Atrial Fibrillation & Stomach Gas, Digestive Tract Problems?

[delcocat]

I saw another post about atrial fibrillation and stomach gas possible association or connection.  I too have the same thing so it may not be all in your head if your suspect this to be the case.  Most dr.'s think your crazy or never heard of this when you even suggest it.  Thats whats wrong with most dr's atleast in my experience in that they don't think outside the box enough possibly because this is what they learned.  I think I/we can guess or prognose just as well or better than they can at times particularly if we know something about health and or ourselves and our own health.  Never be afraid to speak up because I feel strongly that digestive tract problems are real and translate into other real nasty symptoms like this.  Fortunately we can prevent much of this & need to prevent it from happening. I do feel the more you get afib the worse it can become either physically, emmotionally or both no matter what the cause.  I thought up until now that I may have been the first to discover this but would like to know if anyone else has any real answers to this as being a connection?  I would like to know how many people feel that they get atrial fibrillation and feel that it may be related to gas or full, bloated stomach, intestinal or digestive tract troubles etc?  Isn't it possible
that the gas, bloat, perhaps inflamed digestive or intestinal tract can disturb the vagus nerve thereby possibly causing
you to go into an afib attack?  Any real dr's out there any more with some real info about this?  Even conjecture?
Any way I also would be interested in what anyone might have to say about it and or what they may have learned from this?   If you know or even think this to be the case for you I would also like to correspond with you to trade stories and info on what you''ve learned and done. Be well.  Sincerely, Rich - delcocat at aol *******

[publo]

I suffered AF for more than 10 years and tried finding the root cause since the doctors each provided with different reasonings. After many drugs over many years of AF, I decided to avoid them all except Warfrin, which I agree is a preventive against possible stroke. I took time to check back the history, how it came about into my life and the obvious cause in mine were probably due to my prolong high blood epizodes for over many years thereby caused my heart to be a little enlarged distorting the normal rhythm of my heart but most noted when I experienced gassy stomach and also upon eating foods and some fruits that bring about this gas in my stomach. Having a fib gives you experiences like shortness of breath, confusion, fainting feeling and panicky feeling. Apparently I do feel better when I do not have this gassy stomach. Eating too many bananas and drinking coconut water also cause my a fib more obvious. I found that they contain high potassium that have effect on the heart beat.

[JeffN]

Anyone have an idea if it could be the heart that starts the gas/burp?  I know it seems backwards, but I have read where certain type of angina, and it's main symptom besides pain, is burping.  

Docs want me to take a 3 day stay for Tikosyn to see if it curbs all these problems.  Past month I'm having all kinds of circulatory issues lately, all fingers swelling and numbness only on one hand, doc thought it was an infection but it turns blue when it's cold, fingers swell like sausages.  I wonder if it's related somehow.

[delcocat]

Sorry to hear about all the suffering.  I think its worth a shot and i would also at the same time start silver biotics three times daily as well.  Some of what you mention ie., ginger can actually cause stomach acid and upset  which is probably opposite of what most people hear.  The beer.  Don't count on it.  May not get you right away but may get you later.  Its very gassy.  Enzymes with meals are generally good but there are some that didn't set right with me either.  Unfortunately when you have these symptoms going on it won't matter what you eat or whether you put everything in a blender or not you will still get the symptoms.  Learn about combining of foods.  The way in which you eat can be as important as what you eat.  In the beginning at least until you get your digestive system back on track and healthy your gonna have to make changes and concessions that will be pretty inconvenient but the trade off in the end will be worth it.  I was where your at now and miserable.  I still can go off the deep end and party like a rock star and eat huge portions of hot spicy fried foods followed up by ice cream and beer without expecting repurcussions but in moderation I'm at a point where I can at least enjoy certain things again without dying.  

[JeffN]

Oh I will give it a try and appreciate the advice delcoat.  Yes have had several endo.  Nothing other than minor irritaion.  No hernia and they did a biopsy.  I find it hard to believe it was only minor irritation from the amount of burning I've endured over a decade +.  Prilosec OTC worked for me, and I took it for 14 yrs.  

I do have trouble swallowing any kind of sticky food, it sticks down at the top of my stomach and then an air bubble will start there and work it's way up, until it feels as if it's closing off my air intake.  Panic sets in.  One time an episode lasted over 4 hours, I could not get the air out. Has put in ER a few times as I thought I was going to suffocate.  When it's finally passed, tons of burping follows.. Doc can't explain it and say just keep up on PPI's...

I can drink anything and fine.  Even beer.  I'm starting to think of putting all food in a blender!  

I will try the parasite thing, thank you.  It can't hurt at this point.  Ginger, enzymes, mag, don't seem to do much.  I've also soaked feet in mag solution to absorb.  

Lying down usually can diminish or eliminate the afib.  So it can be positional.  Just like in the morning, getting up too fast, gets my heart going at such a fast tempo and the belching starts, even without eating anything!  Docs tell me to see the GI...GI's tell me to see the docs...

[delcocat]

Well, too much of normally a good thing like execise is bad.  They won't find parasites just in passing and many even if they look for them.  With the way your describing your digestive problems and symptoms sound very familiar to me.  Sounds like tract is way out of balance probably due to over growth of bad bacteria and or parasites..  You've tried a lot of other things.  Its up to you.  Cleaning yourself out with anything like laxatives or what ever does not get rid of them or help much.  May bring temporary relief until you start eating again.  Have you ever had an endoscopy or other GI tests??  If you have and it showed clear with no obstructions or problems then I go back once again to what I said.  

[JeffN]

Well, they say mag level is good from recent blood test. Though I know only a very small trace amount is able to be measured in a blood test.  Plus I have been taking mag supplements on several occasions in the past year. Potassium is back to normal.  

I have recently tried some digestive enzymes/ginger and that seems to help a bit.  I was real bad all day yesterday, gas/burp all day and pulse was very erratic.  Though I ate the exact same stuff as the previous day. So I don't think it's a particular thing like gluten.  I tried that for a bit, and no difference.

I have had tests for stool/urine and all normal. So I don't know if the parasite thing is really it.  Since I have some degenerative discs, I am looking more into that with maybe seeing a chiro.  I used to do an immense amount of situps and really did some damage from all of them.

Looking back, all my injuries have come from exercise.  I quit all exercise for the past year and tho' I am still getting burp/arrythmia.  I feel much better and lost all that weight.  My joints don't hurt, I feel more relaxed....a nice walk or something is good.  But jogging 3-4 miles, or doing crunches, pushups  Forget it.  It did more harm than good for me even in my 30's.  Now I'm in my 40's and wish I had never done all that.