Heart Palpitations and Reflux

[tcollins]

I have a hiatel hernia and possibly an ulcer. My question is does anyone experience heart palpitations when their stomach is upset? I'm guessing I have reflux. I don't get heart burn per se, but I do get chest pain and pressure, along with the pvcs. Thanks!

[ade38]

A related discussion, what do I do was started.

[Saildog]

A related discussion, Hiatal hernia MVP was started.

[BillH]

Well.. Many of you are describing exactly what my symptoms are.  I have been diagnosed with a "slight" hiatal hernia.  What this means to me is that on a daily basis, I have difficulty breathing, get a tightness going up my neck and into my head that gives me very bad headaches, numb fingers on left hand, even numb toes some times.  The tightness in my neck has caused DR ordered MRI's to check for brain problems and also for nerve/artery problems in neck.   I get an feeling all of the time like my heart is beating harder.. not always faster, although it does that sometimes as well, but like it's working harder to get the job done.  It seems that I never have any of the "symptoms" when I am at the DR. office though, so I get the feeling that they are not that convinced.  

Currently, I am on Prevacid (30Mg) and it is helping, but not a cure all.  My worse symptom is the ability to breath symptom.  It seems to happen at any time and then it feels like I can feel my heart beating right where my ribs come together in the center of my body, below my chest.  I hope that whoever has these problems gets them resolved quickly because for me it's been a long and very difficult problem, which is not yet resolved.  I am trying to get a referal from my PCP to someone that can do the necessary tests on my breathing problem now as unfortuately, it has me pretty upset.

Good luck in getting past this issue.
Bill

[guru357]

When I first approached my doctor for chest pains he referred me to a GI to get a scope and a manometric done.  Viola!  I have a hiatal hernia.  The side effects are very strange.  I feel the pain in different portions of my chest and sometimes they turn into full-blown 'attacks' where I feel as though I'm having a small stroke or heart attack.  The pain sometimes radiates up the middle of my back, through my neck (ouch) and leaves me with a headache (sometimes sharp head pains).  It generally starts with a 'closing' feeling towards the top of my esophagus.

The pain and discomfort from a hiatal hernia is actually very bearable, but the anxiety of it being near your heart or brushing a nerve or artery is what creates the bulk of the other symptoms.  Anxiety treatment (Xanax is good so far, but it leaves you a little lightheaded) will help you get by until the real problems can be discovered and corrected.

Prepare for a lengthy haul, and get used to being refered to several specialists before your problems are solved...

Signed,

8 months of hell and counting...but Xanax helps

[HollyF]

I have hietal hernia too, and MVP.....My heart does some really wierd stuff......I get flutters, difficulty breathing, choking and gasping for air at night, tingling hands, you name it....I am so frustrated right now how this all ties together.....

[ksr]

I am also experiencing what I call "heart flutters".  I have taken my pulse during this time and noticed a missed beat.  I have had an eco and a heart monitor.  The doctor noticed what he called an extra beat but said it wasn't the "bad" kind.  I had an endoscopy and was confirmed with a very irrated hiatal hernia.  I am guessing these symptoms are all related.  It has me worried though. My doctor has me on Protonix but I'm not sure if it is working. I can't understand why the hernia would be affecting my heart rate.

[LadyM]

I do, if my stomach borthers me, I get pvc's.  My understanding is that it is due to the vagus nerve being irratated.  I never had this problem with pvc's and my stomach until after I had my gallbladder taking out and that in turn caused my minor ibs symptoms to become major.  I have to watch what I eat all the time, so I know exactly what you are talking about, very upsetting but I keep telling myself they are benign and worrying about them just makes them worst.  I also have mvp(mitra valve prolapse) and was use to occasional pvc's so when they got worst like they did I went for a check up by a cardiologist and wore a heart monitor, everything showed fine, echo showed the usual very mild mvp, monitor show benign pvcs so now it is something I am trying to learn to live with.  Hope you feel better.