Stomach/intestinal gas realated palps/afib

Im posting this in hopes that somebody out there is going through the same thing as me and has found a "cure"!

I get heart palpitations and episodes of afib from stomach and intestinal gas. Been to the doc, heart is fine, blood work is fine, blah blah blah. Been reading FAR too many posts where Dr's do NOT believe that there is a connection between stomach issues and heart rhythm and Im starting to get VERY frustrated. You can't call yourself a Dr, if you're not going to LISTEN to your patient and BELIEVE them. I know for FACT that it is stomach gas that is causing my arrythmia! Nobody knows my body like "I" know my body, but nobody is willing to listen and help.

Anyway, I have lost 35lbs over the span of a couple of years because of this. If I eat too much, my heart palpitates like crazy, so there are times where I've resorted to eating toddler size portions because I didn't want to "upset" my heart. I don't know why this has even started to begin with?! If I have trapped gas in my stomach and twist or bend over the "wrong" way, then my heart goes into afib.

I've been trying to find a cure for the stomach issues in hopes it will fix the heart ones. Changed diet, researched stomach diseases, meds after meds after teas after vitamins, blah blah blah. Nothing. Its still happening. I DO have a thyroid nodule, but it is benign and my TSH is in the "low normal" range. So, I don't know if maybe that has something to do with it? Doesn't matter anyway, cuz my stupid doctor is doing nothing to help me figure this out.

I have lost ALL faith in doctors and pray that I don't get a serious illness or injury because Im sure to be left to die. Im on my own now and resorting to the help of fellow sufferers.

I just really want to know why this came out of nowhere and how to make it stop. Of ALL the health issues in the world, I had to get THIS one. I know it could be worse, but this is ruining my life and the lives of my children because I cant do anything or go anywhere because god forbid, I have a freakin' heart attack in the middle of the grocery store because some stupid doctor "has no idea whats wrong with me, see's no connection between the stomach and the heart, pushes pills saying its just anxiety, etc......".

SOOOO sorry for sounding ignorant, but Im beyond fed up living like this. Please help!!

[sian333]

Hi there.

I feel your frustration. Really. I am here for you if you need to chat!

I stumbled across a great doctor who actually told me there IS a connection between gas and PACs/PVCs. He said pressure in your stomach puts pressure on your heart. He said it's common sense. I'm glad he uses his brain, cos it does honestly seem like a lot of other doctors don't.

I always notice my arrhythmia is worse after a big meal, especially pizza for some reason. I love pizza. LOL.

[CrohnieToo]

Get another family doctor. Request a 24 hour Holter monitor and eat to your heart's content - er, palpitates.

[afib3]

absolutely a connection- vagus nerve innervates both- look up vaso-vagal response.  My husband has the reverse issue- gets gas, bloating and upset stomach when he is in afib.  It's why he feels so sick while he's in it.  Get a gastroenterology consult if you can.

[palps101]

I have had this for years...there is a coorelation dispite what anyone else says.  I have learned to live with it and while a major irritation and sometimes the source of anxiety for me, mostly I try to accpet it.  My heart skips, beats hard, and is generally irregular.  This is often accompanied by stomach bloating, gas, indigestion, etc.  I think it must relate to pressure on the vagus nerve.  I think it is not threatening...or at least i have convinced myself of this.  Good luck...sometimes potassium seems to help me...maybe an electrolyte or hormone imbalance?  Hmmmm.

[mamakuch]

This has been my issue since I was 26.I am now 60. I took beta blockers for more than three decades before going into persistent a-fib two years ago. My PVC's and SVT's only arose when my stomach was in the condition you describe. Same with the a-fib. I had the same experience with doctors. Had ablation on June 3 of this year, awoke on the 18th with my stomach in chaos, went back into a-fib and have yet to convert.Stomach is still a mess. I am on  proton pump inhibitor and have been for years, but it does nothing. I am at the point where I am wondering if the cardiac issues cause the stomach issues instead of vice-versa. Certainly the vagus nerve is involved, but mine does not seem to be typical vagally mediated A-fib.  My heart is healthy other than the arrhythmia, but I  am utterly miserable.The a-fib I am having now is much worse than it was before the ablation.I still have hope that the ablation will eventually work. My"heart' goes out to you. You are certainly not alone.

[Anofib]

hey I understand exactly. My afib episode happend when I was 33 im now 36. And no episodes that I have needed to return to hospital for. my afib happened after a night and a day of haveing  heartburn. I went out to eat with my family at a local resturant. Came home. Was relaxing on the couch. Got up to grab a beer and  streched my chest out with my arms back, and bam. It hit me. Im no doc obviously, but I know it has something to do with the stomach. I mentioned this to my doc and he looked at me sideways. Unbelievable. Good luck guy.

[DeltaDawn23]

This is very real.  Avoid large meals, spicy food, and try one of the proton pump inhibitors.  My internist says the vagus nerve lies right along slide the heart and if it is kept quiet, it will help the irregular beats.  I notice is way more if I miss my Prevacid.  Don't give up, there is life after this.  It is NOT your imagination.  Try GasX and/or Beano.  Anything that helps the gas will helps the irregular beats.

[Madge270]

Just so you know...my mom had  problems like yours for most of her life.  When I was a child, she'd get these attacks. She felt they were caused by gas pressure. Eventually she began eating smaller, nore frequent meals and foods that weren't as likely to produce gas.  She used to say that she thought she'd be dead by the time she was fifty, but she lived to be 90 and never took meds until the last three years.  

[mzak69]

Send a message to JPEK. He's got alot of info you would be interested in.