Hi,

I'm new to all this and have strange feelings in my chest, but I also have a reflux and have been very gassy. It's like a fluttering in my chest. Sometimes if I can burp several times it will stop, but I don't always HAVE to burp when this happens. I don't know what palps feel like, but I wonder if this is what I'm having. Can anyone explain the feelings they get when this happens?

Thanks,
Tracypt

The palps and fluttering are caused by the GERD. I know because I had GERD and was absolutely sure I was one step away from death from a heart attack. Finally, when I hysterically went in to my cardiologists office one day on an emergency basic and described the awful, sickening thing my heart did when I bent over, she actually laughed and said "You have GERD" So then I was a maniac researching it and found that the vagus nerve ennervates both the heart and digestive system, so when you get the reflux, it triggers palps via the vagus nerve.

I found drinking a gallon of water every day seems to cure it. Just today I started feeling that familiar pounding and realized I have been slacking off on my water intake, so I drank several glasses and it went away. Be warned, though, that when you are just starting to rehydrate yourself that it can take 1-2 weeks of diligent water-drinking before you see any effects.

Avoid magnesium until you have had it under control for awhile, since it relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter, which allows the acid to reflux. Calcium alone can help tighten it up.

I should have mentioned that eating small meals, avoiding chocolate or anything that seems to cause digestive upset or gas will help. And using probiotics to replenish the good bacteria in the digestive tract. Some find HCl (hydrochloric acid) taken with meals helps to digest the food better and stops the reflux (having enough acid in your stomach causes a signal to be sent to the LES to close up)

And sleep with the head of your bed elevated by putting the head end up on blocks. And no eating after 6 pm. Somewhere last year here I had a very long post on all the things I did to get rid of the GERD. But at that time I did not realize how critical water was, otherwise I think I could have cured it sooner.

trust me, when or if you get them your,ll know it !!!!!

The way i confirm mine are palps are because i can feel them on my wrist pulse - this doesn't happen with gas.

Mine is gas today

Take your pulse. If it feels like your beats are pausing, then you have palps. Doctors call them PVCs or PACs. I just had an event monitor on for 1 month and my doctor appt is Wednesday to discuss it. Its very hard to catch these little bugers on an EKG. I even had the heart and stroke screening and did not have palps the whole time. Mine come in the evening. I'm not sure what is causing them at this point. I have been puttng Miraculous Magnesium in my tea in the morning and taking a Calcium Supp with Vit D of 1200mg per day. Before I did this I was having palps 9-12 hours a day and they were painful in the center of my chest. I found that if I drank some water it would make me burp and the pain would go away in about 5 minutes. Away from home, I carry Mylanta whch helps in a pinch. With the Calcium and Magnesium I still have them, just not as bad.

Thank you all for your input. It seems like every day there is a new issue and it's wonderful to be able to get some answers here. I would surely be in the mental hospital by now if it weren't for you all!!!

Tracypt