Vagal triggered AF with hiatus hernia.

[Trilby8]

Has anyone been diagnosed with the combination of PAF and Hiatus Hernia or suspicion of HH whose main trigger for PAF episodes being Vagus Nerve dysfunction? Cathy.

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Hi Cathy, I was diagnosed with H/H About 4 years ago following years of really bad heartburn. I was put on ppi's which sort out the heartburn but worry me intensely as it appears I now have osteoporosis. Added to this I was diagnosed with paf in February of this year. My gp told me that massaging the vagus nerve whilst in a/f will often lessen the symptoms and return heart to normal rate quicker. It seems to work if caught earlier enough. Not sure if this info is of any use to you.

Sue

[Trilby8]

Thanks for that Barneysmum - PPIs didn't help at all - stopping Aspirin and having a positive diagnosis of H.Pylori bacteria and treatment in my digestive tract improved things for me - along with ginger root digestive enzymes and Probiotics - until last week when my vagus nerve seems to have been triggered by pressure in my upper abdomen either by evening meal bloating and one incident of just pressing my fist into upper abdomen inadvertently after eating provoking instant fast AF it stopped in seconds but as soon as I turned onto my right side to sleep that night AF kicked in again. Where did your GP instruct you to massage the vagus nerve to stop AF? I think possibly you neck? Cathy.

[Hidden in reply to Trilby8]

Yes, the side of my neck, he also suggested putting my head in a bowl of cold water, but that was a step too far.!  We used to do that with lambs that were slow to breathe. Usually worked with them

[jan-ran]

Yes I have both conditions. And I m sure my af is vagally mediated as they say. I take pantoprzole for hh, flecainide and bisoprolol for af. No doctor has ever told me there's a link. But I know the whole kit and caboodle, including diabetes and n a f l d are linked. I'm on a crusade to improve everything! Concentrating on diet and weight. How about you? JanR

[Trilby8]

Yes Jan weight around the abdo is certainly a problem even just losing a few pounds seems to make an improvement to my AF situation and again I'm striving to reduce by healthy eating and portion control - nothing like a increase in AF events to focus ones mind!!! Cathy.

[NooNoo14]

I had an identical symptoms and diagnosis. I have lost weight, eat a small meal early evening, avoid food such as fizzy drinks, alcohol, chocolate, red meat and bread. Boring I know but the weight loss has solved the HH problem and the change in eating habits has helped (but not cured) the PAF. I am currently taking Diltaizem, Flecainide and Warfarin. Ha be only just started the Flecainide but (so far) appears to be working. 

Good luck

NooNoo

[jan-ran]

Well done for being pro active. I too have lost weight and feel loads better all round. Still a way to go. Jan 

[meadfoot]

Absolutely my experience.  I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia seven years ago and af kicked in almost immediately afterwards.  I am on ppi's for acid reflux which sometimes helps but not always.  I have never found vagal manoeuvres to work for me  unfortunately but appears to for some people.

Doctors seem more willing these days to recognise a connection, but don't seem willing to surgically repair HH unless they become strangulated.  

Wish doctors would take the connection more seriously. 

[Trilby8]

I think you have to be taught this technique ideally by your GP as if Vagus is incorrectly massaged it can be unsafe.

[EngMac]

As I have posted previously, I have been going to a chiropractor and he has adjusted my neck and used a device called a "Scenar" to attempt to impact the vagus nerve.  Now if I do get AF or missed beats, just standing up will often stop them and also applying heat to my neck has stopped them as well.  I think, whatever he is doing, has helped.  I notice that if my stomach is empty or having issues during the day or at night I am more prone to missed beats and sometimes AF.  Barometric pressure variances also have an impact.  I used to get AF at night but don't seem to now.  Apparently, I do not snore anymore.  What to do and when to do it is a real challenge.  It seems odd that messing around with physical things have an impact.  Most of the medical effort seems to be focused on the functioning of the heart and lesser amounts are focused on such things as the vagus nerve.  I have read that there is a school of thought that our nerves are impacted by contaminants in the environment.  As Bob often indicates, AF is still an inexact challenge.

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I'm wondering this myself.