Gastric issues and AF

[Rhiannonimity1]

Hi. I’m due to see a gastroenterologist this week. I have had AFib 10 times in 10 years although now the episodes are closer together. Each time AFib has happened, I have been able to predict the attack because my stomach( actual stomach, not abdomen) becomes extremely distended, I feel as though I have gas in my upper chest cavity. I swell by about 5”. I know it happens because of food intolerance and I mostly manage it by eating a clean diet, but a morsel of gluten, or if the food is “off” , or if I get a bout of IBS I will end up with AF. My gp said it was wind, a cardiologist said my stomach was spasming. Does anyone else have experience of this?

Also I have been converted twice using the dreaded Amiodorone, which gives me IBS, which brings on a follow up AF attack within days. Last AF episode I said that my EP and indeed their cardiology ward said I mustn’t be given Amiodorone again, however A&E said either I could have an Amiodorone Bolus or a longer Amiodorone infusion, those were my only choices. In the end I took the Bolus and have been ill since. Can they refuse to treat me if I refuse Amiodorone.

Thanks

[Hidden]

Hi Rhiannonimity,

I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in Jan 2010. By August 2010 I had well and truly identified the onset of AF with food I'd eaten. My symptoms were, massive, massive and painful bloating just under the ribcage and abdomen area, diahorrea, burping and intestinal gurgling, not all at once, only one at a time and in no particular order. The bloating was the worst and I could see my stomach inflate like I was connected to an airline at a garage pumping up my car tyres. and so, so painful. bloating would tip me into AF.

My GP had blood tests done for IBS and Coeliac Disease but the results were negative.

I then decided to consult a Nutritionist ( who I might add received referrals from a gastroenterologist) and following some basic tests we started down the diet route.

Initially I went gluten free, wheat free and oats free - much later I went added sugar free.

The culprit in all this was a dysfunctional Vagal Nerve. The objective was to calm the vagal nerve. Calm the Vagal Nerve, calm the heart. Job done.

It is an ongoing work in progress and I've been at this diet now for some 7 years (and still once in a while I eat something which upsets my gut) and have been AF free now for some 3 and half years - except for one incident on 15 Feb 2018, when I woke up in AF about 3.30 in morning having been sleeping on my LEFT side. The AF itself lasted about 5 hours but took another 24 hours (without medication being administered) for my heart rate to return to normal of 65 bpm.

If you feel so inclined, and if you don't know about the Vagal Nerve I do suggest you 'Google' it. also check out schematic diagrams of the VN and see how it is placed within the body.

Basically, it is a nerve in the central nervous system, a major nerve at that, which acts like an information superhighway between the brain, heart and the digestive system.

I'm gonna stick my neck out and say a dysfunctional VN will be the root cause of your issues. At the time I went onto my diet my Nutritionist also prescribed a course of Probiotics in order to try and stabilise my gut flora.

No surprise that your GP or cardiologist took the line they took - they know damn all ! Worse than useless - they are only telling you what you knew !! You are more likely to get common sense and understanding from your gastroenterologist than you would from the other two. I hope so anyway.

Let me know if I can help further and click on my user name and send me a message offline if you want to. Meanwhile good luck.

John

[CDreamer]

Oh yes!

I think managing these 2 conditions is a tightrope walk!

I don’t know if you saw the post about the York conference regarding the link? Look up Dr Gupta’s videos and he teemed up with a gastroenterologist to present a conference about this issue.

Personally, I avoid all gastroenterologists now and focus on managing it myself and exactly like Carneuny - consulted a Functional Medicine Nutritionist. Far better results.

We did a stool test and discovered several ‘bad’ bacteria which inhibited absorption and resulted I. Leaky gut. Some months later and after taking specific, prescribed supplements to help eliminate the bad stuff - I improved.

One of the general recommendations was to eat starch resistant foods such as cashews, cold potatoes, cold pasta etc. Increase protein intake and take kefir daily.

You can refuse any treatment but you cannot demand any treatment.

Trouble is if you make too much of a fuss they can make life difficult for you - I seriously fell out with our local cardiology dept 4 years ago because I refused to take Bisoprolol and because I sought a private EP, and then told to go back to them if I was going to ignore their advice! Thankfully things have now changed and we have a fantastic, supportive Electrophysiology department at our hospital.

Personally I would ask your EP to write a very specific letter to your GP with a treatment plan for this eventuality - make sure you get a copy - photo it onto your phone and just show it to anyone who suggests you have Amiodarone and that you would like them to consult with your specialist before agreeing.

Best wishes

[CDreamer]

PS - on the recommendation of another member I have been also researching polyvagal theories - don’t really know how I missed it as I have being living this theory for the past 65 years!

Functional Medicine also tracks trauma as a root cause of many dysfunctions, especially gut and Autonomic functions along with autoimmune diseases.

May I also suggest you look at Dr Chaterjee’s book - The 4 Pillars of Health - as there is a brilliant explanation of exactly what leaky gut is and how it effects the rest of our system.

One question at our Functional Medicine talk was - why isn’t the NHS looking at these issue? Answer - money - GPs have 10 minutes for each consultation - Functional Medicine would be at least an hour because it looks at root cause - more like a crime investigation - and considers the whole person - mainstream is too specialised and tends to treat symptoms without looking at root cause - Heart = cardiology, GI = gastroenterologist etc. I think I see/ saw 4 specialists for 2 (I believe connected diseases) - Physiologist, Neurologist, Pulmonologist and Electrophysiologist.

It was also suggested that our ‘Health’ system should be renamed our ‘Ill Health’ system.

[wilsond in reply to CDreamer]

There is a programme on tv tomorrow night,think ch4 'The Dr who have up drugs' looks interesting!

[Ianc2]

it may be worthwhile having a test for lactose intolerance, if only to rule it out. It is a fairly simple process.

[Buffafly]

I had bloating yesterday, was taken to hospital today with AF and when I was examined my stomach was terribly painful and the doctor actually scanned my stomach to check for aneurysm - luckily I don't have one which was a relief as my Granny died from one. My AF is definitely linked to my digestive system but haven't discovered how yet.

I sympathize about the Amiodarone, I don't know what the answer is.

[OmaJEO]

I too have excessive bloating, gurgling, abdominal pain, that goes into chest pain (I personally believe its all down to my IBS) - my GP referred me back to cardiology where I saw a different cardiologist (amazing how they all approach Afib differently she watched my neck veins whilst she examined me). She has arranged a yet another Echocadiogram and an Angiogram. Gave me a GNT spray does nothing for the pain and discomfort and put me on spironolactone - more pills. I too drink Kefir milk which seems to help, but if it is something to do with the vagus nerve how do you get the medical profession to investigate? Plus I came off Omeprazole to have a test for Heliobactor Pylori and now have gone onto Ranatidine.