I would just like to say how wonderful everybody had been on this forum! I have found Just reading all the posts such a help. I started having palpitations in April of this year, I had suffered from GERD and had terrible indigestion. Then I had a chest infection and it all started up. I have been feeling so anxious as well which I know comes from the syndrome. I take Rivaroxaban and Flecainide, I also feel breathless much of the time and a little dizzy. I put that down to the Flecainide but my cardiologist doesn’t agree. He says it only causes a headache- well I haven’t even had one! I read on here about the connection between gastro troubles and palpitations. I now try to eat before 6 in the evening and have smaller meals. Then I don’t lie down for at least 3 hours. It seems to have helped. Somebody on here mentioned Roemheld syndrome and I wonder if I suffer from that. Anybody else know about it? My husband thinks I’m making my condition worse by continually researching for information but I disagree as I have learnt such a lot which had helped me.
Thank you all so much !!
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maria68
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Hi Maria, I agree, people on this forum are wonderful, aren’t they? It’s a lifeline as we try to navigate the perils of AF and connected conditions
I’m sorry to hear you’re struggling and i think we all relate to how not understanding the origin of a symptom (is it the meds? The AF, a random trigger or some other medical condition, etc?) is one of the hardest things. I’m with you that researching for information is good. Knowledge is power is something I’ve heard a lot here, and it’s good advice! Knowledge not only informs us, but it means we can take an active approach to our treatment with our medical advisors.
Though I’d add a big proviso that we find the information from reliable sources - eg the AFA, this forum, Dr Sanjay Gupta (York cardiologist) - not scaremongery sources! And if you find it’s taking over your life, or what you read is making you feel anxious, it’s a good time to stop and take stock 😊
There are many people on here who recognise the gastric-cardiac links and have experimented with different things to help them. What you’re already doing sounds good. I’m only just starting to look into it all myself (I believe a bad AF event recently was triggered by gastric inflammation) so I can’t advise anything, sorry! But you asked about roemheld syndrome, and I found this article by Dr Sanjay Gupta very helpful:
I hope you get some helpful replies from others who are further down the road on this. And that you get some great medical support to get to the bottom of what’s going on - and help you feel better xxx
Hi Maria, I can't improve on what Jane has posted but you didn't say if you have Paroxysmal AF (on and off) or Permanent? Unfortunately the breathlessness and dizziness are pals of AF particularly if you have it frequently or all the time 😩
I have paroxysmal AF but are dizzy and breathless much of the time even when not in AF. Could that be the Flecainide that I take? Thanks for your reply Buffafly
No, sorry, much more usual to be the AF. The only regularly prescribed alternative to flecainide is Amiodarone and you definitely don't want that! You don't mention Bisoprolol, because that would do it.
Think of it like this - an episode of AF is like going on a hard run when you are not used to it. You would be breathless and dizzy until you recovered, but then you might immediately go on another run so the symptoms would be continuous. That is one good reason to try to get fitter which is of course the last thing you feel like doing if your heart is struggling but if the Flecainide takes effect then you can.
I hope that is the reason I’m so dizzy. Thank you for taking an interest !
I think that the common denominator with heart and digestive issues is most likely to arise from a dysfunctional vagus nerve. For me it was originally thought my digestive issues were either IBS or Coeliac Disease. Not so.
I have followed a food plan for many years, working on the basis of calm the digestive system, calm the vagus nerve, calm the heart. Since April 2015 I have only had one AF event. Not a diagnosis for everyone, just mentioning my personal scenario.
I need to loose weight so I’m cutting out all sugar products except the natural ones as in fruit. Also trying not to eat many carbs. I’ve been on a low carb diet before but I don’t think that is good for Afib. Also eating my main meal at lunch or early in the evening.
How was your withdrawal from Flecainide? Did you do it gradually? I stopped taking one of my 50gm tablets but got so anxious about it in the night that I took an extra Flecainide as a PIP. So I will have to have another go.
I was told to stop all at once - I was on 50 mg twice daily. No problems at all, and felt less fog brain eventually. Especially now that also off beta blocker, too. Crossing fingers but aware I may need another ablation to fine tune things.
For me, I could tie my AF very closely to gastric issues. Eating a big meal or having heartburn, especially right before bed would often trigger it. I tried many different things and diets, eating smaller meals, avoiding things but what worked for me for the most was taking a daily probiotic and taking a 75 mg Zantac (Ranitidine) every night a couple of hours after my last meal.
I think I will start taking a prebiotic. I do take gaviscon already but might try Zantac. I’ve started to eat before 6 o’clock in the evening and I’m not eating much red meal.
This forum is definitely a mine of information and support, and the people who contribute are fantastic! I definitely feel there is a link with digestion and AF for me. And Bisoprolol and Flecainide slow me down.
But you say you are dizzy and breathless even when not in AF. That makes me wonder if your breathing may also be contributing to the problem? It's easy when your anxious and feel short of air to over-breathe and and hyperventilate. You take in too much oxygen and that makes you dizzy. Perhaps it could be worth trying to even out your breathing a bit, slowing your breathing down and making the out breath longer than the in breath, as they teach in CBT. Combining this with other suggestions above could help.
JanetMayne.I think you’re right. I do tend to over breathe because I get so anxious about everything! I’m waiting for an appointment with a ‘health anxiety therapist’ so maybe that will help. Generally I forget to slow my breathing down and then have to hyperventilate. Thanks for your advice.
Good luck. I forgot to say, similarly to you, my AF became persistent (i.e 24/7) after an infection, followed by 3 weeks of antibiotics that gave me gastritis (inflamed stomach lining). I think omeprazole may not have helped the AF. It cured the gastritis, but it can deplete magnesium and that is bad for heart rhythm. Now a lot of us with AF things to boost magnesium.
As I say, good luck with the health anxiety therapist.
I too found Flecanaide caused me to be breathless and my cardiologist disagreed. I have now stopped taking it. I cut it down for a day to 50mg. then the day after non. I suffered anxiety the first day and the next day I was super breathless. Now one week on I am just my usual self getting used to being breathless when I walk.
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