Atrial Fibrillation Stomach Gas & Bloat Relationship?

I saw a post about atrial fibrillation and stomach gas possible association.  I too have the same thing so it may not be all in your head if your suspect this to be the case.  Most dr.'s think your crazy or never heard of this when you even suggest it.  Thats whats wrong with most dr's.  They don't think outside the box and most always treat symptoms with side effect ridden drugs because this is what they learned.  I think we can guess or prognose just as well or better than they can at times particularly if we know something about health and or ourselves.  Never be afraid to speak up because I feel strongly that digestive tract problems are real and translate into other real nasty symptoms like this.  Fortunately we can prevent much of this & need to prevent it from happening. I do feel the more you get afib the worse it can become either physically, emmotionally or both no matter what the cause.  I thought up until now that I may have been the first to discover this but thought I would put this to a POLL since the question already exist out there about the afib gas connection.  I would like to know how many people feel that they get atrial fibrillation and feel that it may be related to gas or full, bloated stomach, intestinal or digestive tract troubles etc?  Any way I also would be interested in what anyone might have to say about it and or what they may have learned from this if they know or even think this to be the case for them and would also like to correspond with others to trade stories and info on what they've learned and done. Be well.  Sincerely, Rich - ***@****


This discussion is related to Stomach Gas and Arrythmia.

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55%

 (5) 

Yes, I get afib and feel its stomach gas or digestive problem related

11%

 (1) 

Not sure but I suspect it could be related to gas and or digestive problems

33%

 (3) 

Yes I get afib and know it to be related to gas or digestive trouble but can find no dr to look into it from this angle.

0%

 (0) 

Yes I get afib and know it to be related to gas or digestive problems and have found a dr. that has helped me

9 Members voted

[Carico]

I, too, suffer from this gas associated arrhythmia or atrial fibrillation. I can have it in the middle of the night or day. There is an improvement when I take Pepcid or Diovel, but the best bet is Ovol extra strenth or Gax X. If I don't take anything it can get pretty scarey and last a long time. My entire chest throbs, my esophogus feels tight and I feel a pressure on the back of my tongue. Also feel a sudden fatigue.
Carol

[jjack100]

I have suspected for a long time a connection between bloating and the relatively mild case of atrial fibrillation that I've experienced. My doctors, including two cardiologists, are not very good listeners.

For now, I just try to regulate my food intake so I won't bloat. Gas X does help.


J

[Meejee]

Usually after I eat a particularly fatty meal, or if I eat cereal containing milk, in which milk makes me gassy, I start to feel my heart rate increase well above 60 bpm. If I drink 1 or 2 bottles of water, it seems to help a bit and makes me more comfortable. I always have to eat dinner about 3 hours before bed. If not, I will endure the uneasy rapid heart rate which will prevent me from resting. It sometimes also results in heartburn.

Rena

[delcocat]

Thanks for your responses.  You read my post and know I like you are still a work in progress in this atrial fib/ digestive track disorder association.  I did a colon/parasite cleanse.  Also did a liver/gall bladder flush.  I followed this up with a continual supplentation of acidophillus liquid probiotic, mastic gum, papaya enzyme blend after meals or twice a day, lactaid enzyme when I eat dairy and beano when I eat gassy foods.  In the event I still get gas or stomach discomfort I use DGL and sometimes take it once or twice a day any way.  I have been very much improved.  I suspected ulcers and knew I had an acidic condition and all this helped tremendously with no side effects.  Give it a whirl.  Good luck.  Rich

[snowbie28]

I am a 38 year old female.  I have noticed this correlation as well.  I am a vegetarian and tend to be gassy, plus I eat a lot of high fiber foods.  I brought this up at my last visit to the cardiologist.  He said that there is a correlation between gas and Afib.  That gas stimulates the vagus nerve.  He advised me to take GasX.  The problem for me is that it seems to help me temporarily, but ultimately causes me to become constipated.  Then I have to take another pill.....and it goes on.  Anyway, you are not "crazy".  I have a friend younger than me that has AFib and she had a episode of Afib when she had food poisoning.  The vomiting seemed to "kick it off".    

[ed34]

My heart problems were misdiagnosed for 12 months as a stomach disorder because
I only received chest pains after eating. After a build up of gas and releasing it, the
pains seemed to subside considerably. One of the symptoms I gave the cardiologists
on the day of my Heart attacks was "lots of wind".
The digestive system required a large amount of oxygen to digest food and this is what
triggered my heart attacks in the end. It stands to reason that there is a link between
the two. After being stented it was great to be able to eat again but as other vessels
have become worse, the problem is returning and I have to eat little but often. If I eat a
meal and try to walk for more than 2 mins, I am on my knees gasping for air. If I have
just a very small snack, I can walk for over a mile with just a small amount of throat
discomfort.

[sheila41]

Definitely, there is a connection,when my heart races, it's always after a heavy meal, and then trying to walk or something. I also have told doc.many times, but she just gives me more antacids, which do nothing at all for the vagus problem, which she didn't even acknowledge. Antacids make it worse most often.  I darn't go out for a meal, which I would love to do, as even the getting up and then walking afterwards makes a crisis situation.  SO, YES THERES A CONNECTION -  AND NO I HAVN'T FOUND A DOCTOR WHO WANTS TO DO ANYTHING (OTHER THAN GET YOU OUT OF THE SURGERY ASAP)   Best wishes.

[delcocat]

Thanks for your responses.  i check back and like to hear whats going on and to see if anyone not only has this but what they or their dr.'s have done.  If you like try some of my suggestions above in one of my post or in this one.  Also, one thing I did not mention in past post when I
started this is that anxiety also can bring this rapid heart rate and or atrial fibrilation on as well.  Being bloated, gassy, uncomfortable in your stomach and or digestive tract can bring on anxiety.  It can be a vicious cycle.  I don't like getting afib because I often have to endure a full day (between 6-14 hours) of misery.  When this happens I do a few things.  If I feel it will be around for a while I generally take 1/2 to 1 plain aspirin for good measure and prevention.  I try to relieve the acid, gas and bloat sometimes with a teaspon or two dose of epsom salt disolved in 8 oz of water which usually results in a complete clean out from any where between a 1/2 hour to 3 hours of taking it.  I then juice a large glass a mix of carot, parsley & several stalks of celery and drink it slowly to replace any missing vitamins or minerals and drink water to keep hydrated.  I eat lightly (only veg or chicken broth and or toast).   Theres no particular order however I think its important to  keep all the medications ie., aspirin/magnesium etc.
seperated by atleast an hour.  Another thing I should mention is that everyone is different and may experience or have this for different reasons.  I like many of you have been check by doctors and they really don't know why I (or in a lot of case) people get this.  Rule out any illness first.  i can tell you I never get afib for example when I excersise or exert myself (thank goodness)   I have suffered with digestive problems ie., acid, gas, bloat, ibs, possible ulcer and inflamation (inflammation) etc. and its usually when I don't watch and am very bad with my diet (go off the wagon) when I get this and its usually seperated by 6 months or more.  But thats me.  If you try any of the stuff I have done then I would love to know if any of it helps you but I am no doctor and am not prescribing anything, making any claims and taking no responsibility for any result.  Good luck!  -RICH-

[jheaven]

I have been experiencing the same symptoms for about six months now.  I seem to have sometimes dull sometimes sharp pains under my breast bone.  I get bloated very easily after eating.  I burp a lot of stomach gas.  Lots of belching ensues.  Sometimes I feel like my esophagus swells up and then I can feel my heart beating in my chest, the fluttering and butterfly feeling.  Then, this irregular beating in my chest scares me and causes anxiety, then the viscous cycle repeats.  The anxiety causes more chest pain, more gas, and more discomfort.  I have been trying everything to treat myself.  Changed my diet (was drinking lots of soda and taking NSAID pain relievers every day) for the most part, but due to my work schedule I do eat too much fast food to this day.  I drink nothing but water now, I have been watching everything I do.  I wait tables at night so being on my feet seems to always help, and these pains occur a lot less.  Also they seem to have gotten better by doing 2 weeks course of Prylosec OTC.  But still I am not "cured" and I just had an episode today.

My doctor visits all said the same thing. That anxiety, ibs, and stress have led to ulcers and my stomach being torn to shreds with acid. And then they give me antacids and send me on my way.  Well, all of this seems logical, but why has my stomach not healed after months and months of diet changing and antacid treating?  

I have been noticing that anxiety (watching a big football game) along with eating gassy food (like a bratwurst) can bring this on as apposed to just another day.  Also my episode today was brought on by me eating less than 3 hours before I went to sleep (around 1.5 hours).  When I woke up this morning I could tell my stomach and esophogus were upset with me, and when I finally ate lunch (several tums, water, and a prilosec later) 15 minutes or so later the bloating and heart fluttering kicks in.  

Please if anyone knows a way to heal yourself from this condition let me know.  I have been living in discomfort for 6 months and I am afraid that my 29 years of Moutain Dew and Taco Bell finally caught up with me....

[cqberry]

There is a connection. It could be food additives causing some type of allergic reaction. Just guessing on that. I've had the fatigue, bloating, shortness of breathe, racing heart. Sometimes when I haven't eaten. I'm extremely fatigued most of the time. My sleep patterns are all out of whack. Have eppisodes of hives on occasion. I've always been told the same thing. Depression and anxiety. I'm not buying that **** anymore. But what can we do about it? Nothing. Just keep taking the antidepressants, antihistamines, and antacids. No wonder we're tired.

[delcocat]

To: jheaven & others
Hello j.  Sorry to hear of your dilemna.  By the sound of it you are describing what I and others have experienced.  It sounds also like you have also visited the doctors and other than the stomach & digestive troubles you are relatively healthy.  Have you read the other posts by myself.  Please look at them and you'll get some more insight as to what i have gone thru and some things that i've done that helped more than I can do here.  I will try and give you a quick overview and some suggestions.  First it is entirely possible to get afib via gas bloat and other stomach and digestive tract disorders.  If your stomach and digestive tract is as described then you must have inflamation (inflammation).  All this inflamation (inflammation) and bloat and gas will push up on your diaphram and surrounding areas and cause great discomfort and pain but also can press upon nerves.  One of the nerves could be the vagus nerve and the afib may be vagul induced afib by exerting pressure on it and cause your heart to pump harder and disrupt the firing pattern of your heart causing it to go into fibrilation.  You still need to re-evaluate your eating.  There are many foods and beverages that produce and cause inflamation (inflammation), gas, acid and bloat etc.  Stopping all carbonated beverages was a good start but apparently not enough.  You need to cut out all junk food and fast food.  You need to eat lighter more spaced out meals and include better for you foods such as raw fruits and vegetables etc.  i would recommend when eating any food that may cause gas such as beans use beano.  If you have any kind of dairy take lactaid.  The worst thing you can do is take any antacids all of which you mentioned.  These may give quick temporary relief but mere hours later come back to haunt you with a vengence.  They actually cause you to produce an over abundance of acid and really inflame your digestive tract so food you've eaten has no way to flow smoothly down its pathway kind of like a backed up sink.  I would recommend getting a good probiotic and some digestive enzymes.  Your ulcers I would recommend trying mastic gum every day as directed for a few weeks.  This can help heal ulcers and perhaps kill the bacteria that cause it.  If you get gas there are other things you can try for relief ie., try baking soda in water ( disolve completely first!), licorice, dgl, cumin powder, fennel etc.  If your really backed up you may need to flush your system and colon out.  I like using epsom salt in water.  Make sure your not on any meds that might not be good combination.  Try 2 or 3 teaspons in glass of water then repeat several hours later.  Drink plenty of water in between.  After you feel really cleaned out give your system a rest and drink only clear soup broth and green teas the next day.  Gradually ad stomach friendy food like low fat yogurt.  Keep an eye on what upsets you or look up on line about food combining and check PH foods vs acidic foods.  Do some walking or light excercising and do not eat atleast 4-5 hours before bed.  If your hungry have only a light protein snack.  This even now is still a work in progress for me but I feel a lot better.  I am trying to figure out whether getting this has caused what I suspect to be a succeptible area or pocket somewhere that may or may not heal with time?  If I go off the wagon or forget to do what I mentioned then I can get that jolt or funny feeling and afib may result.  So far 8 months and counting with no episodes.  Well, I hope some of this helps.  Let me/us know and good luck.  -Rich- delcocat

[bruce587]

I find it interesting that your questionnaire has NO OPTION to state that we have a contrary opinion and don't think our AFIB is related to stomach gas.

[delcocat]

Hi bruce587,

    Thanks for your statement.  There is actually a very good reason I didn't place any other options for this questionaire.  Afib is for the most part still a mystery all the way around and there are still more questions than answers.  I feel this affliction, the susceptibility to it or disease if you will has many possible causes and can be unique to the individual.  My reason for starting this page and another corresponding page at          ( http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Heart-Disease/Atrial-Fibrillation--Stomach-Gas--Digestive-Tract-Problems-/show/767987 )  was my quest in seeking knowledge and answers to a condition which sprang from my own personal experiences with it.  My other reason was to impart some knowledge I gained hopefully that might help others if they felt that they too may also fit into this category?  I had been through all the test.  I am relatively healthy and in my own case started noticing a pattern where by it became clear to me that there did seem to be an association between my afib attacks and digestive troubles namely gas and or bloat.  The gas sometimes wasn't obvious or noticeable but never the less hours later into afib I would get this gurgling in a particular area in my gut and eventualy would release gas either by burping or by relieving myself in the bathroom.  Once this happened enough the afib would go away either instantly or soon after.  I've learned quite a bit about afib, myself and digestive related problems.  There is a probability that since the pathways of nerve impulses to the brain via the stomach and coronary system are the same that if there is pressure placed on either there could be disruption in the pathway signals to the brain and or organs that ultimately disrupt things enough which just may send a person afibin.  Certain doctors (particularly heart) have considered a certain correlation and state it possibly to be vagus nerve induced atrial fibrillation.  I saw a correlation in my case and wanted to know if others suspected the same?  I didn't know in the beginning or at the time if it this was the sole cause and now know it is not in all cases but the possibility that it is in many could potentially open the doors to relief for so many if it is a cause!  Digestive problems as you probably are aware have become a big problem too.  While there still seems to be much to learn about these I think in general we have a better handle on them.  Our fast paced society, stressful living, wrong food choices, unhealthful living etc. for example are what generally bring these on.   Even though the medical community attaches names to these symptoms and now call them diseases like collitus, irrital bowel, reflux etc. and generally treat the symptoms as opposed to the cause with drugs making these conditions come back again and again sometimes with a vengence are still believe it or not seemingly more easily addressed and treatable.  In my opinion its not so far fetched to see afib as another possible symptom to digestive disorders and some people are susceptible to it and some aren't.  Either way both are bad but the afib is misserable and being what it is and having doctors look at you not knowing the cause and wanting to run test after test and place you on drugs prior to even knowing an actual cause can make for a lot of worry and stress.  Any way the above stated are the reasons why I limited the input on this particular questionaire to what i did.  It wasn't meant to exclude other possibilities or other sufferers of this affliction.  If this is one
example of a possible cause then I would say it is probably the least serious and potentially most treatable.  The others what ever they may ultimately be may be of more serious concern and require more attention, test, research and treatment which is or would be outside most of our parameters.  I hope this helps.  -Rich-

[kennvido]

I first got a bout with AF after eating a fried chicken dinner and being very tired at age 23 the evening of July 8th 1979. I had just graduated college living in Orlando and was burning the candles at both ends and eating as a college kid eats.
Now, I am 53 and had had bouts for 30 years. I had GAD pretty bad in the 80’s, but go over most of that. I have experienced panic and anxiety attacks over this, but which came first the chicken or the egg??? No pun intending. My resting rate is around 60.
I have noticed, as a precursor, to getting AF straight out or getting a fast heartbeat and then it goes into AF, with having gas or cramping in my ascending colon or stomach area (right side cramping or gas or bloating). Got that tonight at about 3 AM which is why I am here with my monologue. The bout lasted less than 5 minutes and as I write this I am passing gas. Aren’t you glad I shared that info? Oh, yesterday I am some Oreo’s and normally don’t eat those, bingo… constipation. But, I do drink a lot of water, it’s my favorite drink.
Have had 3 colonoscopies and the same amount endoscopies over the 30 years, oh and the upper and lower GI’s as well, and each shown healthy parts thank goodness. Sometimes when I get constipated from eating foolishly the AF can creep up. Sometimes when I am asleep lying on one side AF will start, I'll get frightened, which doesn't help. MANY times I will eat scrambled eggs and toast with a hot drink, or hot water, pass gas, and it will go back to sinus rhythm. I can't tell you how many times I have gone to the ER over the years, had EKG's, heart echoes looking for MVP and other things and they can't find anything wrong. I DID have a doctor say yes the gas and gut upset could the AF, so he did think out of the box.
I can move mountains, walk fast, exercise, mow the lawn, and when the kids were young go up so many stairs at the water parks it wasn’t funny and nothing, never got AF when doing those physical things and NEVER got chest pains or fainted. That even goes for the times I was in AF, never chest pains or fainted. Yet on a cruise I got it on the ship. SOOOO much food, gut not used to it? I ask what do you think?
I can go months without it or get it 3 times in one week. Seems like when I get it more than once a week I am having gut problems. I so much think it is food, gas, cramping, and constipation related. So, glad to know others have it because it drives me nuts sometimes thinking I’m the only one out here…
It can last for less than five minutes, like it just did, or go on for 20 hours and then go back to normal sinus on it's own as it has for over 30 years. I notice the more I would stretch or manipulate my gut with my fingers, the quicker the AF would go to sinus. Or eat something like the scrambled eggs or a banana or hot soup it seems to start peristalsis and I would get over the bout. The more I remained not moving, the longer the bout lasted. Sometimes, yes sometimes, I can extend my arms over my head and it will go to sinus, but not ALL the time. Now, is this crazy or what? But, it’s true!!!! I get so frustrated when I get it. It's like what did I do wrong to get it now. Please get back to me on this, so I know I have some brothers and sisters out there with similar situations. It’s just a relief to relate to others with this malady. God Bless all of you for reading my little diatribe and understanding.

[GlenBlanchard]

I am so grateful to read all of your experiences and know that I am not alone with this A-Fib thing!  I have been telling all the doctors I have seen that I really think this is related to gas.  I can remember always explaining it this way "I feel some pressure in my chest, my heart flutters, I burp, and the pressure goes away and my heart goes back to normal."  Now that sort of thing doesnt really scare me (premature ventricular beats).  What scares me is when I go into full blown A-fib.  It has happened only 4 times in my life, when I was 19, 21, 23, and now just last year when I was 29.  The first time it happened I thought i was having a heart attack!!

The first time was due to lack of sleep and drinking, the 2nd time was due to food poisoning and throwing up all night, the third time was drinking and not sleeping.  This last episode came out of the blue and think was due to my diet.  I was diagnosed with "Holiday Heart" soon after and since the last time it happened I have pills in my pocket if it happens again.

Anyway, after it happens the first time you cant help but be sensitive to every heart beat.  I can feel my heart beating at all times, I know as soon as something is wrong ... doctors generally dont believe that when I tell them.

I also noticed something after the first time.  I felt as if I could not get a full breath sometimes.  Not like "shortness of breath" but it felt as if my diaphragm was not expanding all the way sometimes.  Just thought I would throw that out there since we all have so much in common.

Since I have been studying myself for the past 11 years I have no doubt that my afib is aggrevated by gas and indigestion.

I find it odd that anxiety is coming up a lot.  I never had anxiety before this happened and I am convinced that any anxiety attack I have had since is because I am nervous about A-fib.  Anxiety is the side effect of A-fib in my opinion, not the other way around!

[delcocat]

Hey GlenBlanchard, Welcome!  Everything you put out there makes sense and can contribute to afib.  Drinking & throwing up and even sweating a lot can really throw your electrolytes out of balance particualrly potassium and magnesium which both help keep regular heart rythm.  Lack of sleep for any reason hurts you since this is when your body repairs itself and balances out your system funtions.  Stress and all the above can lead to anxiety which can also cause afib.  Anxiety is a funny thing and is another discussion in itself.  You may be right in your case about anxiety coming on as a result of being nervous but it can be brought on seemingly out of no where for many reasons and it can place a person that suffers with it into a vicious cycle of misery if not brought under control (something I know can be hard to do particularly once you go into afib or think you are).  Holiday heart is what doctors call a person that goes into afib and they have no other explanation for it other than you specifying that you drank and partied a lot.  I have no doubt theres a connection between afib and gas, bloat, indigestion or perhaps what causes them.  Its not a natural state for our bodies to be in.  An occasional bout of gas etc is to be expected but I've noticed with myself and others that it is usually more severe than that particularly once we see this connection.  Ever see how over the last few years this has become so common and the medical community now calls these diseases and attaches names to them like gerd, ibs, reflux etc.?  For some that are lucky it may just be a case of modifying what they eat for a time and make some adjustments to help make a healthier lifestyle however for others I think it can be more complicated.  We all carry around in us to varying degrees bacteria, viruses, parasites, yeast, mold etc.  Its now my belief its one or combination of these that is the under lying cause probably due to poor eating habbits and drugs and antibiotic use that ultimately cause these things to rip into our digestive tract causing these so called diseases.  Once brought under control your body will adjust and heal and hopefully afib can be a thing of the past.  Drugs and medicine unfortunately are not the answer in most cases and only make matters worse.  My quick recommendations are to reduce stress, get proper rest and sleep, moderate exercise, adjust what your eating to include healthier choices, ad a good broad spectrum probiotic to your daily diet, stop smoking, no alcohol, no drugs (unless prescribed and absolutely necessary), no coffee or soda etc.  Keep notes on what your eating - if something seems to bother you ditch it from your eating plan.  If you eat anything you suspect is gassy use beano, if you eat dairy try lactaid.  Try this for a couple weeks and see how you do.  There are many more things you can try and experiment with if this all doesn't do the trick some of which are listed in other postings.  Good luck and be well!  -Rich-

[Reify]

I've had this condition for at least 15 years. I have been told by at least five doctors, including 3 cardiogists that there was no link between gastric upset and arrhythmia.  Like all of you - I was sure...I just knew there has to be.  I was on vacation last year and found among the small library at our cottage a very thick old book from the 1930's which was a collection of Physician symposia on every medical condition and health matter immaginable - yes, the book was about 8 inches thick and the font miniscule.  There was, of course a huge section on the heart and heart health and heart conditions; AND,  there it was, my friends - about ten or twelve pages dedicated to arrhythmia and it was there-in stated quite clearly by several physicians - that the vast majority - not just some - but the vast majority (I'm almost certain it said over 90%) of common heart arrhythmias were caused by gastric distress and not by problems related to the heart itself. They went on to give several case studies to back up their claims.  Now, please don't be upset with me when I tell you I don't know the name of the book or the physicians who delivered this symposium - the book's still at our cottage in Hew Hampshire and I'm here in Pennsylvania - but I will be back up there eventually and will update this for you.  In the meantime - think Old School, because I swear, based on my experiences with old and new doctors - those Old Schoolers knew general physiology and cause and effect better - and were willing to talk about it - than new ones. I kept my pediatrician right through college until he retired because the man was so knowledgable and always had an explanation for what was going on and he always made complete sense

[ulua808]

Ya I think they are somewhat related..its hard to describe but when I feel my stomach bubbling or before number two my heart will flutter..Also I think I have found somthing very new and weird..everytime before my mind is aware that I have to go urinate my heart flutters and lets my mind no before my body is even aware..weird but i swear on my life true.

[delcocat]

Can't wait to hear what book that is!  Nice job!

[delcocat]

Nope your not crazy.  The search for answers continues.  Stay tuned!

[ccf344]

Hi delcocat,
I too suffer from atrial fibrillation due to stomach gas although not as bad as some of the other posters on this forum. One product that helped me tremendously id Digest RC. It is made with natural extracts and has been used in Europe for the last fifty years. Sells for about $15 dollars online (30 capsules two capsules a day usually). If you buy your supplements from Life Extension and you're a member it is cheaper still. Hope this helps. Website: http://www.cxresearch.net/

[delcocat]

Hey ccf344 good to know.  As you've surmised I'm convinced digestive disorders to be a cause in a lot of afib cases.  I've heard of the product you mention but never tried it yet myself.   My troubles fortunately have been few and far between but maybe I'll just give this supplement a try.  

[Jay195456]

Stomach bloating lets me know  that I am in afib.    The doctors claim this is unusual, but when I say I am in afib I am 100% correct.  When I am in afib my stomach bloats when  I walk.  While I am sitting I am fine but once I  start moving around I can feel my stomach boating and makes it difficult to walk.  Have anybody else experienced this problem.  I am in afib as I type and at this point do not know what to do  being the doctor do not want to cardiovert because it only last about 3 weeks and I am back in afib again.   During my last visit the doctor told me that I would have to stay in constant afib.

[delcocat]

Hi jay,

    Sorry to hear.  I assume you've been checked out and everything other than the afib and bloat episodes you seem fine?  If this is the case then perhaps you are backed up and might benefit from cleaning your digestive tract out.  Try an 8 oz glass of prune juice. Then try another glass a few hours later.  Drink plenty of water in between.  The prune juice has naturally a lot of magnesium and potassium (both good heart regulators) and this should have you going to the bathroom several times and ultimately should clean you out and calm the gas and bloat.  When you start eating again eat very light like clear soup broth and toast or tea.  Start a good probiotic.  Don't take antacids as they will make things worse and put you in an even worse acid state.  Stay away from gasseous causing foods or ones you suspect might cause you bloat.  Good luck.  

[tarmo]

I have had some or all of the symptoms of all who have described their afib episodes but I've not heard anyone say if they are taking any prescription medicine from their doctors for afib.  ie rythmol, amodarone,  etc. and or any others. I agree that it seems diet related but do any of you take precsripton medications help it? It is 12 midnight and I am going through an "event" of afib and am looking at a new rx for rythmol in front of me and wondering if I take it at this hour and have a bad side effect -which is worse the afib or the bad side effect especially since I live 45 min. from a hosp. Would appreciate a comment..........thanks gail

[LindaTX]

How often and how long are your a-fib episodes?  I assume the Dr. just prescribed the Rhythmol for the first time.  I have a long history of a-fib and finally had an ablation last Sept.  I continued to have a-fib episodes almost constantly for 3 months until I was put on a very high dose of flecainide.  It's in the same class as Rhythmol but has worked better for me in the past.  Has your a-fib always converted on it's own or have you ever had to be cardioverted?  I wish I could be more helpful but everyone is different and responds to meds differently so I would have to say follow your Dr.'s orders.

[delcocat]

Hi linda.  Your right!  Everyone is different.  This means those suffereing with episodes of afib may have varying reasons for getting them.  Age does not seem to matter as it can afflict a 20 year old as easily as a 70 year old.  There also differing frequency of occurrences and how long they last.  Some people are in poor health and some are seemingly in very good health yet still get attacks.  Drugs are needed in many instances and the answer for some but not necessarily in others.  I'm of strong opinion that digestive tract problems can lead to episodes of afib.   The answer to many of your questions can be found in these posts.  I hope you find them useful.  Good luck and let us know how you do.    

[kingofswat109]

Yes, I too have the same problem with bloating when I walk.  While I am sitting, I have feel great, but the minute I get up and start to exercise even simple walking, I bloat miaking it hard for me to breathe.  I too have found no one who seems to care and will listen.  Most of the doctors we we see today are specialists in only one thing thus they have no "general" knowledge of how the overall body functions.  Let me know if anyone gets any help.

kingofswat 109

[kattiemk]

definitely think it's related. great relief to see others with a lot of the same symptoms. I am 39, have had a lot of belching for about 10 years, it started very abruptly, i had a bad diet, didn't eat all day and ate late at night. docs dismiss it, and so did i.

I had my first a-fib attack about 2 weeks ago and am doing as much googling as possible to learn as much as i can because i'm so afraid of it coming back and am realizing that other people with a-fib also have had the belching/gassy problem.

last night i went into the emergency room again because my heart rate was rapid even though i've been on a beta blocker since the a-fib attack, also my heart felt like it was pounding harder than normal in my chest. i knew something wasn't right, but at the hospital they told me everything looked good, i'm guessing my beta blocker kicked in and my heart rate went back to normal, but it still felt like it was pounding harder than normal.

I can't decide it my problem is vagal and diet related or adrenergic and adrenaline/stress related.
Can anyone tell me if there is a definite way to tell if it's vagal or adrenergic?

I would greatly appreciate a response, and good luck to everybody.

[rocketdoug]

I am a 51 year-old male who also had the first known AFIB episode at age 39.  The first time it happened, I had been up half the night before after being awakened by a loud noise outside my hotel room.  I had jet lag and had been traveling extensively across many time zone for the past 2 weeks.  I had also taken pseudophenedrine and Pepcid that morning.

I have had 4 major episodes of AFIB since then and many short-lived minor episodes of either AFIB or PAT's.  It always starts the same way:  a panicky, lightheaded feeling along with an intense need to belch.  It feels like the entire contents of a large truck innertube are in my stomache.  The pressure is so great that it distends my diaphragm, and makes it VERY hard to let the gas out.  When it gets to this point, the best action for me to take is chewing a Gas-X tablet along with half of a 25mg Metoprolol tablet.  

There is no doubt in my mind that the gas is the cause of my AFIB episodes.  There is also no doubt in my mind that what is causing all my problems is known as "Roemheld Syndrome"  - - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roemheld_syndrome.  All of the doctors I talk to so far think that I'm a raging hypochondriac, so I have to research the problem further on my own.  

We are NOT crazy!  It is a serious STOMACHE problem that manifests itself with cardiac symptoms.

[dumdaire]

I was driving home one night with the family and for about ten minutes my heart went nuts. I thought I'd have to pull over and call 911. When we got home I went to the bathroom and did my stuff. Well, whamo no more heart issues!

[stowaway]

At the age of 65 it was discovered that I actually had a second smaller stomach attached to my diaphragm. It was floopy and shutting off so I had my digestive tract rebuilt and have been pretty healthy since (now 74). Shortly after the operation however I had Atrial Fibrillation, which I had never had before. At first there was no obvious reason and I was cardioverted with no problem. I subsequently have one or two episodes a year and it was evident that gas and bloating was the culprit. I had to give up beer and carbonated beverages, also gas producing veggies, particularly Broccoli. Still finding triggers after 9 years. GasX works well but the magic bullet for me are Charco caps, not available in Canada, so I stock up in the USA. Two capsules usually stops gas in 30 minutes. Travelling and functions are the toughest because you are never sure what you are eating. The doctors have never given me a definite reason but the most common theory is that my organs are not exactly in the right location and when my stomach is bloated it presses on the pericardium.

[delcocat]

stowaway description sounds logical.  I responded to a gent who was inquiring and since I haven't posted here in a little while here is what I wrote.  I blocked out his name since he contacted me personally and he may want privacy.  This is the essence of why i started this thread along with another.  Hi B*******,  Yes I actually started this thread and have listened to and offered a lot of my own experiences and input.  Sounds like you and I are similar in the amount and time frame of attacks.  As you stated you can become preoccupied with worrying whether it happens again.  What I have done to deal with this however is to become more preoccupied with why it might occur, take notes and take a hands on approach to minimize it from happening again.  I'm convinced that in many cases such as myself that my digestive tract has been compromised and that there seems a correlation between my digestive tract health and my predisposition for getting an afib attack.  Example is if I eat the wrong foods over a few day period that my digestive system becomes backed up, bloated, acidic as a result.  When my colon on the left side just below my rib cage starts distending and giving me ibs like symptoms this is where i get into the danger zone and threat of afib.  My suggestion is to read the threads, learn what it is you feel may be causing your own afib (my case remember seems in my opinion digestive related) and then take steps to learn as much about the cause as possible and treat it and see if you get good results.  There are so many causes besides just getting older and your digestive tract slowing down that cause digestive problems that it can be staggering and a cure just as ellusive.  Stress, poor eating habbits or poor combining of foods that create an acidic condition causing inflamation (inflammation), parasites, bacteria, virus, fungus, yeast, smoking, alcohol, drugs (both otc or prescribed like antibiotics etc), over weight, little exercise, over doing it with herbal supplements etc all can contribute.  Once the digestive tract is compromised from years of neglect either known or unbeknownst to yourself it can be a real challenge bringing it back.  I'm still a work in progress.  I do good for a while then i go off track and it comes back.  A vicious cycle.  Doctors unfortunately know little about either condition and more often than not refuse to believe one has to do with the other.  Then they often prescribe things that often make matters worse even when in some cases they might seem to give initial temporary relief.  Things such as antacids, antibiotics, antidepressants generally don't work.  In some instances the prescription is for surgery such as ablation. Unfortunately I have known personally two cases that this did not cure the afib.  This is why I started this thread.  I assume by your description you have been checked out probably several times by several doctors and had tests and showed your relatively healthy?  If not I suggest that would be a good first step.  I hope this helps you out. Keep reading and if you have any info or results let us know by posting.  I wish you luck!  -Rich-

[HT125]

I started  experiencing heart palpitation about 3 weeks ago. I am a 52 year old male. The day it started I had a bagel and cream cheese and lox for breakfast. This was unsual because my normal breakfast is about 1/2 cup of oatmeal. For lunch that day I had salmon again with salad. I felt good about myself and after lunch I decided to get out of the office and do the right thing- walk. I walked around the lake right aross my office at a fairly rapid pace and elevated my heard rate to about 125 to 130 beat/minue. After 1/2 hour of walk I retuned to my chair and started to cool down. All of sudden my heart started to act up. It felt like I had butterfly in my heart and stomach. The heart beats were pronouced and hard, as if my heart was dropping. I had similar feelings when I was younger when I had to take a major test in school or something major was about to happen or like having my first kiss.   The irregular heart rates continued all day and for the next two days to the point that I made an appoint with my doc. i explained to him what happpend. He did an AKG and said it is normal. He listened to my chest and found nothing. I said based on my research it may be an overactive thyroid. He orderd blood test to check that. I said may be it is related to my gasy stomach. I belch a lot. He presecribed acid reflux medicine and said come back in two weeks.    Tomorrow is my appointment time and these two weeks I felt better. I also experienced that after an hour of bike riding on Sunday, during cool down, and for about three hours after that when my heart beat rate was approching at rest rate, palpitations were at their worst . There was no problem during the excersice when I was peddaling uphill and pushing myself. No problem, heart worked like a swiss watch. it was only after the execrise during cool down that heart irregularities kicked in.  

[Noddy11]

I've been wondering for some time if there was some connection between stomach issues and heart palpitations/rapid heart beat. I've been trying to figure out what is wrong with me for a while, but the doctors seem to be very limited thinkers and not capable of much other than flow-chart type logic and haven't been any help.

Like some others, I sometimes feel short of breath and my heart flutters and bumps, and burping often seems to help. I'm sure my diet doesn't help, not so much what I eat but when I eat, which is intermittently and often nothing at all until the afternoon or evening. I'm trying to do better with that though. I tend to chug 3-4 pints of Guinness a night as well, another thing that is probably disastrous.

One thing that frequently happens that bothers me a lot is a short, sharp pain in my chest, left side around/under the breastbone. It is immediately followed by a feeling of warmth in the face and upper body, and a general sense of feeling unwell. It might last fifteen minutes or maybe an hour or more. I am concerned that it might be a heart problem, but the doctors I've seen don't seem to think so. Does anyone else experience this or know what it might be?

I've had a few EKGs, and a year or so ago I had a stress test, followed by a nuclear stress test. Based on that I was sent for a catheterization, but they said it all looked good in there, no significant build-up, or words to that effect. More recently I started wondering if it is a digestive issue, but I don't know what to do next. I guess I'll go see a gastro doctor and see if I can figure out what is going on. I've found this whole thing quite troubling and it can dominate my thoughts for long periods of time, wondering if I'm going to drop dead at any moment.

[Brianmsh]

I've been trying to figure this out for 8 months now! My first scare was an ER visit because of a strange dizziness that I experienced. I got a full checkup ($12k insurance hit) every type of scan and test only to be sent away as a possible vertigo case. I didn't buy it. I would randomly feel my heart skip and flutter which would cause the dizziness if I was walking upstairs or pushing myself. I also feel a strange pressure on top of my head. I met with a holistic doctor who gave me a multizyme and other vitamins and it seemed to improve things for a few months but it came back so I kept searching. Went back to my gen doc, tested blood (results normal, except cholesterol could be better) did a echo test and 24hr heart monitor and results were normal. Next I tried a Chiropractor and treated my neck for a possible pinched nerve for one month- symptoms stayed. Tried a 30 day health cleanse, kicked dairy, glutton, and sugar and stuck to the program. I lost 20 lbs which is great but now it seems like I'm more sensitive to certain foods causing stomach gas.
I just recently linked my heart palps to gas/indigestion! I can predict when they are coming just by what I feel or hear from my stomach. I had a really scary episode last week that landed me back in the ER. I felt like my heart stopped- scared me to death so we went in. They hooked me up to the EKG for an hour or so and the heart palps happened while I was being monitored. Again- I know when they are about to happen so I would tell the nurse to watch. I felt pressure in my stomach- and heart beats dropped from 100 down to around 60- then I felt the missing beats and my heart rate shot back up to 110! This happened at least 4 times while I was there. The doctor said that the gas and heart rate have no relation whatsoever. They had no explanation why my heart raced and dropped for no reason while I laid there! Sent me home and said to try a cardio doc.
I've discovered one thing that helps a ton while I'm trying to sleep (and my heart is jumping around) and that is St Johns Wort in liquid form- about half of a cough syrup medicine cup.
Sounds crazy but trust me- this has been the only thing that seems to help. I only use it when I really can't fall asleep (due to my heart palps)
I went to a gastro doc and he said the same thing- no relation to heart. He wants to do a colonoscopy but I'm not sure I want to go thru with that nightmare. Reading these posts have helped and I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling this. I will try some of your remedies as well.
The theory that makes any sense to me is the vagal nerve being bothered. I will continue to research and let you guys know if I find something that fixes this annoying condition!

[ChiefThunderbutt]

I have suspected a correlation between gas and my a-fib for many years.  I have mentioned this to both GPs and cardiologists and been poo-pooed or openly laughed at in all cases.  I take Metoprolol twice daily and have very few episodes of a-fib now but those I do have are usually accompanied by lots of burping which seems to afford some relief.  

[Transplanter]

I also have noticed that  when I get an A-fib episode that it is always associated with gas.  I get the urdge to belch and when I do the symptoms lessen.  On occasion when an exceptionally large gas release occurs the A-fib goes away very soon thereafter.  I have noticed the correlation of gulping liquids, some carbonated and some not (water) just prior to the onset of the A-fib.  Naturally I avoid that now.  Also usually it occurs directly after a large meal, but not always.  I have been to the emergency room twice during extreemly bad episodes and all they do is monitor it, giv some drugs, which I don't know if they do anything, and perscribe Coumiden to prevent blood clots when the next episode happens.  I don't take the Coumiden any longer as I believe the side effects were worse than the benifits.  I like the idea of taking asprin on the onset of an episode to lessen clotting.  Any ideas about that?  I should mention that I am a Kidney transplant patient.  One in 1990 lasted 13 years, and the current one I now have in 2007.  So I take many drugs, anti-rejection, and blood pressure, plus a few others.  I'm sure that these chemicals have some bearing on the A-fib, but as has been said in this forum getting an answer out of a Dr. is all but impossible.

[jakv]

Three years ago I had cardiac ablation following nearly 40 years of mild episodes of tachycardia for which I never sought medical treatment.  As a child my mother said that everyone had occasional bouts of tachycardia, so I didn’t think anything of it.  She should have said that everyone on her side of the family had them!  Anyway, the episodes increased after I was 50 to the point of blacking out, hence the ablation for a diagnosis of SVT.

After I had the cardiac ablation, I thought my problem was solved.  However, for the past few months, I have been having mild episodes of irregular heartbeat and tachycardia different from what I had before. These episodes usually occur after lunch or dinner and last from a few minutes to hours.  Last week, my heart burbled around for several hours making me feel a little tired, but not overly bad.  I had indigestion and kept belching with discomfort in my left side under the breastbone.  My husband picked me up after work.  We were supposed to go out for a nice dinner, but I felt so bad that we parked for nearly an hour in the ER parking lot.  My heart was beating funny and I kept burping, so I thought maybe it was just indigestion.  Finally I decided we should just go to dinner.  I’d either get a lot worse or maybe feel better.  I drank several glasses of water when we arrived.   A trip to the restroom where I passed gas made my heart better.  Seemed like a crazy thing to have happen.

I have low blood pressure, usually 90/60, so thought maybe I wasn’t eating enough or not eating right.  I’ve been trying to eat better all week and the heart’s been fine.  Then Friday night again, so we go out for Mexican this time.  Within an hour, I have terrible bloating and belching, but no heart problem.  I lie down in bed, propped up with an extra pillow.  When I wake up a couple hours later, my heart is pounding so hard that I can feel it in my ears.  This continues for several minutes.  I still have intense bloating.  Then I pass gas and my heart instantly slows down to regular rhythm.  I’m convinced that the heart problem I am having now is somehow connected to my digestive tract.

[delcocat]

Lots of good observations, posts and comments right above here.  As I mentioned previously there can be many causes that trigger afib.  As one mentioned above thyroid is a suspect in many cases both low or high.  If it is supplementing with kelp or iodine can help.  Just check with a doctor to see that it would be o.k. and not interfere with any other meds etc and definately don't over do as more is not better and can make matters worse.  Digestive woes are still my number one suspect and any eating or drinking that causes acid and inflamation (inflammation) will cause a backing up and bloating like a clogged sink.  Now many things cause digestive problems but to get to a point were it seemingly can bring on an afib episode is perhaps some distance beyond the occasional heart burn and belly ache.  Its my opinion and observation that something in the digestive tract is broken and we have become hypersensitive in a region of our digestive tract (for me left side just below rib cage)  that once activated causes spasms which activate the vagus or other nerves leading to the heart causing it to speed up and spasm.  Unfortunately until researchers can get a hold of some good candidates and really look into this it seems were kind of on our own and have to figure out what works for us.  Prevention here is key and eating foods and drinking drinks that are acidid to the body are something to avoid.  I think bacteria such as ecoli and H. pylori or yeast (fungus or over growth there of) can also be present and love when we eat that way causing much grief.  One thing that helps me when I don't watch and I feel those twitches and twinges that an episode may be iminent I drink prune juice (10 oz usually sufficient) and I try not to lie down right away or crouch or slouch in a way that places pressure on that region I mentioned.  This seems to help in a few ways.  Number one prune juice is loaded with the natural heart regulators and relaxants of potassium and magnesium.  It seems soothing and will cause everything in your digestive tract to move and ultimately make you poop like a race horse cleaning all the nasty acid and bloat causing stuff out.  Sometimes I'll need two or three treatments.  Sipping a couple glasses of water as a follow up so you don't dehydrate is a good idea and following up with clear soup broths and tea and dark toast for the next day til everything normalizes and any acid and bloat is gone.  So many things have helped me but I ultimately want that magic bullet everyone seeks as a cure.  Thanks for posting, feel better and good luck.  -Rich-   PS -  I have another thread with many who have posted on med help as well.  Take a look.  Lots of good info there.

[afibnomore]

This morning I woke up with bloating/gas had pains, by the time I got to the kitchen to pour a cup of coffe I was in afib.  Here I sit hoping it will go away.
I was diagnosed in 2005, it happened after lying down and getting up from a heavy meal.
The cardiologist told me it was stress and I was in the pill in the pocket mode.  I guess I am a worry-er - but most times when I go into afib I would not think I am unusually stressed.
I find taking the arythmol the cardiologist gave me does take me out of it but so does waiting.  Since taking the drugs seems like I need and go into afib more.

I am currently reading blogs like yours and others and trying Dr.Lams 33 weeks to a natural cure for Afib.  If needed, I would def take the drugs but hope to get a better control of this naturally.
I have a list of supplements and have committed to at least a 30 minute walk every day.
Seems like whether I take the drugs, or not, supplement or not Afib comes and goes.  It is always depressing to me.
I like others on this site feel it is related to a gastro problem.  It is hard for me to believe that no one is researching this - I also believe that it truly is connected to being out of balance.  I am researching several other avenues as in Chinese medicine -  very interesting articles on your Qi being off balance or for us here it could flora etc.  
In the end, if it comes and goes with ot without medicine /ablation I would much rather try these natural alternatives.  Cider vinegar etc.
I like the idea of the AFI tracker on the side of this site - over time it would connect the dots for all.  Thanks for putting this together.  My husband has got to be tired of listening to my thoughta and he really cannot understand what it is I am dealing with.

[pepsi911]

I was told i had afib went in hospital had tests done sonogram/stress test/heart schocked twice and was told i should havea caterter ablation which scared me half to death so cancelled it now i have heart burn and my anxiety is through the roof my questions are can i die from this afib no blockages or blood cots were found i take 5 pills a day and 3 at night am soooo scared inside i can't think of anything else has anyone else had this....i need help...

[delcocat]

Oh yeah a lot of people have had this.  Read what has now become a pretty lengthy blog and you'll see.  Best approach is try and stay calm and relaxed as possible (hard to do I know).  Stress and worry may or may not make it last longer but can definately make you feel more miserable.  Doctors don't have a great bed side manner when it comes to this either making it seem like the world will cave in unless they do something that sounds or may or may not be dramatic.  Your heart burn sounds like a clue.  If the tests cleared you of problems and they don't really know whats causing it then theres a chance it could have been brought about by digestive tract inflamation (inflammation) which is probably why the heart burn.  If you feel bloated like a sink backing up theres another clue.  Sometimes a good deep belch if it comes will bring relief.  Someties its a sneeze that snaps you back to rythm crazy as it sounds.  I think once the inflamation (inflammation), gas & bloat subside then so will the afib.  I personally try to help that along by drinking a large glass of prune juice.  It is high in potassium, magnesium which are important natural heart rythm regulating minerals which many people are deficient and it flushes the gut out by causing a nice bowel movement.  Once I go back to sinus (normal rythm)  I take it easy by only drinking tea, water, soup broth and toast for the next day or so and watch that I do not eat any acid, gas & bloat forming foods (which encompasses about 90% of the usual normal American daily diet)  Once again to show your not alone read this message board and take some comfort in that.  Good luck and feel better.

[delcocat]

PS  -  this started out as my take a survey blog and has grown but check out the related discussions above  •Atrial Fibrillation & Stomach Gas, Digestive Tract Probl... (204 replies): I saw another post about atrial fibrillation and stomach...[more] -

and I have another one with even a lot more posts and information.  

[RICHARD566]

I agree that stomach gases  or other problems can trigger atrial fib/flutter or other arythmias.  I think these things are only the triggers and not the cause. I believe the actual cause is within the atrias.  I think this triggering is related to the vagal nerve.  My last episode started when I had terrible gas and stomach pain at night.  I think it acted as a trigger as most of you have indicated.  

****

[delcocat]

I generally state it as a trigger rather than cause.  If its the atria itself then I would start to worry that there's a lot of people walking around out there including myself with some unknown heart problems.  Tests usually indicate nothing out of the ordinary and there in lies the mystery.  The vagus nerve is suspect and has been.  My theory and actual observation has been that digestive inflammation seems to cause a particular part of the intestine or colon to quiver perhaps in a region that is close enough to the vagus or other nerves running the same pathway that our heart takes to the brain which causes us to respond in kind to the interruption of signal or stimulus giving us (afib/tychardia) or rapid quivering heart. My other observation is that with careful diet, eating less, exercising, controlling stress all seem to help keep this from occurring.  I've gone over a year or more without afib occurring.  Once I let my guard down and eat things I shouldn't in quantifies I shouldn't then it can come back.  I don't think the above is a cure either but that being said there is something going on that has caused us as a society to now have on a massive scale severe digestive problems.  Reflux, IBS, bloat don't state cause but rather symptoms of something going on which again the medical community has few answers.  Since our digestive tract is known and considered to be 85% of our bodies immune defense system then the aforementioned is definitely a problem.  Again this is not proof positive that my observation or theories regarding any connection I've made between digestive tract problems as possible triggers for afib are correct but with what I've experienced and heard others state I say why not?  I was lucky enough to have some symptoms that I was able to pay close attention to which while ironic seemed to coincidental to dismiss.  Some people get few if any symptoms or don't pay attention to them or have not or cannot make the same observation or connection.  Sometimes they don't realize it until they hear about it from someone else or read it in a blog like this one. Hopefully one day soon we'll find more out a lot more about this!

[MACH1NEHEDZ]

I HAVE HAD ON AND OFF A-FIB FOR  8 YRS NOW . IT WAS VERY BAD AT 1ST . IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 3 DAYS . THEN CARDIOVERTED IT WAS LIKE A CIRCUS IN MY HOSPITAL ROOM . VERY SCARY . ALL THE INTERNS WERE POKING THERE HEADS AROUND THE CORNER TO SEE HOW HIGH I FLEW OFF THE BED WHEN THEY SHOCKED MY HEART BACK INTO  NORMAL BEAT .  DOCTOR SAID, NO SMOKING, NO ALCOHOL, ANY SIMULANTS OF ANY KIND MUST BE AVOIDED, NO SALT ETC........ SO I DO ALL THIS  AND .... A-FIB  AGAIN  BUT, NOT AS SEVERE NO DOUBT O2 LEVELS AND STRESS OF DIGESTION TRIGGER MY AF. I NOW GET A LITTLE HEADS UP WHEN I AM GOING HAVE A BOWEL MOVEMENT NOW . MY HEART STARTS SKIPPING BEATS. HOW UNCOOL IS THAT! MY MOM USE TO SAY MY HEAD AND MY ***  MUST BE CONNECTED BUT ITS MY HEART AND MY *** THATS  CONNECTED THIS JUST STARTED 1 MONTH AGO. IF I STAND BURP  AND  POOP.( NOT  ALL AT THE SAME TIME ! ) VIOLA ! AF IS GONE LIKE MAGIC , JUST LIKE A SWITCH WAS FLICKED.  HEY SORRY BOUT THE GRAFICS BUT WERE ALL IN THE SAME FAMILY WHEN IT COMES TO AF. ALOT OF PEOPLE DONT EVEN KNOW THEY HAVE IT ,  THEY JUST FELT TIRED OR WORST FELT NOTHING. MAYBE A LITTLE DIZZY NOT ENOUGH 02 TO THE BRAIN . VERY BAD WHEN YOUR TICKER STOPS FOR 2-3 SECONDS BETWEEN BEATS 5-10 TIMES IN ROW . YOUR SPINNING IN CIRCLES PANIC SETS IN . TAKE TO MUCH  BETA BLOCKER AND I GET A HEART RATE OF 39 BPM  WHEN AF GOES AWAY ALSO BP IS DOWN.  I GOT A BOOK FROM MY VITAMIN SHOPPE , PERSCRIPTION FOR NUTRITIONAL HEALING BY PHYLLIS A. BALCH, IN THE SECTION ON CARDIOVASULAR DISEASE THERE IS A LIST OF AMINO ACIDS, VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO PROMOTE NORMAL HEART FUNCTION.  TAURINE IS AN AMINO ACID THAT I FOUND HAS HELPED REDUCE MY TIME IN AF . THERE ARE MANY MICRO NUTRIENTS MISSING FROM OUR USA FOOD . WE ARE STARVING OURSLELVES AT A CELLULAR LEVEL.  WHEN TAKEN AT RECOMENDED DOSES THESE SUPPLEMENTS SHOULD NOT KILL YOU LIKE THE BIG DRUG COMPANY STUFF. YOU SHOULD CHECK WITH A DOCTOR ALWAYS !ST  BUT , THEY MAY LAUGH AT YOU . MOST DOCTOR DONT NO ANY OTHER WAY. IN SEVERE CASES DRUGS ARE NESSESARY , I HAVE WEENED MYSELF DOWN TO 25 MG ATTENANOL PER DAY. AND MY AF SEEMS TO GO AWAY WITHIN 12 HRS AND MY AF IS NOT AS SEVERE . BUT THIS IS MY RESULT YOUR MAY NOT BE THE SAME AND THESE VITAMINS, AND SUCH AINT CHEAP. THIS BOOK HELPED ME. IT CANT HURT TO CKECK IT OUT . 900 PAGES OF GOOD READING    29.95 IS WHAT I PAID.  I AM GOING FULL TILT ON THE DIGESTIVE TRACT THIS WEEK . PROBIOTICS , ENZYMES, PAPYA MANY LITE MEALS NO EATING LATE NO JUNK FOOD  KEEP CALM  EVEN THOUGH MY AF  STILL COMES AND GOES REGULARLY IT IS WAY BETTER NOW. GOD LUCK YALL ( GOD LUCK IS WHAT I MENT )

[therecombinant]

I have a history of heart disease. I was born with a single ventricle heart. I have had 3 surgeries before and the last one was in 2007. I take medications to maintain my heart and I also get a frequent check with my cardiologist. I have suffered from the palpitations before and yes they were triggered by my gastric problems. I am 19 years old and as usual I like to stay up late, eat fast food and enjoy a life like a normal teenager but my heart issues have always troubled me. It has given me physical distress as well as emotional. Few weeks ago after eating a heavy meal at subways my heart started to flutter/ or skipped a beat or what ever it was the feeling was not good. I felt like my heart sinked in and pumped a huge amount of blood all over my body but the feeling was very very unpleasant. I take beta bockers to control my palps. I went to my cardiologist and after 72 hours of holter monitor he couldn't figure out anything. I too believe it is due to my gastric problem and I am thinking about going to a Gastrologist. I don't know what to do and I am currently on a event monitor. Please let me know if there is any treatment to this.

[delcocat]

Hi, I don't know if there is any specific treatment but you may have answered your own question.  Prevention may be key and eating less of what bothers you would be a good start.  Eat healthier choices that won't cause you gastric distess and eat lighter and don't gorge on junk food.  Get a good full 8 hours sleep will help also.   Read the post for other possible tips and keep us posted on any progress.  Good luck and thanks for posting.

[scotlandthebrave292]

Hey Folks

I was 28 when i had my first episode of Afib which was really bad, my heart was >200bpm sitting down and i thought i was going to die. I'm 32 now, since my first bought i have been backwards and forwards to the cardiologist who keep finding nothing wrong with me. I now feel as if the doctors think i'm a hypochondriac! :-)

I have just had a holter monitor on for 2 weeks which found nothing, I'm now going to have another ultra sound of my heart and an exercise test to see if anything happens under exercise.

I suffered with really bad heart burn during my late teen and 20's, i had to take omeprazole for acid reflux. My cardiologist has said that there is a posibility my vagal nerve could be causing the Afib / irregular heart beats (as some times my heartbeats really slow ~40bpm). He has stressesd if it is my vagal nerve then the afib will get better over time as the vagal nerve becomes less sensitive as we become older.

After eating meals i deffinatley feel my heart beating funny.

All the best to everyone out there!

[Big_Syp]

I am 24 years old and have been shocked for atrial fibrilation one time thus far. I say thus far because i often have moments of what my cardiologist call atrial flutter.
There seem to be a lot of things that affect the intensity and frequency of this. By far at the the top of the list is G.I. bloating, but there are plenty of other factors, for instance; how much, and how well i sleep, the intesity of my back pain, my stress and or anxiety levels, my blood pressure,  how much water i have drank, or the ease, and the size of my bowel movments.
I have been through a battery of tests i cannot afford (i do not have insurance). Among those are echocardiograhm, sleep apnea, stress test, an event monitor, and an ultrasound for a pulsation my E.P. heard in my corodit. Everything has come back fine. No sleep apnea, no dysfunction under stress, nothing with the echo, no blockage in my corodit, and all they could find with my event monitor was "an ocasional premature heartbeat".
All they have done is tell me to stop smoking cigarettes and marijuana, eat better and exercise, moniter and regulate my blood pressure, and avoid caffiene and chocolate, all of which i have done to no avail.
Still they schedule follow ups to give me an EKG, listen with a stethoscope while i breathe, check my Blood pressure (if its high he ups my dose of diltiazem or lisinopril), and tell me im fine to the tune of about 230 bucks, knowing i dont have insurance.
I feel like they are milking me for what i don't have knowing i dont have it. Between the the office visits, the initial E.R. visits, and the testing im like 10-12 grand in debt.
After doing some research online i think i may have a hiatial hernia and or GERD, and am wondering if i should see a G.I. specialist.
So i guess my question is; do the potential benefits in my case seem to outweigh the cost of yet another doctor i can't pay? I feel like I am too young to be in a hole this deep and am scared i may never dig myself out.

[jlo618]

I feel the same thing. If I have to go to the bathroom, no matter what it is, my chest flutters. First I thought this was all hormone related as I only had the fluttering during pms. Now, every time my stomach is upset or feels yucky, I feel the fluttering. My doctor said, not at your age it's not hormones, then turned around and said well,....obviously it is if that's the only time it happens. ??? Really? This all started in 2000 after my dad passed away. This same dr tested me for the heliopolori stomach virus which came back negative. After two weeks of feeling like I was going to croak, one diagnosed me with panic attacks? The other decided to treat me for the helio even though it was negative. I felt like a million bucks after 14 days of medication. Now, I'm back to the same feeling. I have had a halter monitor, 2 echocardiagrams and a sono. All showed normal. They have perscribed anxiety meds, ulcer pills, nexium, tagamet, etc. No luck. I hope someone can figure out what this is.

[jlo618]

My doctor perscribed atenolol but I am afraid to take it. He "thinks" I have mvp, which my gyn said he thought he heard a murmur after several years of going to him. I can't stand the thought of taking something, that if you forget to take it, it may cause you to have a heart attack. Doesn't seem right to me. Although, my AFs are enough sometimes to make me want to grab the bottle and pop them. Just afraid of all the side effects.

[IcebergCO]

It sounds to me like you possibly may have the same problem that I (and many others) have where afib events are triggered by upper GI gas (bloat).

I have been living with this condition for the last fourteen years, and an endoscopy has confirmed that I have a hiatal hernia that is likely the cause of most of my afib events.  My gastroenterologist has advised that there are three things that I can do that will help with my situation. 1) Have a Nissan Fundoplication (http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/fundoplication-surgery-for-gastroesophageal-reflux-disease-gerd) which is a surgical procedure to reduce gastroesophageal reflux (GERD).  The gastroenterologist does not recommend the procedure because the procedure has to be redone in many cases after a period of time.  2) Take a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like Protonix, Prevacid, or Nexium to reduce the amount acid secreted in the stomach.  3) Learn which foods produce excess gas in the upper GI tract.  

I take a PPI daily and avoid foods that I have found produce upper GI gas.  There are a number of over-the-counter (OTC) PPI medications that are identical to the prescription PPI medications except they have a lower dose.  Taking OTC products with Simethicone like GAS-X, Mylanta, or Phazyme can also reduce the upper GI gas (bloat).

In my opinion, it would help knowing if you had a hiatal hernia.  Without having an endoscopy to prove that you have a hiatal hernia, you could try taking an OTC PPI, and avoid food and drink that you have determined produce gas.  If this results in less upper GI gas (bloat) you probably do have a hiatal hernia.

[screwed001]

Afib is directly a response to abdominal gas pressure in my case, I can feel the gas bubbling up to a point my heart starts to fibrillate....  I constantly belch and manipulate my body to facilitate the release of the gas, fib can happen in my sleep. Doctors refuse to acknowledge the facts, I believe they want what money they can get for miscellaneous treatment and do not really care about the cause or effect.

[screwed001]

It is a sad reflection on our medical society to see the lack of knowledge in association with common problems such as gas related afib.

It is the safer less involved and easier avenue for drs to take by refusing to accept facts and deal with the reality of GIA (gas induced afib).

When your heart can be stopped, removed, repaired all while your body is in limbo and yet GIA is dismissed.... something is terribly wrong!

[jhi5]

i am the same tried everything food   tried spices helpes  gassup burp fore 5 minets then can drive and stop spinning  then fine   back to normal feel  70 persent  few days 100 persent  think you are healed starts again

[jhi5]

i am the same tried everything food   tried spices helpes  gassup burp fore 5 minets then can drive and stop spinning  then fine   back to normal feel  70 persent  few days 100 persent  think you are healed starts again