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Heart Palpitations going crazy again

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Posted 11/13/2008 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have different things that can cause me to have irregular heartbeats. Leaning over alot can do it, getting low on magnesium can do it, having my GERD flare up can do it, caffeine can do it, and my female hormones can do it.
I began burping incredible amounts of air a couple weeks ago, and my irregular heartbeats started up again. I'm having around 5/min, which is a real pain. It doesn't hurt, but sure scares me.
I'm trying to load up on magnesium, but have IBS-D, so I have to take it slow. I get horrible headaches with PPIs, so they're out.
Anyone else tend to get irregular heartbeats when their GERD flares up?
I had a cardiac workup last summer, and everything was fine.

Guess I need to make an appointment with the doctor. Just making the appointment, and sitting in his office seems to make my symptoms go away! hahaha
Posted 11/13/2008 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
  

     Hi CathyA,

      Thanks for responding,  I am 54 and done with perimenopause and into the real thing for quite some time,   have had irregular periods and hormone imbalances my whole life,   primary doctor and GI doc do not think hormones are playing a role in this,  but I think they make a difference in our total physical and mental well being,    sorry to hear of your discomforts,   My GI doc thinks my hiatal hernia is also  making this more uncomfortable than he thought,  also creating spasms in the esophogus,   I have been on  Nexium  40mg's twice a day now for three weeks and am beginning to feel better,  I am quite uncomfortable in the evening but I am also taking mylanta and 2 different nasal sprays to help with ear problems and pressure......trying to eat smaller meals and keep caffeine to a minimum,  god I love coffe though.....my headaches have increased,  I guess I can attribute this to the Nexium,   not sure,   anyway,  I am so happy to have a bit of relief,  I can bend over to pick something up without feeling my neck is going to explode,   just mild dicomfort now......Take care and hope you feel better soon..........Homemom 

Posted 11/13/2008 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Homemom,
I'm thinking maybe you meant to post this on your thread, but that's okay. My OB/GYN has told me (over and over...hahaha) that our hormones can still go crazy for 10 years after we quit having periods. The reason I think some of this is hormonal, is that it all comes in a "package deal", around the times when my ovary hurts..........I get esophogeal slowness, diarrhea, heart palpitations, anxiety, sleep problems, my knees give out, my teeth hurt, I have lots of aches and pains everywhere, I get headaches, my sinuses act up, and I get that fullness in my neck at times.
I'm sorry you're having these problems, but it is sooooo nice to hear that I'm not the only one on earth who has all this funkiness!
In my reply to your other post, I mentioned having to sleep upright in a chair for 7 months, because of that horrible fullness in my neck, and feeling like I was going to suffocate.
What's very interesting, is that I've had a problem for many years........when I lean over, I feel that all the blood in my body is in my neck and head and its going to explode! Nobody ever seems to know what I'm talking about, but it sounds like you do!
I was on aciphex for a long time, and finally got off it. I really can't believe I was in so much pain daily, (from migraines), and didn't suspect the aciphex. I got off it and the headaches went away. But a few years later, I went on it again, and sure enough, I immediately started getting bad headaches. I tried the other PPIs too, and still got headaches.
I think alot of people get side-effects of one sort or another on PPIs. Just remember though, if you ever want to come off it, you'll probably get really bad reflux for about a week, until your body gets used to it, and then you'll feel better. I think alot of people stay on them too long, because they get rebound reflux when they stop it, and interpret this as really needing the drug, when they don't necessarily.
Do you get any irregular heartbeats?
I'm 58, and I'm still having hormonal fluctuations.
Interesting that you mentioned your sinuses. Over the past 15 years of going through perimenopause/menopause-sort-of, and talking to alot of women, it seems that the sinuses have big troubles too during this time. In fact, I had 2 sinus surgeries during perimenopause. Interesting.
And trust me.........docs (especially male docs) NEVER think hormones have anything to do with anything........and they couldn't be more wrong!!
When I'm having a hormone fluctuation, its HELL. When it subsides, life is good again. Maybe in our next lives we'll be lucky enough to be men. lololol!
Posted 11/13/2008 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
P.S. Homemom,
about caffeine.......I know how much you must love it. I do too. In fact, one tiny "shot" of caffeine" in the morning, can make my entire day productive. But it does totally affect my GI tract. Even a little can give me diarrhea and reflux. (not to mention alot of heart palpitations). I know this sounds silly, but since my palpitations have increased so much, and scared me, I've cut out all caffeine and chocolate. But when I open my eyes in the morning, to face a caffeine-less day, its really, really sad. lol! Its true!
Having given up caffeine a number of times in my life, I can really say that it seems to affect our GI tracts systemically, and not just in our upper intestines by contact. I think the caffeine in the bloodstream causes our intestines (including upper and lower) to malfunction. How sad is that??
Seems like I find something that makes life more liveable........and then it turns on me. ;)
Posted 11/15/2008 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
CathyA

I used to suffer from heart palpitations, heartburn, reflux, chest pains, upper back pain, etc.  Those were usually accompanied by intestinal discomfort and diahrrea.  I was finally tested for Celiac and tested positive.  Since I have stopped eating gluten, I have been able to stop taking Prilosec and my palpitations have stopped.  I still take Mylanta (gluten free) periodically if my stress level/anxiety gets too high and I have heartburn because of that.  If I accidentally eat gluten, the palpitations and all the rest come back with a vengeance.  It wouldn't hurt to do some research and have the initial blood test for celiac disease or gluten intolerance.  Hope this gives you another angle to investigate. 

 

Posted 11/15/2008 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Celiac Jack,
I've been tested for Celiac and it was negative........but I know that people can be intolerant without it really showing up on that test. I have recently eaten more wheat products, so maybe I'm becoming even less tolerant.
I have suspected that my son has some wheat/gluten intolerance. He's had problems with his skin itching all the time recently. Did your skin ever itch alot?
I'm curious.........what blood type are you? My son and I are "O"....and I've wondered if O-types have more problems with wheat.
Thanks!
Posted 11/15/2008 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
CathyA

My scalp and skin used to itch like crazy!  That's gone now unless I eat gluten.  I also get these little athlete's foot type "blisters" on my hands when I eat gluten.  They didn't itch a whole lot, but they would get painful.  My doctor always said they weren't connected with the gluten, but they go away when I don't eat it.  I'm blood type O.  There are a lot of intestinal problems in our family.  I have a sister and several cousins with Crone's and a nephew with ulcerative collitis.  My doctor said she sees a lot of the Germans in our area with these problems. (We live in a small community, so she knows which families are related.)  I had read that high incidences of Celiac were traced to certain areas of certain countries, so maybe she's right. 

Also, the only way to really test for Celiac is to have an intestinal biopsy.  So if you didn't have that, you may want to consider it.  I have had a hard time getting any answers as to why my Celiac would cause palpitations.  My neighbor has also had it happen as well as my boss. I also had headaches before that I seldom experience now. 

If you think of any other questions, let me know! 


 

Posted 11/16/2008 12:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi again,
Dang........could I have had that biopsy during a recent colonoscopy? (or is it of the small intestine?)
My son has psoriasis, so maybe all his itching has something to do with that (although he's itchy everywhere, not his psoriasis patches).
Have you found that any certain vitamin or supplement helps with the reaction, if you eat things you shouldn't?
I used to have an itchy neck all the time, but discovered that it was when I drank milk. I can eat cheese and sometimes icecream without getting it, but too much milk always gives me an itchy neck!
I think our culture eats way too much wheat stuff, unfortunately. I'm not sure our intestinal tracts were designed for all that.
Thanks for all your info!
Posted 11/16/2008 2:59 AM (GMT 0)

Hello and FYI,

To diagnose celiac disease, doctors will test blood for high levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) or anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA). If test results are negative but celiac disease is still suspected, additional blood tests may be needed.

Before being tested, one should continue to eat a diet that includes foods with gluten, such as breads and pastas. If a person stops eating foods with gluten before being tested, the results may be negative for celiac disease even if the disease is present.

Intestinal Biopsy

If blood tests and symptoms suggest celiac disease, a biopsy of the small intestine is performed to confirm the diagnosis. During the biopsy, the doctor removes tiny pieces of tissue from the small intestine to check for damage to the villi. To obtain the tissue sample, the doctor eases a long, thin tube called an endoscope through the patient’s mouth and stomach into the small intestine. The doctor then takes the samples using instruments passed through the endoscope.

Hope this is some what helpful.

Take care,

Kitt

Posted 11/16/2008 5:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kitt.
Posted 11/16/2008 6:57 PM (GMT 0)

Cathy, you are so welcome and I hope you soon get to the bottom of your problem.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 11/20/2008 2:13 PM (GMT 0)

stkitt said...

Hello and FYI,

To diagnose celiac disease, doctors will test blood for high levels of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) or anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA). If test results are negative but celiac disease is still suspected, additional blood tests may be needed.

Before being tested, one should continue to eat a diet that includes foods with gluten, such as breads and pastas. If a person stops eating foods with gluten before being tested, the results may be negative for celiac disease even if the disease is present.

Intestinal Biopsy

If blood tests and symptoms suggest celiac disease, a biopsy of the small intestine is performed to confirm the diagnosis. During the biopsy, the doctor removes tiny pieces of tissue from the small intestine to check for damage to the villi. To obtain the tissue sample, the doctor eases a long, thin tube called an endoscope through the patient’s mouth and stomach into the small intestine. The doctor then takes the samples using instruments passed through the endoscope.

Hope this is some what helpful.

Take care,

Kitt

Thank you St Kitt.
Posted 11/20/2008 11:01 PM (GMT 0)

Your very welcome, happiness.  I got your email and I am working on it.  Keep on talking to us.

I am so glad your with us

Hugs

Kitt

Posted 11/23/2008 2:27 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks everyone!!!,

     I have had a heck of a time for the last year dealing with heart palpitations.  They started last year, and I went to the ER, and they kept me over night for a stress test.  Everything was normal.  I was also experiencing left sided chest pain and they suggested GI medications.  I thought they were crazy-my heart was jumping all over the place, I didn't have any GI symptoms. They told me to relax, it was all safe and it happens all the time.  I started on Toprol XL.  So now my heart rate was 45 and I was still having PVCs.  Then about a month later, my heart went really crazy (fast, irregular, chest pain), I went to the ER, and they did a cardiac catheterization (I was only 39!).  My PVC's did show up on the monitor.  The cath was clean, and I went home again with no answers.  I switched primary doctor's, since the last one wasn't helping.  The new one was sweet, but did suggest antidepressants.  I said no, I wasn't depressed, but I did notice palpitaitons were a lot worse premenstrually, and almost were absent day 3 of my cycle until I ovulated again.  No new help from the new doctor.  I had all the positional symptoms you guys mentioned here.

     So to make a long year short,  the only relief I found was with progesterone cream from Whole Foods- kind of eased the PMS symptoms/level out the estrogen peaks (thinking I was starting perimenopause).  THEN...I started have GI symptoms.  I went to my doctor, who put me on Protonix.  Heart Palpitations GONE!!!!  NONE!!!  So that's when I went online and found this forum to see if anyone else had the connection.  Thank You again!

Posted 11/23/2008 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
 

Boy am I ever glad to find you people. I feel like I have been going crazy lately with so many palpitations and gastro problems. This is all pretty new to me, I'm 48 and yes-- the drs. NEVER admit hormones have anything to do with anything. I am currently scheduled for so many tests-- colonoscopy, endoscopy, sbft and some other stuff where I have to drink funny things. In the meantime, I am so stressed out. I never used to burp before (sorry don't mean to be gross). I have right side chest pain and shoulder pain, but my ultrasound says no gallstones. I just want to feel good. I wake up feeling crappy, I go to bed feeling crappy and of course my husband just thinks I can do this "mind over matter" kinda of thing. He's  a great guy, but he just doesn't understand. My teeth have been hurting too-- I think I'm clenching my jaw at night. But yes, my sinuses are going nuts. My cardiologist asked if I snored. Who knows-- maybe I have apnea. I'm slightly overweight (20lbs) but my bloodwork is all normal (cholesterol, etc.) I know I have endometriosis, but I have no idea why I am feeling so horrid. I hate all these dr. appts. but I gotta get to the bottom of things. I'm taking ativan (as needed) and ranitidine for the acid. It's sooo nice to see other ladies who can relate. I'm going to be sure to stop by here more often. My colonoscopy and endoscopy aren't till the end of December, but in the meantime this rightsided pain has occured three times. I say my chiro, who said a rib could be out of place, so I'm just really confused about what is going on with me. ARGHH.

If you've read this whole thing thank you VERY much. I appreciate it. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

 

Posted 11/23/2008 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
I sure wish I didn't get bad headaches with all PPIs, so I could try it now and see if it helped with the PVCs. I've also read that the vagus nerve goes down the esophagus, and then to the heart. So if your esophagus gets irritated, it can irritate that nerve, which causes the PVCs (premature ventricular contractions).
I know this sounds weird, but right after I started Zoloft, I had cravings for certain foods.........like grilled cheese. So every day for lunch, for about 3 months now, I have a grilled cheese, an apple and some veggies or salad. I've been eating more bread too. I think alot of the burping is from that.......so I need to cut it out again for awhile and see if it helps my esophagus, and my palpitations. A person could go crazy trying to figure out why our bodies act the way they do!
I did have some palpitations that went away after I started using a cpap machine, but it doesn't seem to helping this time.
pinkelly.........I never would have ever imagined that fluctuating hormones could cause so many problems, through my entire body.........so that may well be what's going on with you. Between ages 46 and 56, I think I had a hundred tests! .......all negative, of course! It drove me crazy.
I have fibromyalgia, which seemed to start up at the beginning of perimenopause and then get much worse the deeper into perimenopause I got.........so maybe that is connected too.

Teacher's wife..........Its interesting that you said Toprol didn't help your palpitations. I was on it for about 5 years awhile back, and am on a low dose now. I've tried to tell my doc that it seems to cause my palpitations at times, and he said "Oh no, that's not possible. It takes away palpitations." But I know for a fact it doesn't work well for me. So its interesting to hear that it didn't work well on your palpitations either.
I think I should probably try not eating carbs and nothing spicy or irritating for awhile and see if that helps. Its weird thinking that my esophagus could be irritated without any heartburn, but I've heard its real possible.
Its sure nice to be able to talk with other people who are going through the same thing!
Posted 11/23/2008 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Ugh, I don't know how I could give up carbs. I have no idea what I should be eating anymore. there's hardly anything left if I cut out carbs, sugar, caffeine, soda, chocolate ;-), wheat, salt. UGH.

Cathy how did they diagnose your fibromilagia??

Cindy
Posted 11/24/2008 12:48 AM (GMT 0)

Yeah, it's so nice to blog with others who are feeling as crazy as I have been, KNOWING that I'm not, and that this is all very real, and scary.  I actually didn't have that tiny feeling today that I might drop dead today because the PVCs just might get out of hand.

I know that I should probably do a South Beach type diet always-low carb, with the carbs being natural, high fiber type.  I just have NO willpower.  I did quit coffee, and have been limiting soda intake since my cardiac cath in January (didn't help with palpitations or GI problems evidently)

Also pinkelly-I had been on ranitidine daily probably for 4 months prior to the really bad GI symptoms that started this October.  It's the Protonix that I switched too that made the PVCs disappear, and helped with the epigastric pain- alot stronger than ranitidine.  I still get Left sided chest pain, that goes away when I belch a few times. Really great for hubby when I get into bed at night!  I also was on some Ativan which helped the palpitations after the cath-it was necessary to get to sleep at night with the heart going crazy.  I think I had a few full blown anxiety attacks at night, and if it wasn't for the Ativan, I don't know what would have happened.  I haven't taken any since June-don't want that problem too.  Whatever is happening to us is causing the anxiety...anxiety is not causing us these problems (well maybe a little- a viscous circle I guess).  So yeah, you probably are grinding your teeth at night.  My husband also wonderful, but is getting a little tired of it all.

I still need to follow up with GI, which my doctor wants me to do.  Really not looking forward to testing.

Posted 11/24/2008 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Fibromyalgia.........its pretty much a diagnosis of exclusion. That means you have a million tests for everything else, and if its all normal, then you have fibro! I'm just glad its considered "real" these days. Just about 15-20 years ago, it was considered a neurosis. Actually, even today, some less educated docs don't believe in it.
When I was diagnosed, it was a matter of the doc pushing on various spots all over my body, and if most of them hurt, then I had fibro. It also seems to come with sleep disturbances ("alpha wave intrusion"), GI problems, intense fatigue, cognition problems, and widespread pain and stiffness in muscles and joints. It seems to vary quite a bit from person to person. Some of us have more problems in one area than another.

I really start having GI problems whenever I start eating too much, or eating too much bread. Bread always seems to get me into trouble! This recent "attack" has been horrible, with the gas and the palpitations. I just can't believe how much I burp!! I burp up more air than there must be in my whole house! Its totally unbelievable. Some docs say its from air swallowing, but I don't think so. I think its just a horrible result of fermentation. Well, I guess having upper gas is better than lower gas! My poor kids. For alot of years when they were growing up, I had migraines, and spent alot of time with that blue ice bag on my head. then I developed IBS and GERD and spend alot of my time burping like crazy. Oh the memories they will have of me!!!
I started on zoloft a few months ago, and I'm thinking it has worsened my GERD. But with fibromyalgia, you just never know what's going to happen next or why...........so who knows.
I have weaned off the zoloft and will give my heart a week to settle down. In that time, I might also take the Aciphex for a couple days too.......although I know it will cause really bad headaches.
I usually take Gas-X, which helps some. Yesterday, with all my burping, I took a couple charcoal capsules. I was afraid to take them for fear when I burped, a cloud of black dust would come out! hahaha Fortunately, that didn't happen!

Teacher's wife.......was the cath awful??
I occasionally take xanax, which is pretty nice. I tried the Ativan, but it didn't seem to work as well as the xanax. I'm just glad there's things out there that can take the edge off of panic attacks. They're no fun!

I've seen a couple GI docs, and fortunately, they are into a more clinical diagnosis, rather than doing a ton of tests.......so hopefully your doc will do that too Teacher's wife. I had one Internist who was going to order every crazy GI test there was. Instead, I went to a GI doc. He listened to me and then said "you have fibromyalgia, with IBS." I appreciated not going through all those tests. Although when I had alot of burning, he did do an upper endoscopy, which was normal.
Nice talking with the both of you!
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