produce and cause inflamation, gas, acid and bloat etc.  Stopping all carbonated beverages was a good start but apparently not enough.  You need to cut out all junk food and fast food.  You need to eat lighter more spaced out meals and include better for you foods such as raw fruits and vegetables etc.  i would recommend when eating any food that may cause gas such as beans use beano.  If you have any kind of dairy take lactaid.  The worst thing you can do is take any antacids all of which you mentioned.  These may give quick temporary relief but mere hours later come back to haunt you with a vengence.  They actually cause you to produce an over abundance of acid and really inflame your digestive tract so food you've eaten has no way to flow smoothly down its pathway kind of like a backed up sink.  I would recommend getting a good probiotic and some digestive enzymes.  Your ulcers I would recommend trying mastic gum every day as directed for a few weeks.  This can help heal ulcers and perhaps kill the bacteria that cause it.  If you get gas there are other things you can try for relief ie., try baking soda in water ( disolve completely first!), licorice, dgl, cumin powder, fennel etc.  If your really backed up you may need to flush your system and colon out.  I like using epsom salt in water.  Make sure your not on any meds that might not be good combination.  Try 2 or 3 teaspons in glass of water then repeat several hours later.  Drink plenty of water in between.  After you feel really cleaned out give your system a rest and drink only clear soup broth and green teas the next day.  Gradually ad stomach friendy food like low fat yogurt.  Keep an eye on what upsets you or look up on line about food combining and check PH foods vs acidic foods.  Do some walking or light excercising and do not eat atleast 4-5 hours before bed.  If your hungry have only a light protein snack.  This even now is still a work in progress for me but I feel a lot better.  I am trying to figure out whether getting this has caused what I suspect to be a succeptible area or pocket somewhere that may or may not heal with time?  If I go off the wagon or forget to do what I mentioned then I can get that jolt or funny feeling and afib may result.  So far 8 months and counting with no episodes.  Well, I hope some of this helps.  Let me/us know and good luck.  -Rich- delcocat

[Good7Shape]

I've been going through it with digestion & AFib episodes. I'm scheduled to have an Ablation Procedure 12/22/2009 but I'm apprehensive because I keep thinking what if it's a digestive issue. I now have a scar on my heart which is normal from the EcoCardiogram I had done in August. I have never been a big soda drinker. I steer clear of carbonated beverages, coffee, chocolate & have really minded my sweet intake here lately as sweets definitely almost instantly after eating them brings on A Fib. I have A Fib Episodes almost everyday & night. ;( It's been depressing & caused me high anxiety. I'm a very emotional & high strung individual anyway so now I'm really on the edge. I don't know what else to do. I've exhausted several meds (6 to be exact)  that haven't worked. A friend had the Ablation procedure done back in 2000 & it worked for her. She said she had one Vagal Episode after that since but she's been ok. I watch what I eat, I've tried  different supplements. Once in a while lately I have a day where I'm A Fib free & I rejoice but as soon as it kicks back in I'm bummed. I drink Coconut Water, I've done Mastic gum, Probiotics, Acidophilus, Prilosec, Aloe  Vera Gel & Aloe Vera juice, Magnesium Orotate, ice on my neck, ice on my face, cold water on my face, Cayenne pepper, pound my chest, bear down, sneeze, cough, hot tea, cold tea, cry, breathing exercises, tapping, laser on heart meridian which is on your pinky finger between tip & below nail of pinky, lay down, stand up, you name it, I've done it, tried it. Sometime they work, sometimes they don't. There's no rhyme or reason to A Fib. Today I can do something for an episode & it works but the next day I can try the same thing & it won't work but may work again later on. Go figure. I just know I'm exhausted, frustrated, sad & depressed at times trying to figure it out. So I think may be this Ablation thing will work. I'm beginning to think the powers that be are messing with us some kind of way because there's too many people with this condition that these learned Drs. can't figure out. Conspiracy! I'm beginning to wonder. I go to the drug stores & have noticed the antacids & proton pump inhibitors are selling like hot cakes & the shelf life for these products are short. I pay attention & say 10 years ago or more such was not the case. More & more people are suffering with digestive problems that are very similar if not exact. Thank God! For the internet & the information we can all learn & share with each other. WE don't have to just accept what they tell us as etched in stone & be more proactive about our health. I don't know what to do. I just want to be normal again & have a better quality life. I've been dealing with this for about a year on a regular basis. I was diagnosed with A Fib in 1997. I managed it for all these years without medication cause' I had no health insurance but now it's getting out of control. I can't figure out how to manage it anymore. I have a metal taste in my mouth, teeth feel funny, constant belching, gas, bloat, heartburn. I had an endoscopy/colonoscopy done July 31st. Everything looked good. No polyps, nothing. I wish the Drs. could tell me exactly what's going on but that seems like a dead end when they only deal with one part of the body. Western medicine doesn't seem to see the body, mind, emotions as a whole. Like I can take my heart out at night, put it on the night table & then put it back in the next morning after giving it a rest. Anyone have any information or comment they'd like to share I would appreciate it. Peace & Blessings to all of you...

[Good7Shape]

P.S. If it's not my heart, after the Ablation procedure I will have a scar on my heart & for no good reason...

[delcocat]

Hi Good7Shape, I'm sorry to hear of your problem and dilemna with your decision.  First have you read mine and others posts?  This could help in giving you some comfort that your not alone and perhaps give you some tips you haven't thought of to try.  Let me start off in that your correct that there is something going on and some are very subtle and others more obvious if you look.  Today especially in this country we are stressed out as a result of being a fast paced society and that carries on to include wrong food and other choices we make every day.  Personally it sounds as though you are and have been a nervous wreck.  First and foremost this will not help you with this condition but worsen it.  So stay calm or get help with the anxiety if need be.  You say your test reveal outside of your epsisodes with anxiety and afib that your relatively healthy?  You state that its been approximately a year you have been going through this?  Did you have any major upsets in your life around that time?  Lost loved one, stressful job etc?  There could have been perhaps a trigger point.  Perhaps not?  The trigger point itself could have simply been an anxiety or afib attack that snow balled afterward?  Now comes your modifying your diet and or supplementation. You mention you tried mastic gum, magnesium and so forth but also included prilosec.  No good... this is an otc antacid and does what every other antacid does.  The relief is generally temporary but in the end can worsen the condition it was supposed to treat.  Magnesium is good but believe it or not can act as an antacid itself.  Have you ever gone to the bathroom afterwards up to several days later and pooped out pellets, thin and or burning like acid from your rectum or in general had a hard time going?  I would be surprised if you said no to one or all of these.  You obviously get stomach upset to be taking any or all of these.  You could be creating an inflamation in your stomach and intestinal tract causing great discomfort.  It can push up on the diaphram and or vagus nerve causing pressure and great discomfort  which alone can cause anxiety but also possibly disrupt blood flow or nerve firing which possibly can lead to the afib. There could be many other factors involved as well.  You ruled out ulcer but mentioned a metallic taste you get.  This can come from digestive tract issues, tooth issues or sinus issues etc.  It sounds though yours may be a result of stomach and gastrointestinal distress.  I think bacterial, parasites, yeast, viruses can all contribute to the above as well.  hiadial hernia and gall bladder can cause these similar problems or symptoms.  As far as the ablation ultimately it is going to be between God yourself and your doctors.  It does work for some that are chronic but I can tell you that it does not work for some others.  A friend of mine had it supposedly by one of the best in the field who guaranteed a good result and he supposedly did not get it right and it did not help him and he now regrets it.  Surgery is a risk no matter what it is so you always take a chance.  It should be your last option.  I don't like when a doctor is uncertain as to why you or anyone may be getting this only then to prescribe drugs or surgery on an apparent bet.  Personally I would get a few seperate opinions before making any final decision.  Diet wise all I can say is you sometimes have to totally rethink and re-ajdust everything including what you might have thought was good and you have to become very familiar with what causes you upset.  Usually a diet of raw fresh organic fruits and vegetables can help to get your gut back to shape.  No dairy or meat, sugar, white flour, fast food, fried food, carbonated beverages, coffee at all etc.  Filtered or distilled water and green tea and clear soup broths are usually fine.  Probitics are a good idea as are food enzymes.  If you eat anything that can be gassy use beano.  If you do have any dairy make sure you use lactose free or use lactaid enzyme available any health or drug store.  I would suggest also every day lowfat yogurt mixed with honey to help get the gut flora back in balance and the honey helps kill the bad bacteria.  If you do get the acid, gas or bloat try 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in water (dissolve completely first!) or dgl (form of licorice without the bad stuff that makes bp go up) or cup of stomach ease tea.  Getting some light exercise like walking every day can help.  Read my prior post as I'm sure there are many other things I didn't put here.  There is a natural product being offered online that supposedly cures afib.  I forget the name but you can google afib cure.  I personally haven't tried it because so far I have got this under control myself with all the things I mentioned here and in other post that I've tried.  What ever your decision and how you attack this I wish you success.  Please check back and post any results you have as we are all interested.  Final thought is that afib is generally not life threatening but very uncomfortable however it should not be ignored (as if that were possible) and if you go on for more than a couple hours and can not bring yourself back then you need to get to the doctor or emergency so that they can.  Once in that state the heart does not pump blood efficiently and if it becomes a chronic thing can only serve to possibly weaken the heart if let go on uncontrolled.  Again good luck and hope some of this helps.  Rich

[cteeter]

Me too. I know my a fib is related to the abdominal region. It feels like someone is trying to push a hole in my abs from the inside . Bloated and distended stomach too. Makes a fib worse.

[tengam99]

Hi. I've been on a mission to resolve my issue with the dis order. I don't know if I have AF however after reading the comments it all sound familiar. I'm usually awaken at 3-4am every morning with strong heart palpatiations at scare the hell out of me. This only started this year 2009 and I'm sick of it. I must find a solution. I've been drinking boiled ginger with helps with candida yeast which causes gas. 79 to 97 percent of American have candida and this make your colon mucusy and makes the stomach bloat causing all sort of digestive problems and can memic some dieases which is why doctor have a hard time nailing this sucker down. Also. I'm taking CoEnzyme 10 or which strenghtens the heart. Now the I write this I see a corelation. I starting eating for 4 to 5 meals a day in early 2009 to lose weight and months later this started happening, maybe I wasn't eating the right foods. I but diet really did consist of salads, oatmeal, turkey, chicken slices really good stuff. But I've learned from this AF, Alkaline VS. Acid, and Candida yeast, you must eat raw food Avoid to many apples and oranges, avoid alot of meat only eat lean meat, low fat yogurt of goat milk KEFIR Probiotics, or goat yogurt with kefir probiotics for those who are lactose intolerent, avoids, bread that are not gluten free and don't eat too much bread and minimize carbohydrates, make sure you exercise to strenghten the heart, get some wheat grass or chorophyll. The process food is throwing the bodies system out of wack, super sugars and genetically modified wheat and process crap is wrecking the body. It's not you is the food you're eating. If you were to go on a fast for ten days you'll feel like a teenager why cause the body can relax and doesn't have to strain trying to strain to digest and process the false food. Fast first to reset the body, starting eating right and exercise regularly and all of you will be fine.

[DUKEJETT1]

This site is GREAT!
    I can tell you from my experience that you are "right on " Delcocat.
History of me:    
Always been into sports and was pretty good at them.
In my 20's to late 30's and into my early 40's, I had a resting heart rate of 40-50 because I was in such good shape.
I did however get snuck up on by Mr. Belly in my 42-46 range and an additional 50 lbs tacked on to the body.  (this is important to note).

I also had drastically cut down on my exercising and was eating bad.
Stress I believe with out a doubt is a major factor as well when it is bottled up inside.

Anyways, I was at work and had been getting these hot flashes every now and then for the previous 6 months along with noticing that after going to lunch with the guys from work I seemed very very full and had not eaten that much and I did notice when I ate certain things like breads, it was worsened.
I also had noticed that I was getting tired taking the stairs. (winded)
I had a very stressful situation at work and right before I was to talk to my boss about it, I started sweating and feeling dizzy and very much filled with a sense of being very claustrophobic.
It was then I noticed that my heart was racing out of control.
Needless to say I took myself to the ER and spent a good 4-5 days in the Hospital getting all the quackery done.
They ran all the tests and determined that my heart was in very good shape,,,,except it wanted to beat differently.....hmmmmmmmmmm thanks doc for the lowdown.

They had put me on Warfarin as well as a heart rhythm ...the SR stuff.

I had a cardioversion done a month later and right away I could tell the difference between in and out of sinus and the calmness when in as well as how much easier it was to breath.

I was in for around a week and one night I could feel it coming, and I was out.
I was switched to Taxtia XT 300mg per day and had another cardioversion done, and that lasted maybe 2 weeks, and then back out again.
My next problem was that my Cardiologist did not stress to me or allude to the fact of the importance of getting back into rhythm as soon as possible.
And of course I believed being an athlete and knowing my body pretty well, I could get it back in normal sinus myself.
Then the doc says "probably too late for getting it back in".
I hated all this !!!
Tired, exhaustion, foggy brain, swelling of ankles, getting blotches on ankle areas from blood sitting, you get the picture.

3 years later:
Still in Atrial Fib,  but I have learned a lot about this as myself being a test platform.
I still take the Warfarin but was able to cut it back by taking garlic tablets.. which are good for you anyways.
I still take the Taxtia XT, but wonder if I would go into a crazy racing heart if I stopped(probably right)???
I take CQ10 along with L-Arginine and an hour later take L-Lysine.
I take Vitamin C with Ester.
I have recently started taking Resveratrol of which I bought at Walgreens.
If this stuff (resveratrol) helps from everything I have read about it, I am going to go to a high grade type that does cost a bit more.

Everyone should read up on it.

I also will say is to let the do's know what you are taking, maybe they will get hip to this.
Oh, and lastly I have been taking a powdered supplement called PHorever and I have been losing the weight as well as feeling better and have more energy to play sports.

So here are my bullet points.
Get your weight down - Keep your weight down
Get proper sleep (check for apnea if you think this may be a problem).
Proper nutrition - lots of fruits and veggies. - DO Not overeat !  - probiotics
Manage Stress - yoga, breathing exercises, meditation, exercise
Check for Hiatal Hernia
PH of your body - get it checked and it needs to be alkaline, NOT acidic.
Lots of water, with a PH higher than 7.5
Fast - it does make you feel better - I think the body is toxic which is a factor
Do a cleanse - followed by probiotics.

I am soo glad we are all here to help each other.

[Good7Shape]

I had an ABlation Procedure done on January 26, 2010 & since then I have had several A-Fib episodes one which lasted from last Friday 2/5 @ 8:30 pm until Monday 2/8 when I went into NSR @ 11:20am. I went to ER on Sunday night as I was getting real dizzy & my blood pressure seemed to be getting lower & lower. They put me on an Amiodarone IV drip kept me until Tuesday morning & during my stay gave me Amiodarone orally, digoxin which I am still taking. I have never an A-Fib duration this long since I was diagnosed with it in 1997. I was good leaving the hospital as my heart went in to NSR the day before they released me until last night @ around 9pm. It's Friday 9:32pm & I'm still in A-Fib but not really intense. ;( I'm depressed & concerned. My Dr. who performed the Ablation says this can happen & this duration is not the first time he's experienced this. He's had other patients as well & that the heart needs to heal. That when they ablate, the surrounding areas get annoyed & sometimes fire off after an Ablation because everything is raw causing an episode. That sometimes I may experience an episode the same or worse after the Ablation. Has anyone else had this experience post ablation & if so how long did it last & did it finally pass? My Dr. says usually there's a 2 to 3 month period to decide if the Ablation did not work. Please! Let me know. God Bless You All...

[DUKEJETT1]

Sorry to hear of the AF onset.
First, the Doc as he put it "has never experienced" what we have.
Yes, he may be right when it comes to bothering the surrounding tissue.
Do you know about the Amiodarone?  It is different in that it gets into your whole body and not just concentrating around your heart area.  It is effective but I would not use it for very long at all since 1) your body may get used to it
2) it is very toxic to your organs - thyroid for one.
Did they, or can they give you something to keep you calm?
When you were back in NSR,  how did you feel?  Did you feel calmer and have a sense of peace?
Take care and let us know ok.

[delcocat]

Well as stated the in my previous post to you prior to your having this procedure it does not always work.  I don't know if the doctor missed the mark or what.  It is very hard to say.  I don't know if your doctor mentioned this and I don't want to give you any false hope but there could be a possibility of an adjustment perod where the procedure just may take time to work.  Usually the period is no longer than a couple days to week or two but everyone is different.  We will keep our fingers crossed for you.  I'm really not sure what to tell you post procedure except that what was causing your episodes before are apparently still causing them now.  I'm getting the feeling by your posts that you maybe easily stressed or nervous type?  It will be very important for you to control and take control over any stress and anxieties.  Other than the afib and your having the procedure how is your over all health?   If you are over weight even by as little as 10 or 20 pounds it would help to lose it.  Just do it properly though good diet and light exercise.  In the event af episodes can be brought on by stomach or digestive tract bloat, acid or other duress try to avoid anything that will cause it.  This is good advice for any including those who never get this.  Know what it is your eating!  Some people think for example that by substituting and eating white rice is a good healthy alternative since it is a grain however you would be surprised how it can cause gas and constipation in many who eat it more than a few times in a week.  This is only one small example.   I would suggest a good healthy diet consisting of organic fruits and vegetables, salmon,  multiviatamin mineral supplemt, broad spectrum probiotic a good start.  Eat heart healthy another words.  Space your meals out and eat 5 or 6 small meals a day as opposed to two or three big ones.  This will help control your blood sugar spikes which can exacerbate the problem.  Abstain from alcohal, smoking, and otc medications.  Keep notes as to what bothers you and what doesn't and eliminate anything that bothers you.  This goes for foods as well as situations.  Make sure you get a blood profile done including thyroid, mineral and ph. Check these posts and see what others are saying and if it makes sense for you and your doctor has no objections give some of them a try.  Just be careful and don't over do on any of them.  Good luck and let us know.  -R-

[delcocat]

Supplementary to my other posts I want to ad that If anyone is over doing it with supplements ie., herbs, vitamins and minerals etc. be careful.  These are powerful and may not always combine well with meds or other supplements.  I found for example a relative who wanted me to go over their supplements and tell them what I thought.  This is what I found.  This person had like 12 different supplements they were taking for what they felt would help various different things the products promised such as eye health, hair and nails, heart etc.  I found that if they took all these in a single day and by my adding the ingredients together they were getting in this instance for example about 8mg of copper, 75-100mg zinc and extra high doses of certain b's, d, carnitine  etc etc.  which are way way higher doses than any daily allowance established or that anyone should be taking.  This person too was suffering from rapid heart rate which from the above findings did not surprise me.  At proper doses the above can be very beneficial but in mega doses can be disastrous.  Most people don't know this.  Mega doses of copper can deprive you of adequate amounts of iron.  Too much iron is absolutely no good and can literally be fatal.  Also seperate and never take your vitamins at the same time as any medications.  Never take any medications or vitamins or herbs with grapefruit juice or antacids.  Grapefruit juice can litterally incrase the strength of medications.  Antacids can render them ineffective.  Its not enough to hear or see natural.  You have to know what your taking and how, when and what to take them.  READ YOUR LABELS!  DO NOT DOUBLE OR TRIPLE ANY VITAMIN, MINERAL OR HERBS!    Normally a good quality food based multivitamin/mineral supplement  is sufficient.  Also a heart healthy omega product such as salmon oil or flax oil is good.  If you exercise and sweat a lot then perhaps other things can be of benefit.  Check with a knowledgable dr., nutritionist  etc.  I hope this helps.  Good luck everyone!   -Rich-

[snellcat]

The posts on this site greatly emphasize the need for communication and collaboration between our health providers.  I've experienced occasional bouts of a-fib since 1995.  Most of these episodes convert on IV meds in 24-48 hours.  Like many of you my doctors told me, "Some people just have a-fib from time to time and we don't know why."  Over the years I've tried to find a common factor that preceded the onset of a-fib.  After reading posts on this site and others I now believe that in my case my a-fib is triggered by gastrointestinal causes.  A endoscope last year confirmed a hiatal hernia. Not suprising considering I'm 50 lbs overweight.  I had seen my gastro doc after I had started having really bad irritable bowel syndrome symptoms (abdominal pain and constipation) after I had been prescribed the atomic bomb of antibiotics, Levaquin, for a sinus infection.  That was a little over a year and I'm still having pain 3 or 4 days of the week just under the bottom of my breastbone after eating.  Just a few weeks after I started having this gastro flare-up I had an episode of a-fib.  Likewise I had another round of a-fib three weeks ago. This occured three days after I had begun an excersise routine that involved push-ups and sit-ups.  Almost immediately I experienced an increase in the pain in the area of the hiatal hernia.  I suppose the stress on the area from the excersise increased the size of the hernia.  On the third night of this excersise plan I had a snack and laid down to read.  I read for a while laying on my right side.  As what had become somewhat normal for me I was experiencing discomfort below my breastbone.  I rolled onto my back to get more comfortable.  Immediately my heart went into a-fib.  A trip to the ER, admission to the step-down unit, and IV meds and my heart converted the next day.  I mentioned to my cardiologist that I felt that my a-fib was being triggered by my hiatal hernia but he said he had never heard of that.  Well, obviously all of us can't be imagining this connection.  I'm so thankfull I found this site.  It underlines the importance of being proactive when it comes to our health and our issues with a-fib and other heart rhythm conditions.  Reading all your posts made me realize that all my bouts with a-fib were preceded by symptoms related to hiatal hernia:  indigestion, excessive belching, heartburn.  It's now my goal to learn all I can about the link between the disturbances in the gastointestinal system and the disruption of normal sinus rhythm.  Thanks again.  May God bless all of you.  Press on and finish strong.

[delcocat]

Hey Snellcat,

    Just got your post.  Sorry to hear your another one suffering from this affliction.  In any case welcome aboard.  I'm glad you found this site and I hope you find it of some help and benefit.  You brought up something interesting and perhaps unknowingly and something I would like to address and share.  I too was prescribed leviquin as an antibiotic for of all things case of adult onset of  the mumps.  Brief history here.  Mumps 5 years ago was all but unknown in this country and I was one of only 2 cases known to have it at the time.  I asked my doctor based on what I had experienced for 2-3 days prior to seeing him -doc!  What do I have the mumps?  He said no that more than likely it was a virus and while anyone knows antibiotics do nothing to address viruses he prescribed pill form of levoquin just as a precaution to guard against so called secondary infection and stated the virus would just have to run its course.  Two days later my testicle blew up to 5 times its normal size and never having been prescribed levoquin or not knowing at the time this to be a more severe symptom of the mumps that affects adults and not children sent me close to a panic!  He then sent me to a urologist which still could not say what I had and then he wanted me to go to the hospital for xrays.  5 hours into waiting in the emergency awaiting my xrays I came down with 105 fever.  Long story short they checked me in then placed me on intravenous levoquin at higher dose and still could not say what the affliction was.  It took literally a 10 second visit from a infectous disease doctor out of NY to tell me what I had already suspected - mumps!   Not to run off here I do have a couple points which I think are important and my first point is not to knock or put down doctors but to simply state that not my internist, urologist, emergency doctor, hospital doctor could figure out what I had and which ended up being probably one of the first infectious diseases they learn about when they are studying to become a doctor and yet while rare in this country at the time and until very recently with new out breaks more than likely something they themselves or perhaps many of you on this site suffered as children - MUMPS!  My point about my first point here is that doctors are human beings first and are not perfect and make many mistakes and can and do not always make a correct diagnosis even in my little example above so don't be surprised that many people on this site and else where have a big problem having doctors try and figure and or even admit what afib is all about.  I'd say even at this point 95% just know little or nothing about it and what causes it and even more unfortunate or disturbing is that some doctors have an uncanny ability to think they know everything and tend to even scoff at some of our findings relating to the afib!   They can not even keep an open mind even after many tests that our hearts are o.k.that there may be a connection or relation to digestive distress, ibs, indigestion, gas etc.  and it can make it down right scary at times listening to some of the things they say and come up with when your in emergency suffering from an episode not too mention some of the meds and methods they want to try on you to bring you back to rythm and in some cases how they want to follow up or prescribe!.  Now my second point is the levoquin itself.  This stuff is indeed a very powerful antibiotic and I can tell you it kills off most if not all bacteria that  may be in your system and certainly the digestive tract and gut.  I was on the toilet bowl for what seemed hours evacuating until I'm sure there was absolutely nothing left.  Talk about a colon cleanse!  I even had to be the one to suggest they place me on intravenous fluids because I felt as though I was becoming dehydrated from it as well which in fact turned out to be the cases.  At the time I still thought nothing of this or any other antibiotic ever prescribed to me in the past and just thought like many other do that these are/were miracle medicines which to some degree they are but I just didn't know that they all have a dark side and some nasty sides effects that can affect you for years and or may not affect you until years later and you not be the wiser.  The down side is that they not only kill the bad bugs but all the good ones as well leaving your whole digestive tract system in caos and later subject to illnesses.  Honestly I really didn't start having a problem with afib until after this so I'm not totally sure myself that certain antibiotics beyond the killing off of the friendly gut bacteria which in and of itself is very bad don't themselves have other side effects that are yet unknown and or perhaps related?  Could be the mumps?  I do not know but I do know more people are treated with antibiotics than get an adult onset case of the mumps.  This is why my second point is and has been on this site for all intent and purposes about gut or digestive tract health.  I am an absolute firm believer now that most ills can and do come from an unhealthy out of balance digestive sytem from the mouth on out through the rear end.  This doesn't just happen by itself and is generally brought on by unhealthy choices and life styles.  This is why I myself and others here have recommended things like eating properly, taking probiotics and other certain supplements and exercise and destressing to help get digestive tracts and ourselves back into shape.  What likely follows on a good regimen is less or no more discomfort, less anxiety, more energy and no more or less frequent afib attacks which is our goal.  If your still with me here you have to also exercise good judgement and don't let over enthusiasm cloud your judgement.  In your case for example you have a hiatal hernia (which by the way can even by some doctors admissions cause and or exacerbate afib) and your jumping right into situps and exercise was not a wise move as you found out.  If your not a fitness guru or nutritionist and most people aren't then you do need to get professional advise and read up on the subject and ask plenty questions.  I'm guessing to get your weight down exercise wise perhaps walking 20-30 minutes a day would have been a better choice but the reason I said I was guessing was because depending on how severe the hernia is may determine whether if even walking is a good option?  Again get some advise from your doctors on what the best way for you to get back into shape will be and know that you absolutely need to also adjust your diet and only eat good for you foods.  I've said this elsewhere in these posts but it bares repeating and besides reading all these posts again for more info you will need to abstain from smoking, alcohal, white flour, sugars, processed foods, fried foods, sodas or anything else artificial in your diet.  Its also a good idea to try and stay away from any otc meds including antacids etc unless absolutely necessary.  Chances are on a proper nutritional diet with execise and less stress you won't need the otc's before long anyway.  Just know that it will probably take a good commitment and perhaps a lifetime one because once any old bad habits come back so does the anxiety, gut disasters and the afib.  Well, thats all for now so keep reading and I wish you and all others on this post well on all your endeavors to rid yourselves of this scourge.  Please let us know of your progress, any developments or good results you may have and how and by what means and methods you use to obtain them.  
-Rich-

[DUKEJETT1]

Just read the latest posts, very good.

I wanted to ask, is everyone in a-fib on occasions or are some of you in it all the time like me?
Understand that while I am in a-fib, I am not racing out of control but my heart does not beat properly which in turn does not pump like it should which in turn does not get the proper oxygen or eliminate water like it should.
As I had mentioned in my previous post, the Doc discarded my thoughts on any connection to my stomach swelling, and he was not forthcoming on the urgency to get back into NSR.

Question to all:    I feel it is possible to get in real good shape etc, and get put back into NSR even after being in a-fib for over 3 yrs.  My Cardiologist alluded to it not being likely.
Any thoughts or answers are appreciated.

Hey, Valentines Day should be just for us!  ( the heart thing) don't think I am getting fresh!

[delcocat]

Hi DUKEJETT1,  Sorry to hear of your dilemna.  I don't have enough of your history to make even a best guess?  Things such as your age, height, weight, life style etc?  Even if I had all of this info I don't think I or anyone on here could guarantee anything.  We are not doctors and don't pretend to be.  This is basically a support group with many people volunteering information about themselves and their experiences with this problem and subject.  That being said there are a few questions I have.  You state you have this all the time and its not something that comes and goes?  Have you been diagnosed with chronic atial fibrilation or is it perhaps something else?  As stated previously there are those that suffer with this all the time but the more common one and one we see most on this post is the condition that comes and goes either on its own or with help from an er doctor etc.  I assume you've had yourself checked and tested but assume by your unknowingness that perhaps a true diagnoses, its cause or treatment options haven't been discussed or your not happy with any of the options given to you and you want to try and take a more natural approach?  See there is a lot I don't know.  I will say this and it is in agreement with your assesment that yes, I feel anyone can with the right attitude, knowledge and program can get themselves healthier.  What ever the causes the thing we complain about here is a  condition called atrial fibrillation.  True atrial fibrilation means basically that your heart has gone into a miss fire of sorts in the aortal upper portion of the heart.  It can also occur in the ventrical or lower portion however this is more uncommon and supposedly a little more dangerous.  Once the heart is in this state you are not pumping blood efficiently and you may experience some dizziness and tiredness or exhaustion.  Again the biggest mystery of this condition is what  causes it?  Are there certain similarities and things that bring it on?  What are those similarities?  What can we as laymen do about them?  While I'm convinced mine and many others are brought on by digestive and or stomach/ intestinal tract related disorders due to such things as stress, not eating properly, antibiotics, poor physical health its not to say there are not many possible causes to the above which leads to the ultimate symptoms of atrial fibrillation.  Some of my theories to what may bring on the condition or the above leading to the symptoms of this condition could be as follows:  Antibiotics, certain medications (prescribed or otherwise), bad bacteria or bacterial infection, yeast or mold infection, anxiety, allergies to certain foods or allergies to other unknowns, parasites, worms, viruses, anorexia, bulemia, heart disease or other disease such as diabetes, ms, thyroid (graves disease) or lymes, certain herbs, vitamins or minerals particularly if combined wrongly or over done, over eating, eating too fast, eating the wrong diet, over weight, poor physical health.    As you can see my list is pretty extensive!  Where does one begin?  You have to take stock of yourself and weed out things with your doctor or health care provider to hopefully narrow it all  down.  You shouldn't be alone or try to evaluate yourself or come up with a program by yourself until all other more serious conditions have been ruled out and even then you should work along with your doctor, health care provider and nutritionist to try and come up with a good plan.  I hope some of this helps and I did not cause you more questions than answers than perhaps you may have already had before but in what sounds to be in your such case something to be more chronic in nature you need to really start taking stock of yourself in coming up with any answers and or a plan of action.   Oh and if something your doctor says doesn't make sense or he or someone else wants to do a procedure but can not say why in good common sense that they came to this conclusion then find other doctors and get other opinions!   You can start taking control of your own health right now by eating the right foods in the right combinations and as stated in previous post you should abstain from smoking, fast foods, fried foods, high in saturated fat foods.  Now get to it and let us all know of any developments and progress you make and how and by what method?  We are here for you to support you and we all wish you success and good health!  -Rich-

[Riss487]

If your digestive problems are what you think is causing your atrial fibrillation, why don't you investigate methods of solving your digestive problems instead trying to link one to the other. Even if you're wrong about one being linked to the other, you still help your digestive problems. Perhaps, you people are just high-strung, like myself. Stress is in NO way healthy for the GI. My family also has a history of stomach cancer and chronic ulcers, etc. so check into that kind of stuff.