Stomach/intestinal gas realated palps/afib

[tigger2211]

Im posting this in hopes that somebody out there is going through the same thing as me and has found a "cure"!

I get heart palpitations and episodes of afib from stomach and intestinal gas. Been to the doc, heart is fine, blood work is fine, blah blah blah. Been reading FAR too many posts where Dr's do NOT believe that there is a connection between stomach issues and heart rhythm and Im starting to get VERY frustrated. You can't call yourself a Dr, if you're not going to LISTEN to your patient and BELIEVE them. I know for FACT that it is stomach gas that is causing my arrythmia! Nobody knows my body like "I" know my body, but nobody is willing to listen and help.

Anyway, I have lost 35lbs over the span of a couple of years because of this. If I eat too much, my heart palpitates like crazy, so there are times where I've resorted to eating toddler size portions because I didn't want to "upset" my heart. I don't know why this has even started to begin with?! If I have trapped gas in my stomach and twist or bend over the "wrong" way, then my heart goes into afib.

I've been trying to find a cure for the stomach issues in hopes it will fix the heart ones. Changed diet, researched stomach diseases, meds after meds after teas after vitamins, blah blah blah. Nothing. Its still happening. I DO have a thyroid nodule, but it is benign and my TSH is in the "low normal" range. So, I don't know if maybe that has something to do with it? Doesn't matter anyway, cuz my stupid doctor is doing nothing to help me figure this out.

I have lost ALL faith in doctors and pray that I don't get a serious illness or injury because Im sure to be left to die. Im on my own now and resorting to the help of fellow sufferers.

I just really want to know why this came out of nowhere and how to make it stop. Of ALL the health issues in the world, I had to get THIS one. I know it could be worse, but this is ruining my life and the lives of my children because I cant do anything or go anywhere because god forbid, I have a freakin' heart attack in the middle of the grocery store because some stupid doctor "has no idea whats wrong with me, see's no connection between the stomach and the heart, pushes pills saying its just anxiety, etc......".

SOOOO sorry for sounding ignorant, but Im beyond fed up living like this. Please help!!

[wooskie75]

I was told by an er nurse that it's most likely a vagal nerve response. That is the nerve responsible for regulating heart lung and digestive organs the wrong stimulation and your bpm can increase or decrease. Dunno just thought id throw that out there. Ive cut gluten or am in the process of and seems to be improving.

[RustyRus]

I, too have palpitations after eating a big meal. I’ve lost roughly 10 pounds in a month because of this. Small meals hardly effects my heart rhythm, but big meals make it race.

[Gooch06]

Way to go tigger2211 for losing the weight. There has to be some connection with cardiac & gastrointestinal. I've always suffered from palpitations for years but they're slowly getting worse, stronger skipped beats felt & last throughout the day & night off and on versus just an episode here or there. They're now coming on after almost every meal. My heart checks & holitor monitor show nothing serious just benign. It's toally ruining the quality of my life! I know others can relate. I'll try the advice someone said of the FODMAP diet see if that helps relax this dang Vagus nerve. Oh for the record I'm on Losartan HCT, motropolol at night, multi vit, cQ10, 500mg magnesium oxide & omega 3's. I also heard that beano or gas ex strips you put on your tongue might help? Prilosec only helped a little.

[Funzie1234]

I am having the exact same thoughts and issues,

[Funzie1234]

I seem to get it from gas in chest. I feel gurgling, once gas is removed heart heart imeadiatly goes to normal. I walk every day eat low carb diet and feel great when feeling is gone. I am concerned but sure it happens after meals heart rate is normally 60 bpm if some has some answers please call because I can use some ideas. Started about 10 months ago.  

[Czeslaw_W]

I had the same problems. In my case, I stopped eating bread. It was the cause of gastrointestinal problems and consequently heart rhythm disturbances. I went on a gluten free diet and it helped.

[GlikeGiraffe]

Below is a message I sent to somebody who commented on a different post but it really applies to this question as well I can relate to this we are told its anxiety way too often without any Real explanation.  That's also why am here.

Hello Rob ! (rob225)

Good lord finally someone who feels the same way as me. I read your detailed post about the heart arrhythmias you were experiencing. Honestly, your post really felt like I wrote it myself some details are just part of the story of my life. I am glad you feel better. Also thank you so much for sharing your experience.

My issue is mostly Tachycardias 160/200 Bpm and occasional skipped beats. Most of the time it happens at rest and in the evenings but it could be morning or afternoon as well.

Had Tachys since I was a kid but now it's way more frequent and they last longer. Am 33 btw, went from 210 lbs to 180 lbs in the past 6 months, 6'4 very tall, am a computer tech so sitting on my desk all day but very active outside I worked out a lot, biking, swimming, weight ...but now I stopped all that suddenly and my only workout is going for a walk and lite stretching. Lifting weights or running makes me short of breath and tired quickly and that increases the chances of getting a tachy latter or the next day.

Whenever I get a tachy I have to get a trip to ER to stop the Tachycardias using Adenosine injection. It doesn't go away on its own after 30 seconds or one minute like it used to.

Just like you, I always believed my condition was related to my stomach. Here are some of the triggers:

- Wearing tight belt/pant
- It happens Guaranteed if I bend to pickup something especially when my belt is tight or/and am full; always felt something was physically interfering with my heart. But docs don't see that
- Happened after shower with my towel around my waist I bent to lotion my leg and I ended up at the hospital
- Any exercises that applies pressure on the chest
- Any movement that compresses the chest mostly from the bottom like
- Sitting with my back not straight and that pressures the chest a lot from the top and the bottom both sides.
- Bloating, eating big meals, specially gas stuck in my chest or stomach this one happens a lot I feel better after when the gas is out or when I have bowel movement.
- Acid reflux
- Sleeping on left side but feel better on right side.
- Discomfort sleeping on the back
- Sudden movements like sitting on bed abruptly
- Yawning and Stretching especially when tired After long days or in the morning
- Laughing hard :D
- Some irregular beats will just make me jump out of my seat or out of bed or wake me up, kind of scary I feel like I stop breathing for a moment or something and I wake up fast to breath.

When it comes to cold drinks I have noticed that when drinking cold smoothies I just feel discomfort I can't really tell if it was a skipped beat or anything like that but I do know I feel some chest discomfort.

Last but not least I would like to ask you what kind of specialist you saw, a cardiologist or Gastroenterologist ? Any helpful comments you may have are appreciated !

Cheers my friend. Take good care of yourself.