atrial tacchycardia

[ajc57]

Hi,
I am new here. I have been anxiety ridden for 2 years after my first episode of  severe tacchycardia .  After my stress/echo which caught my heart rate at well over 200bpm and seeing 2 EP doctor's they  were not too concerned and said it was not the dangerous type.."atrial tacchycardia".  They said I could just live with it "it would not kill me", or they would do an ablation if I got tired of it because it will not go away.  I am afraid to live since I never know when the bull will want out of my chest.  Has anyone chosen to live with this or is an abation the only solution...scary!  I read where nutritonal defenciencies and/or a hernia can be the cause.  Help!  Thanks,  ajc

[Pegsf]

I came across a happenstance.  I was dx with Gerd in 1999 and was on zantac which after much time cleared up and zantac was stopped.  Starting in 2001 I happened to get an SVT episode.  In 2006 I had an afib episode and would have about 5 with each progressing year treated with verapamil "pill in the pocket".  I have had diabetes that was diet and exercise controlled for 10 years and my A1C was getting a little high each year so I felt it was time for the Metformin which I requested from my doctor.  I am now 59 years old.  Upon starting the Metformin I was getting afib every day and was scared because I've never had it everyday.  I immediately went to my doctor and he said "Metformin doesn't cause that".  He referred me to my cardio.  My cardio said "Metformin doesn't cause that".  He gave me another echo which came out normal except for a few PACs....I also had a stress test done last year that was normal.......and he had me wear a holter monitor for 24 hours which, as everyone must know, when you wear it - nothing happens.....I continued to have the afib episodes and one night was so bloated with gas crying at 2:00 am because I didn't know what was wrong with me and I needed to get rest to get to work the next day but couldn't with the heart beating all different ways.....I went to my computer and looked up bloating, Metformin, afib.  All signs pointed to GERD can cause afib.  And Metformin can cause gas, bloating, digestive upset.  The pieces of the puzzle were put together.  I just happened to have gas-x in my bathroom and immediately took 2.  Within one hour the gas and bloating were gone and so was the afib.  I literally got on my knees and prayed that I was on the right path to health.  I stopped the Metformin for a few days to give my stomach a rest and took zantac 300 twice a day.  No palpitations or afib.  I was amazed.  I am now on Metformin ER (which has less side affects) and with it I take a zantac.  I have had no afib.  Either this is a miracle or GERD causes afib.  I went to PubMed and confirmed it and here it is:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19911354
I hope that I reach out to people who can benefit by my post.  I know how you are suffering with afib and this could be the cause for many people (although not all).  I am going to have an endoscopy done soon to see if there is anything else causing problems.  Best of luck to all those suffering from the dreaded afib - it is truly a nightmare.

[ajc57]

Thanks for your input. Your BPM were only 120! I would be so happy if that is all my heart raced to. :)

[Jerzeegal]

Hi there :-)

When I had them they only lasted about 5 to 15 minutes and I had them maybe a couple of times a month. More during times of stress, multiple trips to ER showed nothing because by the time I got there the episodes were over, at one point I was above 120 BPM and learned to stop counting because that only made it worse.

I don't think I would have ablation done unless there were daily and interfering with my daily life but that's a personal choice.

I used cognitive behavior therapy for the anxiety rather than herbal remedies only because so much is unknown about they interact with other mainstream medications.

Mine were also worse as I approached menopause. Hang in there and do what you feel is right for you :-)

[Jerzeegal]

Hi there :-)

When I had them they only lasted about 5 to 15 minutes and I had them maybe a couple of times a month. More during times of stress, multiple trips to ER showed nothing because by the time I got there the episodes were over, at one point I was above 120 BPM and learned to stop counting because that only made it worse.

I don't think I would have ablation done unless there were daily and interfering with my daily life but that's a personal choice.

I used cognitive behavior therapy for the anxiety rather than herbal remedies only because so much is unknown about they interact with other mainstream medications.

Mine were also worse as I approached menopause. Hang in there and do what you feel is right for you :-)

[ajc57]

Hi,

So happy to finally hear from someone, thank-you!  Many months can go by with no episodes but I counted maybe only one every 2-3 months.  I feel like you that if I take an alka-seltzer right away (promotes belching) if the bearing down or water splashing on the face doesn't work.I do want to explore a natural anxiety remedy too...valarian etc.
The 1st episode lasted about 30minutes probably due to not knowing what was happening, but by the time I got to the ER it of course stopped. Now episodes are only 5 maybe 10 minutes tops.  I also really do not want an ablation because of the risks and I read where it can find another pathway and usually do not work for the long haul.  Everyone needs to read Dr. Bruce West's Health Alert Newsletter about the possible causes and natural cures for arrythymia's etc.

How long do your episodes last and how often and your BPM?  It is so comforting to know someone else lives a normal life with this phenomenom. Thanks so much for sharing and listening.

[Jerzeegal]

Hi and welcome :-)

How often are you having episodes of tachycardia and how long to they typically last? What do you do to make them stop.   Personally I know how scary and limiting tachycardia can make someone.

Here is how I look at it.   If its the anxiety over having an episode while you're living your life thats the issue then get some help coping with the anxiety which may also help decrease the episodes of tachy. I personally would try everything before I had an ablation but that's just me. Others here have had them and it's been quite successful from what I have read. I used to have episodes of this quite a few years ago and discovered that one thing that got them to stop rather quickly was to make myself burp.

Once I started being treated for GERD and my hiatal hernia the tachy episodes decreased. I also got some therapy for my anxiety which helped as well.

Good Luck