Anyone else experience what feel like episodic autonomic symptoms triggered by their HH?
Hey guys,
I have a confirmed small sliding hiatal hernia and a history of SIBO, and I've been trying to understand a pattern that's been going on for about a decade.
I get episodic attacks that feel primarily autonomic. Mainly chest and diaphragm pressure, palpitations, sweating, goosebumps, sense of impending doom, weakness. They come in waves and always resolve on their own. Full cardiac workup including stress test, echo, Holter, and ER troponins during a live episode have all been completely normal.
What I've recently figured out is that trapped gas seems to be a significant trigger. Taking Gas X at the first sign of an episode reliably blunts or resolves it within 30-60 minutes as the gas moves through. The discomfort is usually under my left ribcage which I understand is the splenic flexure area.
My theory is that the gas is mechanically irritating my vagus nerve which then triggers the autonomic cascade. The hiatal hernia may also be directly irritating the vagus nerve given its location.
Does anyone else experience episodic autonomic symptoms rather than just constant reflux and discomfort? Does anyone have episodes that they describe as attacks?
Generally just looking to see if this is consistent with anyone else's HH stmptoms. Thanks!