Digestion and gut brain brain gut connection

[Andyt36]

Can anyone point me in the right direction in terms of digestion and AF. Whether acid or reflux or Here or other digestive issues or not might interfere with AF and how to manage or deal with them. I believe there is a strong relationship there.

[pottypete1]

You are right there.

I have dreadful nausea every day.

My EP thinks it is linked with my vegus system.

I have an appointment with a gastroenterologist in June- long way off but I hope I get to the bottom of it.

I will post anything significant.

Pete

[Andyt36 in reply to pottypete1]

Thanks Pete...i too think there is something there...I have also been reading about low stomach acid instead of too much as with reflux etc, which is very interesting. Not sure if it helps with AF but is a nice holistic approach.

[Andyt36 in reply to pottypete1]

Pete I have a question for you, when you get your Nausea have you tried taking a gaviscon double action tablet? Out of interest to see how you react to that.

I have woken up in the middle of the night feeling Nauseous and for some reason that helps.

[pottypete1 in reply to Andyt36]

I have used Gaviscon liquid for indigestion.

It sometimes settles things but I haven’t tried it for the nausea.

I will try it and let you know if there is improvement.

Pete

[irene75359 in reply to pottypete1]

Pete, I didn't realise that you were still suffering from nausea - how debilitating for you. I am sure that you have tried everything, including motion sickness pills? (Obviously as long as there is no interaction with any drugs you are taking). A friend of ours severed a nerve in his ear after a very serious RTA and suffers dizziness and nausea and the pills he takes, similar to motion sickness tablets, do help to a degree.

[pottypete1 in reply to irene75359]

Morning Irene

Yes I am still suffering nausea very badly.

I have been referred to a gastroenterologist but the appointment isn’t until June.

Each day I have bouts so bad I have to lay down and then I have periods of being fine.

I have some tablets and have been given a number of different ones mostly designed for motion sickness, labrynthitis or menier’s disease, none of which seem to help.

I have also got a hernia and my GP thinks there may be a connection. I am waiting for a date for an operation, I have no idea how long I have to wait.

For me it feels so much like the nausea associated with AF and/or ectopics and my EP suggested an association with my Vagal symptom.

Pete

[irene75359 in reply to pottypete1]

Gosh, you have such a lot on your plate, and June is a long way off. Maybe some badgering for an earlier appointment? Best of luck, I do feel for you.

[Asdfvv]

I have noticed that I get ectopic heart beats if I eat a carb heavy meal. Particularly cereals.

[Andyt36 in reply to Asdfvv]

Hi this is a silly question what does an ectopic beat feel like?

Do you think the cereals could be the wheat or sugar?

[pottypete1 in reply to Andyt36]

An ectopic beat is a missed or extra beat.

The sensation is very apparent like a palpitation. The feeling is in the throat and is manifested also with nausea.

Not sure about the cereals they do not affect me.

We are all different.

Pete

[Hidden in reply to Andyt36]

Maybe both?? gluten and sugar. These would be triggers for me-bloating, brain fog, and other GI sx.

[Hidden in reply to Asdfvv]

Heavy meals really seem to aggravate whatever afib sx we have, I've learned to eat smaller meals but sometime overdue and then don't feel well-usually when eating out because here (US) they give you a lot of food. It's easy to keep eating when it tastes so good. So for me what works is to ask for a 'to go' container when food arrives. Put half my food before eating in my box and get it off my plate. I can still have the yummy food-just not all at once. BTW good (leftover) restaurant food makes for a great breakfast the next morning. Probably not that healthy but you gotta live!LOL. Take care. irina1975

[Andyt36 in reply to Hidden]

[Finvola]

There is definitely a relationship between brain, gut and heart via the vagus nerve and many of us report heart arrhythmias and gut triuble occurring together.

CDreamer posted a link to a very good video explaining this in the link below:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[Hidden]

Hi Andy,

Well I have paroxysmal AF so any comments I make are on the basis of a sufferer - not a healthcare professional. OK !

My belief is that the connection is the Vagal (or some say the Vagus) Nerve. I look upon it as an information superhighway between the brain and the heart and the digestive system.

Once I'd made the connection between an AF event and food I'd eaten I consulted a Nutritionist and was prescribed some probiotics to stabilise my gut flora, a diet including going gluten free, wheat free and oats free. since then my diet has been significantly widened. I am also English pub real ales free too, although some lagers are fine, as is tea and coffee.

I remained AF free from April 2015 until last Thursday when during the night, sleeping on my left side put me back into AF for around 4 or 5 hours but another 24 hours to stabilise my heart rate.

Suggest you Google Vagal/Vagus Nerve and also Google a schematic diagram of the vagal system. The diagram will highlight just what a powerful nerve this is .... vagal means basically wandering. Look at the diagram and you'll see what I mean.

This is just a potted outline of my personal experience and what is involved.

Need to say of course what diet worked for me may not work for many other people - its very much an individual thing, that said after 8 years of this thing I've come to the conclusion that AF is, can be - simply ------------- all things. Like how long is a bit of string.

Good luck,

John