Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
sudden onset of pvcs, gas in esophagus bulimia
by shoegazer, May 27, 2009 10:36PM
Hi,
Six years ago I was bulimic for a period of a few months. During that time I developed PVCs (they were pretty infrequent, though) that also coincided with panic attacks. My doctor ordered an echocardiogram and found that I had a mild leaky tricuspid valve but she though it was nothing to worry about. I smartened up and started eating properly and dealt with the panic attacks through counselling.
I am usually pretty gassy and bloated. Two weeks ago, after being bulimia free for 6 years, I threw up once after eating something I thought might be contaminated (long story). Last Wednesday (exactly a week ago) I suddenly developed frequent and sustained pvcs. Sometimes I seem to have gas coming up my esophagus following the pvc and I noticed the pvcs were worse after eating and activity. I have noticed that my stomach is less bloated this week and that I am less flatulent. I have cut out alcohol, heavy activity (I usually run and bike and exercise for at least an hour per day) and caffeine. My doctor ordered blood/urine tests and found nothing to suggest that iron or thyroid or electrolytes or hormones could be the cause. I had an ECG done while staying in the mountains this weekend after going to Emergency during a serious attack where I was having pvcs every few minutes (this has NEVER happened before). (I also had heartburn while the pvcs were happening). There was nothing they could do but the nurse did give me something for the heartburn.
When I got back to town I went back to my doctor and showed him a copy of the ECG (one PVC actually showed up). He has put me on nexium to see if perhaps GERD is causing the pvcs (he thought perhaps the vagus nerve is being irritated). I have only been on it for two days and the pvcs are still frequent and happen several times per minute at some points. I have to wait until August until I can get my holter monitor done!
Is it possible that I sustained damage to my esophagus from purging many years ago? Could there be something more dangerous going on? (ie: could this be a sign of something more serious related to esophageal damage that is causing the pvcs?)
Thanks! This is such a frustrating and scary thing to have come on so quickly.
Six years ago I was bulimic for a period of a few months. During that time I developed PVCs (they were pretty infrequent, though) that also coincided with panic attacks. My doctor ordered an echocardiogram and found that I had a mild leaky tricuspid valve but she though it was nothing to worry about. I smartened up and started eating properly and dealt with the panic attacks through counselling.
I am usually pretty gassy and bloated. Two weeks ago, after being bulimia free for 6 years, I threw up once after eating something I thought might be contaminated (long story). Last Wednesday (exactly a week ago) I suddenly developed frequent and sustained pvcs. Sometimes I seem to have gas coming up my esophagus following the pvc and I noticed the pvcs were worse after eating and activity. I have noticed that my stomach is less bloated this week and that I am less flatulent. I have cut out alcohol, heavy activity (I usually run and bike and exercise for at least an hour per day) and caffeine. My doctor ordered blood/urine tests and found nothing to suggest that iron or thyroid or electrolytes or hormones could be the cause. I had an ECG done while staying in the mountains this weekend after going to Emergency during a serious attack where I was having pvcs every few minutes (this has NEVER happened before). (I also had heartburn while the pvcs were happening). There was nothing they could do but the nurse did give me something for the heartburn.
When I got back to town I went back to my doctor and showed him a copy of the ECG (one PVC actually showed up). He has put me on nexium to see if perhaps GERD is causing the pvcs (he thought perhaps the vagus nerve is being irritated). I have only been on it for two days and the pvcs are still frequent and happen several times per minute at some points. I have to wait until August until I can get my holter monitor done!
Is it possible that I sustained damage to my esophagus from purging many years ago? Could there be something more dangerous going on? (ie: could this be a sign of something more serious related to esophageal damage that is causing the pvcs?)
Thanks! This is such a frustrating and scary thing to have come on so quickly.
Post Comment
Related Communities
Recent Videos
Related Expert Forums
Recent Activity
Most Popular Trackers
RSS
Expert Activity
Community Members
Since beta blockers are generally well tolerated and do not make the irregular heart beat worse, they are also often worth a try. Also, patients with palpitations should be checked thoroughly. If the patient was without symptoms until the physician’s expression of alarm at seeing PVCs, there is a good chance that a heightened state of anxiety is exacerbating the patient’s palpitations."
You may want to go to an ear nose and throat or GI doctor to verify a diagnosis of GERD with a look see.