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GERD causes A-fib or A-flutter?
Hello, I found this old post in the archive: http://www.medhelp.org/forums/cardio/archive/1003.html which is an old one, so I was wondering if there was any new information around.
I developed GERD and an A-flutter problem around the same time along with a pressure under my left ribs which was mis-diagnosed as a hiatus hernia (confirmed it wasn't recently with endoscopy) but I definitely have reflux which is being controlled with Nexium and now Pariet. I've been to the hospital 3 times with A-flutter and a pulse between 150 - 220. Once I came out of it with medication, the other two times they had to zap me (sorry, my memory for technical terms ain't that great).
The endoscopy found gastritis (no surprise). For my heart problems I'm on metropolol, propafenone, and an OTC blood thinner (asa?). Also, not sure if it's related, but they also did a colonoscopy which found a problem... colitis maybe? I'm on Salofalk for that. I'm thinking that this is what is causing the pressure under my ribs, but I'm not sure.
Anyway, my question is about GERD and A-flutter or A-fib. Can GERD cause one or the other? It seems very likely, especially since googling "gerd atrial fibrillation" will find all sorts of people with exactly the same symptoms and questions.
me: I'm male, 38, married with 3 kids. I don't smoke. I've done some pretty heavy drinking in earlier periods of my life, not so much anymore. I also used to drink lots of coffee but I'm completely off it right now. I don't have any a-flutter episodes when I consistently take my medications, but I do have palpitations from time to time, especially in bed. My first A-flutter and trip to the hospital was about 6 years ago.
Thanks for reading, I appreciate any advice.
Russell
I developed GERD and an A-flutter problem around the same time along with a pressure under my left ribs which was mis-diagnosed as a hiatus hernia (confirmed it wasn't recently with endoscopy) but I definitely have reflux which is being controlled with Nexium and now Pariet. I've been to the hospital 3 times with A-flutter and a pulse between 150 - 220. Once I came out of it with medication, the other two times they had to zap me (sorry, my memory for technical terms ain't that great).
The endoscopy found gastritis (no surprise). For my heart problems I'm on metropolol, propafenone, and an OTC blood thinner (asa?). Also, not sure if it's related, but they also did a colonoscopy which found a problem... colitis maybe? I'm on Salofalk for that. I'm thinking that this is what is causing the pressure under my ribs, but I'm not sure.
Anyway, my question is about GERD and A-flutter or A-fib. Can GERD cause one or the other? It seems very likely, especially since googling "gerd atrial fibrillation" will find all sorts of people with exactly the same symptoms and questions.
me: I'm male, 38, married with 3 kids. I don't smoke. I've done some pretty heavy drinking in earlier periods of my life, not so much anymore. I also used to drink lots of coffee but I'm completely off it right now. I don't have any a-flutter episodes when I consistently take my medications, but I do have palpitations from time to time, especially in bed. My first A-flutter and trip to the hospital was about 6 years ago.
Thanks for reading, I appreciate any advice.
Russell
I think I am the one with that coincident too. In 2005, my cardio said I got A-Fib. He said, he expected that I'll get it one day but not that early. After that, my iron and heamoglobin keeps dropping (still dropping).
1st Gastroscopy found nothing, very normal but they put me on Somac then Nexium. 2nd Gastroscopy and colonoscopy had done in January 2007, found mild reflux only and colonoscopy very normal, nothing to be suspected. Again, I was put on Nexium twice a day for 2 months. My reflux non stop and one burp, stuff will bring up from my tummy to my ear during the night... 3rd Gastroscopy and colonoscopy ordered at the end of this month. The gastric emptying studies showed the pattern like "Sick Sinus Syndrome". Dr said now my tummy didn't contract as it should be. Last year the cardio said the same thing that my heart didn't contract as it should be!
I also told my cardio, my heart goes like an express train after I eat.. He turned his face to me, "is it?" May be he also found that he haven't read literature correlating GERD with atrial fibrillation or flutter. Someone in the forum said, the sugar can play part of the fast heart beats too. I don't know it finally settled by either the sugar slowly dropped or the pacemaker was pacing out of it.... Now, the cardio cleared it is nothing to do with the heart. The gastro Dr (changed to different one) just try one more close encounter.
I'm very concerning it is a relation but as LukeL said, "correlation does not prove causation. Or just because B happened after A it doesn't mean A caused B." Could it be the beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker cause it?
1st Gastroscopy found nothing, very normal but they put me on Somac then Nexium. 2nd Gastroscopy and colonoscopy had done in January 2007, found mild reflux only and colonoscopy very normal, nothing to be suspected. Again, I was put on Nexium twice a day for 2 months. My reflux non stop and one burp, stuff will bring up from my tummy to my ear during the night... 3rd Gastroscopy and colonoscopy ordered at the end of this month. The gastric emptying studies showed the pattern like "Sick Sinus Syndrome". Dr said now my tummy didn't contract as it should be. Last year the cardio said the same thing that my heart didn't contract as it should be!
I also told my cardio, my heart goes like an express train after I eat.. He turned his face to me, "is it?" May be he also found that he haven't read literature correlating GERD with atrial fibrillation or flutter. Someone in the forum said, the sugar can play part of the fast heart beats too. I don't know it finally settled by either the sugar slowly dropped or the pacemaker was pacing out of it.... Now, the cardio cleared it is nothing to do with the heart. The gastro Dr (changed to different one) just try one more close encounter.
I'm very concerning it is a relation but as LukeL said, "correlation does not prove causation. Or just because B happened after A it doesn't mean A caused B." Could it be the beta-blocker or calcium channel blocker cause it?
Well, thanks. I've suffered alone this long, I guess I can continue.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I haven't read literature correlating GERD with atrial fibrillation or flutter. I hear many people commenting on GERD like symptoms, but I do not know that there is a correlation.
I doubt your find this helpful, but that is all I have. Thanks for posting.
I doubt your find this helpful, but that is all I have. Thanks for posting.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
I haven't read literature correlating GERD with atrial fibrillation or flutter. I hear many people commenting on GERD like symptoms, but I do not know that there is a correlation.
I doubt your find this helpful, but that is all I have. Thanks for posting.
I doubt your find this helpful, but that is all I have. Thanks for posting.
May sound crazy, but GERD is so common and can mimic cardiac symptoms, so when a doctor does a complete check of your heart and GI tract it would be somewhat common to find both GERD and a common heart ailment like a-fib. I always tell my self, correlation does not prove causation. Or just because B happened after A it doesn't mean A caused B.
Of course there could always be some link, it will be interesting to see what the doctor has to say.
Of course there could always be some link, it will be interesting to see what the doctor has to say.
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