I do think part of it is IF you have had so much acid that your esophagus is "wearing thin", if you will (maybe even if you don't have esophagitis yet), that the vagus nerve is more irritated as the esop is irritated.

OTOH, I think many of us experienced some heart palpitations BEFORE we even knew we had a real "stomach" problem. So I doubt it's all because the esop is worn down.

This may tie into my other view. The vagus nerve controls both the heart pumping AND digestive functions, including lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and stomach contractions and pyloric sphincter....and on down to intestinal motility.

When I took Reglan to try to step up my stomach motility and LES function, very quickly my heart went through the roof. It DEFINITELY was connected and I stopped the med right away. No great concern by doc's per se, but it was causing total lack of control for my heart.

So, perhaps all this means is that the whole vagus nerve is malfunctioning? If you're genuinely having LES problems, and you're getting heart palps (even sometimes), 1 has to wonder if that's the real issue.

I'm sorry, I just assumed palpitations (PACs or PVCs). But yes, there is ALSO "pounding"/racing involved. I experienced all of that, even before I knew I had a GI problem. I don't get it much, but it happens. I typically had it happen when I would lie down and start sleeping.

It's just the pounding didn't bother me as much as the PACs.

But it's all related (or can be - doesn't mean something else isn't going on). As the ER doctor told me when I went there for severe problems from taking Reglan which works on the vagus nerve, et al, "it's a control problem" - i.e., the vagus nerve controlling how the heart works. I have no heart problem per se, just a control problem in my nervous system, undoubtedly due to this damn reflux/gastroparesis.