PVCs and stomach gas!!!!

[sb786]

Just a quick question... My younger sister who is 20 yrs old and has never suffered from pvcs/palpitions etc had an endoscopy done 3 days ago for suspected acid reflux. During the procedure they blew air into her stomach to inflate it!! Since then she obviously has alot of stomach gas but she has been having non stop pvcs too!! Yesterday for about 6 hours every third beat was an ectopic!! They have calmed down alot today and she is not really bothered by them but is there a connection between gas and palps? I know i tend to burb after a pvc and after eating i definitely get more.

[philm00r]

A few years ago or so I suffered from these same issues.  I began to notice that I would have PVC's after eating.  Sometimes only for a little while and other times it could go on for over an hour.  I went through the same ordeal that many of you have talked about here.  I persistently told my doctors about how my PVC's seemed to be linked to digestion or gas and was told that there was no known relation.  It was very frustrating being told the same thing all the time and never being able to do something about a very alarming and annoying issue.  Then in 2009 something changed.  I began noticing a much quicker irregular beating at random times - Sometimes after eating but when it would happen became much more random.  After two more doctor visits one doctor decided to have me do a stress test (treadmill) asap.  I got lucky and they were able to catch what I was feeling during the stress test.  It turned out that I was now having the very dangerous arrhythmia ventricular tachycardia.  These where very short runs of v-tach.  Maybe only for about 4 to 5 seconds before it corrected itself and returned to normal rhythm.  All of the tests that I had had done on my heart up to that point showed that, structurally, my heart was very healthy so the doctors were perplexed when I started having v-tach.  More tests were run and the same results showed.  My heart was structurally fine.  Then I met the amazing cardiologist that would ultimately figure out what was happening to me and set the wheels in motion for me to get it resolved.  He arranged for me to have an EP (electrophysiology) study and they discovered that I had 3 spots in my right ventricle that where misfiring.  This created a bad pathway that was causing my v-tach.  Once they discovered the 3 "bad" spots they did a procedure called cardiac ablation which essentially blocked the 3 bad spots and prevented the v-tach.  The procedure itself was very easy.  I was able to leave the next day and haven't had any more v-tach.  I still get random PVC’s from time to time but not often & my Doctor said that is normal and no big deal.  The best part is that I don’t get them after eating anymore.  What was interesting, though, was that all three spots were in the area of the right ventricle that ran right up against my esophagus.  My doctor believed that this may have been why I was having issues after eating.  His theory was that the eating (swallowing food in particular) may have stimulated the area triggering the arrhythmias.  Apparently an issue with PVC’s and digestion is an area where very little study has been done.  I would suggest to anyone that is having ectopic heart beats after eating to find out more about an EP study from your cardiologist.  I cannot tell you the relief I felt after the procedure.      

[Ken78613]

The secret is finding out what foods cause you gas.  Also  go to a GI doctor and get an upper endoscopy done(camera down throat).  You most likely have gastritis in the area where the vagus nerve connects.  Gas expands the stomach allowing the nerve ending to be irritated sending errant signals to the heart.  Tylenol helps if you can take it....watch out for the liver.

My best defense is acid reducers ( prescriptive kind), and not eating the gassy foods like apples, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, sugar, etc.  Taking Beano before meals with beans or veggies helps also.

[bunnie974]

I am so glad to read your message.  I have PVC's and I just told my daughter I swear it has something to do with excessive gas.  After I have a PVC, I either burp or pass gas.  I find I have more if I don't eat than after eating.  I have been bothered by these for years and 2 years ago, I had 2 separate episodes of AtriaFib.  Dr. said they don't have any proof that PVC's are precursers to Atrial Fib.  I feel somewhat relieved to know that other people have the same problem and the same feelings that I have.  I do truly think the PVC's are related to gas.  I take omeprazole every day but that doesn't seem to help.  Also take Sotalol everyday.  I get very upset when I have these and then that makes it worse.  Thanks. Bunnie

[ad2crl]

Hello Im a Male 33yrs.
I been having episodes of PVC's too.  Some times the PVCs are so bad i get light headed and dizzy.  I usually only have the problems after i eat, but thats not to say I wont eat anything my stomach will feel full and have PVC's.  (If i burp i instantly feed better) I had a endoscope and they found that I have mild gastritus.  Im in the navy and the flight doc said some cases of really bad indegestion can cause you to pass out.  Im told that the vegas nerve gets upset and causes these problems.  Im now looking into possibly getting my nerve snipped.  Im going to get another consult set up.  Im tired of them irratic PVC's heart palps are extremely discomforting to me.  I advoid greasy foods, red sauces.  
When this all started i was really scared that i had a Heart disease.  Its crazy that all these stomach issues can scare you to death because it was new and was directly affecting my heart.  I had all tests done for my heart except a MRI, which they feel is not needed.  
Im not a doc, but im sure im suffering from trapped wind too.

[amen844]

Ok here's my 2 bits. Abouut 10 years ago I got home late, kinda hungry so i made myself a wonder bread ham and cheese sandwich. Ate it went to bed. About an hour later woke up, couldnt feel my legs and kinda numb allover. Dialled 911 ambulance came. On the way to the hospital (approx 5 min ride) I started to belch/burp. Got there ran tests all fine Md gave me Maalox cause my stomach was a mess, and a compazine shot to calm me down.15 years later and heres what happens now! If I dont eat, or eat abruptly, or too much, and lay down. I get severe bloating in my stomach, and plenty of gas, along with these thumps in my heart. These are really scarry, matter of fact had the worst one tonight, and thats why I'm writing. I had been on an empty stomach doing lawn care work outside. When It was finally time to eat, I gobbled it down hunched over on the table. A 1/2 hour into the meal, I thought my heart was going to stop. Thump Thump thump!!! I got up from the table and made myself burp. I was amazed at how much gas my stomach had.Palps went away with me burping. 3 hours and a pepcid later and I still have gas, but no Thumps!! The best way I can explain it is this. When you dont eat, when you feel hungry, your stomach produces acid. It also produces acid when you eat abruptly, or eat foods which are hard to digest. This acid build up in the form of gas in your stomach presses up against the vagal nerve, and produces palps. So heres what I do. Eat when your hungry!! If you cant, have some crackers handy, these will absorb the acid in your stomach. Dont eat foods that are hard to digest (this varries from person to person) If you find yourself having indigestion have some club soda, this really helps (also some chamomile tea).Dont eat quickly, chew your food slowly, and try to be calm when you have dinner. Dont eat and got to bed, the food just sits there. If you can, eat a little earlier but if that is not a n option eat light.Always sit in an upright position.Dont eat then drive (for those of us that have this problem) I got palps one day in the car after eating, its dangerous!! Try pepcid instead of Prilosec! It works faster, and doesnt shut down your h2 proton pump for 24 hours!!  This will not kill you, but it is scarry.

[JEG12]

It's amazing to read all of your posts. I have been dealing with exactly the same symptoms with gas and PVC's and had every heart test done known to man. They say I am healthy and that PVC's are just going to be part of my life. I am 35 and have had them since about 32 but started having them regular about a year ago. So weird that this many people have the same symptoms but it's supposedly not related to each other.