Hi, Does anyone with PAF suffer with an urgent and frquent need to urinate during an episode?

[lofty1]

I have PAF with infrequent episodes lasting 2 to 6 hours. During an episode I feel very strange and the need to urinate is awkward as I nearly faint whilst standing to pee. I do not know whether this is a usual symptom with AF.

Don

[Terjo]

Same here although I'm an 81 year old female. It always happens but luckily have not had an attack for five months. It's a recognised symptom . Hope you are feeling well now. Teresa

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes this is normal. The distressed heart excretes an enzyme which tells the body to get rid of salt so the kidneys start working overtime hence you pee a lot. Funny that this hasn't come up for a while but a couple of years ago everybody was talking about it. May I suggest that you sit down just in case you do faint.

BobD

[Bagrat in reply to BobD]

I sometimes have an odd day when I feel a bit under the weather and then pee a lot, Don't know whether it's a stress thing or whether it is a day when I would have had an episode if I wasn't on medication. My husband (also with AF) always sits down if he gets up at night to be on the safe side.

Regards Wendy

[lofty1 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, although it is rather inconvenient if it happens at 30,000 feet above the Atlantic as it did me on a flight to the USA.

Don

[Ang3lc4ts in reply to BobD]

I have same problem but I do not add salt at all . However there is probably salt in a lot of food. We do not eat processed or take-aways for that reason, we still eat well but with no added salt.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Good to here that from BobD, I know often wake in the night to pee, and never used to, and visit the loo a lot more often now, so happy to hear that it's an enzyme, and not old age

Ian

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Beancounter]

No Ian in your case is IS old age. Happy Christmas.

[PhyllisK in reply to BobD]

Girls, girls!

[Lucybod]

May be one of the causes of our problems is too much salt and our bodies are trying to get rid of it because it's upsetting our electrical system. Bit simplistic but it may be a tiny bit of the jigsaw puzzle causing this horrible thing.

I'm always trying to find a cause while the doctors treat the symptoms only.

[cbsrbpm]

Me too. Have to go about every 30 minutes during an episode of AF.Has been very awkward sometimes when I have been admitted to A&E and am completely wired up. Good to have and explanation BobD. Happy and symptom free Christmas everyone.

[meadfoot]

Oh yes, I have this every time. Being wired to various machines during an episode makes my frequent need for the loo a real hassle for staff. No doubt whatsoever that AF brings this extra symptom.

[Annaelizabeth]

Horrid for you, but yes it does happen for the reasons given, just sit down!!

Happy Christmas everyone and a peaceful New Year. Thank you for all the help and kindness on the site, not just to me but everyone. Sometimes the banter can be very funny, lovely to sign out with a smile on ones face!!

[iris1205]

oh yes, definitely. Was just in the ER two nights ago and had to have them unclip me about every 20 minutes - and that was with me trying to spread it out. It doesn't happen to me with simple Afib but when combined with Rapid Afib, yes every single time. Drives me and the ER nuts. and we still have to keep drinking to stay hydrated! I assumed the kidneys work being overworked but didn't know about the enzyme from the distressed heart - thanks great info.

[arwa]

Same here