Upper GI pain, chronic burping, bloating, heart PVCs and no sleep

[melaniemetz]

I have always had an issue with bloating, gas and constipation but last year I developed new syptoms that continue to worsen to the point that I don't want to eat anymore and docs haven't been able to diagnose yet.  I started getting heart PVCs after dinner and had minor burping.  This has now developed to severe chronic burping after one bite of food (especially starch or sugar) or one drink of water.  Along with the bloating and burping comes the heart PVCs (clearly initiated by the bloating in stomach).  I have cut out all dairy, grains, sugar, processed foods, etc, etc.  I have basically been eating homemade chicken/veggie soup for about a month now.  If I eat anything else I can have a spell where I burp constantly (with every breath) for 3 hours, have heart PVCs and feel very faint and dizzy.

Every night my entire upper GI aches/burns/ feels tight (as if something needs to release, like a severe hunger pain before your stomach growls/ releases digestive juices).  The upper left feels bloated/ tight/ and like there is a spasm.  My heart PVCs at night have increased to happening every 1 to 4 heart beats for the entire night.  The only way I can find minor relief is by standing up (but still have some PVCs and the tight upper GI).

Sometimes I feel a "release" where things in the upper left finally move (after hours of being tight), gurgle, etc.  Occassionally this will cause burping or flatulance, but sometimes it's just like a muscle relaxed or something.

I have been on this very strict diet, drinking many glasses of water a day, taking prevacid, probiotics, digestive enzymes, zantac, gas ex, activated charcoal and other supplements to try to find something that will at least help lessen the symptoms.  I am also on bystolic for high blood pressure (which got high last year when these burping, PVC symptoms started and my doc believes it's high because of the GI stress).

Although I am tired because of lack of calories and lack of sleep, I can at least manage to get through the day ok.  But it's getting harder and harder to make it through the night.  I never had trouble sleeping before this burning GI and heart PVCs started.  Is there anything new I can try to help my system remain stable through the night so I can at least get one night's sleep a week??  

I really want to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it.  I'm so frustrated!!!  This is really interfering with my life (work and personal).  

Thank you for any help you can provide.

[athoren]

Hi! Yes, I have been suffering from Panic Attacks and anxiety since 2003, but the PVCs really started frequently from Nov 2010. How about you?

[anxious83]

it is very very frustating right? I have experienced that. Do you have anxiety disorder?

[athoren]

Hi Melanie! I suffer a lot of the same symptoms as you. Bloating, burping, flatulence and lots of PVCs, often in conjunction with eating. I am often PVC free at rest but as soon as I move around, walking or standing up, they start. I have taken a lot of tests and my heart seems to be fine, but the PVCs are driving me insane, as well as the stomach issues.

So, I was just wondering how you are doing nowadays? I am definitely contemplating to see a nutritionist as well.

Please let me know how you are doing.

Best Regards,

Anders Thorén

[melaniemetz]

I have most of my problem SOLVED!!  I'm so excited!!!  

I went to see a nutritionist (that has helped a couple friends significantly) instead of the GI doc this time.  She had answers for me in 1 hour after discussion and some testing.  She determined that I don't have enough acid (not too much) so the Prevacid was making my symptoms progress even worse.  She gave me 2 supplements to start right away (enzymes and HCl) and it worked immediately!  I was able to eat lunch and dinner with NO BURPING or heart PVCs!  

She also confirmed I am definitely sensitive to dairy, wheat, soy and sugar (which I already eliminated from my diet).  Since I have seen her, started these new supplements and stopped all others (including the Prevacid) I feel like a new person.  It's only been about 48 hours.  My symptoms aren't completely gone but I am 80% back to normal already.  

She also gave me a yoga pose to use when my gut gets upset in the middle of the night (put my legs and feet at a 90 degree angle on a big stack of pillows).  This really worked too.  I woke up last night with some discomfort and heart PVCs.  I put my feet up like that and within minutes I was sleeping.  I woke up fully rested with no pain and no PVCs.

Wow, I definitely feel I'm on the right track to healing.  That Prevacid was making my symptoms continually get worse (even though I was only taking 15mg per day recently, since more made me feel worse for sure).  

Why did my burping, PVCs start in the first place?  Well, I always had lots of bloating/gas due to the poor diet/ high carbs I was eating so I would take TUMS and other antacids often....depleting the acid in my stomach...which started the fermentation of food and improper digestion and led to the burping.  Then the prevacid magnified it hundreds of times.

Now I'm eating small amounts of proteins and veggies throughout the day, taking specific digestive enzymes and HCl supplements and I feel amazing!!

I hope I continue to travel down this road of healing with the current remedy.

I wish conventional GI docs would consider these sorts of things....their advice made me feel so much worse.  And they would schedule my appointments at least a month out so it would have taken a long time for them to figure out what was going on with me.

I am SO GRATEFUL for this nutritionist!!!  

[CalGal]

You may want to start here: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/465828

[melaniemetz]

Thank you for the advice.  I have been reading a-lot but haven't found a link between the PPIs and heart PVCs.  That is something new I will take a look at.  I have noticed when I try to take higher doses of PPIs I tend to feel worse so I'm only taking a minimal amount to help but not make it worse.  

As far as the anxiety I have heard of people taking low doses of "calming" drugs, especially at night.  The Bystolic I'm on for high blood pressure actually does have a calming affect on me and makes me much less anxious.  They actually use it to calm people's nerves as well (my doc says anyway).  So that has been good for the anxiety and has stopped any racing heart issues, but hasn't helped with the PVCs.  I'm thinking I may try taking it at night instead of in the morning.  Maybe it will help calm things more at night that way.

Thanks again for the advice!  It's great to have a forum to discuss.  I have read so many different scenarios of symptoms similar to mine with different outcomes and treatments.  I guess we all have to find what works for us.  That's why I need as much advice as I can get to continue trying different remedies.

Thank you!

[CalGal]

Many with gastric reflux issues describe what sounds similar to what you're experiencing - 'heartbeat' irregularities. And any numbers of people on PPIs and other acid reduction meds say it happens to them. You shouldn't discount it, but it's very possible the presence of reflux problems and taking the meds could be implicated and/or the cause of the problem. And an added factor may be the anxiety you're currently experiencing because of problem in the first place.

Some people have had some relief in using meds at very low doses that were once considered 'head meds' but in this case they're being used to quiet the 'uproar' that's going on in the GI tract. While it's not a 'sure cure' remedy, you may want to discuss it with your doc.