Atrial Fibrillation Stomach Gas & Bloat Relationship?

[delcocat]

I saw a post about atrial fibrillation and stomach gas possible association.  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.  They don't think outside the box and most always treat symptoms with side effect ridden drugs because this is what they learned.  I think 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.  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 thought I would put this to a POLL since the question already exist out there about the afib gas 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?  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 they know or even think this to be the case for them and would also like to correspond with others to trade stories and info on what they've learned and done. Be well.  Sincerely, Rich - ***@****


This discussion is related to Stomach Gas and Arrythmia.

[Carico]

I, too, suffer from this gas associated arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation. I can have it in the middle of the night or day. There is an improvement when I take Pepcid or Diovel, but the best bet is Ovol extra strenth or Gax X. If I don't take anything it can get pretty scarey and last a long time. My entire chest throbs, my esophogus feels tight and I feel a pressure on the back of my tongue. Also feel a sudden fatigue.
Carol

[jjack100]

I have suspected for a long time a connection between bloating and the relatively mild case of atrial fibrillation that I've experienced. My doctors, including two cardiologists, are not very good listeners.

For now, I just try to regulate my food intake so I won't bloat. Gas X does help.


J

[Meejee]

Usually after I eat a particularly fatty meal, or if I eat cereal containing milk, in which milk makes me gassy, I start to feel my heart rate increase well above 60 bpm. If I drink 1 or 2 bottles of water, it seems to help a bit and makes me more comfortable. I always have to eat dinner about 3 hours before bed. If not, I will endure the uneasy rapid heart rate which will prevent me from resting. It sometimes also results in heartburn.

Rena

[delcocat]

Thanks for your responses.  You read my post and know I like you are still a work in progress in this atrial fib/ digestive track disorder association.  I did a colon/parasite cleanse.  Also did a liver/gall bladder flush.  I followed this up with a continual supplentation of acidophillus liquid probiotic, mastic gum, papaya enzyme blend after meals or twice a day, lactaid enzyme when I eat dairy and beano when I eat gassy foods.  In the event I still get gas or stomach discomfort I use DGL and sometimes take it once or twice a day any way.  I have been very much improved.  I suspected ulcers and knew I had an acidic condition and all this helped tremendously with no side effects.  Give it a whirl.  Good luck.  Rich

[snowbie28]

I am a 38 year old female.  I have noticed this correlation as well.  I am a vegetarian and tend to be gassy, plus I eat a lot of high fiber foods.  I brought this up at my last visit to the cardiologist.  He said that there is a correlation between gas and Afib.  That gas stimulates the vagus nerve.  He advised me to take GasX.  The problem for me is that it seems to help me temporarily, but ultimately causes me to become constipated.  Then I have to take another pill.....and it goes on.  Anyway, you are not "crazy".  I have a friend younger than me that has AFib and she had a episode of Afib when she had food poisoning.  The vomiting seemed to "kick it off".    

[ed34]

My heart problems were misdiagnosed for 12 months as a stomach disorder because
I only received chest pains after eating. After a build up of gas and releasing it, the
pains seemed to subside considerably. One of the symptoms I gave the cardiologists
on the day of my Heart attacks was "lots of wind".
The digestive system required a large amount of oxygen to digest food and this is what
triggered my heart attacks in the end. It stands to reason that there is a link between
the two. After being stented it was great to be able to eat again but as other vessels
have become worse, the problem is returning and I have to eat little but often. If I eat a
meal and try to walk for more than 2 mins, I am on my knees gasping for air. If I have
just a very small snack, I can walk for over a mile with just a small amount of throat
discomfort.

[sheila41]

Definitely, there is a connection,when my heart races, it's always after a heavy meal, and then trying to walk or something. I also have told doc.many times, but she just gives me more antacids, which do nothing at all for the vagus problem, which she didn't even acknowledge. Antacids make it worse most often.  I darn't go out for a meal, which I would love to do, as even the getting up and then walking afterwards makes a crisis situation.  SO, YES THERES A CONNECTION -  AND NO I HAVN'T FOUND A DOCTOR WHO WANTS TO DO ANYTHING (OTHER THAN GET YOU OUT OF THE SURGERY ASAP)   Best wishes.

[delcocat]

Thanks for your responses.  i check back and like to hear whats going on and to see if anyone not only has this but what they or their dr.'s have done.  If you like try some of my suggestions above in one of my post or in this one.  Also, one thing I did not mention in past post when I
started this is that anxiety also can bring this rapid heart rate and or atrial fibrilation on as well.  Being bloated, gassy, uncomfortable in your stomach and or digestive tract can bring on anxiety.  It can be a vicious cycle.  I don't like getting afib because I often have to endure a full day (between 6-14 hours) of misery.  When this happens I do a few things.  If I feel it will be around for a while I generally take 1/2 to 1 plain aspirin for good measure and prevention.  I try to relieve the acid, gas and bloat sometimes with a teaspon or two dose of epsom salt disolved in 8 oz of water which usually results in a complete clean out from any where between a 1/2 hour to 3 hours of taking it.  I then juice a large glass a mix of carot, parsley & several stalks of celery and drink it slowly to replace any missing vitamins or minerals and drink water to keep hydrated.  I eat lightly (only veg or chicken broth and or toast).   Theres no particular order however I think its important to  keep all the medications ie., aspirin/magnesium etc.
seperated by atleast an hour.  Another thing I should mention is that everyone is different and may experience or have this for different reasons.  I like many of you have been check by doctors and they really don't know why I (or in a lot of case) people get this.  Rule out any illness first.  i can tell you I never get afib for example when I excersise or exert myself (thank goodness)   I have suffered with digestive problems ie., acid, gas, bloat, ibs, possible ulcer and inflamation etc. and its usually when I don't watch and am very bad with my diet (go off the wagon) when I get this and its usually seperated by 6 months or more.  But thats me.  If you try any of the stuff I have done then I would love to know if any of it helps you but I am no doctor and am not prescribing anything, making any claims and taking no responsibility for any result.  Good luck!  -RICH-

[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....

[cqberry]

There is a connection. It could be food additives causing some type of allergic reaction. Just guessing on that. I've had the fatigue, bloating, shortness of breathe, racing heart. Sometimes when I haven't eaten. I'm extremely fatigued most of the time. My sleep patterns are all out of whack. Have eppisodes of hives on occasion. I've always been told the same thing. Depression and anxiety. I'm not buying that **** anymore. But what can we do about it? Nothing. Just keep taking the antidepressants, antihistamines, and antacids. No wonder we're tired.

[delcocat]

To: jheaven & others
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

[bruce587]

I find it interesting that your questionnaire has NO OPTION to state that we have a contrary opinion and don't think our AFIB is related to stomach gas.

[delcocat]

Hi bruce587,

    Thanks for your statement.  There is actually a very good reason I didn't place any other options for this questionaire.  Afib is for the most part still a mystery all the way around and there are still more questions than answers.  I feel this affliction, the susceptibility to it or disease if you will has many possible causes and can be unique to the individual.  My reason for starting this page and another corresponding page at          ( http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Disease/Atrial-Fibrillation--Stomach-Gas--Digestive-Tract-Problems-/show/767987 )  was my quest in seeking knowledge and answers to a condition which sprang from my own personal experiences with it.  My other reason was to impart some knowledge I gained hopefully that might help others if they felt that they too may also fit into this category?  I had been through all the test.  I am relatively healthy and in my own case started noticing a pattern where by it became clear to me that there did seem to be an association between my afib attacks and digestive troubles namely gas and or bloat.  The gas sometimes wasn't obvious or noticeable but never the less hours later into afib I would get this gurgling in a particular area in my gut and eventualy would release gas either by burping or by relieving myself in the bathroom.  Once this happened enough the afib would go away either instantly or soon after.  I've learned quite a bit about afib, myself and digestive related problems.  There is a probability that since the pathways of nerve impulses to the brain via the stomach and coronary system are the same that if there is pressure placed on either there could be disruption in the pathway signals to the brain and or organs that ultimately disrupt things enough which just may send a person afibin.  Certain doctors (particularly heart) have considered a certain correlation and state it possibly to be vagus nerve induced atrial fibrillation.  I saw a correlation in my case and wanted to know if others suspected the same?  I didn't know in the beginning or at the time if it this was the sole cause and now know it is not in all cases but the possibility that it is in many could potentially open the doors to relief for so many if it is a cause!  Digestive problems as you probably are aware have become a big problem too.  While there still seems to be much to learn about these I think in general we have a better handle on them.  Our fast paced society, stressful living, wrong food choices, unhealthful living etc. for example are what generally bring these on.   Even though the medical community attaches names to these symptoms and now call them diseases like collitus, irrital bowel, reflux etc. and generally treat the symptoms as opposed to the cause with drugs making these conditions come back again and again sometimes with a vengence are still believe it or not seemingly more easily addressed and treatable.  In my opinion its not so far fetched to see afib as another possible symptom to digestive disorders and some people are susceptible to it and some aren't.  Either way both are bad but the afib is misserable and being what it is and having doctors look at you not knowing the cause and wanting to run test after test and place you on drugs prior to even knowing an actual cause can make for a lot of worry and stress.  Any way the above stated are the reasons why I limited the input on this particular questionaire to what i did.  It wasn't meant to exclude other possibilities or other sufferers of this affliction.  If this is one
example of a possible cause then I would say it is probably the least serious and potentially most treatable.  The others what ever they may ultimately be may be of more serious concern and require more attention, test, research and treatment which is or would be outside most of our parameters.  I hope this helps.  -Rich-

[Peterofl]

Thank you. This is so helpful as I feel I am in exactly the same situation. I went to see a gastro doctor and she said you don't have acid reflux so go see a heart specialist. Was so upsetting. Just reading your comments has made me feel a little easier. Problem shared etc.

[kennvido]

I first got a bout with AF after eating a fried chicken dinner and being very tired at age 23 the evening of July 8th 1979. I had just graduated college living in Orlando and was burning the candles at both ends and eating as a college kid eats.
Now, I am 53 and had had bouts for 30 years. I had GAD pretty bad in the 80’s, but go over most of that. I have experienced panic and anxiety attacks over this, but which came first the chicken or the egg??? No pun intending. My resting rate is around 60.
I have noticed, as a precursor, to getting AF straight out or getting a fast heartbeat and then it goes into AF, with having gas or cramping in my ascending colon or stomach area (right side cramping or gas or bloating). Got that tonight at about 3 AM which is why I am here with my monologue. The bout lasted less than 5 minutes and as I write this I am passing gas. Aren’t you glad I shared that info? Oh, yesterday I am some Oreo’s and normally don’t eat those, bingo… constipation. But, I do drink a lot of water, it’s my favorite drink.
Have had 3 colonoscopies and the same amount endoscopies over the 30 years, oh and the upper and lower GI’s as well, and each shown healthy parts thank goodness. Sometimes when I get constipated from eating foolishly the AF can creep up. Sometimes when I am asleep lying on one side AF will start, I'll get frightened, which doesn't help. MANY times I will eat scrambled eggs and toast with a hot drink, or hot water, pass gas, and it will go back to sinus rhythm. I can't tell you how many times I have gone to the ER over the years, had EKG's, heart echoes looking for MVP and other things and they can't find anything wrong. I DID have a doctor say yes the gas and gut upset could the AF, so he did think out of the box.
I can move mountains, walk fast, exercise, mow the lawn, and when the kids were young go up so many stairs at the water parks it wasn’t funny and nothing, never got AF when doing those physical things and NEVER got chest pains or fainted. That even goes for the times I was in AF, never chest pains or fainted. Yet on a cruise I got it on the ship. SOOOO much food, gut not used to it? I ask what do you think?
I can go months without it or get it 3 times in one week. Seems like when I get it more than once a week I am having gut problems. I so much think it is food, gas, cramping, and constipation related. So, glad to know others have it because it drives me nuts sometimes thinking I’m the only one out here…
It can last for less than five minutes, like it just did, or go on for 20 hours and then go back to normal sinus on it's own as it has for over 30 years. I notice the more I would stretch or manipulate my gut with my fingers, the quicker the AF would go to sinus. Or eat something like the scrambled eggs or a banana or hot soup it seems to start peristalsis and I would get over the bout. The more I remained not moving, the longer the bout lasted. Sometimes, yes sometimes, I can extend my arms over my head and it will go to sinus, but not ALL the time. Now, is this crazy or what? But, it’s true!!!! I get so frustrated when I get it. It's like what did I do wrong to get it now. Please get back to me on this, so I know I have some brothers and sisters out there with similar situations. It’s just a relief to relate to others with this malady. God Bless all of you for reading my little diatribe and understanding.

[GlenBlanchard]

I am so grateful to read all of your experiences and know that I am not alone with this A-Fib thing!  I have been telling all the doctors I have seen that I really think this is related to gas.  I can remember always explaining it this way "I feel some pressure in my chest, my heart flutters, I burp, and the pressure goes away and my heart goes back to normal."  Now that sort of thing doesnt really scare me (premature ventricular beats).  What scares me is when I go into full blown A-fib.  It has happened only 4 times in my life, when I was 19, 21, 23, and now just last year when I was 29.  The first time it happened I thought i was having a heart attack!!

The first time was due to lack of sleep and drinking, the 2nd time was due to food poisoning and throwing up all night, the third time was drinking and not sleeping.  This last episode came out of the blue and think was due to my diet.  I was diagnosed with "Holiday Heart" soon after and since the last time it happened I have pills in my pocket if it happens again.

Anyway, after it happens the first time you cant help but be sensitive to every heart beat.  I can feel my heart beating at all times, I know as soon as something is wrong ... doctors generally dont believe that when I tell them.

I also noticed something after the first time.  I felt as if I could not get a full breath sometimes.  Not like "shortness of breath" but it felt as if my diaphragm was not expanding all the way sometimes.  Just thought I would throw that out there since we all have so much in common.

Since I have been studying myself for the past 11 years I have no doubt that my afib is aggrevated by gas and indigestion.

I find it odd that anxiety is coming up a lot.  I never had anxiety before this happened and I am convinced that any anxiety attack I have had since is because I am nervous about A-fib.  Anxiety is the side effect of A-fib in my opinion, not the other way around!

[delcocat]

Hey GlenBlanchard, Welcome!  Everything you put out there makes sense and can contribute to afib.  Drinking & throwing up and even sweating a lot can really throw your electrolytes out of balance particualrly potassium and magnesium which both help keep regular heart rythm.  Lack of sleep for any reason hurts you since this is when your body repairs itself and balances out your system funtions.  Stress and all the above can lead to anxiety which can also cause afib.  Anxiety is a funny thing and is another discussion in itself.  You may be right in your case about anxiety coming on as a result of being nervous but it can be brought on seemingly out of no where for many reasons and it can place a person that suffers with it into a vicious cycle of misery if not brought under control (something I know can be hard to do particularly once you go into afib or think you are).  Holiday heart is what doctors call a person that goes into afib and they have no other explanation for it other than you specifying that you drank and partied a lot.  I have no doubt theres a connection between afib and gas, bloat, indigestion or perhaps what causes them.  Its not a natural state for our bodies to be in.  An occasional bout of gas etc is to be expected but I've noticed with myself and others that it is usually more severe than that particularly once we see this connection.  Ever see how over the last few years this has become so common and the medical community now calls these diseases and attaches names to them like gerd, ibs, reflux etc.?  For some that are lucky it may just be a case of modifying what they eat for a time and make some adjustments to help make a healthier lifestyle however for others I think it can be more complicated.  We all carry around in us to varying degrees bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeast, mold etc.  Its now my belief its one or combination of these that is the under lying cause probably due to poor eating habbits and drugs and antibiotic use that ultimately cause these things to rip into our digestive tract causing these so called diseases.  Once brought under control your body will adjust and heal and hopefully afib can be a thing of the past.  Drugs and medicine unfortunately are not the answer in most cases and only make matters worse.  My quick recommendations are to reduce stress, get proper rest and sleep, moderate exercise, adjust what your eating to include healthier choices, ad a good broad spectrum probiotic to your daily diet, stop smoking, no alcohol, no drugs (unless prescribed and absolutely necessary), no coffee or soda etc.  Keep notes on what your eating - if something seems to bother you ditch it from your eating plan.  If you eat anything you suspect is gassy use beano, if you eat dairy try lactaid.  Try this for a couple weeks and see how you do.  There are many more things you can try and experiment with if this all doesn't do the trick some of which are listed in other postings.  Good luck and be well!  -Rich-

[Reify]

I've had this condition for at least 15 years. I have been told by at least five doctors, including 3 cardiogists that there was no link between gastric upset and arrhythmia.  Like all of you - I was sure...I just knew there has to be.  I was on vacation last year and found among the small library at our cottage a very thick old book from the 1930's which was a collection of Physician symposia on every medical condition and health matter immaginable - yes, the book was about 8 inches thick and the font miniscule.  There was, of course a huge section on the heart and heart health and heart conditions; AND,  there it was, my friends - about ten or twelve pages dedicated to arrhythmia and it was there-in stated quite clearly by several physicians - that the vast majority - not just some - but the vast majority (I'm almost certain it said over 90%) of common heart arrhythmias were caused by gastric distress and not by problems related to the heart itself. They went on to give several case studies to back up their claims.  Now, please don't be upset with me when I tell you I don't know the name of the book or the physicians who delivered this symposium - the book's still at our cottage in Hew Hampshire and I'm here in Pennsylvania - but I will be back up there eventually and will update this for you.  In the meantime - think Old School, because I swear, based on my experiences with old and new doctors - those Old Schoolers knew general physiology and cause and effect better - and were willing to talk about it - than new ones. I kept my pediatrician right through college until he retired because the man was so knowledgable and always had an explanation for what was going on and he always made complete sense

[ulua808]

Ya I think they are somewhat related..its hard to describe but when I feel my stomach bubbling or before number two my heart will flutter..Also I think I have found somthing very new and weird..everytime before my mind is aware that I have to go urinate my heart flutters and lets my mind no before my body is even aware..weird but i swear on my life true.

[delcocat]

Can't wait to hear what book that is!  Nice job!

[delcocat]

Nope your not crazy.  The search for answers continues.  Stay tuned!

[ccf344]

Hi delcocat,
I too suffer from atrial fibrillation due to stomach gas although not as bad as some of the other posters on this forum. One product that helped me tremendously id Digest RC. It is made with natural extracts and has been used in Europe for the last fifty years. Sells for about $15 dollars online (30 capsules two capsules a day usually). If you buy your supplements from Life Extension and you're a member it is cheaper still. Hope this helps. Website: http://www.cxresearch.net/

[delcocat]

Hey ccf344 good to know.  As you've surmised I'm convinced digestive disorders to be a cause in a lot of afib cases.  I've heard of the product you mention but never tried it yet myself.   My troubles fortunately have been few and far between but maybe I'll just give this supplement a try.  

[Jay195456]

Stomach bloating lets me know  that I am in afib.    The doctors claim this is unusual, but when I say I am in afib I am 100% correct.  When I am in afib my stomach bloats when  I walk.  While I am sitting I am fine but once I  start moving around I can feel my stomach boating and makes it difficult to walk.  Have anybody else experienced this problem.  I am in afib as I type and at this point do not know what to do  being the doctor do not want to cardiovert because it only last about 3 weeks and I am back in afib again.   During my last visit the doctor told me that I would have to stay in constant afib.

[delcocat]

Hi jay,

    Sorry to hear.  I assume you've been checked out and everything other than the afib and bloat episodes you seem fine?  If this is the case then perhaps you are backed up and might benefit from cleaning your digestive tract out.  Try an 8 oz glass of prune juice. Then try another glass a few hours later.  Drink plenty of water in between.  The prune juice has naturally a lot of magnesium and potassium (both good heart regulators) and this should have you going to the bathroom several times and ultimately should clean you out and calm the gas and bloat.  When you start eating again eat very light like clear soup broth and toast or tea.  Start a good probiotic.  Don't take antacids as they will make things worse and put you in an even worse acid state.  Stay away from gasseous causing foods or ones you suspect might cause you bloat.  Good luck.