Posted 4/20/2012 9:27 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, I am in my late 50's. For years I have suffered with IBS, Fibromyalgia, GERDS, hormone/thyroid problems, and other things. One problem that has been a source of anxiety and stress filled trips to the ER has been a puzzle to most Dr.s and myself. At first I thought it was GERDS, alone. about 7-8 years ago, I was in a store shopping when I suddenly felt weak, and disoriented. I had a cart that I pushed slowly to the front of the store, not knowing what was happening to me. The store's BP monitor revealed that I was having a heart episode, as what the paramedics called it. I had no previous known problems with my heart, so as I lie in the ambulance enroute to the ER, this was a shock to me. That was my first time I heard about pvc's. I had a couple other long episodes over the next year, but being told that they were harmless, it didn't help the fear, panic and uncomfortable episodes that left me weak, dizzy and unable to function. I changed my diet, started walking more, and lost weight, which helped some.
As I have been reading the posts today, I see myself in one story, after another. I now believe that the GERD, IBS and the pvc's are all somehow connected. I also have always had normal BP, up until I started having pvc's. In fact it was always in the low-normal range. I have had many heart tests, which show a normal heart. Although I am overweight, and from a family history of heart disease, I do not have any symptoms nor show any problem in my many tests. I eat a very healthy, organic diet, do not smoke or drink, and take no medications. My good cholesterol levels have been lower than desired, but I have many food allergies, so have to eat what I am able to, in order to receive my nutritional needs. My weight gain was due to a long term illness, and three auto accidents that left me with neck, back and muscle problems, fibromyalgia, being one of them.
As I read the posts here, I am also one, who has been having a rise of heartbeats, and BP's which happen when I eat, or have a bm. I would also shake, feel ill, clammy, sweaty, lightheaded, pain, pvc's and anxiety-like symptoms that preceded or followed eating, or having a bm. I felt crazy, and when I would tell my Dr., he would just say that I was probably feeling anxiety. YES!! It does cause anxiety when you are suddenly feeling shakey, lightheaded, sweaty, with pvc's and your BP going up for no reason.
Now, when I read about the vagus nerve, hitas hernias, and such, I realize that there is a reason for the funny symptoms that I have been struggling with. Today, I ate a lunch of kipper snacks, rice and a few plain corn chips with water to drink. Within a few minutes of eating, I found myself suffering the same old symptoms, and took my BP, which went up to 168/82, then 144/72, then it shot down to 108/61. I got up drank a glass of water, went for a little walk around the yard, came back in and it was 129/72. I felt weak and weird, which I believe is from the anxiety of the whole event. It always drains me emotionally, because I keep thinking it is my heart, but during it all, I could feel the pvc's, so my heart is being affected by it anyway. I absolutely hate to have a bm, as I feel so faint during it, I find myself fearing of blacking out, and being injured by falling on my hard tile floor.
If anyone has any more ideas on what to do as a self help, I would welcome them. I don't drive alone anymore, because of the pvc's, which I believe are related to the GERD problem. Is there an accurate test that can be done to diagnose a hitas hernia, or one that can see if the vagus nerve is being affected by all of this, thus causing the pvc's? The anxiety of it all is wearing me thin.....Thanks.