Stomach issues = PVC's?

[Mike85281]

Does anybody else experience PVC's or PAC's when their stomach is upset? I am anxious most of the time, so my stomach is almost constantly roiling, but when I have worse stomach issues, my heart seems to skip when my stomach knots up. Not to be gross, but having a bowel movement can also make my heart skip. Does anybody else encounter this? Thanks.

[Jonnyct2]

Same symptoms as the rest of y'all--   sorry for our "issues" but good to know we're not alone.  I've experienced heart flutters for the past several months--  not sure what they are, but from the research I've done, they sound like PVC's.  Brief period of fluttering followed by a brief pause, and then the normal rhythm resumes.  Sometimes once or twice a week, sometimes a couple times per day.  Scary as crap.  EKG and echocardiogram came back normal, but I am absolutely convinced, like many of you, that there's a link between gas and heart stuff.  I have a lot of gas, and that seems to exacerbate the heart symptoms.  I frequently get them after a large meal when I sit back or lay down, or in the car when I'm sitting up but feel bloated.  I stopped drinking coffee and cut other sources of caffeine, but I still get them.  I also have mild sleep apnea and use a CPAP, which probably only contributes to the gas/bloated feeling.  Docs seem to be generally clueless or skeptical about these links and common factors we've observed.    

[FerdyBoy]

This is definitely caused (at least in my case) from the vagal nerve.  I suffered with the same arrhythmia problem for years, just after eating during digestion or consuming alcoholic beverages, and all of the doctors I spoke with never even mentioned the vagal nerve as being causative for the skipped beats or PVC's.  There seems to be VERY little research in this area---and diagnosis or knowledge  connecting the two also seems to be very rare.

So, I took matters into my own hands after doing MUCH research through forums such as this one.  Although I don't suffer from GERD or any other type of digestive disorders or acid reflux, I decided to try an acid reducing over the counter medication.  THIS WAS THE MAGIC BULLET!  75mg of Ranitidine (Zantac)----one first thing in the morning and one before dinner at night, and the arrhythmias WENT AWAY COMPLETELY.

Your results may vary, so please don't take this as medical advice--I just wanted to let you and the group know (and the MD's and cardiologists if they are reading this)  that there is a definite connection between digestive tract acid, vagal nerve stimulation (or destimulation) and heart arrhythmias.  

Good luck, and if you decide to try this and it works, God Bless.

[cardiac_guy]

Well heres something personal. Is everyone who is getting PVC's or PAC'c with Gastirc origin overweight? I get them and need to loose 40 lbs. I wonder if less congestion in the abdomen (reduced fat) would help? With me they're positional, I can get them leaning over, laying down, etc.

[lasvegasgirl6]

yes foos effects them terrrible for me if im hungry if I eat to much no sugar too much sugar pooping straining I know gross but we are all in this together I like it like this not so scary anymore ...

[missalisa]

You're right. Who really knows what causes these things?

After a while of them gone, they're back. I had a decaf coffee, and that seemed to bring them on. Does decaf do this too? Jeez. No coffee at all?!?! Sigh.

I can't imagine living with this for the rest of my life. It is so depressing. It does give me hope to see all the people here who are muddling through with PVCs, though. Strength in numbers!

[Wisconsin2007]

Sometimes I think a list of things that don't cause PVC's would be a shorter list.

I own my own business, and there was a time when I had to take a client to court.  This client was AWEFUL.  During the year or two it took for the litigation to progress, anytime I'd get a call from her, my heart would start firing off PVC's.

Sometimes, if I eat a big meal, I'll get PVC's.

If I bend over, sometimes I'll get PVC's.

Lots of caffeine?  PVC

Etc, etc.  If you're overweight, it might cause more.  You name it.  Anyway, I wish you success in dealing with your situation.