SVT and eating

[filmfanatic]

I have had PVC'S, PAC'S, and short runs of SVT since 1995.  Usually they are just very short runs that immediately kick out.  SVT seems to be triggered by adrenaline, eating, and positional movement.  Also baths.

Two nights ago I had just taken a long walk, took a bath, and was cooking dinner when I swallowed some pasta, moved a certain way and suddenly my heart when into a machine gun like rhythm.  It literally went from 60 to 200 in a second.  Whenever this has happened before it jumps right out of it, but this time it did not.  I tried various vagal maneuvers and nothing worked.

After 10 mins I was feeling dizzy and SOB, so I called an ambulance.  They picked up SVT at a rate of 177 bpm on the monitor.  They gave me adenosine and it immediately slowed down to 80-90bpm.  I was taken to the ER and the EP Dr. who saw me the next day said I was a good candidate for an ablation.  I am not sure what kind of SVT it was, but am guessing it was an AVNRT.  However, many years ago, a Dr. did see a short fun of Afib on a holter.

Anyway, I am not sure what to do now.  He offered me the choice of meds (Atenolol) or Cryoablation.  He is a top EP Dr. in Los Angeles.

I did try Atenolol many years ago but remember I still had some episodes and my heart rate came down too much because my normal resting rate can dip down into the 48 range anyway.  The beta blocker also made me tired and very cold in the extremities.

He sent me home on 25mgs of Atenolol and told me to watch my HR.

I wanted to ask if anyone here has noticed a correlation between hiatal hernia and SVT, PVC'S, PAC's etc....I do have a hiatal hernia and have noticed that my SVT seems to be provoked by eating and the vagus nerve.  If I move my neck a certain way, or lean back in my chair, pressing on my spine, I seem to get an irregular rhythm.  There is a definite correlation.

Has anyone ever tried Proton Pump Inhibitors to relieve episodes of SVT?  Someone on another forum said that Gasx works for them.  I have noticed that coffee is more of a trigger for me not because of the caffeine but because of the acid it produces.  Same with Wine.

Trying to decide what to do next because this has been happening for 14 yrs and has really limited my life.  I keep wondering if it is safe to exercise (this causes reflux for me too) and always am wondering when it will happen next.

Seems my choices are beta blockers, an EP study with ablation or maybe some alternative treatment on the hiatal hernia and reflux.

I would appreciate any input!  Thanks.

[Sagitarius88]

Same here
I can't even walk, whenever I walk fast my heart beat goes more than 140bpm
I have no clue what is going on?

[Qpete]

I just read the posts on this topic. We are all part of an unfortunate group of people who suffer atrial arrythmia because of an irritated vagus nerve. My problems started over 20 years ago with almost the same pattern as everyone else. I refused to believe my heart was bad. I know my digestive system is linked to the problem. Here is my best theory after seeing electrophysiologists at the Mayo clinic and having an EP study in London Ontario. For what ever reason, acid reflux is doing some damage to our esophagus and / or upper stomach.the damage may not be permanent so let's call it an irritation. The vagus nerve runs down the back side of the esophagus and enters the abdomen through the same hole as the esophagus through the diaphragm. The vagus nerve controls a lot of different things but the one we are concerned with is how it slows down the heart. Imagine running away from a bear attack. You need to be running fast so the vagus nerve should not be trying to slow down the heart. Our problem is that the irritation is causing the vagus nerve to act inappropriately, meaning it is sending the message to slow down the heart when it shouldn't. The result is often a pause followed by a short run of SVT (arrhythmia). Obviously this is more of a problem during the day when we are active. At night most of us have less trouble. In my case the vagal "kick" happens every time I swallow. Eating, drinking and exercising are rough times for me right now. I can exercise as long as I don't swallow. Some good news - 25 years ago after finding I had reflux, I started taking proton pump inhibitors. The problem went away after about a month on the PPI. It has stayed dormant for about 20 years. I decide to stop the PPI this May after reading about long term risks. You guessed it. For the past 3 weeks the swallow trigger has returned. I started the PPI about 2 weeks ago. Wish me luck.
Peter

[jonas21]

I have and they can not do the ablation and the meds do not work

[tom_h]

There's almost no reason why you should have to live with it.  The obvious question would be, have you seen someone about it?

[jonas21]

I also have svt that occurs when I eat I need help and nothing has help please someone help me and my family I can't live with this anymore PLEASE!!!!

[sailorman609]

It is great to read about people with similar problems regarding SVT and digestion issues.  I have learned much from everyone's post.  I will add my comments for the purpose of continuing the development of tribal knowledge among sufferers looking for solutions.  I am 61 have had SVT episodes since I was in my late teens that have increased in regularity nearly every year.  
I learned I could stop them by forcing myself to vomit.  It was the stomach muscle spasm that helped.  At around 45 years of age I got tired of this 1-3 times a year ritual and saw a doctor.  Everything was ok; no physical, lifestyle or dietary issues.  I began keeping track of cause and effect.  Pizza and beer, fast eating, any fasting then a full meal, coffee, any straight alcohol whatsoever.  Also stress that causes my stomach to knot.  Now it looks like breads or anything that produces acid--there goes my nightly glass of red wine.  I did a cleans recently during a period of frequent episodes and found that symptoms stopped for the entire 20 day cleans.  I drank hydrated bentonite and psyllium husk powder that seemed to put an immediate stop to it.  I am guessing that it was chemically base that helped.  
In all this time I have never had a SVT episode without experiencing a fair amount of stomach gas and much burping.  The diagnosis of SVT seems clearly secondary to an initial GI issue.  I have been taking bisoprolol fumarate(a beta blocker) for 10 years and it has helped but now episodes are more frequent.  I dread the thought of an ablation because it is not the cause of the problem--it starts in my stomach or intestines and that kicks off the arrythmia.  Due to having numerous torso injuries from car accidents, falling out of trees, industrial accidents, football injuries and loosing street fights as a kid do think I will get checked out for hiatal hernia or something of that sort.
Thank you again for your posts.

[filmfanatic]

Thanks.  Have had many cardiac work-ups including a negative cath in 2000 and negative CT angiogram in 2006.  Also many echos, nuclear studies etc...all negative (mild mitral, tricuspid regurgitation).

Still somewhat freaked out about exercise!

Thanks for the feedback.

[sick and tired 47]

Yes, yes... I have given up a lot of my favs to help reduce my PSVT. Also eating small meals and watching the MSG, food additives helps greatly.
  Also laying in bed certain ways sets it off, bending over....ect..
   I would love to have an ablation and get rid of this rather than be on meds. I hate the side effects. Unfortunately Dr did EP study and found no area to ablate so I have to stick with meds.
  Your dr should order cardiac workup to rule out all other things and then exercise is fine if everything is normal.
Best wishes to you in your decision!