stomach fluttering and rapid heart rate

[joedipp]

i was just back in the ER on the first, had a rsapid heart rate of 140 and was accompanied by extreme stomach pain and seemed like fluttering in my stomach, EKG came back fine as well as my chest XRAY i do have a heart history but my EKG was good and once my pain in my stomach went away my heart rate lowered. any ideas?  ive had a histroy of sotmach ulcers and gastritis also can having an inflamed stomach and esophogus cause irritation on like an artery or push up again your heart to make this happen?  also all through out the days laely my stomach will flutter like exactly in the middle of my stomach right below my sternum, ive also had an abdominal ct scan which came back fine and am waitng results on my abdomin ultrasounnd but its been weeks sinc ei had it done so im asusming if it was somehting major my doc would have called me right away to tell me... i also get bad pains in my left armpit and down my arm... but ive had soooo many EKGS and cardiac enzyme blood tests that have always came back with good results... can any one relate to this?  i fear the worst usualy like an aortic abdominal anuerism but the nurse at the ER said that would have shown on a CT scan, i dont know if i have som esort of hernia somewhere and if i have some kind of spastic esophigal sphinctor?    does anyone know of any other tests i can get done for my heart and gastro to help find out what could be causing theese flutter in my stomach and fast heart rate. any input will help me alot and ease my mind! thank you

[heart0rgi]

old post but maybe helpfull for someone else.....I have had similar issues as you describe for at least 10 years still not dead..but its getting worse....attacks of severe left quadrant epi gastric/ lower chest pain some times spreading into both arms accompanied by a rapid heart rate of around 100 bpm, dizziness and general feeling of impending dome ....(my normal resting heart rate bpm is ~60, normal blood pressure, slightly over wieght but working on it). To make matters more confusing in the last few years this has now started happening  very repeatably with strenuous exercise. Usually comes on after cessation of exercise...will last for 30 to 60 minutes after a I stop exercising (atypical of angina which stops hurting in a few minutes after you stop exersion) and I have extreem point tenderness under left rib cage which slowly goes away 30-60 minutes later  .... happening reliably on exertion obviously suggests a cardiac origin but I have had every cardiac test available....numerous trips to the ER because of symptoms and they never find anything with EKG or 3 enzyme / Troponin test always negative. Nuclear stress test negative, Cardiac CTA negative,  Calcium score of 40..little concerning, Coronary Agiogram negative, Abdominal CT scan negative.   Its possible that they missed something or did not do the tests test right because the Calcium score does show some heart disease ( I have already made lifestyle changes...daily walking/exercise, Keto diet, 18:6 intermitant fasting)  but I am pretty much convinced at this point that this is epigastric in origin (either GERD, Gastritis from weekly Binge drinking and asprin). I have had an endoscopy which found gastritis indicators and barium series which showed some reflux. My theory is think if you have an issue with reflux possibly brought on by exercise causing gastric acid to slosh around on Gastritic or ulcer inflamed sections of the stomach and esophogus it will cause sever pain in that area. I have read that the heart and the stomach share similar nerve endings so similar pain and hard to tell the  difference.  As this is such a critical pain center for the body / heart it may send your body into a panick response which increases heart rate. Also the Vagus nerve which is responsible for inervating the heart and the gastric organs runs right along the esophogus so it may be possible that acid irritating the esophogus can affect the vagus nerve and cause issues with heart rate. I think there is a strong connection between the Heart and Epigastric organs that is not fully understood by western medicine  not to mention their close physical proximity basically touching each other e.g. possibility of hietal hernia pushing on the heart. When I took PPI's for a couple months pain and exercise intolerance both improved and got worse when I tapered off PPIs (which you have to do as  PPIs have dangerous side effects long term). I think if you have ruled out Cardiac with first Calcium score, Cardiac agiogram and issues with Celiac abdominal arteries via CT scan...it has to be Gastric.....but would love to hear any other opinions as this is totally impacting my life in a negative way.

[ashybby3000]

Hey, i am a 30yr old female & i am having the exact same symptoms... I cant control this fluttering feeling in my stomach @ all... It makes me feel as if i cant catch my breath & my heart beats like crazy... Its @ its worst for me late @ night... I've went to the ER the 1st time it happened & had EKGs & blood wrk but they found nothing. Said that maybe i was having Panic Attacks.... Have you ever been diagnosed & cured???

Please help..

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

With cardiovascular causes ruled out, this is likely to be secondary to the GI issues (inflammation/ ulcers). The increased heart rate can be caused secondary to acute inflammation and pain. I would suggest consulting a gastroenterologist for a detailed evaluation and suggestion of an appropriate management plan.
Hope this is helpful.

Take care!