I geniunely think there are so many lovely people on this forum who responded my previous post with the intention of helping out a fellow sufferer of arrhythmia. I am going to mention their names here in case they wonder how I am doing lately Lurcher3 Surreychica_1 MichaelJH Sartain Lisell Pete-Benje Polly535 Flummoxedlou @Polly535 *can't mention you somehow
Alright, here is my previous post about my Heart Fluttering and possible SVT
First of all, I am not experiencing any fluttering or tachycardia in the last three days and I have a few scenario as to why... As I mentioned in my previous post, it all began with less bowel movements, an uneasy stomach and decreased work capacity which lasted for a week and after that flutterings began which finally led to sudden tachycardia (which I am suspecting of SVT). I had three SVT attacks since then and it abruptly stopped four days ago including momentary flutters. I am feeling much better now and I can go for a long walk, do my chores or even workout very lightly in the last two days.
I have a strong belief that what I experienced was gastrocardiac syndrome. I had bloated stomach days before flutters started happening and I believe it triggered arrhythmia attacks until I took medicine for stomach bloating. Another argument was that all three attacks happened at the same friccing time of the day at 10 PM, when I usually have a dinner and lie on my bed and watch TV.. I also discovered someone called "York Cardiologist", he has videos on the syndrome on youtube if that interests you.
So, I am currently taking medicine for stomach bloating and I also take magnesium supplement to prevent any deficiency and support my digestion. I am not sure whether attacks abruptly stopped because of the medicine or it was something "seasonal" but they seem to helped me especially after my cardiologist left me undiagnosed and prescribed me beta blocker which made me worse...
The reason why I am having an uneasy stomach is to me unknown for now but it might have something to do with anxiety. I also wonder if you guys have something similar, I'd love to hear your experiences on the subject too!
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felix844
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Yes, lived with it since 1994 underlying my AF. There were times when I could control my AF better by attending to my gastric status and consequent overly low heart rate than anti-arrhythmic drugs would. Even aftwr my ablation in 2002 amd my aortic dissection in 2017 it has always been thus. But unfortunately it still seems not to be adequately recognised.
I am glad to hear that things are going better. The problem could well relate to the vagus nerve which interfaces with the parasympathetic control of the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. After my bypass I had problems with my right hand but it took my own investigations to find out it was probably caused by the ulnar nerve being nipped where it passes through the shoulder. The GP said speak to your surgeon and vice- versa.
There is a correlation for me too. I get thousands of PVCs a day and they're all connected to gas and bloating which I believe is from SIBO or some other kind of bacteria imbalance, overgrowth or parasite.
What medication are you taking for bloating? Have you tried low fodmap diet?
Try having dinner early at 6PM and do not lie down until 8PM. Don't have any complex carbs for your dinner meals, just veggies salads and chicken.
I started to use pancreatin tablets a week ago and it doesn't seem to work very well but I am actually doing much better lately. I haven't tried low fodmap diet and it's going to be my next resort.
"Try having dinner early at 6PM and do not lie down until 8PM. Don't have any complex carbs for your dinner meals, just veggies salads and chicken."
That's what made the major difference for me, I've cut my meals to smaller portions and I stopped eating after 7 PM. Thank you for the advices, I'll particularly be trying the diet you've mentioned <3
I used to have a lot of bloating and to the extent it led to breathlessness and I was having horrendous stomach upsets and had no appetite until my cardiologist took me off all my medication apart from aspirin. I think the cardiologist from York is the tops as I have been following him for some time not only on my complaint but he does an excellent explanation of cholesterol and other heart problems . He is very calm - no drama- and so helpful after my bypass when no one could understand why I was so ill and tired which turned out to be the mediation
I am glad you're doing much better lately. I agree that he's very knowledgable and I've learnt so much from his videos which made me realize the correlation between the bloating and arrhythmia. I also stopped using beta blocker and I haven't had a single palpitation in the last 4 days let alone the SVT.
If it’s any use I take my aspirin with a bowl of porridge last thing at night about 9.30 pm . I find my stomach is better if it’s not too empty overnight
Yes I know what you mean. Since my bypass and medication it has still to be trial and error. I find porridge soothing ( soaked overnight or a day) cannot take chocolate or much rich food. I eat loads of baked potatos also greens than goodness I can tolerate much more than I used to but have to be careful. Our local chemist advised Silicolgel for when I get a big upset but not to take every day. It’s not cheap but it really works as I cannot take any of the “prassols”
I have acid reflux so the very thought of having dinner at 10pm then lie on the bed and watch TV makes me feel unwell. It would cause immediate acid reflux for me which is just horrible in terms of my heart condition. I don't eat anything after 6 - 6.30pm. Recently I've switched my main meal from the evening to lunchtime and I'm doing so much better. Having my digestive system in a calm state before I go to bed is very important for me in minimising sleep disturbances which have such a negative impact on my heart.
Exactly my case. There's something going on with my digestive system and eating a heavy meal after 7 PM disturbs literally everything from my sleep to my heart rhytm. Thank you for sharing your experience
I do the same. Do not eat after 7.pm. Only 2 mess daily. Only chicken salmon or Turkey. Veg.and fruit. Tummy is so sensitive and if I get a gastro attack my blood pressure goes up. Now having heart flutters whenever my tummy feels bad .
Hi yes, I have the same issue and you are the only other person I have come across with this particular issue. I have idiopathic, chronic, recurrent pericarditis too, caused by autoimmune disease currently under investigations. I wondered if mine is linked to my peri but all my specialist consultants think it is linked to whatever autoimmune disease I have. I have to undergo gastroscope and endoscope this Wednesday to rule out anything sinister. I will have a look at this ‘York cardiologist’ sounds interesting. Thank you
I am really glad to find out people having similar issues because whenever I visit a cardiologist, I mention all the stuff that is going on with my digestive system and they just seem to overlook them. I am pretty sure that bloating triggers arrhythmia and I've been doing much better after I keep my digestive system under control.
" I have to undergo gastroscope and endoscope this Wednesday to rule out anything sinister."
I'd love to hear from you and I hope that you'll face nothing serious tomorrow. Best of luck <3
Hi Felix, thankfully nothing sinister found today, but gastrologist carrying out the procedures said gastric issues can cause issues with palpitations etc especially if there is a delay in the gut emptying or sometimes hiatus hernia as they can push up towards the heart. I too have said for the last almost 15yrs that when I have episodes which appear like heart attack my stomach seems to feel very bloated, I then feel like all blood is draining away, I go very faint then suddenly my heart thumps and increases in speed sometimes to over 200 beats per minute. He told me to discuss this with cardiology again.
He also suggested movicol once per day or fybogel to keep my gut moving as this might help.
Very frustrating but at least I know there is nothing sinister with my stomach which is a big relief.
Hello Schora, I am relieved there's nothing bad going on with your stomach. I exactly had the same issues with my digestive system where I'd have a bloated stomach, slowed down bowel momevents when I have episodes of palpitations and heart thumps (which goes 200 BPM just like yours). I still have digestion issues and bloated stomach but health palpitations and heart thumps are non-existent for almost a week now.
What I am suspecting is that stress might be the cause for my bloated stomach, which then causes SVT attacks and palpitations. My question is; in 15 years, how frequent do you have episodes?
Hi, my episodes have come and gone over the past 15 years but since 2017, they have been very frequent, resulting in hospitalisation on several times. Sometimes I have been hospitalised every week for several months. I do have chronic recurrent peri too so they think everything is linked to autoimmune disease as all bloods indicate this. I am currently under the amyloidosis centre in London as well as various consultants at my two local hospitals. I've kept food diaries etc but no clear pattern as to why it happens.
All I can tell you is I am 25 days after stopping Atenolol ( beta blocker) and last few days I ve been getting acid pains in my stomach ( never had indigestion in my life ). Dug about and beta blockers inhibit acid secretion so believe I am experiencing rebound in a similar way to people who stop PPIs. If I ever have transient bloating in my stomach ( as opposed to abdomen) I always getting brief ectopics etc until the problem is solved . The night I had my only AF to date following electrolyte imbalance caused by Celebrex when I woke at 4am with the palpitations I was blown up like a balloon stomach and abdomen never experienced anything like it . That’s all I know
Doctors usually never consider the correlation between bloating and arrhythmia but I am glad that I am not the only one who's experiencing similar issues because God knows I am not making this sh*t up xD What I experience is very real....
I never had indigestion in my life too I swear! I had an iron stomach and never ever been in a situation where I would worry about my digestive system, well until now
Celebrex blocked/inhibited my potassium channels when it caused my AF and severe bloating . Might be worth giving coconut water to boost your potassium in addition to taking magnesium
I have had same disturbances for two weeks, bloated stomach and heart woomphs and flutters which really worried me. My gastro system is already in big problems from medications, I blame the statins as they are known to cause constipation and gas. I had 2 stents in Aug 2019 that's the background but I decided to try a joint supplement which had the usual good things in it for the joints. However Glucosamine can cause bloating and I sort of hoped it would all be OK and work for me but it didn't. It bloated my stomach with each daily dose and then my heart started flips and flutters. I had to stop taking he supplement after 7 days and then I was in opposite trouble with Colon and still getting arrythmias. Thankfully yesterday and today things are settling down so bloating can cause that because of pressure, pressure, pressure as I call it.
I read some of your posts and you seem very young to have this plus tiredness and out of breath. So please make sure they check everything about your heart and if your heart is ok then maybe stress and anxiety are in the mix. I ha e a great book by William Wilkie called Understanding Stress Breakdown. I find his description of how the brain and sympatic nervous system function and effect even heart rhythm helps me to see what can be going on along with the Gastrointestinal side of things. Hope all will be well with you and you get back to being able to enjoying your youth.
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Just starting my journey, nervous and overwhelmed. Any advice is welcome. :) 
