ACID and AF

[dirose]

I get severe stomache acid production from time to time, which seems to cause AF, or it might be vice versa! Intense pain and discomfort. GP just prescribes Omeprazol, year after year, and Gavison. What should be happening? Should I be on a diet to prevent acid? Should I be seeing a cardiologist or a gastroenterologist?

[jbrucej]

Are you sure A leads to B? When I go into AF, I get pretty severe chest pains - which can feel like heartburn. Apparently, I have restricted flow to parts of my heart from three previous heart attacks, and the reduced blood flow due to AF gives me chest pain. The Nitro seems to clear it up quickly.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Being on a diet to prevent excess stomach acid is would be a good idea. I mean preventing a problem is always better than trying to treat one if possible! Do you eat a lot of food containing caffeine? Things like coffee, tea, chocolate can cause gastric reflux as well as acidic foods like citrus and tomatoes, and of course, spicy foods. Smoking is a huge cause of increased stomach acid as well. If you have been taking omperazol year after year and still suffering I would absolutely recommend seeing a gastroenterologist. It does seem that reflux and a full stomach can trigger AF so it is really worth it to try to get further evaluation.

[dirose in reply to SRMGrandma]

Thank you very much for this, all the things you mention do disagree with me when I am having excess acid production.

[AFAssociation1]

You should consider seeking advice from a dietitian to alter your diet to possibly reduce acid production. A lot of people with AF try to rule out triggers if possible and then avoid them. If this does not work seek advice from a cardiologist as to how best to manage episodes when they occur.

One of our members, Chris Harmer, wrote his story for the AF Association website. He took it on himself to self-monitor various foods that may trigger AF. You may find this case study useful atrialfibrillation.org.uk/f...

Please note what might be a trigger for Chris is not necessarily a trigger for all AF patients.

[dirose in reply to AFAssociation1]

Thank you. I have copied the case study and will read it soon, am recovering from a lung infection, but getting better now.

[dirose]

Thank you very much for this. My cardiologist soes not seem very interested, he told me I should see a gastroenterologist, but GP does not seem inclined to send me to one,! I will read the case study, thanks.

[nannygoat]

yes i did get a dreaadful pain in my gut with my first noticable afib attack. it was sooo painfull and i just could not eat for about 2 weeks. i had to puree my food like a baby because i was lost and i didnt know what was wrong i was still thinking heart attack , but thank God it was not as bad and i had a test done in the day theater and it just showed inflammation in my gut. i am a lot better now .

[dirose]

Well this is enteresting! a clear case of acid causing the AFib. I too, cannot eat following this event, am left with very sore tummy, and there is not much food that it finds acceptable! takes some days or even weeks to heal up.

[dirose]

BUT which causes which?? and in which order??? and could it be the vegas nerve???

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to dirose]

I have looked at a small study on this out of the University of Wisconsin and it does seem like inflammation of the esophagus and gastric reflux have been linked as a cause of A.F. and that sometimes medicines in the category of ppi (proton pump inhibitors) like prevacid or protonix have seemed to facilitate a return to NSR in some people. And you are right, that the link seems to be vagal stimulation.

[dirose]

Thank you so much for this, what is NSR please?

I am on Omeprazol I don't know if you know of that one; it is a proton pump inhibitor. I have no faith in my cardiologist, he didn't think much of my suggestion about the vagal stimulation, being culprit. Yet my pharmasist suggested it! 11 months down the line, and he has done nothing,!!

now I went into hospital with a lung infection and breathlessness, they discovered a heart murmour, which they will look at. So I have AF breathlessness, intemittent, copd and lung infection breathlessness, No one seems very interested, and I have no idea where I am up to. It is so kind of you to take an interest, what kind people there are on here. If I can help anyone I will happily do so.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to dirose]

NSR is normal sinus rhythm. In other words, it is the steady regular heartbeat that we all want. It is frustrating when you feel that your doctors aren't listening. Have you thought of changing doctors or getting a second opinion? Has anyone further evaluated your acid reflux with an endoscopy, the test where they look down your esophagus with a little camera to see your stomach? I hope you soon feel better.

[dirose]

No one has done an endoscopy for several year, I then lived abroad. They found gastritis and helicobactor pylori. I showed the results and x ray to my GP here, He just prescribes Oneprazol and gaviscon. And ignores the AF. I was refferred to a doctor in the cardiology dept a year ago, he has confirmed Frequent AF, but done absolutely nothing.. I woiuld like to complain to someone. Thank you so much for your interest.