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Atrial Fibrillation & Stomach Gas, Digestive Tract Problems?

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 *******
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Avatar universal
I have afib and a hiatal hernia.  I no longer suffer from either since going gluten free.  I hope this helps some of you.
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Thank you for your comment, fcarol. There does indeed seem to be a correlation between gluten and afib.  For readers, here is an article about food choices and afib. https://www.healthline.com/health/atrial-fibrillation/foods-to-avoid#grapefruit
Avatar universal
I was so relieved to randomly discover this post. Thank you for launching this thread. Over the past 2 years, I've experienced 6 trips to the ER, where I literally thought that I was having a heart attack. I thought it was highly suspicious that every time I had an episode with my heart, simultaneously I would be experiencing severe digestive discomfort, which has been a major problem for me over the past 18 years. I was diagnosed with IBS about 16 years ago. I've tried every remedy under the sun, natural and synthetic, to relieve my symptoms but nothing has helped. I eliminated gluten, dairy, and processed food.

The heart issues began unexpectedly 2 years ago. This has been a nightmare. Doctors have ran every known test for cardiac issues, yet all tests have come back negative. However, when I feel the heart attack like symptoms, my heart rate will suddenly go from 60 beats per minute, to 120+. Then I become very dizzy, light-headed, and feel like I may blackout. It's terrifying when this happens at work, or out in public. Like many people on this thread, I questioned all of the doctors I've seen about a connection between my digestive issues and the cardiovascular symptoms. The doctors looked at me like I had 3 heads. They thought the notion was absurd. Some of the doctors thought I was making it all up, like I was a hypochondriac. I'm a bodybuilder and power lifter who has overcome  many life threatening health issues to be able to do what I do, so I'm not a soft person who is afraid of minor pain or discomfort.

These particular issues have really been burdensome. They have made me anti-social. I don't like to be around groups of people, because when I try to socialize, stomach cramping and bloating begin, then the racing heart and heavy brain fog kick in and I know I sound like an idiot trying to talk, because when this happens I'm unable to focus or think. It makes me want to live like a recluse. I generally want to stay home and not go anywhere, or do anything. Family and friends think I'm a pompous, stick in the mud for not wanting to go and be social with them, but nobody can begin to relate, or understand what I feel like. My fiance somewhat get it, but is mostly out of touch with what I'm going through, because I'm not one to sit there and cry about my discomfort all day. I suffer in silence and people don't understand. It's a momentous task to get through each work day, but I suck it up and do it, praying that things might someday get better.
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2 Comments
Ugh, I don’t know if my response posted. I wrote you but, got prompted to login after I hit send and now I can’t see it. Anyway, please if you have any questions or just wanna talk, by all means, reach out. Im here and are still dealing with this dreadful issue. I know all too well how you feel and what you’re going through!
Thanks so much for reaching out. It's definitely a miserable set of circumstances to contend with. There are lousy days, then there are horrible days. It sucks to know that the lousy days are the ones that you look forward too., because although you may feel lousy, you don't feel like you're on the verge of a heart attack, or life threatening debacle. My issues began about 1 year following an emergency surgery where my intestines twisted, and I had to have sections of my small and large intestines removed. I have a hunch that this procedure may have damaged my vagus nerve; a primary nerve that runs from the stomach, through the heart, and up to the brain. In fact, I'm convinced that this is what's causing the issues. The problem is that most doctors are completely unfamiliar with this, so they misdiagnose it as depression, anxiety, IBS, or a mental health issue.
Avatar universal
Well all I have to say I’ve been researching every single thing as to the causes of these damn skilled beats , I’m going to be real honest , i have quit caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods , i also taken potassium, vitamins, even made a calendar and wrote what I ate certain days , and just when I think I have the answer ....... NOTIING!!!!  But I didn’t stop try , I’m going to cut to the chase and no ********!!! Don’t know if it’s going to help anyone but here it goes !! I also think it’s intestinal related , I’ve noticed that when I eat even if it’s a small meal I get real bloated and after an hour or so I get them even worse keep in mind I still have them before I eat but now I’m going to go see a gastroenterologist to see what’s going on with my stomach , also I forgot to tell you all when I had them back in 2007 I didn’t have them as bad as I do now but back then I had real bad acid reflux my doctor prescribed me some medication for that but I can’t remember the name and they went completely away for a week, so I’m going to go back to that doctor and see what it was that he prescribed me but I am 90 percent sure that it’s got something to do with the digestive tract or Stomach or intestinal whatever you want to call it , so all I can tell you people is keep your head up high don’t give up we are all in the same freakin boat , I’m also scared but what can we do? Like I said 90 % it’s got something to do with the intestines , when I come back from the gastroinoligist I will let you all know, thanks I hope this kinda help
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1 Comments
Hi Hbart,  yep been there.  I haven't been on here in quite q while even though I started this blog.  if you have bloating after you eat you more than likely are having problems with your digestive track and probably are experiencing constipation, IBS, colitis and or other.well known named symptoms.  Outside of that if you have been checked out and you are relatively healthy it can also still cause your system into trigger off afib.  Some would call this because of its usually proximity vagal induced afib.  Sometimes its harder to get your digestive problems under control than the afib.  What worked for me was doing a parasitic colon cleanse.  then giving the digestive tract a break and time to heal by following up with an easy to digest healthy diet plan and include probiotics and perhaps even more importantly digestive enzymes before your meals.  Once you get the digestive tract in good shape you won't get the bloat and dancing intestines that ultimately hurls you into the occasional annoying bouts with afib. Stress control is important.  Your on the right track with modifying your diet and most doctors will think your insane to think you might have parasites but it works for me.  Its ongoing and I'm not perfect but I have learned to know the trigger symptoms, maintain health of the digestive tract even after going off the wagon.  Good luck to you.  Rich    
Avatar universal
Hi there, I would like to introduce you to ancient indian science, Ayurveda. Ayurveda and herbal medicines might take much slower time to heal you but it will for sure. West medeince are having very quick but short healing. they don't last too long.

Here is my story in short:

I was also experiencing extreme pain in my stomach, horrible gastric, stomach tumble, etc. To express in details it was like heat from inside causing to dry mouth and heat on my tongue for long time. Extreme pain in the stomach area feeling like having a fire inside of me. I experienced whole my body become literally red. I couldn't really find any answer from west science to solve this disorder until I came to India and got introduced to Ayurveda. Ayurveda is an ancient indian science which has very different perspective towards west.

Based on Ayurveda every person has a different constitution, Wind, fire and earth. If we like to have a healthy life style we have to keep the all 3 elements balanced in our body. When we have the 3 elements balanced we feel happy and joyful. This science is very simple but has a depth in understanding nature out and in.

I am Pitta person, meaning my fire is overtaking on the other two elements thats why I was feeling so much heat and dry mouth. I should cool myself with cold nature food to keep the balance and harmony.
Zucchini, cabbage, white rice, Broccoli, Potato, Coriander (seeds and herb) , Cocao, Coffee, Okra, Banna, Apple, mango, Coconut, Pomegranate etc. are having cooling effect on the body and should be consumed by Pitta (Fire) people.

I should take very little or highly avoid following foods having fire element in summer time:
Tomato (oh I god i love them), dried fruits and nuts, garlic, onion, Spinach, Spirulina, or any food that has a lot of Iron in it. Highly avoid sour and salty food in summer.

The main basic is to recognise which food is good for Pitta person is  by its taste. Any food that is sweet, Astringent and bitter is good for cooling the pitta people.

If you like to figure out exactly which elements are dominant in your body, please take online test to determine yours:
https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/prakriti-quiz

Please read below article of conscious food combining to avoid indigestion which causes gas in intestine:
https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/diet/ayurvedic-food-combining/

If you like to change your perspective towards health and life in general I highly recommend you to read few books on this topic written by Vasant Lad and David Frawley. “Ayurveda: The Science of Self-healing : a Practical Guide” is one of the most popular books.


Meditation and Yoga increase mind and body health. Please consider practising calming your mind with guided meditation and exercising/ stretching your muscles (tissues) with Yoga everyday.
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Avatar universal
Someone emailed me to see if this site was still active?  Since it has been a while since I last posted I figured I would just repost what I wrote to her here as kind of an update.

  I think you were looking for the post or blog I started a while back which I will place the links for you here below.  I get it (afib) every now and again.  I don't know your situation and there is a lot to read up on and everyone is different.  It has been my assertion that in many case (not all) such as myself that there is a link between digestive health and afib.  Another words if you notice IBS like symptoms such as gas, bloat usually brought on by constipation which is brought by inflammation which is brought on by poor eating it can trigger sensitivity in the intestinal lining that may have developed over time (perhaps years) of poor eating habits, stress, smoking, drinking etc which may have caught up to you and it has affected a region in the colon or intestines at or near the vagus nerve.  When impulses caused by the aforementioned in the intestinal lining which has thinned or become porous exposing sensitive nerve endings probably stimulates the vagus nerve which when bad enough can in turn stimulate and trigger off an episode of afib.  How I deal with mine is to try and avoid a build up of food by trying not to eat the wrong foods, over eat period faster than my digestive tract can process and or eliminate which at times can be challenging in and of itself.  I hope this gives you some idea but again for further info read up on the blog here below.  There too you can post questions to whom you feel has similar situation and symptoms such as yourself.  I have not been on or posted in awhile so perhaps I will now.  Good luck to you.

Rich

PS - here's the links below.  This has been up for years now.  Upon reading you may notice that i have literally educated myself  and have and still continue to learn new things because when i started this doctors new nothing to very little but would want to treat it with dangerous drugs like they did know.  I do feel there is a bit more now known and it appears I may have been right about much of my speculations etc.  one day there will hopefully be some strides in curing this afib problem!  I think some of it can or will as conjectured be brought under control when IBS symptoms are brought under control or even better when it is figured out how we can prevent and cure what causes the IBS.
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1 Comments
Hello, I am post ablation for SVT and find that my IBS symptoms have disappeared as well. So maybe heart rhythm irregularities can cause digestive problems. Also my ability to exercise and sleeping is much better too.  I am a woman in my fifties and am feel ten years younger since this treatment. I never realised the scope of negative affects of the SVT condition. Am I drawing too many conclusions?
12492606 tn?1459874033
Over training leads to fibrosis (cardiomyopathy) and Afib for many athletes that overtrain.  There is an optimal level, over that and it is just as bad as smoking and diabetes as far as heart damage.  And then there is recent bad news about antacids, that long term intake is correlated with increased risk of dementia.  Not sure yet why PPI's can cause that but it could be that PPI interfere with the body's ability to generate and absorb B12.  There is a "heart arrhythmia" topic here for people with AF or other irregular heartbeat issues.  There is also Lone Afib forum with many athletes exchanging AF experience.  Check those out.
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Avatar universal
I know your note is from 2012 but I hope you read it. I have had acidic staomach and a if reflux done I was a child. I am 47 now and I still suffer from it. I started burning mouth syndrome 8 months sho after juicing fruits for 2 days. I tried everything to rule out many problems but none worked. Went to an allergy Doctor, thinking that it was allergy but he said that it is acid reflux which has gotten worse and is causing burning mouth. I started on omeprozole in the morning and Zantac 300 mg at night, it has gotten better but not completely depending on what I eat. Regarding A-fib, my husband has suffered from it since last June after an period of heart burn and helicobacter infection in stomach. He says it is stress and eating late at night that triggers it. He is on metoprolol and has been better but again it is triggered once or twice a month fir various reasons mostly job stress and late night dinner, he is very athletic and eats very healthy but he still gets a fib once in a while. I hope you all find the triggers in your cases.
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Avatar universal
I just want to thank all of you who have shared their Afib experiences here.
I find 'myself', in one way or another, in  just about all of the posts.
For me to add my Afib experiences would be redundant.
Again my 'heartfelt' thanks to all of you.
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Avatar universal
Any fruit or vegetable are you suggest?
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Avatar universal
Please tell me how am solve this problem If any food or medicine will you suggested?
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Avatar universal
Based on my experience dealing with doctors from all specialties for over 40 years, I have had the sometimes sad experience that if I go to a Gastro doctor for things having to do with the heart (like-related symptoms like on this forum), the Gastro almost ALWAYS says my symptoms are GASTRO related. If it is GASTRO-related and I go to a cardiologist, the latter tells me it is HEART related.  Can't win for losing.
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Avatar universal
I've just stumbled across this website while trying to find answers to my Afib. I'm really astonished to read that like me, most of you can see a correlation between,food,acid  reflux, hiatus hernias and excess stomach gas, of which I tick all the boxes. Mine started a couple of years ago and I only usually get Afib and high blood pressure after eating the wrong food or after a large meal.  After my first really bad episode the medics wanted to put me onto beta blockers and warfarin, I refused to take either as I didn't feel as though I'd been properly diagnosed.  I had a heart scan after my stay in hospital which was normal. I wasn't given any follow up after that. I think the drs didn't want to know as I'd refused to take their advice.  I feel I can manage Afib by cutting down my food portions and being careful what I eat. I also find I can usually belch myself back to Nsr. A fizzy drink can sometimes do the trick. I'm convinced like most of you that AFib is related to my digestive system.  I will, from now on be an avid follower of this site. Thanks to all of you whose posts I've read - I now know I'm not on my own!
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Avatar universal
Try an ounce or two of Aloe Vera gel. It worked wonders for my heart palps, pounding/racing heart. I use lily of the desert brand. Spirulina completely eliminated them for me. I can have a normal life now but I'm still careful with my diet as a precaution (no processed foods, gluten free, vegetables & fruit, very little meat etc.

There is a guy that cured his heart problems.His site is "stopheartpalpitations" *******.

For quick relief from a-fib try gas x simethicone gel tabs. Not a long-term fix like the above but it works!
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Avatar universal
I agree with you.  I have been doing the Raw Apple Cider/Vinegar, digestive enzyme/liver enzymes, thing for awhile, but still get all this stuff.  I don't get as much burn but still get this crazy belching/racing heart thing.  All supplements seem to help a little here and a little there, but never enough where I notice something is really doing the trick.  I just keep managing, and it's getting frustrating.

Especially more problematic since I've lost weight and while I am very healthy weight wise, trying to eat fruits/veggies/nuts and not any junk. Between Afib and losing weight, my circuilation has gotten so bad, hands are freezing all the time because I don't have the fat!  Fingers develop bumps and swell with no circulation.  During winter, thick gloves don't even help, hands hurt so bad from cold.  Something is wrong and the docs don't know..my body is trying to tell me.
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Avatar universal
Jeff, As people get older, they produce less hydrochloric acid, so why do they have acid indigestion?  Because they are unable to digest their food.  I finally figured it out after much research several years ago.  When people get acid indigestion, if they would take large amounts of digestive enzymes, their acid indigestion would go completely away.  This happened to me.  I haven't had acid reflux one time since I started to take digestive enzymes.  The down side to taking Tums is that symptoms of GERD are actually a cry from the body that we need MORE hydrochloric acid, not less.  Then when people start taking Tums, they don't have the protective acid in the stomach to protect them from parasites and other pathogens.  
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Avatar universal
I also suffer from this problem. When the belching has just started, and the sinus rhythm is still off, taking a note from an article on heart attacks, I cough several times and my rhythms return to normal.....but need to get the gas out as quickly as possible
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Avatar universal
I too have afib that comes & goes & have found like you there are certain foods that I can no longer eat. A small amount of oil sets the afib off. A small amount of tomato sauce will also do it. Sometimes I think that foods that cause gas also cause the afib. If you think about it,too much gas in your chest can put pressure on your heart by squeezing it. I also believe that digestive enzymes help, but only if you get the right ones for you. i have tried many, but found only one that works for me. It would seem that there is no "one" solution & we need to combine several approaches together.I also believe our immune systems have much to do in this. I now cannot be around any strong smells, even if they are wonderful (LIKE COOKIES BAKING)!  This has really impacted my life. No more salons (haircuts, pedis). No more candles, favorite cologne. even cleaning products need to be unscented. Have even lost some friends along the way who have normal senses if smell & just don't get their very nice scents are putting my heart in afib...   So glad I have found this forum so I know that I am not the only one with issues.
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6188017 tn?1379475567
Wow your story is almost identical to mine, I can't believe it I actually thought it was me talking .. same exact symptoms, tests, etc, I have been diagnosed with afib also and have a small Hiatal hernia which the internist said can actually cause all this. So while you may have afib it may not be for life, if somehow we can get rid of the hernia we may be able to be symptoms free from afib too!.. I was also really scared still am, I had a active life and suddenly this just stopped me in my tracks, now I am starting to understand it and hoping to treat the hernia and see how that helps.. good luck to you hope you are better now..
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Avatar universal
Have AF since 1993....once a month mostly, came across an article recommending coconut water for AF. So far it's stopped 3 onsets,drank it right away. Do not know how or why....yet!   Vagal most likely.

As for ablation.........it's just hit n' miss and dangerous. IMO

The new kid on the block comes from "Topera" targets the rotors..82% or so success rate, looks promising.

G/L
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Avatar universal
On my doc's notes, I notice he wrote that I think the bloat/gas triggers the afib, and he said, he thinks it's the reverse.  how could that be?  It kind've happens simultaneously so I'm not sure.  But it seem to make more sense, the bloating is pressing up and pushing on stuff which makes everything go haywire.  I have to let out the loudest, harshest beleches.  Sometimes my esophagus hurts and after awhile, due to all the belching, I get some burn from the acid.  All the while dealing with my heart racing and short of breath.  This lasted all day yesterday.  I get it daily, and sometimes can go a few days without.  It seems to come no matter what I eat or don't eat.  

What's weirdest thing is I can often predict the times and days it comes, almost like clockwork.  
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Avatar universal
Hi i was very interested in your story I am trying at the moment to get the medical people to listen to what I am saying I have just been told I have Af and have just come out of hospital for rapid Af. It all starts from my stomach I had eaten food that I should have known better but when i say it starts with my stomach they shake there heads it is so frustrating. Now i have read your story I feel better about my condition.
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Avatar universal
I am so glad to find this blog. I have been dealing with AFIB since 2005, and have always thought it was connected with digestive issues as I have had them my whole life. I was doing great, only 3 episodes a year and most were short. All because I changed my diet, also treated myself with Mastic Gum for diagnosed H.pylori and it cured the bacteria. I was very sick, lost close to 25 lbs, but I got through it. I have a bad knee so at the end of 2013 I started a series of shots which included Cortisone, and also a shot what they put directly into  the knee to build up the cushion that has disappeared with time (I am 73). The shots worked but I started having more AFIB episodes, and two have put me in the hospital where they put me on Cardizam, mouth and vein. So, I was pumped full of it. This all happened within 45 days apart. My EP is suggestion ablation or pacemaker. I want neither. I think my current AFIB was caused by the shots in my knee, and the stomach issue now is from the Cardizam. I was completely medicine free ever since I tried Beta Blockers when I was first diagnosed, and they almost destroyed my life. I am Gluten free, and eat healthy. But, I am now facing stomach issues that I can't get a handle on, and it scares me to think I would have another bad AFIB episode from this situation. Every thing I eat hurts me. I did try some Mastic Gum again as H.pylori comes back sometimes. That has hurt me also. I have used Gas X and that helps with the bloating, however I don't want to make another issue by using too much of that. I say all of that to say that I believe my AFIB comes from the digestive issues I have had all my life, and now they are even worse because of medication, and I am so happy to find that others out there believe digestion has a lot to do with AFIB, just wish a doctor or two would realize that.
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Avatar universal
I would like to thank you for posting this. I have had a very similar experience to yours, and most of the time, I feel so alone and that no one can understand what I am going through. Family members try to offer support, but the bottom line is that there is only so much they can understand, and the constant episodes of a fib really impact my life and that of my family. I wish there was an in person support group where I live, but there is not. I am at the point where they are considering an AV node ablation and pacemaker insertion.
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Avatar universal
Glad you found this site and have found it helpful.  Good post and it too is helpful.  All the things you mention I have tried and recomended from time to time.  Also going slow and watching out for what combinations to use is good advice.  While these are natural products they can be very powerful.  Oregano oil is very powerful and you need to be careful not to over due as it can hurt the stomach and intestinal lining and kill off good bacteria as well.  Candida as I too have mentioned in the past is definately a part of the equation for many.  Very tough to irradicate since its outer shell layer (called chitin) is like armor that our immune systems can not penetrate but that said believe it or not a small amount of yeast may actually be needed by the body however there must be a balance.  Another thing that I have used in my arsenal with great success are coloidal silver, iodine (drops in water taken internally - careful!) and wormwood and black walnut tincture.  After about a weeks regimine I too thought I was cured and for about 1 1/2 months effectively I was since I was litterally able to eat anything I wanted without bloat or bother and of course afib and I was ecstatic!  After that however it came back.  This could not have been coincidence but it solidifies your point that at this time no matter what it is that works for you, me or someone else right now its not a permanent cure.  Exciting however because I feel with the right research perhaps one day it can be a permanent cure.  I have to also mention stress is a huge factor and who isn't stressed today?  I am and have been so passionate about this that if I was lucky enough to stumble upon a cure I would share it with all and not want or have to make a single penny on it.   I think many visiting this board would also do the same and so I thank each and everyone who has posted and shared their own experiences here with us.  In the beginning prior to starting this and another sister post it seemed I was the only one out there at the time experiencing this and many times felt very alone, worried and at times thought was it just me or was I going crazy!  I guess with all your help I have proven that I wasn't and you all have proven you aren't either.  So heres to good health and finding a cure hopefully one day soon.
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