Vagus Nerve: What helped you?

Posted by johnbluffside @johnbluffside, Nov 24, 2022

I believe my vagus nerve is inflammed with IBS . rx , cognivite gut therapy , mediation, accuptunture , anyone have luck with anything?

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@dream1649

Good luck my body has always got use to stuff and it would quit working. This has been my life journey.
Hope it helps I also drink Aloe Vera Juice.

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I tried it for weeks nothing. I tried celery juice as well no change. Good luck

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Acupuncture helped immensely but you must go consistently.

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@debkl

Has anyone had their cervical spine imaged, esp looking at C5-6?

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I'm really interested in the answer to the C5-C6 spinal imaging question. I have a number of disc issues that preceded my vagus issues, but nerve root compression there was the earliest diagnosed (20 years ago, when I was 30). That and a weirdly reversed cervical lordosis (instead of the usual smooth curve of the neck). Three or four years ago, after a lab tech pounded on my throat during a thyroid biopsy (benign), I suddenly developed voice loss, eye twitch, jaw pain, and pelvic floor spasm, which are now chronic. The voice loss that makes it hard for me to project over ambient noise and tire easily while speaking.

A few months later, after a routine colonoscopy irritated my digestive tract, I developed severe gut issues that became more problematic than everything else. A latent celiac gene was also triggered, and then servere milk intolerance. I'm on a severely limited diet now (No gluten, dairy, peppers, cucumber, or FODMAPs), but I still suffer from chronic stomach pain, gas, bloating, occasional diarrhea, and frequent constipation, apparently in association with accelerated gastric emptying.

After these years of close self-study, it's completely clear to me that the stomach issues are related to the voice issues, pelvic floor spasm, jaw pain, and eye twitch. They all go together, and irritation of any produces symptoms in the others. It took me a while studying anatomical charts to realize that the one thing that connects all of these is the vagus nerve.

Over these years, I've sought multiple forms of medical and alternative health treatments, including regular acupuncture, massage, and yoga. I've learned to relax muscle tension along the vagus nerve through controlled release breathing exercises and, oddly enough, by humming in a very low part of my register while directing awareness to the body part I'm trying to relax. I do this every night. Even so, and more debilitating than all the rest, what appears to be vagus nerve irritation prevents me from sleeping more than four or five hours. This was an abrupt change from sleeping 8 hours a night before the onset of these symptoms a few years ago.

I notice that my symptoms are worse when my spine is compressed, and I get mild relief from moderate traction from lying upside down on a 30-degree elevated slant board. Which makes me think of the nerve root compression at C5-C6, and another set around L4-5 and L7-S1. I'd be very interested in others' experiences, and any further suggestions for help. I'm on the verge of experimenting with CBD, because regular medications have not worked.

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@debkl

Has anyone had their cervical spine imaged, esp looking at C5-6?

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This appeared in GI section... you would be better off in Spinal problems.. Certainly I have had Cervical scans...x-rays and CT scans... My spinal surgeon prescribed a Cervical Traction device that I use 3 times a week or more.. to stretch me out.. those disc's are about squashed down to nothing.. check with orthopedic doctors..

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@ken82

This appeared in GI section... you would be better off in Spinal problems.. Certainly I have had Cervical scans...x-rays and CT scans... My spinal surgeon prescribed a Cervical Traction device that I use 3 times a week or more.. to stretch me out.. those disc's are about squashed down to nothing.. check with orthopedic doctors..

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Phrenic nerves arise out of nerve fibers of C3, 4 and 5. The PN innervates the diaphragm abd dysfunction can cause breathing and GI issues.

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@debkl

Phrenic nerves arise out of nerve fibers of C3, 4 and 5. The PN innervates the diaphragm abd dysfunction can cause breathing and GI issues.

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Hi. Do you suffer from this? I have all these symptoms as well but no diagnosis. Read alot on vagus nerve assumed it was this. Thank you

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@erin123

I'm really interested in the answer to the C5-C6 spinal imaging question. I have a number of disc issues that preceded my vagus issues, but nerve root compression there was the earliest diagnosed (20 years ago, when I was 30). That and a weirdly reversed cervical lordosis (instead of the usual smooth curve of the neck). Three or four years ago, after a lab tech pounded on my throat during a thyroid biopsy (benign), I suddenly developed voice loss, eye twitch, jaw pain, and pelvic floor spasm, which are now chronic. The voice loss that makes it hard for me to project over ambient noise and tire easily while speaking.

A few months later, after a routine colonoscopy irritated my digestive tract, I developed severe gut issues that became more problematic than everything else. A latent celiac gene was also triggered, and then servere milk intolerance. I'm on a severely limited diet now (No gluten, dairy, peppers, cucumber, or FODMAPs), but I still suffer from chronic stomach pain, gas, bloating, occasional diarrhea, and frequent constipation, apparently in association with accelerated gastric emptying.

After these years of close self-study, it's completely clear to me that the stomach issues are related to the voice issues, pelvic floor spasm, jaw pain, and eye twitch. They all go together, and irritation of any produces symptoms in the others. It took me a while studying anatomical charts to realize that the one thing that connects all of these is the vagus nerve.

Over these years, I've sought multiple forms of medical and alternative health treatments, including regular acupuncture, massage, and yoga. I've learned to relax muscle tension along the vagus nerve through controlled release breathing exercises and, oddly enough, by humming in a very low part of my register while directing awareness to the body part I'm trying to relax. I do this every night. Even so, and more debilitating than all the rest, what appears to be vagus nerve irritation prevents me from sleeping more than four or five hours. This was an abrupt change from sleeping 8 hours a night before the onset of these symptoms a few years ago.

I notice that my symptoms are worse when my spine is compressed, and I get mild relief from moderate traction from lying upside down on a 30-degree elevated slant board. Which makes me think of the nerve root compression at C5-C6, and another set around L4-5 and L7-S1. I'd be very interested in others' experiences, and any further suggestions for help. I'm on the verge of experimenting with CBD, because regular medications have not worked.

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I to suffer from vagus nerve issues. It's been hell since my recent diagnosis of gastroparesis. Not one dr has helped with my situation. Cbd oil helps some. It's a horrible way to live. My c5 n c6 are bulging, scoliosis at a 61 degree curvature. Wish there was something I could do.

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@keona619

Hi. Do you suffer from this? I have all these symptoms as well but no diagnosis. Read alot on vagus nerve assumed it was this. Thank you

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My new spine surgeon is ruling out positional cervical cord compression, which causes GI and respiratory symptoms. I had a 2nd cervical spine MRI last night and will have results tomorrow.

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Neuromodulation for the health of the vagus nerve and brain/gut axis stuff has recently become a huge area of R&D, especially since it seems to have a positive outcome on long COVID. I suggest you read in the usual medical research and study sites about this, as well as the journal Neuromodulation. I have used a transdermal ultrasound vagus nerve stimulator for over three years to aid in resolving IBS/SIBO and it has helped a great deal. I have also been on a continuous prescription of Rifaximin for this time. I have gone from not being able to eat 95% of foods to not being able to eat 15%, and from having to sleep most of the time to being able to do about half a day of productive life (I also have MCAS, POTS, hEDS, anemia, and CCI).

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@jesa

Neuromodulation for the health of the vagus nerve and brain/gut axis stuff has recently become a huge area of R&D, especially since it seems to have a positive outcome on long COVID. I suggest you read in the usual medical research and study sites about this, as well as the journal Neuromodulation. I have used a transdermal ultrasound vagus nerve stimulator for over three years to aid in resolving IBS/SIBO and it has helped a great deal. I have also been on a continuous prescription of Rifaximin for this time. I have gone from not being able to eat 95% of foods to not being able to eat 15%, and from having to sleep most of the time to being able to do about half a day of productive life (I also have MCAS, POTS, hEDS, anemia, and CCI).

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Recently diagnosed with gastroparesis. I'm suffering with the same issues. It's horrible. Lost 27lbs in a year. No appetite, vagus nerve, pvcs. What a way to live.

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