Im a mess! - Asthma Message Board

absigailg83 · 09-02-2004, 08:08 AM

Does anyone have any information on over stimulation of the vagus nerve?
I have many symptoms..... I think. I have asthma, excess stomach gas, heartburn, irregular heart beat, and a genrealized anxiety disorder. Could these all be related??

proudmom47 · 09-02-2004, 01:04 PM

I don't know if they are related , but I have those same exact!!! symptoms! Where do you hear about stimulation of the vagus nerve? I think I heard somewhere once that it was related to asthma, but I'm not sure. I have been thinking about hormone and/or thyroid testing to see if that is causing some of my problems. I am almost 48 years old, so it could be that my hormones are out of balance. I wasn't diagnosed with asthma until 3 years ago, and although I am doing ok except for an occasional flair up with my allergies, I am baffled by a few things. I was diagnosed with asthma AFTER four years of allergy shots. Now that is WEIRD!! I though shots were supposed to help matters. Anyway, write me back and let me know what you know about this vagus nerve??!!
Cindy

absigailg83 · 09-02-2004, 02:24 PM

I know absolutely nothing about it except that I heard somewhere that it causes the many conditions that I have. We should research this together because my stomach gas irritates my asthma and when I have asthma problems my anxiety is out of control!

bluebanana · 09-03-2004, 02:48 PM

Hello
Firstly, it is quite common to have gastric reflux and asthma, the two are inter-linked in a lot of research papers. The gastric reflux (or heartburn) is also probably linked to the excess stomach gas. Have you tried something like nexium to help with the symptoms. I use it and it is great. If you are on oral steroids for your asthma the reflux can be one of the side effects. Another good tip is to sleep slightly propped up if you get symptoms at night. This helps with both the asthma and the reflux.
The anxiety disorder will not help with your asthma either, as if you get panicky when your asthma is bad it will make it worse. I know that it is easier said than done, to stay calm when your asthma is playing up though!
Lastly, the irregular heartbeat could be caused by the asthma meds, as many of them stimulate the heart and make it work faster and that can sometimes make your heart feel irregular.
It may be worth you going to a doctor and to talk through your concerns if you haven't already.
Hope that helped a little
Blue

absigailg83 · 09-03-2004, 05:36 PM

Thank you for your help!

I have talked to doctors so much about my symptoms that they think Im just paranoid! I did take prilosec for the acid reflux and it does neutralize the acid in my stomach, but I still have the gas and reflux. I always feel like i have extra air in my esophagas which feels like its pushing on my lungs, it's weird. I believe I started the asthma medicine sfter the heart symptoms. Perhaps it's from my Paxil that I have taken for 5 years now.....? Anyways, I am just wondering about the vagus nerve if that could cause all this intertwined together????