An update on my ECG, bloating post a month ago

Hi guys and gals,

Way back at the end of May, early June I posted on here details of ECG traces done on my home handheld device as a result of bouts of bloating and my GP’s reaction. I wanted to get an

Echocardiogram (EKG) done. Instead she arranged for blood tests and an Electrocardiogram (ECG).

Many of you ... Finvola, CDreamer, Jeanjeannie, Buffalfy, Hoski, BobD and several others made a range of comments many of which I have yet to act on.

So, this is an update.

The ECG returned an ‘all clear’ result, as did the blood tests. I have yet to discuss the matter further with my GP. I am still not sure about the ECG result - that was only all clear at the

moment in time it was taken. It doesn’t necessarily reflect ongoing events .... however ... bear with me.

All this started very nearly a month ago and was kicked off by quite dramatic BLOATING ! I have experienced increased number of bloating events since then, almost one or two a week The worst followed a drive from Cornwall up to Twickenham for a friends coming of age party (she was 65) !

I ended up bedridden in pain from the bloating, but, more relevant my heart banging, thumping and throbbing its way trying to get out of my chest and my heart rate wobbling up and down

between 46 bpm and 113 bpm and a wide range of other values in between, as it felt like it, all over a period of some 7 hours. Naturally, as befits AF/ digestive issues I had none of my kit with me only my Garmin watch and my phone with a HR monitor App. so I don’t really know what the hell was going on - except the bloating and this painful pressure slightly above the lower left rib.

Thus started a period of reflection and analysis of food and to cut a long story short In this regard I could safely blame a sauce that my evening meal was cooked in the night prior to leaving home, plus probably some junk food taken in haste at a roadside cafe on route to Twickenham.

Since then these problems have repeated themselves and on two occasions I can again point to sauces used in cooking. Now this is a first for me, in the past 8 years it has always been the

actual food itself that has set my heart off. Mercifully, as far as I can tell, no AF kicking in.

So now, its back to the drawing board .... I have an appointment with a Nutritionist in Truro on 9 July to get some more up to date advice on whats happening. Meanwhile these digestive events are worsening, becoming more frequent. Mercifully, I kept a computer file from the original

Nutritionist of some 8 years ago and am returning to all her advice - at least until 9 July anyway.

My friendly local chemist has recommended (based on all the meds in my party bag) has suggested I use and IBS Relief capsule, which seems to be calming things down.

The EKG isn’t forgotten and as a reminder I wanted it done because with food impacting on my heart rate as dramatically as it does I really need to know what physical/mechanical state my heart is in to cope with these errant events. You just can’t tell me that a heart bouncing around between 46 and 113 and stuff in between is a good thing, or normal !

So there we are guys and gals ... that's where we are.

May the force be with you.

john

[CDreamer]

Sorry about the increase in symptoms John, seeing a nutritionist sounds like a good idea.

I think when you eat clean, you can often become more sensitive to even the slightest contamination.

Sipping hot water with a slice of lemon really does help ease the discomfort, a cup an hour.

You know my take on heal your gut, heal the rest of your body.....have you tried taking kefir daily? Not an instant fix but persist and it has helped many. Making your own is gold standard but the Dartington one is OK and local to you.

Other things that really helped my issues - organic Aloe Vera Juice - the pure essence - not a ‘drink’ sold in supermarkets - Pukka or Cytoplan are excellent. Bone broth - there is a medicinal broth recipe in The Doctor’s Kitchen recipe book I can highly recommend.

All the above did far more for me than anything else. Commiserations & best wishes CD.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Hi there CD,

Many thanks for the time you have taken to comment.

Much of what you have written makes sense and is of interest and come the weekend when I have more time I'll investigate your thoughts/comments in much more detail.

Watch this space.

john

[jeanjeannie50]

Morning John

Did your excessive bloating cause extreme soreness in your lower back and did you find it difficult to sit upright because of that?

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean,

No, not at all, for both scenarios you describe. I have been a bad back sufferer for many, many years - long before AF and digestive issues. However, since my knee replacement which included a realignment of my right leg, knee and hip to match the left side I have been remarkably free of back problems. Even handling long haul trips sitting down from down here near Hayle to Birmingham and to Twickenham, without a problem. Got another coming up soon to Dorking in Surrey. I still handle 4 days a week at work sitting down driving a minibus all day too. The pain appears just above the lower left rib when I bloat. And only then. For the years I have had this bloat and pain etc. it has always been in the same location.

Thanks for your helpful comments.

John

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

Hmm, not what I thought it may be then. Do you think it could be caused by a slight blockage of food, or a narrowing in your intestine (that happened to a friend of mine and it was totally cured by an op). Could you not be chewing your food enough? Just a random thought as I sometimes notice myself not doing that.

I guess the bloated stomach has to be either fluid or trapped wind?

I believe the gall bladder, though on our right hand side can sometimes cause pain in the left hand side and a rapid heartbeat.

nhs.uk/conditions/gallstone...

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean,

I made some comments to Buffafly which may be of interest.

Your first few thoughts are of interest - reason is - I have been wondering if the small intestines and the large ones are doing the engineering job the maker designed them to do. Something I'm still thinking about.

Also, Gall bladder did give me some issues in my early thirties and I have to admit to a range of digestive issues throughout my thirties and well into my forties when I lived in Sydney. That was the first time in my life I found I had to avoid certain foods, in those days it was all about salad products.

Meanwhile, going back to basics and doing the gluten free bit and taking these IBS capsules seem to be calming things down. A visit to the GP is looming in the weeks ahead.

Thanks again.

John

[Buffafly]

Hi, I feel for you as I have experienced the same. Forgive me for not rereading past posts but have you run this problem past your GP? I can think of several medical conditions that might be the cause and though a change of diet may help symptoms it could be delaying a diagnosis. My pain combined with bloating turned out to be a bowel abscess and was only caught in the nick of time to save me from sepsis/ removal of part of large bowel. From your description of the pain I don't think it's that but I think I know where Jean is coming from and I do urge you to consider standard medical advice and if your doc is not concerned go to A&E. When I was young I realised that an infection caused ectopics, now of course it is often AF. Your heart is trying to tell you something 💓 !

[Hidden in reply to Buffafly]

Hi Buffafly,

You must be reading my mind ..... Jean too ...... my plan is to visit and have a consultation with a Nutritionist and then follow this up with whatever facts I can muster and go to my GP.

This time I plan to get an appointment with one of the more senior partners in my GP's practice and request an extended session - what I have to say can't be said in 10 minutes.

I am still convinced that my existing problems have their foundation in my early thirties when I discovered gall bladder problems and other digestive issues to. So, that is 40 years ago, and some.

I don't think I have anything sinister going on inside but that is for my GP to comment on - I feel all this emerges from a dysfunctional digestive system, holding hands quite tenderly with my vagal nerve. So to speak

Thanks for your thoughts.

John

[Buffafly in reply to Hidden]

Best wishes, hope you get it sorted and keep us up to date too.

[wilsond in reply to Hidden]

I had to have my gall bladder removed in my thirties due to a number of stones and problems withbthe duct,my symptoms were just as you describe.Id have a long session of bloating,heart racing(which I now suspect was AF) and then periods of relative calm. Worth persuing,they left me for ages as said I was too young for this! Best wishes

[Hidden in reply to wilsond]

Hi Wilsond,

Many thanks for those comments and drawing the parallel with my own experiences - that's very interesting ...... at least now with everyone's comments I am sure I'm not part of the great AF Freak Show at a fun fair

[Finvola]

Sorry that this is still going on carneuny - I remember your heart trace looking very uncomfortable. No, a heart rate like that isn't normal and it wouldn't matter a hoot what the ECG recorded, I would be asking my GP for further investigations urgently - pain like that isn't normal either.

It does sound like something is irritating your heart and I hope you can get that something identified and treated soon. Take care.

[Hidden]

Hi Finvola,

Must say that incident at Twickenham did give me a jolt, a bloody great jolt. To see, and more importantly feel that heart perform like that gave me the frighteners. But it sorted itself.

At the end of the day I just feel my digestive system is a tad dysfunctional. Anyway, for now I'm in a holding pattern, have discussed with my local chemist and am on some IBS capsules.

At the same time I've gone back to square one and back to basics - eliminating anything and everything with gluten. I know I've said how successful my diet has been in holding AF at bay, and its true - but - I might have to revisit the beginning again.

All I can say at the moment this approach seems to be settling my gut down a bit. The next few days will tell.

Thank you for your comments.

John

[Ianc2]

Hi John

Have you had a milk intolerance test?

[Hidden in reply to Ianc2]

No I haven't Lanc2, I must say that it's something I have been thinking about and plan to raise it at a consultation I have with a Nutritionist next Tuesday.

John