GI Disorder and Internal Shaking

Posted by gigiraj @gigiraj, Feb 15, 2019

Hi all. I'm a 21 year old South Asian female and I have been having GI issues for about five years--mainly along the lines of constipation. I do have bowel movements every day but it takes a long time & I am rarely fully cleared out. These GI issues are always accompanied by other health issues (gas, pressure in head, etc). Recently, some scary new conditions have manifested: In the past few weeks, there have been times where my heart starts beating wildly and very fast. Sometimes, when I'm tired and constipated, my entire body feels like its vibrating internally; the shakes aren't visible but it feels like all my muscles are quivering. At this point, I feel a constant shaking/quivering within my body, especially in my heart cavity.

I have had TWO EKG's and both came back normal. All lab tests for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, etc came back within normal limits. I am very concerned about this internal shaking. My dad says he found something about how GI disorders can impact muscoskeletal system and since the heart is a muscle, it's contracting and being affected. But I wanted to know if anyone here can help!!!!!!! If anyone knows anything at all please please please let me know!!!!!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Profile picture for hdegrey @hdegrey

I pray you are okay. I too suffered from the same but have found relief with a combination of slippery elm, marshmallow root, garlic in tablet form, oil of oregano tablets and a complex of injected b vitamins seems to curb the internal quivering. I was diagnosed with SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth). With additional traditional antibiotics, my condition is diagnosed in remission. Many teas helped me over these last few years. Mint tea as well clove.

Hope and pray you have found the same or this information helps you in some way

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All the stuff you are taking it sounds like it's helping your Gallbladder..Have your doctor check for GALLSTONES, they could be the ones causing all these digestive and uncomfortable issues too..If you don't have Gallstones, ask your doctor to check your Gallbladder Function..Many South Asians do have frequent with this issue called: "Acalculous Gallbladder"....I wish you the Good Luck.🙏

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Profile picture for mommyroo7 @mommyroo7

After fighting for an additional month I finally got them to check my iron, B12, and Vit D. The iron and D are both significantly low, my folate is low, my B12 is on the lower side of "normal" and they wouldn't test my ferritin. I started taking iron and a multi and in 2 weeks there is a massive improvement. I insisted on a referral to a hematologist. I want this to be looked into more and get more things tested. I'm looking forward to that appointment.

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Have your GALLBLADDER check for GALLSTONES..These could be the little painful problems of symptoms we all could relate to.

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Profile picture for amyincanton @amyincanton

Hello. I've had undiagnosed internal shaking for over 2.5 years. For a while it was being masked with Lyrica. I have had so, so many tests and puzzled so many doctors. In the past few weeks, it suddenly got a lot worse. It used to happen only at night; now it's happening during the day as well az accompanied by periods of intense tenderness along my upper chest. It's a little scary because it has gotten so much worse. It's so bad at night now that I'm barely able to sleep. When I do fall asleep, I am awakened by the shaking. Between that and the chest soreness (along my sternum), I'm just a mess. It takes so long to get appts for each test now, and this continues to get worse.
Has anyone else experienced the chest soreness? My doctor has ordered blood work and a Holter monitor, which I did already two years ago. I've come full circle. I do have a hydrogen breath test coming up in 3 weeks, but that seems like a long time considering my discomfort. Has anyone gotten to the bottom of their internal shaking?

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Have your doctor check your Gallbladder function and if you possibly have Gallstones that are causing these issues...I never had any if this in my life until I experienced my firsts Gallbladder/Gallstones Attacks ( Biliary Colic) in my life a year ago and I noticed all of these symptoms most of the people in this forum are worried, concerned about..

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Profile picture for petersons @petersons

Have your GALLBLADDER check for GALLSTONES..These could be the little painful problems of symptoms we all could relate to.

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Thank you but my gallbladder came out 7.5 years ago.

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Profile picture for gigiraj @gigiraj

Wow @rjk this is really helpful! Just read your post from October 15th as well and the news about the diet is heartening, especially with such intense symptoms. I should try that out and see what happens. Just to reiterate for everyone---my heart is normal and I don't particularly get palpitations anymore. I've started moving around & getting more physical activity in. But the internal vibrations and finger twitching (which I posted about in another group) are still very much there. Parasthesia in my arms showed up again a few times in December, making it hard for me to sleep.

Just last week, I was barely able to sleep because I had internal vibrations all over my body....usually they have just been confined to my fingers. I was able to sleep just fine last night without them bothering me so I suspect it may have something to do with my period, last week, and the gas build-up that usually comes with that. The SFN sounds very plausible though. Literally all my problems seem to connect to my gut health, just like yours. I got a second blood test that tested my liver last week and will be seeing the results tomorrow---will update if it's abnormal.

Will look into SIBO!

(Just FYI---I'm trying to share as much information about my condition as I can so that people suffering similarly can see what matches. Sorry if anything is TMI)

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Any thoughts on whether or not the internal tremors could be perimenopause?... hormone levels?
I'm dealing with them too.
Started with one episode in December of 2021. .. then another in January of 2022. Than an eye twitch in April of 2022. Some random shaky vision episodes ( which I still get) and now I'm have shivering, shaking and internal tremors often. Worse episodes at night. Very scary.
I have also developed anxiety that started in August 2022.
I'm a 52 yr old female... being treated for anxiety and HRT hormone replacement therapy only at this point.
My labs are also good.

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I had some internal shaking ( vibrating) for months. It’s did resolve but it took about 18 mos. Big other issue was reversing hot and cold sensations ( like my hand in running water) An infectious disease doc FINALLY diagnosed it ( as it was easing) as a possible CIGUTERRA… which is a neuro toxin from fish. He advised B6 and brown rice . Gabapentin helped. Over time Ciguterra resolves.

I do not eat fish anymore!

This is a long shot for you but I thought to share in case it helps.

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Profile picture for gigiraj @gigiraj

@hopeful33250 and @kanaazpereira thank you SO much for your consideration and resources! I really appreciate it. It has confirmed for me that this is definitely originating along my gut-brain axis. I am looking into VZV as was mentioned in the article. POTS does not really fit but I am looking into it as well.

I haven't had headaches so much as a building pressure in my head that goes away when I passed built-up gas. I looked at @ calical's post about their seizures and luckily, what I am experiencing is nowhere near that severe. @ tigertoo's suggestion on Transverse Myelitis is a possibility (according to symptoms on John's Hopkins' website): I have bowel issues, my legs/arms can sometimes feel heavy/odd, and sometimes I have pain [more like soreness] in my lower back/hips when I've eaten but am constipated. I am also looking into Vagus Nerve Dysfunction as that is what fits my symptoms closest (pain in ear, occasional pain in vocal cords & hoarse voice = possibly due to acid reflux, unusual heart rate)

However, my internal shaking and increased heart rate has temporarily stopped! There could be a number of reasons why this is:
1) I had been anxious about my heart for two weeks. I went to the Emergency Room and started crying. After crying and having confirmation from the ER that I wasn't having a heart attack, I felt calm and comfortable so my shaking was potentially because of a buildup of stress and lack of sleep.
2) I started taking Miralax and Prevacid on the 14th as my doctor prescribed. Perhaps they are just now kicking in.

While I am glad my heart tremors have stopped, I am afraid that this is just another stop on the way to some disease I need to identify before it's too late. I have had a myriad of symptoms over the years, most of which I believe stemmed from my gut; constipation is the one constant. I have also recently been having a variety of brain fog (trouble visualizing reasoning for instinctive activities, trouble reviewing my thoughts) and have always had very poor blood circulation, pains in breastbone/chest, strange & intense drowsiness after eating, inability to feel hunger except by way of fatigue, and post-constipation pain in the left side of my brain/left eye.

I will still look into getting a heart monitor! And I will most likely post about this in the Brain & Nervous System group as well. If it is not a GI disorder, I'm not sure how to move forward.

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Everything you are saying is exactly what I'm dealing with from the internal shaking to the head pressure even the ears and eye issue and it's my left side too. I haven't had a normal bowel movement in a long time I'm guessing that's linked to something. I was wondering about sibo? I wake up with the back of my neck sore alot too

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I have internal vibrations from consuming sugar and caffeine. The least intake of either one sets my nerves off and it's really depressing having this as it feels like someone is having a battle in your body. I am also now feeling rather lightheaded. I refrained from most sugar and all caffeine, and it is better, but am still feeling light headed. A neurologist diagnosed me with internal tremors. The only way they can do this is to confirm you don't have Parkinson's. It's been a horrible 3 years now.

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Digestive issues. Elevated enzymes in my pancreas.
Every time I eat, I start vibrating like a Tams unit on the inside. It starts at my troth and works its way down to my stomach, and then I get neuropathy in my feet. It is almost like I have Neuropathy in my stomach. My heart starts pumping in my ears, my chest starts getting tight like a panic attack, then it works its way down to my feet. I've had an endoscopy with ultrasound, A Colonoscopy. I have severe diverticulosis, but they say it is not caused by that. I need help. I can not work or even take a stand-up without getting dizzy.

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Profile picture for rere1889 @rere1889

Digestive issues. Elevated enzymes in my pancreas.
Every time I eat, I start vibrating like a Tams unit on the inside. It starts at my troth and works its way down to my stomach, and then I get neuropathy in my feet. It is almost like I have Neuropathy in my stomach. My heart starts pumping in my ears, my chest starts getting tight like a panic attack, then it works its way down to my feet. I've had an endoscopy with ultrasound, A Colonoscopy. I have severe diverticulosis, but they say it is not caused by that. I need help. I can not work or even take a stand-up without getting dizzy.

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Hello @rere1889. I am sure this is very worrisome and makes for a rather unpleasant eating experience. You will notice that I have moved your post into an existing discussion to better connect you with other members. You can find your post here:
- GI Disorder and Internal Shaking: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gi-disorder-and-internal-shaking/

Because you mentioned elevated enzymes in your pancreas, I thought I'd share some information you may find helpful.

- Pancreatitis: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pancreatitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20360227

Do any of the causes align with you?

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