Hi
Does anyone know if having atrial fibrillation can cause constant pain/soreness from upper abdomen ( middle ) through middle area chest and up to the throat.
Also extreme swelling in the mid area and across and under both ribs, feeling that my stomach is actually in my chest.
I am just wanting to know if this is the atrial fibrillation or not, please don't just tell me to go to teh Drs as I have done many times and they clearly don't have a clue.
I would certainly get it checked out. I have suffered from AF for many years and never had any pain.
Thanks Rosie, I am for the millionth time going to the Drs again with it tonight
Just a thought: I read on here that someone took aflorex for gut problems linked to af. Not looked at it but you could research that if you haven't already tried it. When I first took Apixaban 4 years ago I had digestive problems but I think it was my anxiety made it worse
May i ask ..what were your symptoms please ? How did you resolve it? Having similar on thinners...
Hi sunlovah. I had slight indigestion but sometimes felt hungry. My gut would make loud rumbling exercises. I walked, mostly with friends on one day, several on my own and became less anxious. If I get too anxious those symptoms come back. Just for few days. I don't drink alcohol now but enjoyed a glass of red wine in summer this year. I keep off the sugar as much as possible. That and practising yoga and meditation calms me down. I've just spent an evening chatting over a meal with friends. I feel less anxious and positive about life today!
Thanks I'll look it up I'm up for trying anything because I've had so many different ones from the Drs in the last few years and yet its still as bad
Are you on an anticoagulant? These are known to cause gastric problems for some according to my GP and several on this forum.
I’m getting very painful and bloated gut at the moment for which I’m taking Lansoprazole. A recent ablation is probably responsible but GP also sited the Apixaban.
The stomach is quite close to the heart and I’ve often mistaken a stomach churn for a heart bump. But I’ve never heard of AF causing pain other than directly to heart area, and certainly not swelling.
Your stomach lies very close to heart and there is a known interaction so I wonder if pain & swelling is to do with stomach? If you have excess wind & digestive issues - that will trigger AF.
Persist and ask for tests.
My stomach is terrible and has been for ages, I'm sick of stomach ,medications because they solve nothing and I've been convinced right from the beginning that my stomach set off the AF.
It doesn't make sense to me that its been going on so long, now I think it might be the Edoxaban because it has worsened with a change and it does match the side effects including dizziness which I didn't know before.
Drs tonight so we'll see, I'm reassured the AF isn't causing this pain though
Unfortunately both, its pretty bad and the swelling under my ribs and sternum is definitely not normal
Been to Drs , not listened about the pain, or the fact that my symptoms matched with side effects on the leaflet, he concentrated on the dizziness, says its AF because I'm not on beta blockers. I was very ill on those things. Also said my blood pressure was sky high. I've had that before and opted for a weeks measurement with a machine which showed my blood pressure averaged out fine.
So opted for that again, I don't know if I'm been stubborn but I really don't want to take beta blockers again and I haven't felt any afib except for when my stomachs swollen and painful.
AAAgh
Hello Tabletphobic, I think there’s a few different beta blockers available, I was on one lot that made me really ill, extremely low mood, caused huge amount of ectopic beats & eventually AF (persistent in my case) for me. This was at the height of Covid measures & I couldn’t get hold of my cardiologist to get them swapped. I was switched back to a higher dose of Bisoprolol eventually which I had previously been taking & they don’t really cause me any side effects - but I know they can for other people. My point being - there may be a right one for you if your gp is willing to help you find it.
Best of luck with your problems, stay strong.💪💪Steve
I have never experienced the pain you describe, however if you think it may be bloating and gastric related and sounds like many medications have failed … could you try organic kefir (you can get the granules online easily for about £6 and make it yourself by adding milk (rather than buying which is expensive).. you can make it with diary alternatives if you are allergic to dairy milk, after a day or two you get kefir, drain it and begin again. I was prescribed Lanzoprazol for acid reflux years ago and virtually never take them as kefir really helps? Just a thought ..also if you Google anti inflammatory recipes or foods that may help too? I hope it gets better, sounds grim.
Thanks, I have tried kefir but not organic. I think I've tried practically everything, but looking at the side effects of edoxaban it says dizziness ( which is a new one to me ) upset stomachs and UNEXPLAINED swelling.
This swelling is something no Dr has explained ranging from indigestion, Costochondritis, muscular, they clearly don't know what it is
It certainly sounds like you do need a second opinion 😒
I would take myself off to A&E next time you have a bad episode of pain. Some doctors can be stubborn too. My husband’s doctor diagnosed him with chronic constipation (over the phone) for 8 months, turned out to be terminal cancer. So I think if your GP isn’t listening you are entitled to try somewhere else. Sorry if that’s a very tactless thing to say but as you can imagine, I feel strongly about doctors not listening to patients!
That's awful, it's not tactless.
Hi,
Back in the early days I became aware that I would trip into AF after eating food. This was also accompanied by a range of other sysmptoms of digestive issues ... intestinal gurgling, diahorrea, burping and massive, massive and painful bloating. Trial and error - the bloating would be what triggered me into AF.
Discussed this with my GP of the day (2011) and he ran some blood tests for IBS and Coeliac Disease ... these returned normal. I then took myself off to a Nutritionist and after some basic tests suggested I go Gluten Free. I later widened this to going Wheat Free and Oats Free. This gave me quite some improvement and over the years that followed - by keep a food/diet/meal diary I was able to improve my gut turbulance. I must say I can't identify with the swelling you describe but then - who knows what was going on inside my gut - what sort of swelling ( if any ) was going on inside.
If you have the time suggest you research Vagal Nerve or as some say the Vagus Nerve you will learn this is a nerve in the central nervous system that affects both heart and digestive system. I am now (and I hesitate to use the phrase, but here goes ) clear of AF. I just can't remember my last AF event, must be at least 18 months maybe as long ago as 4 years. But I stress it has been a very long journey. Also look at a schematic diagram of the vagal nerve for a clearer idea.
I have never opted for Cardioversion or Ablation, relying purely on diet and Heart Rate control medication. Not for everyone but worked for me. You'll find rarely will a GP understand the gut ... but a Nutritionist will ... its what they do ! If you are in UK go to the BANT website they have a search box for a Nutritionist near where you live.
My personal take on things after all these years if you feed the gut medication to fix gut problems you may well be adding fuel to the fire - 'so to speak'. The gut maybe just responding to / being inflammed by foods and even minute ingredients of foods thus kicking off AF via the vagal nerve.
John
Thanks, I'm definitely going to look for a nutritionist. With the medications they seem to help for a few days and then it seems to come back worse than ever
I totally agree with you about how closely related the digestive & circulatory systems are intertwined. The stomach is right up there next to the heart & lungs & what ever you eat is going to dramatically affect the heart even before the food is completely digested. Part of the colon is situated up across the abdomen just under the stomach, liver and pancreas and what ever travels inside that 'track' will 'poke' anything in its way. If your body is reacting negatively with what you ate, then the organs that live near the colon will be impacted possibly before the contents are fully digested in the small intestines before it gets to the large intestines. Food, nutrition and diet therapy is on the courses for doctor training but not as much as for Nutritionists and so you are doing the right thing to seek their help.
This is just a thought, but if you have lone AFib, meaning no other heart issues, a lot of times it is a vagus nerve problem causing the AFib nthe vagus nerve controls the brain, lungs, heart and stomach. If your vagus nerve is acting up that could be your stomach problems and why you feel like your stomach is in your throat. It could also be acid reflux.
Is the vagus nerve at the centre between the breast bone because a lot of pain comes from there and it sometimes feels like it sets off some kind of pulse in that area, not pleasant. I actually sit and push my stomach down when it does that to keep it away from my chest
Yes. It runs from the brain all the way down to the gut. It can go caddywompus and cause all kinds of problems I’m convinced it caused my gut problems since I was 15 because after my minimaze they all went away
I have awful gastric issues with my afib and heart meds. Could be gerd, but lansoprasole makes me worse! I find gaviscon works for me, could be worth a try. Glad to hear you're getting it checkaed out
I have gallons of gaviscon, now currently trying a new stomach med as well
Has your GP ever suggested an endoscopy to see what’s going on with your stomach? Could it be a hiatus hernia?
They have but I've asked if I could have a barium meal instead ( which they don't seem to like ) Ive had 2 in the past and found both times was a bad experience. My sister had a sliding hernia diagnosed by barium meal.
Perhaps now is the time for a second opinion? I hope you can sort this out soon. Best wishes .
I think I'm going to go to my local pals with a complaint because this has been going on far too long and I feel its getting worse not better.
Good idea, but try to find another doctor 
yes I had pain when in Afib like the thorny stems of roses being pulled through my heart but when in normal sinus I have no pain. For me it has just been one of these things
That sounds awful. I haven't felt anything like that its more pain up the centre, my chest feels congested, my upper stomach is really swollen. The dizziness is new but is now a bit like feeling 'giddy/lightheaded'. I'm driving myself mad because I'm not sure it is the afib and I certainly don't want beta blockers again because I felt so much better off them
I certainly do have constant pain just below mid chest, sternum area radiating around to bottom side of left rib cage area. When AFib hits the pain becomes more severe in middle of chest. When AFib stops an I return to NSR left with constant dull ache, feels like a vice under breasts.
I know the vice feeling all the way across from left to right under ribs
Definitely sounds like a gastric problem. I have a hiatus hernia and at times feel exactly the same. You do need to get this looked into by your GP as inflammation untreated can lead to ulcers.
Just spoke to my sister who has a sliding hernia and she is having similiar symptoms. I honestly think they are miffed because I've asked for a barium meal before resorting to an endoscopy ( Had 2 in the past was horrendous )
l had a Barium Meal a few months ago as having pain but all was ok. I have had one endoscopy and never again! Stick to your guns as you have a choice. Best wishes.
Hi, before being diagnosed with AF, I had similar symptoms caused by constipation, which took an x-ray to prove just how bad, up in the chest cavity. I couldn’t swallow at times. Despite this I was passing stools. Whether the afib caused my IBS-like issues no doctor would say delaying any treatment but one very good gastroenterologist suggested I take Movicol for a week to clear my bowels as if prepping for a colonoscopy, then take one to two sachets of C-prep (only take second if need). Do this while still eating and drink water to prevent dehydration. If that clears bowels well, bloating goes down, wait a week and start using Iberogast (expensive) 20 drops once daily for a fortnight to heal the gut then use it only on symptom return. If this info doesn’t resonate with you , there’s no harm treating your IBS-like symptoms with iberogast … if that’s all you tried as once I cleared my bowels I then had to contend with diahrea. It took a good six-months with the help of a dietitian to settle and I still struggle with gut issues. My gut PIPs are Movicol and iberogast read this: badgut.org/information-cent...
Have you been tested for Helicobacter pylori ? It can cause Gastritis which is painful, you could do a home test yourself initially then If positive, ask GP for test.
Hi
I did a couple of year ago, where do you get the home test ? I do believe it is some kind of infection because they are the only thing I've felt has given me proper respite but it eventually comes back.
I think if I were to look at my records they would have me down as an hypochondriac or something, thats the feeling I get.
I aren't I've gone with this same problem since '21 and all they keep doing is give me stomach meds, I still take lansaprazole at times and gaviscon daily, I've tried others theyve given me and not only do they not help it still gets worse.
Again as well I don't think they like me refusing the camera down but it is horrendous and Ive asked for a barium meal instead firstly, just to be ignored.
I bought a pack of five for pooh test online, good old ebay. There are blood and 💩 tests you can buy, found the latter easier. I had an endoscopy which was Said as 'normal ' when Helicobacter was present, but they didn't bother to test for it as looked ok while they werein there, (it can be there unseen, to naked eye, needs testing ,ive learnt that now to my cost)which could've saved months of pain, quite annoyed. But then did my own, diagnosed myself first then GP. Endoscopy itself was not problem , I had anesthesia almost asleep, literally don't remember tube going down, then it was over, so don't worry about that, just ask them to test even if looks ok, i am not the only one to experience this. Good luck
I get pains in my arms and can't really lift them, miraculously disappears when afib episode stops. Not had it in the same area as you though.
Thanks, the thing is I'm not feeling any afib
Sorry, I got the wrong end of your stick, tabletphobic. Best wishes,
I was only diagnosed with AF in summer this year. I had the 24 hour ecg thing etc and I can't grumble about treatment. But I was given Ramipril as well as Apixaban and Bisoproplol 2.5.
I didn't want to go on Ramipril because I hadn't got high blood pressure, but I was pushed into it. I stopped it again a few weeks after starting it because I still hadn't got high blood pressure! I take my basal temp and BP before I get out of bed each morning and jot down my weight. I have a notebook right on my bedside cabinet to record values.
My BP was coming up as too low all the time and so I booted off the Ramipril, though I have kept some just in case. Never say never. I had some reason for not liking Ramipril, my husband had heart failure and he was forever fainting and falling over, because his BP was too low and he wouldn't listen to me, so carried on taking his Ramipril and falling over 2 or 3 times a day. I was NOT going to go that way.
I am also very new to the site and I am 71 years old, so I can understand where you are coming from.
I don't know about others, but I did get that horrible soreness which you describe. I get it when I get the increased constant thudding of my heart, which I can't shut up.
It is at the level of my breast bone, it feels as though I have bruised my breast bone somehow.
I get the feeling that I want to push my chest out and when I do try that, I feel a relief. It is almost as though my breast bone is collapsing inward, pushing it out gives me some relief. So try shoulders back and down, head up.
I assume this is a posture issue, but I am really not sure enough to advise you. But see if you get any relief by doing that. You get a great deal more oxygen into your blood stream, I know that, which can only do good.
I found that sitting on a higher cushion, or putting a cushion behind me when I sit, helps me. Give it a go and see if that improves your discomfort.
Stand tall when you walk, hold your head up too.
Do you never get relief from the thudding heart and the constant missed beats tabletphobic?
If I didn't I would be in the funny farm by now.
I asked the A & E consultant (I am judged to have a slight AF problem if that is the correct term, so have not been to any clinics or seen other patients as yet) about how I couldn't sleep at night because of this constant thudding of my heart.
He gave me a prescription for 125mg Bisoprolol in addition to the 2.5mg daily dose and said take one of those at night if you can't sleep.
I did and it worked for me. In fact, I cut the 1.25mg tablet in half and found that that worked too. So I could sleep at night. But I haven't had to use it for a couple of months now.
How about trying that? You can find tablet splitters on Ebay for a couple of pounds, but I use a sharp knife.
I also found that I was at times having these thudding sessions when I was out and about. So I put a 1/4 of a Bisoprolol 2.5mg tablet folded into a small sheet of foil in my purse, ready for that thudding, to be dealt with, but I haven't needed it yet.
I can't help but think that these things might be happening because of anxiety. But I was determined not to give in and I was going to live my life, or I wasn't going to have a life to live!
So I walk my dogs for about an hour each morning, I changed my diet and I was bolshi towards the AF! I am not giving in.
I am looking for Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi classes locally (I recently moved here) but you can't beat a good walk and it's free.
So I dealt with my issues with AF that way and I find that I am doing much better now, the breast bone pain doesn't appear unless I have slumped myself down on the sofa too much.
I know this is a long message and sorry about that, but I hope it gives you some encouragement. We are not far apart in age etc. PM me if you would like too. The old ladies are often - let's say dismissed - a little as being a nuisance I believe, so we can get together if you wish.
Don't allow it to grind you down, you are bigger than AF.
Hi, sorry to hear of your struggles. I don't have the thudding heart that sounds horrible. I took myself to A&E, Blood pressure a bit high but not enough for concern, had xray that was fine, my afib was absolutely fine ( I knew that anyway because of the machine ) they said it was my stomach. That would tie in with slouching as that is going to make any digestive issue's worse. Really I think I'm back to trying to sort out my stomach myself because the Drs are clueless, keep giving me the same meds in different forms over and over that does'nt solve anything.
Also as I suspected the GP I saw had no right saying it was my afib because I wasn't taking beta blockers.
At least I've had it from the horses mouth now that it is my stomach and has been all along so I won't let anyone fob me off with beta blockers again. I've been off them ages and felt better for it
Yes, we do have to bang our own drum often, don't we?
Maybe you aren't been seen by the right department in the NHS.
As you already have the AF diagnosed that is what they blame?
They don't often go outside their expertise to look at problems which could be the realm of another department maybe?
For some reason I suddenly had hiatus hernia pop into my mind. My mother has that. Whether it could be that I haven't a clue, but though I would mention it! Especially as you say that Gavisgon (spelling) helps?
When it kicked off it happened so suddenly that I had a PM in there before I knew it, they don't really look at the source.
Because I don't want the camera down ( again ) horrendous experiences and have asked for a barium meal initially to have a look, I don't know their reason but unfortunately I am not been listened to.
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