I don't have many lyme symptoms left and am on Rifampin and zith for bartonella after 2 yrs of Doxy and Zith.
My one symptom remaining is an very irritable vagus nerve. I get irregular beats (pvc's, pac's) almost every time I swallow or bend over or turn a certain way, strain, etc...
I was scoped and the GI Dr. found a hiatal hernia, but I think this is an irritated vagus nerve. I can get disoriented, sweaty, clammy when straining to lift something (sometimes) or after eating or swallowing.
Is there anyone out there with this problem? Seems to be worse when on oral antibiotics. I would think the antibiotics would help to decrease the inflammation but who knows?
Any suggestions to cure this?
I also was diagnosed with H-Pylori but my LLMD wanted to treat Lyme and co-infections first. Some say Prilosec might help.
Really irritating as it happens with exercise, which stirs up the GI tract and causes reflux.
Heart not a problem.
Thanks for any feedback!
Posted by Toppers (Member # 20083) on :
2 years damn that's a long time..
Anyways I have the same problem if you can find a solution to this please keep me posted. This is the best description of this I have heard yet, and i have it too. Bending over is almost painful and causes heart palps.
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
Anyone else?
Posted by Buster (Member # 19472) on :
Tons of people mistake irregular heartbeats for stomach spasms/movements.
Posted by jessie86 (Member # 20045) on :
alot of times when i drink something really cold or hot, my heart goes wacky! don't know why. but it's scary.
i have a lot of heart symptoms, from irregular beats, to tachy beats or too slow, skips & really pounding beats.
like you said maybe its the vagus nerve. But just wanted you to know theres someone else that does it also.
ooh and bending over... i feel like my hearts going to explode, it's hard to explaine but a very uncomfortable feeling.
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
This is definitely an inflamed vagus nerve. If I put my hand to my jugular I can feel the pulse skip, so it does trigger irregular beats and is not a stomach spasm.
I am curious if it goes away with treatment or if it is due to a specific co-infection. My LLMD suspects Babs but I am treating Bart first right now! Terrific!
Posted by Toppers (Member # 20083) on :
quote:Originally posted by jessie86:
ooh and bending over... i feel like my hearts going to explode, it's hard to explaine but a very uncomfortable feeling.
I can't bend over either without setting it off, that feeling is awful.
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
I have this too, swallowing, sharp inhales, raising my voice, eating, sometimes leaning or bending over. They can all cause heart skips or palpitations, or even tachycardia.
However, I also have mild heart issues caused by Lyme, inverted T-wave, and some acronyms I can't recall at the moment. I've had some pretty frightening episodes that got me admitted at the ER. Overall though, heart is supposedly fine.
One thing that seems to help is continuing with my Ceftin, as the vagus nerve problem is becoming less and less a problem.
Another big thing that definitely helped was changing my diet (elimination of gluten, nightshades, fried food, caffeine, sugar, etc.), and drinking an herbal tea morning and night that helps coat my esophagus and stomach, among other properties.
That tea, a good probiotic, (and diet) also helped me heal from a stomach ulcer caused by h. pylori, and helped cure my GERD.
The antibiotics in your case might be causing irritation to your stomach and esophagus (along with the h. pylori) and thus irritating the vagus nerve area. That's partly what was happening with me, minus the antibios.
Depending on what type of antibiotic you are on, you might want to try an alternative one that might be less hard on the stomach, while you look at some complementary therapies to help your h. pylori and vagus nerve issues. One I know of is Doryx in place of Doxy - it is a buffered form of Doxy.
Posted by pryorka (Member # 13649) on :
My doctor suspected my vagus nerve was swollen and had me take phosphadytilcholine, phosphadytilserine, fish oil, cod liver oil, eat flax seeds, and take lion's mane. Doing all of this gives your body the material it need to heal nerves and also stimulate nerve growth. It didn't help me but my problem seems to be directly cardiac.
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
I take all of those things and it didn't help. Definitely the vagus nerve or the hiatal hernia I have.
Here's a good link describing the problem that I found:
DGL for the hiatal hernia. It's also good for h. Pylori.
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Posted by cmichaelo (Member # 5873) on :
Myco,
I come here from time on just to see what's going on.
Seems like you're on a lot of medication and for a long time.
It's not unlikely that many of your symptoms wrt to your heart and vagus nerve are related to this use of medication...or perhaps to a root canal gone bad (wild guess).
If I was you, I'd drop prx to a minimum, and start addressing for more important issues in the following order:
1. Sleep. 2. Water. 3. Eat a diet that is correct for your metabolic type. (Eat only whole foods, lean meats, etc but in proper proportion of carb/fat/prot). 4. Take quality multi-vitamin/minerals in their biological forms and incl quality probiotics daily. 5. Exercise. 6. Optimize your vitamin D levels, preferably from sunshine. 7. Detox. 8. Address any root canals gone bad. 9. Address emotional problems, stress, etc.
I'm 99% against taking any prescription drugs for almost anything, incl tickborne diseases. It's only recent that the population has started exploding in all sorts of health problems. And the whole reason behind this is simply living style changes, most importantly poor nutrition. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that indigenous people basically do not have any of our health issues, incl tickborne diseases. However as soon as they transition to a western diet, they start developing typical western diseases like the rest of us.
It makes total sense to me that almost all people in the northern hemisphere during their lifetime have been bitten by lots of ticks and/or Bb has been transferred through birth or sex. I mean, it's so easy to miss a tick, right? Especially since most people don't even bother to look. But do most people have the symptoms? Well, no, but they may be sub-symptomatic to various degrees. How severe their symptoms are, I'm convinced is simply a function of the state of health of their immune system.
And your immune system is best fixed by following the 9 steps I have outlined above.
Any prx drug you pop will only make things worse, except in some very rare cases.
There's so much information about healing "naturally" on the web. A lot of is garbage. Don't be misled by that there's such a thing as a healthy diet for everyone. One mans food is another's poison. If anyone is pushing some diet onto you, you can almost rest assured that it's not in your best interest.
Finding what's nutritional correct for you to eat, is something you'll have to find out for yourself...and it's free. Just type "metabolic typing diet" and you should be able to find a web site that'll let you take a reasonably extensive test (60-70 questions) for free and advice you what your type is. There's also a book you can buy, for less than $10 "The metabolic typing diet" by Wolcott. Once you read this you'll understand why socalled "diets" is a hit and miss.
You may never have heard of MT and that's because there's no money to be had in this field since there's no standardized diet that can be made and adverticed without compromising the whole concept behind MT.
I know my stance is unpopular. I know it's hard to let go of drugs and faith in western medicine. But as long as you kling onto your drugs and your present MD, all you're prescribing to is to that MD's agenda, his medical approach which was shaped during medical school.
You know, just to demonstrate how hopelessly behind most MDs are, they still teach the "primacy of DNA" principle in medical school even though it has been solidly proved by Bruce Lipton and many others that it's in fact the cell's environment in conjunction with the cell's membrane that is governing your life. DNA is simply used for cell division and reproduction of proteins.
Essentially any MD, incl LLMDs, will come up with a different regimen of treatment options for you. What does that tell you? Some doctors will let you pop abx and other drugs for years without blinking. Others limit to couple of months. Some will say symptoms are in your head. Others will put you on herbs.
Finding an MD you can trust to sincerely help YOU, is next to impossible? Sure they may think to do so since, at least some of them, probably act in good faith. But does your present MD have the correct assessment of your symptoms, diagnosis and what regimen is needed to fix it? What do you think the chance of that is? And why is it that he keeps changing dosages and different combinations of drugs? And why is it that he'll sometimes ask you decide/suggest what drug you need?
Because he's merely shooting in the dark.
The body is a system. You need a holistic approach to heal yourself. Drugs only disturb the body's balance. The good thing is however that holistic approaches are vague enough that even you and I can understand it.
And that's what I recommend that you do. Start you holistic discovery now. Type "metabolic typing" on google. Read "the maker's diet". Visit Dr. Mercola's, Dr. Klingharts, Dr. Chopra's websites...just for starters. All these folks are holistic in their approach to health and strongly divert from Western medicine.
Bonne chance,
Michael
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
Have you treated for parasites and worms? Check out the symptom list at www.humaworm.com Posted by klutzo (Member # 5701) on :
My acupuncturist told me to stop wearing the dangling metal earrings I always wear. She said they were greatly irritating my vagus nerve and raising my blood pressure. She told me not to wear any earrings that touch my neck, just ear studs.
I tend to think this is B.S., but it's worth a try.
klutzo
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
Michael,
I am A+ which means I am suited to a vegetarian lifestyle. Have tried that, have done and do all the things you mention.
I actually went on a very strict diet for my blood type, tried herbs, detox, took my metal out of my teeth, had my root canal tooth pulled, take food based supplements AND NONE OF THIS REALLY HELPED. IN FACT, IF I HAD NOT TAKEN THE ANTIBIOTICS I WOULD BE DEAD BY NOW.
I'm sorry, but I get very upset by holistic healers who come on here and encourage a healthier lifestyle and detoxing to rid people of Lyme. IT IS SIMPLY BUNK AND A WASTE OF TIME, HEALTH AND MONEY.
I agree it is important to ADD these things into your treatment regimen but really get PO'D when people discourage patients who could be saved here from antibiotics. Lyme is a FATAL DISEASE and you need proper treatment.
I actually am not on many Rx's. I did low dose Doxy and Zith for 2 yrs (should have been more aggressive) and now am on Rifampin for Bart which cleared symptoms almost overnight. No other meds. No antianxiety meds, no BP meds, nothing.
Thanks, but most patients need the antibiotics Michael. Best in health to you.
Posted by Ocean (Member # 3496) on :
Hi Myco,
I'm sorry you are experiencing this. It is an awful feeling! I started getting the bending over tachycardia about a month after my 3rd child was born. Last fall I was getting many many skipped beats especially when eating. It was terrible.
My heart stuff has been improving with juicing (organic carrot/apple juice). I don't do it every day though I should. Also, doing one treatment of cold laser therapy with the Erchonia cold laser lasered on my heart area seems to have helped. I was worried it would trigger tachycardia during or after. But it didn't.
I'm in the learning stages with the laser therapy.
Have you tried rife or are you open to it? That is my next step.
Again...I really feel for you, the heart symptoms are the pits for me. That and anxiety which thankfully has been fading with the juicing and better diet (like you I am a vegetarian, but have been increasing my raw fruits and veggies/esp HUGE raw salads seem to help with my heart symptoms...mg maybe??).
Take care, Ocean
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
Never heard of the laser therapy. Not really convinced about Rife. Seems EMEM and Coil machines are best from what I have read.
Posted by nenet (Member # 13174) on :
Hi Myco - just wondering if you caught my post or not. I wouldn't normally ask but I notice you seem to generally be responding to each poster.
No need to reply to it of course, just wanted to be sure you saw it.
Posted by MaryMi (Member # 459) on :
I have had V-tach kick in by reaching to the floor or by a bit of pressure on my abs such as
leaning slightly against the kitchen counter or even leaning slightly forward or even slouching
at the computer. At times when sitting, if I rest my arm on the right side of my upper belly
it will also cause my heart to do this. My LLMD had me go off Toprol and it has very slowly improved, but not completly gone. I have had some issues with my GI tract, including a
bloating problem, this sure seems to be related somehow, I have also suspected a Vagus nerve issue.
Posted by hobokinite (Member # 6132) on :
Wow. i was amazed to find this, cause it explains my strange symptom too. I'm not the only one! Seems to happen only during the high allergy season we're into now. 2 years ago I was suicidal when it first happened, last years was not so bad. This years I'm hoping for a bigger reduction.
All I can say that helped me was stress reduction (using a biofeedback type machine) and tons of prayer. Oh, and a sleeping pill (zanax) for tough nights.
I think the scientific term is Dysautonomia and it's related to teh Hypothalmus and your adrenal glands.
Posted by hobokinite (Member # 6132) on :
Oh Google Dr. Walt Stohl or Stoll's site and books. He talks alot about Dysautonomia.
Posted by cmichaelo (Member # 5873) on :
Myco,
The blood type diet by D'Adamo is not a holistic approach. The only input he uses to decide your type of diet is your blood type. That makes his approach reductionistic, the opposite of holistic, and this is the very reason why it will have very limited effectiveness and have unwanted side effects...Interestingly the same is true about drugs.
You tell us that you're PO'ed because of what I said about holistic approach. Why are you telling us this? What are we going to do with that information? It is not the least interesting, educating or relevant. But it sure is improper for this forum.
For everyone else, to broaden the scope of your medical knowledge and type "Metabolic Typing", "Epigenetics", "The maker's diet", etc on google. Read about it with an open mind.
Take care all,
Michael
Posted by Myco (Member # 9536) on :
Michael,
Actually it is VERY RELEVENT. There are many newbies on this board who are easily swayed into thinking they can cure Lyme with Diet,etc...People die everyday from this disease because they don't treat it in time with Antibiotics and I am trying to do my part here by saying it is important to get an LLMD who follows Dr. B's guidlines. As I said, I have a laundry list of symptoms before starting abx. I now have ONE.
I have read all of the diet books you speak of, "The Makers Diet" etc..and think the holistic approach is very important to incorporate into Lyme treatment, but you need abx to get over the hump. I already incorporate everything you said in your initial post above into my treatment and have for years. BUT AS I SAID, I never turned the corner completely until I bit the bullet and took the antibiotics to lighten the bacterial load. I don't think we can get rid of these infections completely, but we can get them under control with abx while also incorporating the things you mention above. Would you try to cure Syphilis with diet? Don't think so.
Again, my two cents. I'm not a Dr.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
I get the same thing! It's related to the irritated stomach issue. When I get bad reflux, I get the esophagus spasms, which make my heart skip. Yes, you can feel your heart skip by taking your pulse, its scary! I actually went to the ER for this a few summers ago and they recorded that every time I got the spasm, my heart would have a PAC or PVC. Stay away from caffeine, chocolate, red wine, friend food, fructose and dairy and red meat and it should improve. Had a stress test, all those tests were 100%. It's really random, but it's the vagus nerve indeed. Haven't found a solution yet, and it can be scary! I have a small hiatus hernia as well on scope and reflux too. It's all connected, and needs to be controlled if you have a bunch of episodes in a row. Avoid cold foods too because they can trigger esophageal spasm. happened to me once after drinking a Ben & Jerry's milkshake on a a hot summer day, green tea did it to me too once. try some carafate to heal your stomach...and drink more water. Exercise will make it all worse because of the pressure on the abdomen.