Watch the over exertion and going without eating quality food for that long.  I know you mentioned your diabetic so not good.  The exertion (sweating?) can throw you into a weakened state and perhaps throw your electrolytes out of balance.  The chips is interesting.  I don't know what kind of chips they were?  I actually had similar episode but these were baked potatoe chips and I think it was an additive I was sensitive too in them.  Speaking of - another tip - stay away from artificial sweetners in particualr aspartame also known as nutrasweet.  Also MSG.  These are exitotoxins and can cause many nasty side effects.  Glad your getting a lot from the site.  Keep reading!  

Thanks, thanks, thanks for all the tips; they're a huge help!  I checked the ingredients in the chips I ate discounting the salt. I was amazed at all the additives in those chips, The one that caught my eye first was the MSG. I realize I have been laxed in not checking ingredients but that will definitely change. Just one more thing. If you know anything about Zocor causing afib I'd appreciate hearing about it. Thanks again for all your help. (I'll make every effort to avoid making these questions on a daily basis).

Just wanted to add that I was prescribed something called Omeprazole that has worked to completely stop any GERD or vagus nerve issues, totally quieted everything down.  I've been taking 20 mg once in the morning.  Might be worth a try.

No problem buckeye5742, glad to assist.  As for the Zocor - i know little to nothing about it or its side effects.  Check with the pharmacist and look it up online for more information.  As for Linda thanks for the tip - it may be helpful to some.  I don't know a lot about Omeprazole but what i know of it is that it often is used in conjunction with other meds (usually antibiotics) to erradicate h.pylori bacteria usually in relation to ulcers and other digestive tract related issues.  I know there have been some successes with some on this regimen but also many others who end up with the problem coming back sometimes worse than before.  Remember that with this or any other medications lies good chance they are robbing you of certain vitamins, minerals or gut friendly bacteria.  Check with doc, pharmacist etc to see if supplementing might be in order.  I say probiotics for sure!  Good luck.  

Thank you for your comment. Omneprozole is the generic name for Prilosec which I have tried in the past, but it isn't as effective as Nexium which Iam taking now at a 40mg level for GERD. It certainly is a lot less expensive however--a factor of about 10 to 1.

Hey, I just wanted to add...I had taken over the counter Prilosec and it didn't help. I do know that now Omeprazole is offered OTC as well.  My Dr had to prescribe what I'm taking.  I don't know what the difference is...I just know it works really well.

I had to have ASD surgery in 2005, came out of surgery in Afib and stayed in it for several weeks. Had cardioversion and it worked, they sent me home and I was back in one day. I'm on medications to slow my heart, to thin my blood etc. I have noticed that every episode (about once a week) I have some serious acid indigestion going on before it starts. I take Ranidine about 3 times a day now, none of the other stuff out there helps me with the acid problem. Cutting into my heart caused this ongoing problem for me, I'm wondering if some doctor somewhere couldn't by the same measure stop this electrcal malfuction.

It always occurs at night for me. Wakes me up doing cartwheels in my chest. I have also noticed that I'm having severe acid indigestion. I was blaming Tums for triggering it, but after reading all this, it was the gas that triggered it, the Tums was a by product of my treating midnight heartburn.

If you haven't tried going to the bathroom and straining like you have to have a bowel momvement, try it. It stops the heart briefly when you strain and will sometimes put your heart back into a normal rythm. This advice was given me in the ICU at my local hospital while I was in for the a-fib. If your like me you'll forget to try it sometimes, and the times I remembered, it didn't work for me. They told me that Elvis didn't actually die from the overdose, he died from straining to have a bowel movement, which stopped his heart. You have the vagus nerve in your rectum also.

Oh I'm so distressed to hear your on amiodirone. That medcine almost killed me. I could barely walk, all my joints hurt and it left me with permnant pulminary hypertension. It kept me from having the atrilfib, but did much damage to the rest of my body. I hope you don't experience any of this, but from what one dr told me, it does damage to everyone who takes it and you need only be on it a couple months for it to.

is it safe to do omega's while on warfarin?

merimary11, if you are seriously looking for an excellent EP, go to Austin and get an appt with Dr. Andre Natale....he is the best.

As far as I know, omega 3's are fine to take with Warfarin...I take them.

yes I had a repeat AF attack  about a week after an Ablation.  It lasted for about 7 hours.  I am about to see the Cardiologist who did the Ablation.  I'll be interested to see what he says.  Along with other people who are contributing to this thread, I also experience really bad pain in the breast bone sometimes coinciding with the AF attack.  It isn't always relieved by antacid powders but they can help.  Neither is it constant or regular.  I can go weeks without experiencing any pain then I have a month of quite bad pain irregularly.  Our bodies are wonferful organisms but sometimes they do some weird things.

My story is pretty much typical of everyone else here

I had my first afib back in the 80's when I was in my early 30's – I must confess that I did not have a particularly good diet in those days and was under a lot of work related stress and then one night, out of the blue, I got it and it lasted a couple of hours before I drove myself to the hospital – they monitored me for a few hours and were about to convert me but I returned into sinus rhythm – I later underwent a battery of tests but everything was fine and I was prescribed a low dose of ativan and propranolol

That was the one and only time I had an episode up until a couple of years ago when I started having them again – once again, I found myself in a stressful situation and with stomach issues. Several years earlier, in the 90's, I had a duodenal ulcer with H Pylori and went on the standard treatment regimen which worked and healed the ulcer so I was no longer required to remain on any meds and my stomach was fine

But then a few years ago, I was having stomach issues that were more gas and bloating rather than ulcer like – over the past couple of years, I have had 1/2 a dozen attacks, none of which have lasted more than 2 hours at most and all of which have converted back on their own – I remain on the ativan and propranolol and following a recent episode last week, am now scheduled to see a cardiologist and rhythm control cardio specialist.

In the meantime, I had had an echocardiogram, stress test and ecg and all were normal – I am now 57, retired, in good shape, with a good diet but do smoke half a pack of cigarettes a day.

About 6 months ago, in connection with the gas and bloating issues, I was put on proton pump inhibitors – I had gone to the doctor not really for the stomach issues which I considered more a nuisance than anything else but because of the apparent (to me anyway) connection between the stomach and the episodes of afib – without exception, every afib episode I have had has been preceded by severe gas and bloating such that I almost know an afib attack is going to take place. In addition, there are always several days before an episode when I start getting lots of extra beats.

There is a definite pattern to all of this and even my GP agreed that there was a connection between the  afib and gastro issues.

While on the PPI, I had no afib attacks and felt that things were getting better so I actually went off the PPI'S as I did not like the idea of remaining on this medication indefinitely – about 2 weeks after stopping the PPI'S,  I had another afib attack. So I immediately went back onto Zantac as it was my experience that the Zantac worked just as well and had fewer side effects as well as fewer long term risks compared to the PPI'S.

During the course of all the investigations and exams, my cardiologist agreed without hesitation that gastro issues are related to afib – in particular, he cited statistics indicating that 40 % of people with afib have gastro problems, most notably of the gerd variety. He also indicated that gerd patients can be only mildly symptomatic and not even aware they have it as many people apparently associate gerd with upper gi distress and burning etc while gas and bloat problems can also be related – as a sideline, my GP also speculated that I might have IBS rather than gerd but IBS cannot be medically document and the gerd, if in fact I have it, has not advanced far enough to be detectable beyond the symptom description.

But both the GP and cardiologist readily agreed with the association between gastro issues and afib as well as regular stress.

It would appear also that in paroxysmal afib, especially of the every 6 months variety, stress builds up and accumulates ultimately increasing the odds of an afib attack, especially in situations where there are increased gastro problems.

I have also recently started seeing a naturopathic  doctor who attributes the problem to a build up of stressors in the center of the body that results in nothing more than a spasm of the heart – his recommendation – relaxation and yoga type exercises with a heavy emphasis on breathing – I have been following this treatment and have found it extremely beneficial in terms of relaxation. He also stressed the importance of a good diet rich in as many natural foods as possible.

For me, I find trigger foods to be sharp spices and fried foods. I usually have a glass of 2 of wine daily and have not found that to be a problem.

Most of my attacks occur late at night and I have been informed that that may be related to the simple fact our bodies produce more adrenaline in the late evening hours and once again, we see the connection between stress and afib.

There are now many links from recognized sources on the web documenting the association between gerd or acid related disorders and afib

This link is to an article I recently came across and it's pretty self explanatory.
http://www.gastroscan.ru/gerb/gerson01.pdf

Another article relating gerd and afib can be found here
http://www.mgwater.com/laf.shtml

The above article also looks into the related issue of magnesium deficiency – that is something I have recently begun supplementing with.

I also found this site to be of assistance and again, note how many people have dealt with the afib by dealing with the gerd or acid suppresion

http://www.afibbers.org/faq.htm#laf

All in all, a very frustrating condition and one which many Doctors seem to treat rather lightly as if they were talking about someone with a headache – many seem oblivious to the discomfort and stress that accompany having to live with this condition

In any case, that's my story to date – next week I see the cardiologist for follow up after my recent attack then the following week, I see the rhythm control expert – perhaps after all these years, I may get rhythm and learn to dance!

I will let everyone know once I complete the follow up treatments!

Is anyone taking Pradaxa that has used Zicam Nasal Swabs? I believe in Zicam and have had no problems in the past. I believe I am beginning with a cold and really want to try to head it off...(Ive been up half the night with sneezing, watery eyes and tickling nose). No drugstores open yet! Anyone with an answer? I have tried all the ways I know over the Internet to find out if the two are compatible. I didn't find  what I needed. I hope to hear from someone. Thank you..

There are some FDA actions in connection with Zicam - check the link - most recently, some products were ordered pulled from store shelves under an FDA issue mandate - while there are always 2 sides to every story and I have not found the FDA to be historically correct in everything they do, I would certainly not want to take something that is currently under such a cloud - perhaps the controversy will be resolved?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31388177/ns/health-cold_and_flu/t/nasal-spray-can-cause-loss-smell-fda-warns/#.TqLMw3Iep70

I had my follow up assessment with my cardiologist and nothing remarkable to report - diagnosis of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and no indication of any heart disease - blood pressure is 120/80, stress test and electrocardiograph all normal - I am advised that the influence of the vagus nerve is strongly associated with this form of fibrillation and related to this are certain triggers that can differ from person to person but include gerd or digestive problems, over eating, excessive alcohol consumption, caffeine, etc - it is commonly seen in athletes including marathon runners who have low resting heart rates -- it sometimes but does not always develop into persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation - in my case, the only treatment suggested was standard aspirin therapy based on my stroke risk scale which was 0 on the 0-5 scale - I am also taking a proton pump inhibitor to deal with a mild case of gerd - I exercise regularly and consider myself in good shape with excellent blood readings and yet have still fallen victim to this malady which is poorly understood by many in the medical community - no follow up treatment has been planned other than a check up in a year!

I am having the same problem when food starts to digest..vagus nerve takes over my body just for a gew seconds and keeps happening at intervals foe at leasr 45minutes and if I am sstandinf I collapse to the floor
Am working with my Dr. now to check this out by taking my pulse at the time of the event to prove this is the Afib causing it.

Just wanted to throw my hat into the ring as well. I have had very stressful life-changing events that most-likely contributed to my current condition. In October 2010 I underwent an upper and lower GI. Lower was clean. Upper showed a 2cm Hiatal Hernia. Was prescribed the same meds everyone else was (PPIs - prilosec, nexium, etc...). They initially made me feel better but overall made me feel worse and still searching for an answer. Over the summer I began to have some troubles with sleeping and experienced episodes of lightheadedness and potentially A-Fib. I stumbled onto a probiotic from a company called Digestive Advantage. Their Gas Defense Formula Probiotic seems to make a difference for me. Some days are better than others but the intensity of my A-Fib episodes are reduced when I am using this product. Diet, exercise, stress all play a role in how most of my days go but being more conscious of my body's needs with help from this board has definitely changed my perception for the long-term prognosis of our condition. I wish everyone here the best in their endeavors to combat the disorder(s) they have that are creating the misery that we are all experiencing. If anyone here with Hiatal Hernia surgery experience could share there triumphs and tribulations pre and post-surgery would be a great help in deciding how much the procedure may help with A-Fib episodes.   --JF

Hello, Wow! I am not alone. So glad I found this forum. I am female 39,
5' 1" and 115 pounds. I have pretty much always had bowel problems but starting about two years ago I started having a "fluttering" feeling, (When I take my pulse it feels like it skips a beat then picks back up.) The flutter has made a home because I have it everyday..sometimes a few times every few minutes or so and sometines 7-10 a minute. The first time it happen I went to the ER. They told me it was anemia. Well after my anemia was correted it DID NOT go away. I have always noticed it is worse when eating and when my bowels are acting up. I have picked up some food allergies and have problems digesting food..without being graphic, when I eat withen a few hours I can have a bowel movement and tell what I have eaten last. These past few years I have tried to diagnose myself because all of the doc's I have been to tell me the heart issue is from stress and that I look healthy so I must be okay. Very frustrating. Because I have felt so SICKLY with bowels, heart, dizzy, extreme fatique Ect. So by doing a lot of reading I cut out gluten, choc. tea's any stimulants ect. but still no relief. Out of frustration I decided to see yet another Doc.. a Heart specialist at St. Lukes Houston. He is so bumfuzzled that I have so many arrythmias and my heart is in great shape. He put me on beta blockers that lessend them a little for about a week but are back the same as before. I insisted to the Doc that there has to be a link between food/bowel and heart and of coarse he thinks im ridiculous. Do any of you feel unhealthy "sickly" ?   Again Thanks for everyones posts.

Just like myself and many others food is a contributing factor but its the underlying inflamation (inflammation) in the digestive tract that ultimately causes the misery I suspect.  It can't handle the food in a way that its naturally suposed to.  Sure signs of this are symptoms of ibs, reflux, bloating from gas etc.  Some people don't experience any symptoms or equate certain symptoms they may be having with the other problems.  A lot goes on in our digestive tract and a lot of things can go wrong and be causing the problem.  Its isolating the problem and finding what works thats the challenge especially since every ones problem can be unique to themselves.  Eating and combining foods that are both healthy and non acid forming is a big help to heal.  Fiber rich foods like raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are good.  Eating less per meal helps.  Obviously stress itself is a real big unsuspecting cause of many problems but one that really can throw the digestive tract, heart and other systems in the body into a tail spin.  Bizzarre as it may sound to some theres always a possibility in your case that parasites, over growth of bad bacteria can be causative factors.  There are tests for this and easy natural approaches and ways to fix this as well.  Welcome and keep reading the above posts.  Search the net and ask lots of questions.  Plenty of good info.    

I ate salad made with red redish,  green onion, tomato and my heart went into flip flop flip flop for like 15 seconds. That got my attension, i became anxious right after this episode what it could be from is me eating late at night and onions would be the reason. I find if i eat onions, cucumbers it does it too. I became so anxious and drank some water and chamomile tea and so far im good but it did scare me. So i will not eat onions or cucumbers or red redish again. And i will do complete cleanse with colonics and eat lightly after.

Hi! Gavriella_M, My name is Marina & I just wanted to tell you about my experience if it would help in anyway. I was diagnosed with AFib in 1996 & had a Cather Ablation in January, 2010. I have always noticed that foods are a trigger for AFib. Certain one by themselves & some in combination. Sugar, Chocolate, Caffeine, eating late @ night or too close before going to bed. I can't eat tomatoes either & you mentioned eating tomatoes. They are very acidic & depending on what's going on in your intestinal tract will cause that Vagus Nerve to Party Hardy @ your expense. You may want to consider backing up off of the tomatoes as well. Just a thought. When I notice I'm having heartburn or Gerd I buy Alkaline water & drink that for a spell & it calms my stomach down. May be it balances the acidity. I'm not sure. There are several companies that make it. I drink Eternal Water. I've tried several form the store. Everything has it's pro's & cons. Some people will say it doesn't work but I try things & if I notice a difference then I go with it because it can't hurt. I can't eat peppers. They come back afterwards. It seems there is so much I ca't eat anymore. It's frustrating & it makes me depressed at times but not having another episode outweighs the frustration. I'm in my late 50's so I have to be extremely disciplined & cautious with everything I eat. I avoid going out sometimes to friends functions where there is food because no one understands & I don't like having to explain & they don't believe me, think I'm being a drama queen but no one who has not had an AFib episode for hours or even days will understand what AFibers go through. It's Frightening to say the least. I hope this helps & if you have any other questions about my experience you can email me @ ***@****. Peace & Good Health for you in '2012...

Hi Buckeye5742 and whoever else this may help.... This is my first time reading the comments on this site!  I can totally relate and you are not alone and it does help to have a support system and to talk to other people who may be going through the same thing.  I chuckled when I read your post saying you are your own worst enemy because of getting nervous.  I too have felt this and now I just go with it because I don't want to give myself a heart attack :)  Matter of fact, I am doing more research because I have been skipping all day today and thought I was done with it for good.
Here's my story....December 6th I finally went to the ER after having what they call fluttering.  I have had PVC's (premature ventricular contractions) on and off for the last 10 years.  My Mom has them and so does my daughter and an aunt.  Well it all started with heartburn for two days and lots of gas.  Then the skipping and then fluttering.  I just thought my PVC's were getting worse.  After five days of the fluttering on and off, chest heaviness, heartburn and gas, and shortness of breath, I decided I better have it checked it out.  On my way to the hospital the fluttering was getting worse.  They did an EKG and said something about A-FIB.  I was kept overnight for observation and during my stay, the fluttering got so bad and my heart started racing.  It was picked up on the heart monitor and they did another EKG which reflected definite A-FIB.  They gave me Cardizem via the IV and my rhythm became normal after only 5 minutes! The fluttering was gone and I felt like nothing had ever happened!  Had a stress test and an echo and those tests were fine.  They checked thyroid and that was normal.  I am on oral dose of 180mg. of Cardizem daily which seems to help.  I was put on a heart monitor for 30 days and they did detect Premature Atrial Contractions.  Guess I am going to have to deal with it for the rest of my life.  I am really trying to get healthy.  I have always ate natural and organic foods.  I am overweight by about 60 pounds (quit smoking 4 years ago and gained some weight), now have Type 2 Diabetes which is diet controlled.  Have had high blood pressure for 6 years which is controlled by meds.  They want to check me for Sleep Apnea for a mild disorder.  Experts have found a correlation between A-Fib and thyroid issues, Diabetes, Sleep Apnea and High Blood Pressure.  I was extremely scared when this all started happening to me.  I have been on a Eat-Clean Diet by Tosca Reno since last Feb. and have lost 15 lbs.  I don't drink soda only water and have decaf coffee or tea.  I think eating some dark chocolate contributed to my skipping today because of the caffeine.  It is so frustrating to say the least!  I am also thinking that there may be some correlation between hormone imbalances and A-FIB.  I do believe it is great to research and gather as much information as possible.  I do have a great primary doctor now.  He put me on Prilosec which does help with all the gas.  He thinks I may have Gert as well.  He said the skipping/fluttering could happen because of the gas build-up can put an upward pressure towards the heart. Makes sense to me!  I also wanted to add that anyone who drinks alcohol should try to stop if you have A-Fib.  The night before I went into the ER I had 3 ultra light beers and they said alcohol can have an effect.  I only used to drink about 3-4 beers a week. Now  I don't drink any.  I also am going to try to eliminate dairy from diet to see if that helps with the gas.  Thank you everyone for posting comments.  It really helps!  Good health and blessings! Kathy

I have been following this forum for some time and it contains a lot of information that relates to my situation with atrial fibrillation (afib) triggered by upper GI gas.

I am a 71-year-old male who was diagnosed with paroxysmal afib 14 years ago.  I tried to convince the cardiologist who made that diagnosis that it was connected to my digestive tract, but he insisted that there was no connection.  The cardiologist prescribed Toprol (Metoprolol) and Coumadin (Warfarin). I have since learned that it is not uncommon for afib to be triggered by problems with the digestive tract.  My current cardiologist and electrophysiologist (ep doc) acknowledge that they have seen a number of patients with afib that is triggered by upper GI gas or bloat.  

My frequent upper GI gas is most likely being caused by a hiatal hernia. The presence of a hiatal hernia was determined by an endoscopy.   I take a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) daily and try to avoid foods and beverages that cause upper GI gas.  However, I still get a lot of gas, and gas is the trigger of over 90 % of my afib events.

SIMETHICONE  -  In addition of avoiding certain foods and beverages that cause upper GI gas, I have determined that taking products containing simethicone very quickly at the onset of the gas can stop my afib from being triggered.  I use the following three products that contain simethicone: 1) Mylanta that contains 80mg of simethicone per tablespoon; 2) Gas-X tablets that contain 125mg of simethicone per tablet; and 3) Phazyme softgel capsules that contain 180mg of simethicone per capsule.  I find that taking about 4 or 5 tablespoons of Mylanta very quickly is effective at reducing the gas.  When I am not at home, I chew and swallow 3 or 4 Gas-X tables very quickly and this is fairly effective at reducing the gas.  Swallowing 2 or 3 Phazyme capsules is effective but it takes a lot longer to reduce the gas compared to either Mylanta or Gas-X.  A cheaper alternative to Mylanta is Equate Maximum Strength Antacid (sold at Walmart) that contains 80mg of simethicone per tablespoon.  A cheaper alternative to Gas-X is Equate Extra Strength Gas Relief (sold at Walmart) that contains 125mg of simethicone per tablet.

ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUGS  -   After taking Toprol for a few years, I started getting more afib events and I was prescribed Rythmol (Propafenone).  Rythmol was fairly effective in reducing my afib events for a few years and then the afib events started increasing, and eventually the Rythmol became proarrhythmic.  Then, I was prescribed Pacerone (Amiodarone).  Pacerone was fairly effective in reducing my afib events, but it eventually caused hyperthyroidism. It took several months to cure the hyperthyroidism.  This turned out to be one of the worst periods of my life because the hyperthyroidism caused insomnia for several months.  Insomnia is a terrible condition to live with.  I have extreme sympathy for anyone living with insomnia.  After my bad experience with Pacerone, I was prescribed Betapace (Sotalol).  This required a 3-day stay in the hospital to determine the correct dosage.  Betapace made me feel like a zombie.  I walked around on the verge of fainting all the time.  When the FDA finally approved Multaq (Dronedarone), I was prescribed this drug as an alternative to Betapace.  Multaq has been somewhat of a disappointment to me.  It doesn't seem to be that effective in reducing afib events.  My ep doc has talked to me about Tikosyn, but I am reluctant to try it after reading about some of the problems that people have had with the drug.  Like Sotalol, Tikosyn must be started in a hospital, and that immediately raises a red flag to me.  If a drug is that risky, do I need it?  

ABLATIONS  -  I have had 2 Pulmonary Vein Isolation (PVI) ablations.  Both of these PVI ablations were unsuccessful.  My ep doc has discussed trying another ablation, but I think I will pass on it.  After having no improvement with two procedures, I am reluctant to try it again.  

PACEMAKER  -  When I was recovering from my second ablation in the cardiac telemetry ward in the hospital, I experienced an eye-opening event.  Following the ablation I was going in and out of afib.  It is my understanding that this is not unusual following an ablation procedure.  Well, in the early morning following the ablation procedure I was in afib and I was awake.  All of a sudden, a couple of nurses came running down the hall and into my room with a defibrillator.  They were about to give me a jolt when they realized that I was in normal sinus rhythm (NSR), and I asked them what was going on.  They said my heart had stopped for about 10 seconds during the conversion from afib to NSR.  They decided to put a couple of patches (electrodes) on my chest just in case it happened again.  Well, it didn't happen again.  This event was recorded on the telemetry equipment and a few hours later when my ep doc visited me, he told me that I needed a pacemaker because one of these days my heart may not restart.  The type of pacemaker that the ep doc implanted is the type that is given to patients with bradycardia (very slow heartbeats).  When the pacemaker sees a very long interval after a beat, it applies a pulse that causes a beat.  So, during the conversion from afib to NSR when I have one of these long intervals without a heartbeat, the pacemaker pulses and causes a beat.  In addition to the protection that I get during the conversion from afib to NSR, the pacemaker has made a big difference in making an afib event much more tolerable because it pulses when there are long intervals between beats. I just don't feel as washed out with the pacemaker when I have afib compared to afib without the pacemaker.  I have found the pacemaker to be my greatest asset in dealing with afib.  Having a pacemaker is not intrusive at all and after a while, you don't even realize you have had one implanted.

BLOOD THINNERS  -  I have been on Warfarin for 14 years and I don't feel that it has caused any great burden to my life.  A lot of people have issues with bruising and bleeding when taking Warfarin, but I haven't found it be the case with me.  The only issues that I have with Warfarin is the periodic blood tests and the requirement to reduce the International Normalized Ratio (INR) when having a surgical procedure and then getting the INR back within a desired range after the procedure.  I have decided to defer changing to Pradaxa (new blood thinning drug that does not require periodic blood tests) until more is learned about the long-term effects of the drug.

CONCLUSION  -  I have found that paroxysmal afib is something that a person can live with even though it presents some inconveniences to your life.  My advice to anyone dealing with afib is to become informed.  Read a lot of information provided by professionals and, in particular, read about the experiences of people afflicted with afib.  There is a wealth of information on the internet about afib; just do enough research to separate fact from fiction.  Seek out a good cardiologist and/or ep doc.  If you are unhappy with a doctor because they are in too much of a hurry to push you out the door, or you believe they are not giving you good advice, move on to another one.

Its been at least a few weeks since I've signed on.  Wow, more great post!  Iceberg thanks for the info and break down.  While I do not believe many healthy individuals need take the routes you have had to endure its certainly welcome information.  I never want to say for example ablations don't work since everyone is unique and its between God, them, their doctor and a choice they ultimately will have to make especially since it is an obvious and easy go to option that many doctors fall back on when afib is present and being caused for reasons unknown.  For me my personal thought is that its burning heart tissue (I don't think that's very good) and its a crap shoot that often can make things worse.  I'm not a doctor but I can say these things from the experience of knowing a few people that have had it done (all unsuccessfully).  The hiatal hernia is a good point and definitely contribute to afib symptoms.  Worth looking into if your a person suffering with afib with no other apparent medical cause.  The medications can have application but as you pointed out their effectiveness can vary greatly and the side effects can be horrendous.  My school of thought on drugs is that the only side effect worth mentioning is the side effect of whether they'll actually work and give relief for a particular prescribed condition.  Yea I know doctors might get mad at me if they read this but I don't care.  The FDA & medical community wants us all to believe that making changes to our eating habit's, taking a more active holistic approach and using what God and nature gave us and intended for us that its often thought of quackery or unconventional, etc.  In my view its just the opposite.  Like I said medications have their practical applications.  Example: someone perhaps that has abused themselves for years knowingly and or unknowingly to such an extent what seems out of the blue there are blood clots that formed making a heart attack or stroke imminent then I say use the blood thinning clot busting drugs to circumvent the problem.  Don't hand them out like candy to individuals that are obviously healthy only because its the easy thing to do.  Look into it and look into from every angle.  When something medically cannot be found go into the persons life style and eating habit's etc., that may be contributing if not causing the symptoms.  We have to take responsibility for ourselves and become informed and aware of what we're doing to ourselves on a daily basis and that the discipline of certain life style changes can mean the world of difference.  Its troubling that on top of all our own abuses there are other more insidious things going on that contribute without our even knowing.  For example much of our food supply has been grossly prepared and contaminated by unscrupulous manufacturing practices.  We now face a big problem with GMO (genetically modified foods) and these have all proven to cause all sorts of illnesses or symptoms of illness and disease including digestive tract problems like ibs and leaky gut.  That's on top of all the other dyes, preservatives and chemicals that go into them not to mention the packaging.  Our water supply has been intentionally and non intentionally contaminated with chemical pollutants such as fluoride which they all tried (pretty successfully I may ad) to convince us that its good for us and because we as a society have become so chemically and drug dependent that many drugs have now found their way into our water supplies both from run off and even urine of people which water plants are not capable of handling or filtering out.  Then ad the every day stresses of life and it all ads up to a mess.  People wonder why diseases like autism or MS is becoming so prevalent in our society where it was almost unheard of many years ago?  I went on a ramble here but if no one believes that afib for many can be caused by such things as inflammation, acid over load, toxins, increase of bacteria, parasites, viruses from the above and abuses to our digestive tract and bodies then they are sadly mistaken.  For many unfortunately there are no symptoms until the body has become so over whelmed that it ultimately can come down to what seems to be no other alternative or options for them like medicines and surgeries and more misery.  Sad.  Sorry for the rant but again thanks everyone for your insights, information and sharing your experiences.  People do read and benefit from them.  You made the blog all the richer for your contribution.  -Rich-

go to    theonlineconference.com   I found alot of help  there. listen to the 1-10 video's.

I agree wholeheartedly. Up until Dec.1st. I pretty much felt like a normal person despite having had a pancreas transplant in 2006. I ate some ham from Aldi's and within 5 minutes started having a hot burning rash on my face and thought I was going to burn up. I have since become allergic to nitrates, and msg. Never had much of a problem before. I have a rise in blood pressures and heart rates after eating. I have been living off of rice products and instant mashed potatoes. I get a burning tongue every so often after touching my neck of all things. I have to have a fine needle aspiration to check a thyroid nodule on friday. I've had just about every test imagineable with all the same replies. "We don't know" Thanks to this website I at least don't feel alone anymore. I even had a reaction to calcium chloride in a can of snap peas which I've eaten my whole life. It all started dec. 1st after that ham. All sorts of allergy tests says I'm not allergic to anything. But had a bad reaction to chicken gravy from the jar, has MSG in it. Wish I lived in australia where it's illegal to have MSG in a product. It ***** to have a burning face all the time. I tried some brocolli today and I've been burning ever since even though I took claritin, now I feel like I'm starving to death. Geez, such hell. Thanks again for the website. Linda

Found out I had a toxic thyroid with cancer. Suffered from it for 4 years. It wasn't food allergies but histamine inflammation in the thyroid.

Hi! I hope some of my information will be of some help to someone. As we all have different systems, DNA, etc I realize some things work for some people & others no. Such as the OTC for Digestive issues. I had a Catheter Ablation in January of 2010. It took a few months before I was AFib free but that's another story I won't explain right now as I want to tell you about having Afib again beginning more frequently since Sept, 2011. Prior to that I had an AFib episode once or twice but I caused it by drinking alcohol which I can not do any more so I've quit altogether. If I'm invited out & a friend/friends say "would you like a drink"? I say, "No, I don't drink" & I don't feel pressure anymore about saying that. AFib episodes versus a Drink well I did the math & I Like feeling Good. I'm a Better person when I do. So here recently I've had a few episodes & as many of you have mentioned the digestive issues perhaps being the root of the issue then the ❤ itself I have found the same in my own experiences. Some of you may be aware of "Candida Albicans". http://www.holistichelp.net/candida-albicans.html  I don't have enough time to explain it but I'll post links so you can research & gather your own information as you read about it. THere is a test called the "SPIT TEST." Sounds gross but check out the link & how to do it. http://www.adhdrelief.com/CandidaTest.html  Ok! I just want you to know this is my experience. I'm not suggesting you all have Candida Albicans but it's possible some may. The diet is very restrictive but that versus feeling miserable & quite possibly having digestive disorders that can trigger AFib episodes? So I am lactose intolerant & when I had CA really bad a few months ago I stopped eating the slightest bit of cheese. Not even soy cheese. I also take Armour Thyroid for Hypothyroidism but that the extent of my meds. I experimented & I take Enzymes before I eat. THe name of the product I take is called Garden of Life "MEGA-ZYME. Here's a link just for your reference. I'm not trying to sell the product. Just so you know what it looks like in the store should you wish to try it. http://pureformulas.com/megazyme-original-100-tablets-by-enzymatic-therapy.html & I take a Probiotic before I go to bed @ night. Before when I had prescription meds the Dr. would prescribe Prevacid to take one in the am & one in the pm so I figured I would follow the same way the Dr. said to take it as it seems when you get older (I'm late 50's) what you do during the day waits to attack you during the night. I have terrible gas issues (that's why I can't get a date) :D. No seriously, between belching & flatulence I am the Queen if there were a contest but since taking the CA test which by the way I've had before in other times in my life, I had it really bad & I'm doing much better. I have to watch what I eat because food, alcohol & carbonated drinks will send me there. So I'm thinking & feeling if I'm careful about what I put in my stomach I basically can control not having AFib episodes. I had one, well I think I had one because this was more of a Vagal Nerve Episode that spasmed for 12 hours. It was different than an AFib episode in that my ❤ wasn't as effected but nonetheless left me in bed & having to stay @ a friends house until it passed because it wears & drains me so bad I can't get up or I get dizzy. The reason why this happened was because we were hangin' out the night before until 2am & there was a Truck outside the club selling New Orleans style Gumbo. My friend bought 2 containers. We went back t her house & she started eating it. I was famished. I know better than eat after 7pm but I tasted some of the sausage inside the gumbo. I thought I could handle it but it was spicy & set me off. It wasn't immediate. I fell asleep & about 5:30am I woke up right out of my sleep into Spasm mode for 12 hours. So what I'm saying is we all have the same common denominator in our analysis of digestion issues possibly playing a large role in the issues with AFib. I told my Dr. what was happening with my stomach & as someone said earlier in their posts when you mention digestive complaints possible having some correlation with Afib it falls on deaf ears. Drs. are specific in what they went to school to study but take them out of that square & they tell you "You need to see a Gastrointestinal Dr." They won't answer any other question regarding any other physical issue you may be having. I always say, "It's one body & everything works together." SOmeone mentioned smaller meals. Yes! I do that & it is definitely one of the ways to get things under control as far as digestion. Overeating is a big trigger for AFib. Definitely do Probiotics & look into ENzymes before you eat a meal. They don't have to be the one's I mentioned. Follow your own intuition for you body & listen to your body. It will signal you to pay attention. Something you already know. I'm just reaffirming. I also have Enzymes I take after a meal if I forget to take them before. They're a Vitamin Shoppe Brand called 'MULTI ENZYME." They are strictly for after you eat. The directions say & the other one's the directions say before a meal. I keep myself armed with these & take them with me if I'm eating out. Ok! I hope this helps someone. Take the "Spit Test." You can do it @ home & it's easy. Read up on "Candida Albicans" & just see. It can't hurt. It could help. God Bless & Happy Health ForEver to ALL of you...Peace! :)

More great info.  I already was under the belief that candida (yeast and fungus) could definately give us a hard time when present.  Its not easy to get rid of or get under control either but there are some natural products that usually do the trick.  Caprylic acid, grapefruit seed extract, cloves, crushed frsh garlic (about two teaspoons in warm water) etc.  The tough part about candida is that it is smart and adapts pretty quickly to what you throw at it making it resistant.  The best way is to cycle 4 days with one product then switch to another for 4 days and then another.  Usually milder cases can be cleared up in a week.  Initially you'll have some die off symptoms like headaches and almost flu like symptoms particularly if its a worse case but the relief afterwards is pretty noticeable.  Bloat is a key indicator you may have a candida problem.  Also supplement with enymes and probiotics as was mentione as these also help fight the candida and keep it in check.  Good info.  Keep em coming.

No symptoms? Having A fib is a symptom. Digestive issues do not just announce themselves. Symptoms in the digestive tract are very mild. You could have leaky gut as I do, you could have low digestive enzymes, parasites, and low acid like I do and have A fib all day and all night every day like I do and believe me the only possible source is digestion. Address the yeast, the parasites, the acid, the leaky gut and eventually it will change. I am currently treating myself with whole aloe leaf and it is stating to show I had severe digestive issues even though I had no symptoms other than the constant Afib.

37 yr old white male moderate health calls 911 one night after just finishing a movie leaned back to stretch in my ez chair and all hell broke loose my heart went nutz! the ambulance guy says WOW!  your heart is all over the place that he is gonna have to shock me. so after that fun night i schdule a cardiologist appt. he shoots from the hip and says i have afib.and refers me to meet with his electrocardiologist to talk about ablation. i think to myself hey shouldnt we do some tests? i ask him and he says yeah ok lets wear an event monitor for14 days. well after that great experience all the strips show sinus wave forms. he insists i see the electrocardiologist. she says from accross the room i need this ablation procedure. well on the way out of the office one of the back office secrataries tells me she has had 2 ablations and she still gets the palps and afib. so i decide to research it and i found this site and a few like it. i am disgusted by health care socalled proffesionals. if i ran my auto shop like this i would be out of business in a flash! my palps are more noticeable after i eat too much and lay down. also standing still is very hard after i eat too much, drink too much caffiene, eat any amount of msg, i feel like fainting. so i am planning on skipping the ablation procedure and just pay attn to what i eat and how much. thank you all for ur comments its helped me figure out whats really going on and avoiding the pitfall of modern day heath care providers.

My opinion is to be careful when a doctors right off the bat suggests ablation.  Particularly when they themselves don't even know whats going on and there have been few tests to determine it.  My opinion is the same as it has been. In probably more cases than not afib is probably brought on by digestive tract troubles.  Now if the doctors could do ablation on the colon and section that sets the nerve impulses off triggering afib then maybe they'd have something?  Certainly couldn't be any worse than taking a shot in the dark by burning heart nerves and heart tissue.  Yikes!

I have had AF for 3 and a half years now. I was put on medication, which helped. Was told it was caused by too high a dosage of Thyroxine (300mg per day), I am also on warfarin to stop the blood from clotting. I take the medication every day and mostly do not feel the flutters, however, I was getting them quite severly every now and again, and was convinced it was to do with the digestive system and stomach areas. Over a period of time, I realised that eating raw onions, (or even too many cooked ones) brought on a bout of atrial flutter. I am in AF at the moment, and have wrecked my brain to think what could have brought it on, and the only recent change in my diet is yellow plums. I love them and have eaten them for 3 days in a row and suffered badly with AF last night. I am still suffering, so will not have any more yellow plums and see if this helps. I did do a period of eating a TLC yogurt every day after my evening meal and this seemed to help enormously. I went for months not feeling the AF. Will have to return to the yogurts to prevent a recurrence of this horrible disease. I have also recently stopped using lo-salt and gone onto table salt, as the lo-salt apparently is very high in potassium, perhaps this too could be a cause of this bout of AF. Whatever it is, I just wish it would go away and stay away.

Its no mystery to me.  I have felt for a long time perhaps longer than most that its no coincidence between afib and it being brought on when symptoms of ibs, reflux, gas, bloat etc. exist.  However those are the symptoms.  Its what is causing these symptoms that is the perplexing part since there are many causes.  I think the number one cause is actually tied with another.  Thats poor diet and antibioics.  Even if you strive to eat a healthy diet today chances are its still a poor diet.  I would be hard pressed to believe that anyone that gets occasional afib and takes notice that it usually is accompanie by digestive symptoms mentioned above that at some point in their lives they were prescribed antibiotics.  Why is this important?  Antibiotics do their job very efficiently in killing off all kinds of bacteria and not just the ones their prescribed for such as bacterial infections but also the good kind.   It may take years for someone that was prescribed antibiotics to become symptomatic so how in the world would it even be a consideration in addressing the problem?  Science is just coming around to the conclusions that probiotics (good or friendly bacteria) are not only natural but absolutely necessary and beneficial to the body and your health.  It has been a long road with its ups and downs for me regarding afib and digestive woes.  Ive tried many things and had some relief thats lasted for 6 months or more but eventually the symptoms rear their ugly heads again and if I'm not on top of my game afib will follow.  I think one of the biggest problem for me is that I can not look inside myself where I feel the problem has been stemming from.  That is a region that is in (or on) the colon just below my left inner rib cage,  I'm thinking there is clearly some damage and sensitivity in there brought on by the aforementioned.  The next hurdle is how to sooth and heal something for which you don't really know the extent of the damage but can only feel it in the the way of symptoms and what do you do about it and what do you take or eat that will heal it completely if thats even possible?  This is where science and the medical community have to pull together to help find answers.  There are certainly enough cases out there for which they can test and experiment!  I feel bad when someone goes for ablation only to find it did not cure the afib and in some cases made things worse.  I have not yet heard of a specific case like mine that was cured of afib when an operations to cut out a small section of colon was found to be diseased or problematic but has cured digestive problems and cleared symptoms of ibs etc.  I'm willing to bet if they had the accompanying afib along with their digestive problems it would have?  Not wishing it on anyone but perhaps it will take a higher up in the medical or scientific field to get this and realize what I have all along to encourage them to do the tests to finally come up with some answers?  Just remember you probably heard it here first folks!   To those of you going to doctors and having them reluctant to believe you when you say to them you feel that there is a connection even after all the tests show clear then keep pushing and insisting they look into it further or find someone that will.  Perhaps a colonoscopy could show something either they or you didn't know existed?  If anyone comes accross this board or is already here on this board at some point ever does have laperoscopic surgery or colon resection and finds it relieved not only their digestive problems, blockage or whatever the case maybe but also the afib please let us know immediately!   Good luck and thanks to all who have posted here.  -Rich-.

In my case, it did have an upper and lower GI exam, and they did find H-pylori.  For several reasons I haven't treated the H. pylori as if yet but plan to soon. I've been fairly free of the A-fib since I had open heart surgery 2010 to repair an ASD. I did have a bad run the other morning, and as usual it was gastric related. Something my cardiologist still thinks is crazy. I took my usual Afib cocktail, (2 gas-x, 2 store brand replacements for Rolaids multi systom, 1 Zantac 75, and 20mg omeprazole). 30 minutes later I started jumping from A-fib to NSR, by 40 minutes I was solidly back into a NSR.

It might be nice to find a MD that wanted to investigate the possibility of H-pylori being a factor in the A-fib.  I guess it is definitely a factor since we know that gas is a factor, and one of it's primary symptoms is gas. I guess the reason no doctors want to touch this is that it's covers 2 different specialties, it's not often that gastro and cardio Dr's discuss cases. I guess they figure if it's on the other side of the diaphragm it can't be related. They seen to forget the diaphragm moves continuously (at least if your still breathing) affecting both systems.

Now as for potassium, it's normally low potassium levels that are associated with A-fib. Hyper-K tends to opt towards a slow or no rhythm asystole.

Yogurt, is a good food to help, as it contains natural probiotics. If yogurt is helping some you may get better relief taking a OTC probiotic. My Friend DrVee did a short video on this (I was the videographer) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MmSNX9winU
DrVee is a internist & pediatrician, she been keeping up with my situation and does agree with me about gas being a cause, but she's not my Dr, so she doesn't get consulted and of course as a lowly internist she can't know more than the cardiologist.

I haven't had time to post in a while, so those not familiar with me,  besides having to deal with this, I'm also supposedly a bit more familiar with the medical world since I'm also a paramedic.  

Hi there. I have never posted before but I have all the symptoms everyone here describes as well. This began 8 months ago suddenly one night after drinking a latte. I thought I was having a heart attack because of the pressure in my chest. I was told it was a panic attack but truly felt it was not.(Ironiclly I have since-about a month later-developed anxiety and panic disorder) I also have had a loop monitor for 2 months and although I didnt have another 'heart attack' feeling episode, i did have this fluttering and SVT. The doctors felt these were mostly benign and left it at that, unconcerned. I also had an echocardioandy and stress test and all were fine. (BTW- very healthy, active 28 year old female with no prior medical history except for a few food allergies) Since that evening(of the 'heart attack' feeling) I have PVC's and SVT's they don't usually last long but are very annoying. I also belch constantly and feel there is gas in my chest which I've never had before. I also seem to have reflux as food comes up my throat but I don't have burning like heartburn(which I had during pregnancy) I've had a barium swallow done to rule out hiatial hernia but they said it was fine.
I saw  a gastroenterologist today and he agreed that digestive issues could aggravate the heart and create fluttering, tachycardia etc. which was a relief to hear. I asked him about the H.Pylori connection and although he didn't feel it was connected he didn't completely rule it out either. He is going to preform and endoscopy on Oct. 12 and I think he may take a biopsy to test for H.Pylori while he is at it.
I'm terrified although it's a fast and easy procedure. I hate the idea of IV sedation but I want to get to the bottom of this.
I usually go the most natural route with health issues and am currently taking Vitamin D3, quality probiotics, a digestive enzyme, B vitamin and a multi. I also occasionally take a vitamin with a combination of mastic gum, zinc-carnosine, potassium nitrate and vitamin C called Gastro Relief by AOR. It helps with heartburn, puts acid back in the stomach, heals ulcers and if taken daily will kill H.Pylori(I just bought this and only take it occasionally tho) I also do not eat gluten or grains(except quinia and rice)sugar(very occasionally I'll have honey), chocolate, legumes, nuts, seeds, caffeine or dairy and only low glycemic fruit.
Anyways. I hope I can get some answers to this for everyone because this had been disrupting my life heavily for the last 8 months. I've also developed panic disorder because of the fear that I was having a heart attack even though I've checked out. That feeling was so terrifying I continue to have small panic attacks and when the gas begins to build up I freak out. I'm seeing a neuropsychologist for the panic and it is helping to the point life is becoming semi-normal again in regards to the panic. The PVC's and tachy still come out of no where though.
I will continue to check back then post again when I have the results of my endoscopy.
Sharyn

I also just wanted to add I agree with the idea this is completely digestive in nature(aggravating the heart-possibly vagus nerve?) I had a couple rounds of antibiotics about 10 yrs ago because of a kidney infection and from that I developed C.Dificile and although I got over it I've never been quite 'right' (self diagnosed IBS when eating garbage food)
I've also wondered about my gallbladder being involved. Hm.
Anyways just wanted to add that.

I also just wanted to add I agree with the idea this is completely digestive in nature(aggravating the heart-possibly vagus nerve?) I had a couple rounds of antibiotics about 10 yrs ago because of a kidney infection and from that I developed C.Dificile and although I got over it I've never been quite 'right' (self diagnosed IBS when eating garbage food)
I've also wondered about my gallbladder being involved. Hm.
Anyways just wanted to add that.

Yes, do keep us up to date on how you are doing.  It's a good possibility that the belching and gas are related to H-Pylori. Then again it may not be. My Dr. Friend (an Internist) has told me that gas is a sign of excessive acid, and recommended taking Omeprazole daily. When I did that I will say that it did help quite a bit. I'm just not good about taking daily meds.

As for myself, I've now completed taking the "Prev pack" to hopefully kill the H-Pylori. I have to wait another month or so to do the follow up testing and see if it's gone. The prev pack is a bit rougher than I thought, it includes Flagyl, which definitely lets you know it's in your system.

One other item that might be of interest to some, I also purchased a personal ECG monitor. http://www.amperordirect.com/pc/c-ecg-ekg-monitor/choice-personal-ecg-monitor-md100a12.html  While it's only a single lead unit it does give a nice accurate display. Just don't expect the computer analysis to be helpful. It picks up on some things but doesn't recognize Afib. If you know how to read the output or have someone that can, it will let you see and save your ECG when things are getting wacky.   With it I can see that I like to throw in a few PJC's on the U-wave.  

    

With digestive woes we all have to figure out our own triggers.  For some it may be gluten and for others it could be chocolate, coffee, alcohal (alcohol), spicy foods, dairy, gaseous foods, eating too fast, eating too much, eating too close to bed time, not having enough friendly bacteria (probiotics), too much bad bacteria and or parasites and many many more.  If you are going to eat something you believe triggers off gas, bloat and acid try using a good broad spectrum enzyme supplement prior to eating.  You can also take a few charcoal caps.  Sometimes I'll use curcumin (particularly when eating beans) and it works well in keeping the gas down as well as the inflamation (inflammation) as it is a natural anti inflamatory.  Most acid and bloat comes by way of inflamation (inflammation) and the trigger for inflamations in your digestive tract are anything like mentioned above that you may be sensitive to.  OTC's may give temporary relief but they in and of themselves can trigger more inflamation (inflammation) and acid.  Of course my main objective is to keep the digestive tract clean and healthy in helping to avoid triggers to what I have been calling for the last few years and on this blog digestive tract related afib.  

Hey everyone,
Just wanted to update. I had my endoscopy today (I almost chickened out) and the doctor said everything looks beautiful. Nothing to see of report. He didn't even do a biopsy of my stomach for the H.Pylori because he said it looked great. Now I was just given a quick update because I was so out of it from the sedation but I don't think the report he send to my GP will say much more than that.
Doctors want to believe its all been anxiety related. I'm inclined to believe them. Everything keeps coming up negative. I have a consultation with a 2nd cardiologist on November 12th though so Ill update again if I get some other news.
Sharyn

Glad to hear the positive report and keeping the board up to date!  Keep in mind stress may be one of the biggest factors that triggers off not only anxiety, depression, afib or other heart arythmia but can also wreak havoc on your digestive system giving way to things like H.Pylori.  Sounds like you caught that early so with some treatment, good diet, exercise and reducing stress you have a good shot at staying afib free and healthy.

Thanks! Hope that I have...I havent has an 'episode' since the beginning of Sept. except for a skipped beat here and there. Trying hard to work on my stress and anxiety. Funny thing is I rarely feel super stressed more of a constant worrier lol. I can see how it can turn into a vicious cycle so Im hoping the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps. It seems to be :)
Ill keep ya'll updated :)
Sharyn

amen!  Thank god a dr. finally took me off it after 5 years of hell!  Went from 60 to ninety in a year.  Taking rythmol now, still have an occasional episode that needs cardioversion.  Stress and stomach problems, sleeping on my left side, etc. also will trigger it..  I just have to keep saying, "it won't kill you, just calm down.  Sometimes just heading for the ER to be converted will emotionally convert it before I get there!  Most of it is fear, not the afib.

Hi-  I just came on to my computer as I was awakened by what felt like an A-fib attack.  However after several belches, I am wondering if it is just gas??  My pulse rate did feel irregular, but now seems o.k.  

Just wondering how you are doing today.

I am 29 year old Indian(Asian) female . I had these palpitation first time  around 8 months back . I felt extremely bloated and my stomach would become hard as rock and the faster heartbeat would kick in. After 3-4 episodes in 8 months I thought I should see a doctor, as apart from these episodes I would be really healthy,active and had no symptoms  at all.  I had all my test done, Blood test for H pylori , ultrasound and EKG and Echo. All came out normal . But, I started to get frequent heartburn and gas .  

3 weeks backs I visited chiropractor after I got tingling in my head and pain in my neck . He took x ray of my spine and said I have rotated vertebrae in my neck and mild scoliosis in my lower back . He is working with me on my spine and thankfully I haven't had single episode of heartburn and acidity , even after eating pretty much everything( and more )  I would dare not eating before. Though I still have pain in some parts of my spine but that's all bearable so far. Also, previously I would hear my heart beat in my ear after lying on bed and after correcting my posture which came out to be poor in his analysis , I don't hear them any more. I looked in internet and have found few references of thoracic spine causing palpitations and indigestion . So, I am just keeping a watch on my condition as of now. hope it never happens to anybody and to me ever again .

I had hiatal hernia/reflux surgery in April 2012, called Nissan Fundoloplication. It was done by renouned miami (fl) sugeon who uses a 'bio-mesh' to wrap the stomach. I did because of continuing to burp up just about everything I ate, which is basically because  of a defective LES valve, which is located right at the hatious opening (where hiatal hernia). Both surgeries (nissan stomach wrap/hernai repair) done laproscopically at the same time. Tough surgery, but gastric problem solved. 49 year old firefighter/extra athletic. Before surgery - reflux was getting bad with panic attacks at night, chest pain put me in ER one night, Bouts of atrial fib - especially if stomach was upset or reflux was bad. I am still rounding out my healing at 9 months - can't weightlift like I want to yet, feel tender if I stretch too far or bounce too much with running - but surgery was worth it.

I suggest that you take Manuka Honey, the healing one, a little pricey
but worth every cent. One teaspoonful 3 times a day on empty stomach.
Also, vitamin B12, methylcobalamin sub-lingual- 1000mcg- twice a day.
It worked for me. I had yours problems.