Cutting the vagal nerve

[rilesnic]

So, while I was at my PCP the other day (who I trust more than any cardio I've ever seen), I was mentioning how horrible I feel a couple of hours after I eat and how the PVC's and PAC's come on so strongly after eating and continue all evening (I dread the evenings). I have had every test imaginable. He said again (he has said this before) that he feels like it is vagal nerve irritation. He mentioned a possible option of cutting the nerve at the stomach. I was a little shocked, but he said that as far as he knows, this is the only treatment for the unsettled nerve, other than just leaving it alone. He told me he was going to do some research to see if there are any new meds that help settle the nerve, but he feels strongly, and always has, that my issues stem from my stomach. Anyone ever heard of cutting that nerve to the stomach? He actually said this was a treatment for people with bleeding ulcers before the PPI's came out. I do take Prevacid everyday, and have for the past 10 years.

[Tired55]

  I am amazed at all of us having the same symptoms!!!  There MUST be some way to convince our cardiologists that this is real. I also had a diseased gallbladder and when pg with my 2nd baby (way back in 1976) had a horrible attack. Spent weeks in hospital - had every test in the book and then exploratory surgery (first trimester no less) looked at gallbladder and said it looked normal except for some adhesions around it(from what I don't know) so sewed me back up. Didn't get any better so they assumed it was all a ploy for attention or some other physiological problem. Had a second cousin that was my anesthiologist, knew of a new test, had to leave hosp. and go to an office-given IV med not even approved by FDA...so scary, a foreign hormone when you are pregnant but the test confirmed that it was indeed my gallbladder so 1 week after first surgery had another to remove the culprit! Didn't have the laprascopic option way back then so had two large incisions. So much fun! Baby survived and is now pushing 35,thank heavens. I don't know why I suddenly became so prolific , I just wanted the person thinking it might be the gallbladder maybe not since  I and at least one other person in this forum have had ours out. Interesting though that neither of us presented with the "normal" gallbladder definitive diagnosis. Maybe there is a correlation to ALL of this! I think we need to band together and have some kind of study done; maybe we could help ourselves and prevent others from having to go through what we all have. If ANYONE comes up with ANY kind of info or answer for this crazy thing we are all suffering from PLEASE let us know! The only sugesstion I have received was info about "postprandial insulin" maybe causing these symptoms, I am going to look that up right now. Hope you guys don't get too bored or overwhelmed with all of my ranting, I'm just excited to know I'm not completely crazy, just somewhat. Thanks to all who read this and all who have posted on this subject. Tired55

[rilesnic]

I have had  PVC's, PAC's and bouts of afib for 18 years. 10 years ago I went to a gastro who scoped me and found Barrett's Esophagus (caused from too much acid in the stomach..I also had mouth ulcers all the time when I was a kid, caused from too much acid). I was only 29. I am 5'2" and weigh 98 pounds. I have for as long as I can remember, so weight was never the issue. I do have a hiatal hernia, which I believe was caused from carrying children (my second weighed 8'5"). My gastro said the stomach and heart were definitely connected and my PCP has always said that. It's only the cardios that don't seem to believe it. I had my gallbladder removed in 2008 after years of suffering with that...no stones, just a bad gallbladder. I didn't fit the "profile" so they never wanted to take it out. My PCP finally started running all the tests himself before he would send me to the specialist, although his diagnosis was (and is always)correct.

I have been on atenolol for 7 years and I can't sleep on my left side. I have horrible anxiety and nocturnal panic attacks (supposedly). I think it's the afib which mimics both, just can't catch it as the monitors scare them away.

My PCP said when I eat, my stomach gets full and presses on the nerve and diaphram (sp) which begins the electrical cycle of those fabulous palps. It's miserable. I frowned at the surgery but he has been my doctor for 22 years and I'm only 39. If it is possible to help my quality of life, I really may consider it. I will see him in 3 weeks and we will discuss further what my next step should be. Not what I really wanted to hear, but I've got to start feeling better. I'll keep you posted.

[tsco]

I often wonder about my gall bladder and whatever causes IBS. MY upper GI was also normal but I do have reflux.  I do remember 10 years ago when all of this started the flipping GI Doc stretched my esophagus he said it was narrowed. It was on! He recorded my first tachy episode while stretching the esoph. Obviously I had some problems with the gut but its when the heart stuff started. Im like you, cutting the vag might be severe but there has to be a way to dull the response from the gut. I think we all get treatment for syptoms and not the cause.

[curmudgen]

I am a member of the same club.... mid-epigastric tightness  that seems to precipitate PAC's/PVC's... the episodes usually occur mid-day, after eating and after exercise and last from 15 minutes to several hours. Heart goes into bigminy and trigeminy for what seems like hours and it feels horrid. Ruled out cardiovascular disease.  Doctor suggested prilosec/pepcid but that didn't really help much.  Just went in for endoscopy and preliminary observation was a small hiatal hernia.  The doc that did the scoping didn't think it was causing symptoms.    I can understand the diagnosis for vagal nerve irritation but what is causing the vagus nerve to be irritated in the first place?  Surgery is irreversible.  Not something I would want have done.  I just haven't found any answers.

[tsco]

Please stay in touch with me.  I have the exact same problem and theory as you.  I am on flecainide to stop pacs pvc, still have them also take some toprol. I have had three ablations and have told my ep all along it is my stomach I take prev 30 2x a day.Doctors seem to dismiss the stomach connection. I am certain there is some inflammation or something with my stomach/ gall blad/etc that aggrevates the vagus and then irritates my heart. How could that be disputed and overlooked by cardios?? I found a doctor study from the 1950s that showed a correlation of gall bladder and heart palps. Its no different than folks who get skip beats when they lay on their left side. That is caused by pressure.Same thing. I have researched and researched ways to dull vagal response I am really interested in what you find out.

[MichelleP_3811]

Hmm, that is very interesting about the vagus nerve relationship.  However, I would definitely take some serious consideration before I took on having surgery to cut it?  I did look up the vagus nerve and I did read that taking antacids can lead to malabsorption of potassium with potassium levels affecting our heart beat.  But it sure does seem like there may be a correlation between the vagus nerve and heart rhythm and IBS problems.  I think I will go do a little more research.

[Tired55]

  Wow, glad I caught your post, that is my problem also!!!!! PVCs were ablated in July but still suffering from rest of symptoms-ie:nausea,palpitations with shortness of breath, and sometimes chest pain or tightness(which concerns me the most) Have tried unsuccessfully to tell cardiologist and electrophysiologist that eating is the culprit but going to have a nuclear stress test to rule out exercise causing problem. I know it isn't exercise.....it is eating!!! Would not want to have anymore tests or procedures, but this is really causing me a lot of trouble as it is for you! Hope you find a solution that is less invasive than cutting the vagal nerve, if you do would love to know what it is!  Thanks, Tired55