How’s your chest!

[Jasper18]

Hi fellow Afibbers, just thought I’d share a little info I picked up following a recent visit to an osteopath that had been highly recommended to me.

During the visit and prior to any treatment, I was thoroughly examined - far more than I’ve ever experienced with any other medical professional. I also discussed all aspects of lifestyle, diet, etc. and notes were taken!

Lots of positive feedback and advice, but a few things that resonated. I’ve got slightly concave ribs and my posture wasn’t ideal, head forward & slouched shoulders etc. There was also a possibility of a slight hiatal hernia. All these issues combined were creating an ideal scenario for Afib occurrence. To clarify, posture & poss. hernia were creating bloating after eating, trapped gas (GERD, belching) etc, that was building pressure in a confined space - with the concave ribs (I’m paraphrasing here!) & subsequently creating vagal irritation. He summarised by saying my “digestion flow” was not as it should be. I was then treated - stretched, pummelled, twisted and manipulated!

Over the following 48 hours, let’s just say, my digestive flow dramatically improved! Over the next week I’ve definitely felt a lot better tbh, certainly improved I’d say, with less ectopics, bloating and noticeably improved sleep etc.

I’m booked in again next week, has anyone else had similar experience?

[BenHall1]

Quite a few years ago I went through a similar process, sadly, with no lasting results. I still visit my local Osteo but purely for upper spine treatment and shoulder joint manipulation. Nothing else. I did find in fact that long term my consultations with a Nutritionist was much more productive and settled my brain - heart - gut issues which still last even today.

[Jasper18 in reply to BenHall1]

I must admit, I'm not expecting miracles myself tbh. It was very interesting though that the information was so exact, thorough and plausible, and of course that the treatment had such an immediate effect. It's a nutritionist next for me too I think.

[OzJames in reply to Jasper18]

gut health very important, i have daily yoghurt with nuts and berries also i have a squeeze of lemon juice then add the slice in warm water first thing instead of my cuppa when i wake up then don't eat for at least 30 minutes. I follow my Cypriot mum's advice! she learnt whilst living in Cairo as a teenager.

[meadfoot]

I have become convinced over recent weeks that my arrhythmias and dreadful gastric issues, chronic unearable acid reflux and failed gastric motility is influenced by my increasingly stooped posture. I have an exagerrated curve to my spine which although not noticeable has over the years caused my head and neck to protrude forward. This somewhat forward protruding position must be causing my internal organs in my torso to get trapped and not be as free as they should be.

I read recently that this can impede the vagal nerve function and cause such problems. I hope you find some help lasting relief via your chiro sessions.

[CDreamer in reply to meadfoot]

Unfortunately I think you could be right. I am working incredibly hard on my posture but with osteoporosis I think the ‘widow’s hump’ can be inevitable unfortunately.

[Frances123 in reply to CDreamer]

Same for me CD. I have osteoporosis and sadly have the widows hump, albeit a small one. More noticeable undressed.

[Frances123 in reply to meadfoot]

Gosh, you could be writing my story. Never gave internal organs a thought. Was more concerned about having a stoop. Certainly something to think about. Thanks you.

[CDreamer]

I have seen either a chiropractor or osteopath or both for a very long time. I’ve had AF triggered by chiropractor but also episodes terminated by adjustments.

As I have aged an now have osteoporosis I now see only an osteopath who practices sacro/cranial therapy so no manipulation, stretching or pulling, much gentler. I go every month, mainly for maintenance now and always feel much better and know that I need to go about every 4-6 weeks. As to the gut issues - kefir sorted those out some years ago alongside changes to my diet, cutting out all white carbs, part of the Nutritional testing with advice.

[CDreamer]

PS - we used to have a Canadian who posted regularly about Chiro adjustments but can’t remember their handle?

[Rosemaryb1349 in reply to CDreamer]

Engmac?

[CDreamer in reply to Rosemaryb1349]

You are correct! Well remembered.

[Rosemaryb1349 in reply to CDreamer]

👍😁

[Magtogrid]

hi - I have had an ablation for PAF and am just learning that my ectopics and a follow up short run of AF are completely triggered by my bloating/GERD/HH and posture. I can even stop ectopic periods by adjusting my posture and relieving the bloating. I think that this is a much under discussed area of AF triggering - I have suffered with GERD and HH for 30 years and wonder if that is the source over time of my AF problems.

[50568789]

Your post got me thinking. I run a Tai Chi class once a week and if I was in AF, sometimes cancelled, not wanting to risk exacerbating things. I am now in persistent AF and decided to carry on regardless. I have noticed that I actually have no symptoms (SOB etc) during the class, a bit tired afterwards but that's to be expected. Now I'm wondering if the postural movement of this exercise, constant stretching of the torso and limbs, turning of the spine , and regulated breathing are helping in the way you describe, allowing the internal organs etc to better align and create a better environment for the heart and suppressing the conditions for AF. At least it's another angle, and a positive thought to hang on to.

[CDreamer in reply to 50568789]

I participate in weekly Tai Chi and love it but when widow’s hump is caused by osteoporosis I am not sure that I would be wanting to do a lot of the Tai Chi moves I can do now for fear of fracturing. The Royal Osteoporosis Society has some excellent advice and videos on which type of moves are helpful and which to avoid.

[50568789 in reply to CDreamer]

I agree, very important to know your limits and only do what you can safely do.

[Vonnegut in reply to 50568789]

There was some research project on that- might have been mentioned here -but the woman taking the online classes had a very difficult to understand accent and the chronic fatigue I acquired with this makes standing for long difficult so I didn’t stick at it for long. . I used to greatly enjoy the Tai Chi classes I used to attend locally but had to give up when the PAF and fatigue struck!

[Cliff_G]

Have a look at the Alexander Technique. Not really something you can do properly by yourself, you need a series of lessons, 6+, and it's not usually cheap. But very complementary to Osteopathy, and in the end I no longer needed Osteopath visits as often as I had been going.

[50568789 in reply to Cliff_G]

I did a basic course several years ago and read a few books. The concept was very interesting but I found it difficult to get the hang of in practice (and expensive). But would still recommend to try for anybody looking for help in that area.

[Cliff_G in reply to 50568789]

It stays with you for life. Did mine in my 30's, probably 20+ sessions (no, not cheap), but it still helps at the grand young age of 70.

[Vonnegut in reply to Cliff_G]

Alexander Technique works brilliantly where there is no actual damage but the pain is the result of incorrect posture. I had lower back pain many years ago that was cured by virtually learning how to walk again and relax etc, over a series of sessions. Then much later after a fall the problem returned and that time only two visits to a different Alexander Technique teacher reminded my body how to relax out of it. Do get a properly registered teacher though, if there are any where you are.

[TouchVeena]

I play a musical instrument that requires me to crouch over it. This was crushing my heart, and often causing Afib and other heart problems. I now place the instrument on a stand, and stand straight while I play it. This helped a tremendous amount. No afib for about a year, although this is also because I am on flecainide.

[Ppiman]

Well, maybe - but an MRI or two might have revealed a bit more of what was the real cause and effect of what was happening. Placebos are big and wonderful things... I remain dubious of alternative practitioners diagnosing conditions without actual scans to show what's really going on (and even then, it's rarely clear).

Vagal irritation is such a great phrase and sounds so authentic and meaningful. It's all over the internet these days. My own specialist pooh-poohs it, insisting that the effect of vagal irritation would be terrific bradycardia, for example, not AF. It's popular, though, and many here think it's the root cause of many of our woes. Perhaps it is - who knows.

I am being a bit tongue in cheek. Sorry for that. I need my dinner! And I do think gastric issues can spark AF somehow - perhaps, indeed, because of our anatomies. I was once told that being tall (6'3") is the root of my problem and having, as you, a narrow chest that pushes everything north up against the diaphragm and, via that, the heart (not the vagus! ).

Steve

[GoodHearty in reply to Ppiman]

Damn, now I have to spend 3 months researching being tall as possible cause, or perhaps being tall AND cheeky causing ectopics. Enjoy reading your inputs. Hope you’re keeping well.

Best Wishes.

[Ppiman in reply to GoodHearty]

I generally am, thank you. I hope you are, too and that the osteopath continues his or her magic! sadly, my AF and ectopics are far more common with me these days, having increased over the last year - that said, they are less uncomfortable.

I think long bodies might be a cause of a few things health-wise - with heart and digestion especially so. Luckily, my lungs seem to have escaped and are my healthiest part! I put that entirely down to the air being less polluted at the height I am.

Steve

[2learn]

hi, I use to use osteos a lot for back problems, but since I've been on blood thinners they won't touch me as its NHS guidance for osteos not to treat patients on blood thinners.