AF episode

[margar17]

Hi All! This morning at 5.15 am, I started an episode of AF. It went on for 3 hours. Not too severe, but uncomfortable and lost sleep! I've changed taking Bisoprolol from mornings to evenings, and it seems better that way. I feel more lively during the day. Does anyone know or experience going for a pee more often on this tablet, during the night?This morning, I went every half hour, 4 times, while the AF was ongoing. Its a nuisance, as I cant rest properly. I think I'm moving to the permanent AF stage now. I've had an episode every day for the past week....some short-lived, a couple of others much longer. Is this how it goes?

[Dave1961]

I've been on Metoprolol (basically the same thing) 50 mg (which I believe is the equivalent of 5 mg of yours) morning and night. I was originally on just one a day but after several A&E visits I was moved to taking it once at night once in the morning and this seemed to help get my AF's under better control but the trade off was I felt lethargic and low energy. Which is what you can expect on these drugs.

That also explains why you feel you have more energy during the day because it's effect wears off about 12 hours after you take which also makes you more prone to AF's in the morning.

I'd talk to your Dr about splitting your dose morning and night so you are covered over a 24 hours period or going to one at night and morning.

And look at magnesium. I am the magnesium mad man around these parts at the moment but only because I have gone from AF'ing weekly and even more often to not having had an AF event now for at least 4 weeks.

Reason? I started supplementing with magnesium from beginning of February. Thats the only thing that has changed and as the magnesium starts to build to normal levels in my body I feel stronger each day and have more energy generally.

Maybe you ARE already looking magnesium but if not its worth definitely having ta look to help with your AF.

I thought it was just some dinky sideline mineral that the body hardly used because it gets so little mentions in the press BUT It is one of the major nutrients your body used to keep your heart in rhythm. ..plus about 300 other intercellualr reactions that it controls and keeps firing.

[margar17 in reply to Dave1961]

Never thought of that, Dave. Better talk to my cardiologist about that... I'm on a cocktail of drugs and am diabetic, so not sure if I can take magnesium as well. Thanks for your suggestions.

[fallingtopieces in reply to margar17]

Magnesium is good for diabetes too so don't worry about that.

Pat

[margar17 in reply to Dave1961]

How do I take magnesium in supplement form and starting at what strength?

[Dave1961 in reply to margar17]

Oh Marg if there was a magic answer to this we would all like to know it

Transdermal magnesium is the most preferred form - simply put you spray magnesium oil onto the skin and massage it in (or just spray and go up to you). . Any decent oil will tell you how many mg of magnesium per teaspoon so you can roughly calculate how much to spray.

Your body will stop absorption when it has had enough.

You can also take oral supplements - chelated magnesium citrate and/or magnesium orotate would be best.

It is extremely difficult to overdose on magnesium. When you are taking enough orally your body will tell you so by producing soft stools or diarrhea (magnesium is usually a big component of medicines used for constipation). The next day you then simply reduce your supplementation by a tab to see if that puts you at the correct level.

Your average woman is supposed to have around 400 mg a day however RDI's are always on the low side and if you suffer from AF there is a good chance you are deficient as magnesium is the building block for ensuring good, solid, rythymic heartbeat...and about 300 other vital processes in the body.

A very small percentage of population maybe oversensitive to oral supplementation so transdermal is preferred.

[rosyG]

At one of the talks at Surrey ASG a consultant told us that a chemical is released during AF which makes one pass urine (- loss of fluid reduces BP- not sure if that's why this happens!!) So, likely to be the AF rather that tablets??

[BobD Volunteer]

When you are in AF, the distressed heart secretes an enzyme which tells teh body to get rid of salt which is does via pee. Only every half hour eh?? I was every ten minutes when it used to happen to me!

Bob

[margar17 in reply to BobD]

Oh, wow! Thought I was bad enough. Commiserations, Bob.

[shirlygirly]

Same here lots of bathroom visits whilst in af.

[MickN]

I was, but as soon as I stopped Warfarin, things returned to normal through the night.

[Finvola]

Yes - same here, constant floods. There were some hilarious posts regarding 'micturation' during AF - well worth a read if you can find them.

[jennydog]

We had considerable discussion about urine production on this site about a year ago after an arrhythmia nurse wrote " She is aware of increased MICTURITION " on my notes - none of us knew what it meant until we consulted a dictionary.

I can tell if an AF episode is imminent because I start to produce unaccountably vast volumes of wee.

[bridget54]

When Im in AF I always need to wee desperately . Hearts way of getting rid of fluid I suppose

[Glosbumble]

Oh that explains why I'm passing huge amounts of urine- it's like a horse peeing!

[margar17 in reply to Glosbumble]

Haha, ain't that de troof!!

[Tracyt]

Don't have a problem with peeing, but when in AF am absolutely starving and end up eating so much more than usual.

My AF is driving me mad, can go for days fine then have an episode or two for no reason at all. Can my medication stop working ?

[ruskin10]

Yes I always go to loo lot more when in AF, up and down all night.