Jumpy stomach

[Dr-Gohan]

I have been having muscle spasms for 10 months now. I have been given a full CT scan and. Followup with ultra sound. Nothing. My GP wrote off as age 79 , probably a small hernia too deep to see. The Spasms appear as soon as I drink any fluid.

Also. Food is a trigger. There a surprise knocking in the lower left quadrant of my body below the rib cage. They feel like internal hiccups. If I change my posture they will slow down or stop immediately. Very annoying but there is no pain.

I was just celebrating my 3rd year in normal sinus rhythm when this started. No diagnosis yet. But now GP wants me to setup colonoscopy and endoscopy. Blood work came back clean , everything in normal range

Can you shed any light on this mystery!?

Thanks Dr-Gohan.(Aka Larry)

[mjames1]

Sounds like a good plan. May also need to see a motility specialist who does manometry which can shed light on swallowing issues like you describe.

Jim

[BenHall1]

Hiya Dr-Gohan/ Larry,

If I were a betting guy I'd bet you have a Vagal Nerve issue. I do suggest you not just Google "Vagal Nerve" but Google "Schematic diagram of the Vagal Nerve". Do some research.

Briefly, it is a major nerve in the central nervous system - which acts like an information superhighway - connecting brain, heart and digestive system (gut).

Back in the day when I kicked off this AF thingy I discovered that food was an issue ( in many folk it can also be drink (hot or cold) - be it alcoholic or a beverage like tea/coffee ).

Many folk experience "Vagal AF". A person can eat a certain food - particularly if the main meal of the day is eaten at night, say around 18.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs - and they find themselves awake in the early hours of the next morning - say 02.00 hrs - with much thumping in the chest, Atrial Flutter or even full blown AF. Sometimes this can be accompanied by pain too.

I went to my family doctor and he arranged blood tests for IBS and Coealiac Disease - all came back clear. I then consulted at Nutritionist ( a.k.a. Dietician ) about my problems. She then got me to remove from my diet the following - went Gluten Free, Wheat Free and Oats Free - just as a start point. Even simple minor traces of these products can impact on the gut. She also taught me how to keep a food diary of my food intake on a meal by meal basis. I then identified much more food stuff that upset my gut and bit by bit over time I then started eliminating stuff.

Eventually I got my AF under control via the diet route and these days I probably get a full blown AF event every 4 or 5 years - I can live with that. Ectopics are much more frequent but don't bother me very much. They're there, they happen ... I understand and just move on with my life. When my blood tests came back clear my GP wanted to do the same tests as you describe (colonoscopy and endoscopy ) I totally rejected this option and went hunting for a Nutritionist.

All sorted now.

With me, if I did get pain in daytime hours - pretty much in the location you describe - it was the pain that would trip me into AF ....... absolutely. Sticking my head on the chopping block now .............. but I would put off any thoughts of colonoscopy and endoscopy unless you feel a real benefit would come from it ....... until I'd tried the diet thing first - if you can feasibly manage it. Your call.

Just one thing for your information, my journey started in early January 2010 aged 65. I'm now 80.

Hope this text is of use. Good luck.

John

[Dr-Gohan in reply to BenHall1]

Re read your response to my post and want to update you. Went for a battery and general checkup on my pacer yesterday. While there. I mentioned the jumpy tummy.The guy Bob, retired Doc, just does pacer checkup to be doing something useful with his retirement time.

He looks me in the eye and says, " you are in afib!"

What? the data download indicates you have been since June 18th. I couldn't believe it. I never felt any different. Then he gave me the same points you laid out. He added that the Phrenic nerve is probably involved as well.

Result, more life style changes. Diet with intermittently fasting. NO caffeine for me.

He also said, Colonoscopy and endo unneeded.

You BenHall1 received a A+

seriously thank you for taking the time to respond.

Larry