Aa
VAGUS NERVE and STOMACH or HEART LURCHES (spasms)
I'm a sixtish male with a history of mitral prolapse/systolic functional murmur, PVCs and PACs. I take very low dose Atenolol. I was told that I have mild acid reflux, but decided to restrict diet rather than take a prescription for that.
I often get what I call "lurches" that seem to be centered in the area of my diaphraghm. These lurches (spasms?) seem to correspond to the old phrase "my heart leaped into my throat." When they were first noticed about 25-30 years ago they were closely correlated with eating spicy food, but were quite infrequent. Over the years they have varied in frequency of occurence, from a good many days with none, to several a day, to several an hour, to one every few minutes. (Generally, more often as I aged.) About 18 years ago I had them more or less continuously for about 4 hours. A Holter monitor test about that time indicated PVCs and PACs, but no treatment other than the minimum dose Atenolol, and I have never had activity/exercise restrictions.
I have long been convinced that most, if not almost all, of the lurches are STOMACH SPASMS. Doctors have seemed very sceptical of that, insisting they were irregular heart beats. This week I had left arm pain that occurred while having fairly frequent lurches. In the emergency room, bloodwork and EKGs were normal. The doctor (an internist) indicated that the left arm pain might have come from a nerve problem in my neck, and when discussing my "stomach spasms as cause" theory said that the vagus nerve could possibly transfer stomach spasms to the heart.
What is the possibility that my theory is at least somewhat accurate? I would worry a lot less about stomach lurches than if the lurches were from a heart problem!! I have asked several doctors if I could try having my heart monitored aftr eating known "too spicy" foods such as mustard or hot sauce, but got no agreement.
Could the stomach/vagus nerve be a significant source of the lurches? If so, could the lurches be mistaken for irregular heartbeats? Or, would they almost always/always trigger irregular heartbeats? If the irregular beats are triggered by stomach/vagus, does that mean less cause for anxiety than if they originate solely in the heart itself? I'd greatly appreciate any information/suggestions/referrals to other info sources, etc. Thanks. Pete
I often get what I call "lurches" that seem to be centered in the area of my diaphraghm. These lurches (spasms?) seem to correspond to the old phrase "my heart leaped into my throat." When they were first noticed about 25-30 years ago they were closely correlated with eating spicy food, but were quite infrequent. Over the years they have varied in frequency of occurence, from a good many days with none, to several a day, to several an hour, to one every few minutes. (Generally, more often as I aged.) About 18 years ago I had them more or less continuously for about 4 hours. A Holter monitor test about that time indicated PVCs and PACs, but no treatment other than the minimum dose Atenolol, and I have never had activity/exercise restrictions.
I have long been convinced that most, if not almost all, of the lurches are STOMACH SPASMS. Doctors have seemed very sceptical of that, insisting they were irregular heart beats. This week I had left arm pain that occurred while having fairly frequent lurches. In the emergency room, bloodwork and EKGs were normal. The doctor (an internist) indicated that the left arm pain might have come from a nerve problem in my neck, and when discussing my "stomach spasms as cause" theory said that the vagus nerve could possibly transfer stomach spasms to the heart.
What is the possibility that my theory is at least somewhat accurate? I would worry a lot less about stomach lurches than if the lurches were from a heart problem!! I have asked several doctors if I could try having my heart monitored aftr eating known "too spicy" foods such as mustard or hot sauce, but got no agreement.
Could the stomach/vagus nerve be a significant source of the lurches? If so, could the lurches be mistaken for irregular heartbeats? Or, would they almost always/always trigger irregular heartbeats? If the irregular beats are triggered by stomach/vagus, does that mean less cause for anxiety than if they originate solely in the heart itself? I'd greatly appreciate any information/suggestions/referrals to other info sources, etc. Thanks. Pete
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Hi guys. I have been experiencing similar symtoms such as missed beats for many years and saw 2 cardiologists in that time. The symtoms were so distressing that it affected my physicoligical well being until I became to scared to leave my house (aggoraphobic). Last feb I had a take out and within 5 hours woke up to find my heart was fluttering continually and thought I was going to die. My wife called an ambulance and when I got there I was quickly diagnosed with 'atrial fibrilation'! At that time I told the doctors there that this is what I had been experiencing in the past but only for a few seconds at a time and not the 7 hours this attack turned out to last. I was sent home within a day with no diagnosis as there was no physical problems with my heart and a mystery. Firstly I believe that prior to this I was having vagal problems. I visited a dietician and when I mentioned the attack the first thing he asked was 'did you eat take out that day?' I said I had pizza hut in the afternoon and chineese in the eve as it was my wifes birthday. He told me to find the ingredients of both meals as he suspected I had eaten a large amount of MSG or monosodium glutamate. So I checked and sure enough both had E621 which is MSG! He put me on a strict diet of low glutamate (no cheese no poultry or beef and NO MSG) sure enough a year has gone by and no major attack yet. I still get the short flutters like before but some times not for days. I tend to get them if I eat chicken and tomatoes which was what I used to eat a lot of. I am also on a very low dose of tambocor but only half a tab a day when usual is 2 or 3. I hope you guys may find this usefull as I am not the first to be hit by the MSG bullet!
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I absolutely love this forum. I too have the bloating, gas, heartburn, PVC's. I've been prescribed Nexium, Omeprazole, Prevacid, etc. They haven't really helped. I feel like I just need something to keep the digestion and bowels moving normally. All the Dr.'s I have talked to about this look at me like I'm crazy. They all eventually suggest that I have an anxiety problem and should look into medication for it. I KNOW it is a digestive problem.
When I'm having an "episode", usually soon after I eat, I feel very lightheaded and I have the constant need to belch. I also have an occasional palpitation, accompanied by the feeling that I can't catch my breath - but it all seems to get better if I can make myself belch. The breathless feeling and the palpitations used to seriously freak me out - to the point where I would panic and call 911 - because it feels like you are having a heart attack! Now that I know it's not a heart issue, I remain calm and just try to belch, usually by bouncing around and trying to push the air out. Antacids help as well - although I don't want to get in the habit of taking something that is neutralizing the stomach acid that I desperately need to aid digestion!
I just scheduled my first appointment with a gastroenterologist (have never seen one before), but after all these posts I've been reading, it sounds like that may be a waste of time and money! I've been printing out a lot of these posts and want to show them to the Dr., so they know this is going on and that I'm not crazy!
I'm so glad to know that there are others with this problem that I can talk to! Why do NO doctors recognize a link between the digestion issues and the breathless/irregular heartbeat/lightheaded thing? I am going to look into the vagus nerve theory - very interesting. Thank you everyone for all the advice and for sharing your experiences!
When I'm having an "episode", usually soon after I eat, I feel very lightheaded and I have the constant need to belch. I also have an occasional palpitation, accompanied by the feeling that I can't catch my breath - but it all seems to get better if I can make myself belch. The breathless feeling and the palpitations used to seriously freak me out - to the point where I would panic and call 911 - because it feels like you are having a heart attack! Now that I know it's not a heart issue, I remain calm and just try to belch, usually by bouncing around and trying to push the air out. Antacids help as well - although I don't want to get in the habit of taking something that is neutralizing the stomach acid that I desperately need to aid digestion!
I just scheduled my first appointment with a gastroenterologist (have never seen one before), but after all these posts I've been reading, it sounds like that may be a waste of time and money! I've been printing out a lot of these posts and want to show them to the Dr., so they know this is going on and that I'm not crazy!
I'm so glad to know that there are others with this problem that I can talk to! Why do NO doctors recognize a link between the digestion issues and the breathless/irregular heartbeat/lightheaded thing? I am going to look into the vagus nerve theory - very interesting. Thank you everyone for all the advice and for sharing your experiences!
i would love more information.. please!! contact me through my myspace.. which you can find me.. under the same name.. Mozartcowgirl. THANKYOU SO MUCH
Boltz
Hi-I have had the irregular heartbeat bloating -gas burping for at least 35 years.I also had severe diarhea
on and off all this time.Ihave had two ablations for rapid heatbeat after medication failed to correct this problem.Unfortunately this worked but left me where i was before -a very slow heartbeat (50-60 BPM).
Prior to the rapid heart beat problem i tried acupuncture for the irregular heartbeat and bloating etc.It acutually worked and whenever it returned i would go back for another treatment.(it worked for a long time
5-8 months at a clip)The acupuncturist advised me the vagus nerve was in fact the culprit for most if not all the above problems.(also some foods would trigger the stomach problems which in turn would trigger vagal nerve agitation etc)For whatever reason acupuncture did not work on the rapid HB.I have been taking a product call Sun Chorella and as a result I have normal bowel movements ,This product is fantastic and I very rarely get the diarhea anymore.I still get the night gas and irregular heartbeat on ocassion and am going to go back to acupuncture for that .glad i found this forum
Boltz
Hi-I have had the irregular heartbeat bloating -gas burping for at least 35 years.I also had severe diarhea
on and off all this time.Ihave had two ablations for rapid heatbeat after medication failed to correct this problem.Unfortunately this worked but left me where i was before -a very slow heartbeat (50-60 BPM).
Prior to the rapid heart beat problem i tried acupuncture for the irregular heartbeat and bloating etc.It acutually worked and whenever it returned i would go back for another treatment.(it worked for a long time
5-8 months at a clip)The acupuncturist advised me the vagus nerve was in fact the culprit for most if not all the above problems.(also some foods would trigger the stomach problems which in turn would trigger vagal nerve agitation etc)For whatever reason acupuncture did not work on the rapid HB.I have been taking a product call Sun Chorella and as a result I have normal bowel movements ,This product is fantastic and I very rarely get the diarhea anymore.I still get the night gas and irregular heartbeat on ocassion and am going to go back to acupuncture for that .glad i found this forum
Boltz
I can't tell you how happy I am to have found other people with the same kind of symptoms. I have sufferd for more than 20 years with recently at 59 having some of the worst attacks I have ever had. Irregular heart beats, that feel like my diaphram is going to blow out of my chest. I burp, have bloating, run to the bathroom etc. Been through a battery of tests with the Cardio Dr. Treadmill, dye in the arm, pictures of the heart valves.
Nothing harmful they say "then why do I feel like ****. Very healthy thin lady, active, eat well balanced diet. Intolerance to milk products, sugar.
I have read your comments about the vagas nerve. . VERY INTERESTING CONCEPT. I almost feel vindicated from the Doctors thinking I'm crazy. I do take antidpressants, Lexapro, Wellbrutrin, but Cardio Dr. says no they don't affect my irregular heart beats. I have fast runs to 169 sometimes lasting on and off for several hours. Lots of indigestion. I feel like there is a golf ball in my diaphram. Right between my boobs. Sorry, I need to describe the place. My mother suffered from this and the doctors just said, oh! she's a nut case. I have tried to get Librax for spasams. Will see my internist on Monday and I am going to take this web page with me. My digestive track is all screwed up and getting worse with age. I have lost weight. Nothing sounds good. If I eat a good meal, like tonight. Filet Mignon I will be in the bathroom first thing in the AM. Almost like an emergency. My urge to go to the bathroom comes on so fast with lots of bloating and gas. Everything goes right through me. Then nothing for several days. I have to force myself to eat.
What medications have some of you taken to lesson the spasms in the upper GI track. Thanks to all of you I know I'm not crazy and I feel informed and armed with knowledge to share with my internist. By the way my holter monitor test, showed positive for many severe fast and irregular heart beats.Valves normal, doctors can't explain it. They suggest doing an ablation, which is shocking the heart back into sinus rhythum. No one ever mentioned the Vagas Nerve.
I will post follow-up with my internist on Monday.
Nothing harmful they say "then why do I feel like ****. Very healthy thin lady, active, eat well balanced diet. Intolerance to milk products, sugar.
I have read your comments about the vagas nerve. . VERY INTERESTING CONCEPT. I almost feel vindicated from the Doctors thinking I'm crazy. I do take antidpressants, Lexapro, Wellbrutrin, but Cardio Dr. says no they don't affect my irregular heart beats. I have fast runs to 169 sometimes lasting on and off for several hours. Lots of indigestion. I feel like there is a golf ball in my diaphram. Right between my boobs. Sorry, I need to describe the place. My mother suffered from this and the doctors just said, oh! she's a nut case. I have tried to get Librax for spasams. Will see my internist on Monday and I am going to take this web page with me. My digestive track is all screwed up and getting worse with age. I have lost weight. Nothing sounds good. If I eat a good meal, like tonight. Filet Mignon I will be in the bathroom first thing in the AM. Almost like an emergency. My urge to go to the bathroom comes on so fast with lots of bloating and gas. Everything goes right through me. Then nothing for several days. I have to force myself to eat.
What medications have some of you taken to lesson the spasms in the upper GI track. Thanks to all of you I know I'm not crazy and I feel informed and armed with knowledge to share with my internist. By the way my holter monitor test, showed positive for many severe fast and irregular heart beats.Valves normal, doctors can't explain it. They suggest doing an ablation, which is shocking the heart back into sinus rhythum. No one ever mentioned the Vagas Nerve.
I will post follow-up with my internist on Monday.
I havve been reading all of your comments and I have had many of your symptoms and then some. I am a diabetic and over the last 2 1/2 years have suffered from nausea, vertigo, dizzy/lightheaded spells, abdominal pain, lurches, numbness and tingling in arms, eletrical shock type feelings, the feeling in my face that it was burning, difficulty with sweating in my extremities, however in the torso and up excessive sweating, difficulty emptying my bladder, or leakage from the bladder as I did not empty it completely. I have been seeing a GI, Cardio, and neurologist. Last May I told them I thought it was Diabetic Autonomic neuropathy. Went to Mayo Clinic to evaulate for this. Mayo told my I had it but that the nausea and the dizzy spell I had were not being caused by the Autonomic Neuropathy. They were able to determine by my leak of sweating in my lower extermeties. It ws not until this year when I started vomitting and not being able to stand for more than 5 minutes at a time that the Dr. finally took my bp and pulse while laying, sitting and standing. Needless to say my bp went from 138/80 to 100/? and my pulse went from in the upper 70's to 162. He was know able to conclude that I did have the Autonomic Neuropathy and started me on mestonin which has help.
I tell you all this because the Autonomic Neuropathy is linked to the Vegas nerve. Diabetes is not the only condition linked to Autonomic neuropathy, autoimmune disorders are also linked.
If anyone would like more information regarding these conditions you can search online or you can let me know and we can communicate of via email
thanks,
amelia
I tell you all this because the Autonomic Neuropathy is linked to the Vegas nerve. Diabetes is not the only condition linked to Autonomic neuropathy, autoimmune disorders are also linked.
If anyone would like more information regarding these conditions you can search online or you can let me know and we can communicate of via email
thanks,
amelia
I totally understand.. I'm on your side.. same symptoms, same frustrations.
First of all a question. Were any of you checked for leaky heart valves? (I have Mitral Valve and Tricuspid leaks) Only a doppler-pulse will tell. The doppler-flow might miss the leaks but the "pulse" one will catch it. I also have a partial bundle branch block. I think all these things are related.
From reading your posts, I also avoid some of the meds like Protonix, Prevacid, etc., these have hormones in them. If you read the side-effects you'll wonder why these things are on the market. I would say stay away from all of these drugs.
One thing I've also learned is that if you cough when having the palpitations it helps to put the heart rate back into a normal rhythm. My cardiologist also told me of a spot on the side of the neck near the carotid artery that if you push on it, it can slow the heart down momentarily.
As to the gastro issues, the older we get (I'm a 54 year old female) the less acid is in our stomach. So by taking these acid-blockers it causes major side effects.
Another question. Has anyone been given the antibiotic Tequin? I had horrible reactions after taking it for two months. I started having arhythmias and other severe adverse reactions to it.
Can I share a small warning about going to a chiropractor due to pain in the arm. My friend Willy was misdiagnosed by his primary doctor when he complaned of pain in the chest and arm. The doc knew Willy had asthma and sinus problems.. and something wrong with his heart. The chiropractor pushed on his chest, Willy suffered a heart attack, and eventually died. I'm not necessarily against chiropractors, I just have a little caution about using them as a cure-all.
Last question: Have any of you had any recent procedures where anesthesia was used? I'm really interested in your response because I think in my case the anesthesia is linked to my recent attacks.
Thanks.
First of all a question. Were any of you checked for leaky heart valves? (I have Mitral Valve and Tricuspid leaks) Only a doppler-pulse will tell. The doppler-flow might miss the leaks but the "pulse" one will catch it. I also have a partial bundle branch block. I think all these things are related.
From reading your posts, I also avoid some of the meds like Protonix, Prevacid, etc., these have hormones in them. If you read the side-effects you'll wonder why these things are on the market. I would say stay away from all of these drugs.
One thing I've also learned is that if you cough when having the palpitations it helps to put the heart rate back into a normal rhythm. My cardiologist also told me of a spot on the side of the neck near the carotid artery that if you push on it, it can slow the heart down momentarily.
As to the gastro issues, the older we get (I'm a 54 year old female) the less acid is in our stomach. So by taking these acid-blockers it causes major side effects.
Another question. Has anyone been given the antibiotic Tequin? I had horrible reactions after taking it for two months. I started having arhythmias and other severe adverse reactions to it.
Can I share a small warning about going to a chiropractor due to pain in the arm. My friend Willy was misdiagnosed by his primary doctor when he complaned of pain in the chest and arm. The doc knew Willy had asthma and sinus problems.. and something wrong with his heart. The chiropractor pushed on his chest, Willy suffered a heart attack, and eventually died. I'm not necessarily against chiropractors, I just have a little caution about using them as a cure-all.
Last question: Have any of you had any recent procedures where anesthesia was used? I'm really interested in your response because I think in my case the anesthesia is linked to my recent attacks.
Thanks.
Since reading everyones posts here it seems that doctors don`t really have a clue what they are treating .
I decided today to "go chinese"
I had a consultation with a chinese doctor today and he gave me my first session of acupuncture ( he recommends 20 sessions total ) and some herbal tea which he promises will taste foul:-(
I went in with an uncomfortable feeling in my chest but that has gone now . I will keep everyone posted .
Gerda , how did you get on with your acupuncture ? Did they recommend follow up treatments ?
Queen Spasm , How is the apple cider going ?
The chinese doc said that drugs "poison" the body , we need to treat the whole body instead of individual symptoms.
Good Luck everyone
tracy x
I decided today to "go chinese"
I had a consultation with a chinese doctor today and he gave me my first session of acupuncture ( he recommends 20 sessions total ) and some herbal tea which he promises will taste foul:-(
I went in with an uncomfortable feeling in my chest but that has gone now . I will keep everyone posted .
Gerda , how did you get on with your acupuncture ? Did they recommend follow up treatments ?
Queen Spasm , How is the apple cider going ?
The chinese doc said that drugs "poison" the body , we need to treat the whole body instead of individual symptoms.
Good Luck everyone
tracy x
I have had a very similar set of symptoms to those described.
This began around 2 years ago. The main symptom is a lurching/wobbling sensation in the stomach/lower sternum. Initially I was getting several a day, and they were very scary. Now I often go for a couple of weeks without them.
They seem to happen more often just after drinking water, when stooping, or occasionally during bowel movements.
I would also have hot flushes, esp. neck and face before having them, and feel very washed-out after.
A gastroscopy has recently shown that I have a sliding hiatus hernia, but little else. I have chronically low folate, though my diet is healthy and I do not drink alcohol.
I am amazed by how many people are describing the same or similar symptoms. I really feel for those who are describing the severe impact this has on their lives.
This began around 2 years ago. The main symptom is a lurching/wobbling sensation in the stomach/lower sternum. Initially I was getting several a day, and they were very scary. Now I often go for a couple of weeks without them.
They seem to happen more often just after drinking water, when stooping, or occasionally during bowel movements.
I would also have hot flushes, esp. neck and face before having them, and feel very washed-out after.
A gastroscopy has recently shown that I have a sliding hiatus hernia, but little else. I have chronically low folate, though my diet is healthy and I do not drink alcohol.
I am amazed by how many people are describing the same or similar symptoms. I really feel for those who are describing the severe impact this has on their lives.
I am glad I came across this forum. I have finally found parallels to my symptoms. What is going on? I have met at least three other people who have the same symptoms, with about the same time of onset, which are going on undiagnosed. Starts with bloating and stomach pain and over a month it proceeds to chills, nausea and dizzyness. I also get burning of my face and upper body. All tests seem normal, I had this for three monts and had abdominal ultrasound - pancreas and gall bladder sizes normal, no stones. Amylase test is normal. Then I had GI Cat scan, no finding. I'm still so sick! I am too dizzy to drive aroung, I have lost 15 pounds (from 125 to 110) and I don't think I can loose more. No diarrhea, though, only once in a while. Stool culture negative. The ER send me home a month ago because the blood tests didn't show anything really abnormal (that's Canadian healthcare for you).
These days the stomach pain is less, I'm on Librax for the GI, but the nausea and the flushing in my face and burning of skin on upper side of my arms and back across my shoulders, chills and extreme weakness is really worrying me and is getting worse. I look at my little 2 year old and wonder if I'll be here for her. Things just seem to be getting worse from day to day. Some days I get a bit of a break and feel almost normal, just to get a lot worse the next day or next few hours. The periods of feeling better are further in between. I feel quite hopeless and scared. What to do?
These days the stomach pain is less, I'm on Librax for the GI, but the nausea and the flushing in my face and burning of skin on upper side of my arms and back across my shoulders, chills and extreme weakness is really worrying me and is getting worse. I look at my little 2 year old and wonder if I'll be here for her. Things just seem to be getting worse from day to day. Some days I get a bit of a break and feel almost normal, just to get a lot worse the next day or next few hours. The periods of feeling better are further in between. I feel quite hopeless and scared. What to do?
I`m so glad I found this site .
I had been feeling that I was going crazy , the doctors here are not much help .
I too ended up in casualty with severe chest pains but all the heart tests were negative .
The doctor told me the pain was caused by severe spasms and the only treatment was the spray used by angina sufferers . I don`t want to use this though .
My latest trip to the doctors resulted in him prescribing me Prozac !
I`m so glad to have found people who can relate to what I have been going through .
Iwas told my dizziness was down to me hyperventilating even though I knew I wasn`t .
I had been feeling that I was going crazy , the doctors here are not much help .
I too ended up in casualty with severe chest pains but all the heart tests were negative .
The doctor told me the pain was caused by severe spasms and the only treatment was the spray used by angina sufferers . I don`t want to use this though .
My latest trip to the doctors resulted in him prescribing me Prozac !
I`m so glad to have found people who can relate to what I have been going through .
Iwas told my dizziness was down to me hyperventilating even though I knew I wasn`t .
Hello,
I found this site doing research for my husband who suffers from
these spasms of his heart. I cant wait for him to come home and read the comments here of people who understand what he is feeling. My question is to anyone who can explain why when he has an irregular heart beat or feels it coming he has to constantly burp. Sometimes he burps a couple times and the feeling goes away. The food allergy idea was interesting as well.
He lifts weights and does cardio regularly and this never happens during the exercise. A few times this has occured at the gym following his workout. Sometimes the bearing down works but not always. All tests have shown no heart damage but he says it if very scary.
He refuses to take drugs and over all is very healthy.
I found this site doing research for my husband who suffers from
these spasms of his heart. I cant wait for him to come home and read the comments here of people who understand what he is feeling. My question is to anyone who can explain why when he has an irregular heart beat or feels it coming he has to constantly burp. Sometimes he burps a couple times and the feeling goes away. The food allergy idea was interesting as well.
He lifts weights and does cardio regularly and this never happens during the exercise. A few times this has occured at the gym following his workout. Sometimes the bearing down works but not always. All tests have shown no heart damage but he says it if very scary.
He refuses to take drugs and over all is very healthy.
I thought I was all better after my last post. My esophageal spasms were down to one a week and I had no reflux! But then, the pain in my stomach started. A stabbing kind of pain, right underneath the breastbone and radiating under both rib cages. My gastro doc says it's the reflux -- that I'm just feeling different symptoms now. My endoscopy showed no esophageal erosion, which was good, but it also didn't give me any answers. I'm back on Prilosec now and I don't really feel like it's doing anything. I'm supposed to see my doc next month to tell him how the Prilosec is working. When I see him, I'll ask him about the Vagus Nerve thing.
For those of you who have experience heart palpitations and panic attacks with this GERD nonsense, I have too. My arm goes numb...the whole nine yards. All I want to do is feel good again. Someone told me to try apple cider vinegar (a tablespoon after each meal). It's supposed to cure acid reflux. We'll see...I'll try just about anything! (And, I'll keep you all posted as to my success or failure with it.)
For those of you who have experience heart palpitations and panic attacks with this GERD nonsense, I have too. My arm goes numb...the whole nine yards. All I want to do is feel good again. Someone told me to try apple cider vinegar (a tablespoon after each meal). It's supposed to cure acid reflux. We'll see...I'll try just about anything! (And, I'll keep you all posted as to my success or failure with it.)
I just stumbled across all of your posts. I too have all the symptoms you have. This has really scared me but I am still here to tell you about it.
I went to acupuncture last Friday and he has done wonders to help my pain in the back, the swallowing problems I am having, the feeling of the roof of my mouth and throat being pulled down to my stomach, the spasms of the stomach and spasms all along the inside of the vertebral column, the sternum pain and left reaching movement pain, etc.
Also have had intermittent slow heart rate. Sleeping is a challenge as well.
I drink out of a lot of plastic. I have my favorite plastic 20 ounce glass that I constantly refill, etc. I also buy bottled water and use a Brita filter pitcher to clean my water.
Maybe we all need to go to distilled water? How to get this in non-plastic bottle? Anyone have a distiller they can recommend?
Thanks,
Gerda, Hemet, CA
I went to acupuncture last Friday and he has done wonders to help my pain in the back, the swallowing problems I am having, the feeling of the roof of my mouth and throat being pulled down to my stomach, the spasms of the stomach and spasms all along the inside of the vertebral column, the sternum pain and left reaching movement pain, etc.
Also have had intermittent slow heart rate. Sleeping is a challenge as well.
I drink out of a lot of plastic. I have my favorite plastic 20 ounce glass that I constantly refill, etc. I also buy bottled water and use a Brita filter pitcher to clean my water.
Maybe we all need to go to distilled water? How to get this in non-plastic bottle? Anyone have a distiller they can recommend?
Thanks,
Gerda, Hemet, CA
Hi fellow suffers
Out of blue in May - started getting retrosternal pain and PVCs (+ awareness of heart beat most of the time + short runs of PSVT (although never caught on ECG)) with lightheadedness. Also had panic attacks (was told it was vasovagal)and sleep starts (zapping in head when trying to get to sleep). Out of interest - I am 44 & have menopausal hormone levels.
Lost weight - stopped exercising - scared to eat a lot. Now 6 months down line I have more a feeling of spasm behind sternum - often this is connected to a 'missed beat' sensation and it seems to be worse after I have eaten. I have a feeling there is something still in my oesophagus - I drink herb tea to try and shift this to no effect.
Had various tests - endoscopy clear (slight gastritis)- ECG clear. Been into casualty a number of times with chest pain/dysphagia. But no-one interested. Pain is often retrosternal but also in back and diffuse intermittent & stabbing. I been told a variety of things - from wind to spasm to anxiety to GERD. PVCs are benign apparently.
Drs have tried to get me on anti-depressants. I have been on Gaviscon (short term relief), Ranitidine (didnt help much)Omeprazole (made discomfort worse), Nexium (only had it a week and couldnt stand the discomfort in stomach). Am now eating bland diet - small meals - mostly semi-solid and lots of herb tea.
I have been trying to find connection between symptoms and also came up with vagus nerve. Will keep a look out to see how you are all getting on - I am a pale reflection of self prior to May and want to get my life back!
D
Out of blue in May - started getting retrosternal pain and PVCs (+ awareness of heart beat most of the time + short runs of PSVT (although never caught on ECG)) with lightheadedness. Also had panic attacks (was told it was vasovagal)and sleep starts (zapping in head when trying to get to sleep). Out of interest - I am 44 & have menopausal hormone levels.
Lost weight - stopped exercising - scared to eat a lot. Now 6 months down line I have more a feeling of spasm behind sternum - often this is connected to a 'missed beat' sensation and it seems to be worse after I have eaten. I have a feeling there is something still in my oesophagus - I drink herb tea to try and shift this to no effect.
Had various tests - endoscopy clear (slight gastritis)- ECG clear. Been into casualty a number of times with chest pain/dysphagia. But no-one interested. Pain is often retrosternal but also in back and diffuse intermittent & stabbing. I been told a variety of things - from wind to spasm to anxiety to GERD. PVCs are benign apparently.
Drs have tried to get me on anti-depressants. I have been on Gaviscon (short term relief), Ranitidine (didnt help much)Omeprazole (made discomfort worse), Nexium (only had it a week and couldnt stand the discomfort in stomach). Am now eating bland diet - small meals - mostly semi-solid and lots of herb tea.
I have been trying to find connection between symptoms and also came up with vagus nerve. Will keep a look out to see how you are all getting on - I am a pale reflection of self prior to May and want to get my life back!
D
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