Hello All, I've been in and out of AFIB for 32 years and I was just wondering if anyone else has to pee like a racehorse when in afib like I do? I can't understand the amount of urine that comes out of me sometimes and it's when I have an episode. Even when I'm in the emergency room I have to have a urinal. I know it's a gross subject but I just need to know cause it freaks me out a lot. Thanks All and have a Blessed Day.
URINATE A LOT WHILE IN AFIB - Atrial Fibrillati...
URINATE A LOT WHILE IN AFIB
Written by
kocoach
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Indeed we do. It's part of the body working overtime when in af. I'm sure someone here will explain why this happens. Phil
I'm in my 26th year of PAF and have the same issue, usually starts a day or so before my AF begins. I wish I knew what the body was trying to get rid of. I've also thought maybe I should drink lots more water and flood out whatever's causing the problem. That might make me urinate more but hopefully prevent the AF episode. I wonder if any forum members have tried anything like that.
Morning. I’ve seen articles on this page about frequent urination whilst in AF. Search Afib and frequent urination. You’ll find it’s normal. Have a great day.
Thank You very much.
Morning kocoach, yes I can confirm it happens to me every time I have an AF episode. Like you I wonder how I can pass so much.
Hi Kocoach, I have also had this symptom when in Afib. As a health care professional, I rationalized this by understanding as the heart pumps faster, the blood moves faster through the kidney-hence more urine production. This is a well documented phenomenon, and is explained by many MD's (especially cardiologists and urologists) as a release of a hormone during an Afib episode causing polyuria. ( frequent, excessive urination)
healthshare.com.au/question...
Perfectly normal and expected reaction when going into fast AF when the body releases the burden of excess fluid .
I do as well but I also take diuretics so I pee a lot anyway
I'm glad I'm not alone in this but I still don't like it, very embarrassing at times.
Yes, the big pee. About an hour after AF kicks in I pee for England.
kocoach• in reply to
It's really Gross to me, I think I'll have a cathecter put in.
AussieHeart• in reply to
LOL
CaptainJackSparrow• in reply to
😂
Me too !
Certainly do. As you say, where does it come from and the urgency is embarrassing.
It’s due to the release of atrial natriuretic peptide from the fibrillating atria. It is very common and normal, although a terrible nuisance in early stages of an episode of paroxysmal AF - the quicker you can reduce the heart rate it will subside.
~Interesting response KipperJohn as it has probably answered why I discovered I had wet myself whilst undergoing PVI (* weeks ago) as heart went into a/fib whilst during procedure.They cardio converted me to carry on.
Most embarrassed to wake up soaking wet.......now I know why 
Thank You Kipper John for the information.
I wish I could pee like a racehorse but that's me and my 68-year-old enlarged prostate! I gather that in some people with AF, the heart feels a bit stressed and releases a hormone that stimulates the kidneys to remove water from the body in order to lessen the strain on the heart.
Steve
BobDVolunteer
The distressed heart releases an enzyme which causes the body to shed salt which it does via the kidneys, hence the increased micturation. (Anther big word you learned today) I've never bothered to learn the acronym for the enzyme but sure other regulars have.
Hi Bob- Atrial Natriuretic Peptide - see above. In the early days when I first had PAF I had no idea why it kept happening when near or at the hospital- certainly the staff weren’t clued up on it which just made one feel like a nuisance.
Thanks but I'm unlikely to retain that LOl 😆
Hi Kocoach, I see Bob and others have answered your question well. I asked the same question a few years ago, and one of my answers was from a doctor who explained it in more detail, so if you want detail here is a link to my post. Ignore stuff there relating to my other bugbear (a condition called POTS).
healthunlocked.com/afassoci......
The reply from JonathanPittsCrick is very helpful. You have to scroll down a fair bit to find it.
Me too! Most annoying at night when I have to get up every hour! Thank goodness I don't have so many attacks now. Never know whether it's better to drink more fluid or less. I have associated it with salty food though, so I try and avoid salty food for the evening meal and also eat before 6 pm.
All the best.
Roy
It is really bad when it is cold and rainy.
I’m going to assume you have already had your prostate ruled out as the cause....if not, it could be BPH, a bout of prostatitis or a bladder infection.
i have to literally run sometimes to bathroom when in afib, maybe every 3-5 minutes for a few hours and the strange thing is how clear the water is, like straight from the water tap, this is probably very dehydrating, so need to replace.
Good advice above, and would like to add if you are not doing so have your doctor to an annual PSA check for the health of your prostate.
Frequent urination is normal as we age and can be exacerbated by medications as mentioned above, but prostate health is also important.
Its because your body is trying to get rid of the salt in it to protect your heart.
I don't eat a lot of salt, in fact there is no salt in my house.
It's the natural potassium your body it gets rid if and has and nothing to do with the salt you might consume. This is what my cardiologist told me anyway.
Thank You for the information, have a great day.
You are welcome. Good luck and take care
This kind of frequent or heavy urination used to affect me while in AF. It was definitely a noticeable feature. Check out this dietary protocol, which focuses on calcium intake. Excess calcium makes your kidneys work harder to filter it. This can cause excessive thirst and frequent urination. Also Calcium particles enter the heart muscle cells during each heartbeat and contribute to the electrical signal that coordinates the heart's function. Calcium particles also bind to machinery within the cell that helps the cell to squeeze together (“contract”), which makes the heart pump blood.
So it is no wonder that calcium channel blockers are often prescribed for high blood pressure or part of an AF med protocol.
Yep, I just way drink more now if in afib. The first time I had afib and went into ER I was dehydrated yet going into congestive heart failure from a 2 week long episode and extremely high heart rate (180 and above) They started fluids, then were like oops, we have to give you a diuretic, so sorry. Dehydrated, but fluid in the lungs….
The first time I had an afib attack it was a fighting frogs in the chest affair and very frightening. I was taken to hospital in an ambulance and despite having gone twice to the loo before setting off I had to go in the ambulance as well. Most embarrassing and not easy practically! Now that my symptoms are less violent I still pee lots but it's nowhere near as bad as that first time.
I've done the same thing in the ER. One time they had to give me a pair of pajamas to get home.
I wish mine would slack off.
Fighting frogs? I always described it as a big fish, flipping wildly out of water, dying.
Thank You for response, I've just been putting up with and to be honest was too embarrased to ask until now
It seems a lot of afibbers have the same problem. Thank You
I hear ya, I hope every man over the age of 40 gets his bloodwork including PSA done every year. And yes, pokes and prods and biopsies are a bummer 😏...but the alternative is horrific. Whenever I mention “man issues” to my wife and 2 daughters...who collectively gave birth 6 times...I get the “look” the one that says...”really? “ 😆
Apparently it’s the effect of, over stimulus of adrenaline, I get the same effect, when I’m in Afib, massaging the Vagus Nerve helps!
Where is the vagus nerve located?
Look it up on Wikipedia, for a full explanation, it’s much too long an explanation to write it out, you can also find links on how to massage the nerve each side of your neck, which can bring down your heart rate, and help to calm symptoms. Hope it helps you, it does for me!
I wondered the same over the years, and read that it's a certain hormone that causes more urination: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atria...
Thank You very much for response.
The medical explanation:
"atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a small peptide secreted by the heart upon atrial stretch and high systemic blood pressure."
Yes very common. The short physiological answer is ANP a hormone released when in Afib. Search “ANP and Afib” and you’ll get several bona fide science publications on it.
Same here when I've been in ED... Continuously asking for a pee bottle in between arguing with consultant who said it had nothing to do with AF.
Quite normal. While I had PAF I used to start shortly after it set on, going every 15 minutes like clockwork. Then after 2 or three hours much better. Loosing so much fluid (by the way, this is NOT excess fluid like someone said, it is your normal fluid and you need it) you are sort of hangover afterwards, so take care once it has stopped to drink a lot and also to load up on electrolytes. Funny thing, this does not happen in permanent AF. I have had this now for two years and do not pee more than normal. Your body could not manage the constant loss of fluid anyway. And yes, I have had the same problem, hoooked up to machines for heart and having to pee constantly.
Thank You so much for your reply, I see by the response on this site that a lot of afibber's have the same problem. Have a Blessed Day.
YES! At last someone else with exactly the same experience. I could not believe the amount of pee that I was producing. I could not find any medic who could explain it, so any clues would be most interesting.
Check the replies I have received on this matter and it is explained several times in those post's some with links to Dr.s explaining exactly why this is happening during afib. Thank You for your response.
Hi kocoach. I was diagnosed with afib in 2003. In my case it is intermittent. One thing no one has mentioned is central sleep apnea where the brain does a poor job of regulating breathing during sleep. I was diagnosed with this condition about 6 years ago and advised by the pulmonologist that properly treated, I could expect a marked reduction in the need to pee at night and that the treatment could actually help to reduce or even eliminate afib given enough time. I still have afib but trips to the bathroom have been greatly reduced (occasionally I’ll sleep 8-1/2+ hours with no overnite bathroom visits) and the occurrences of afib have been reduced. An overnight sleep study is required to diagnose this condition and treatment consists of using a CPAP-type device called an Adaptive Servo-Ventilator (ASV) which monitors and regulates the rate of breathing using air pressure. This is likely TMI but one possibility to consider. btw I’m 79 and in good health.
Hey Thumpr, sounds likewe have the same conditions, I was given a cpap machine but have never used it,. I went thru a sleep study and I just don't like the face masks. I notice when I drink water I have to urinate ten minutes afterwards, I guess it's something I have to put up with and it could be worse.
Thanks to a Medicare requirement I was forced to use a CPAP machine for three months and it did not help, just as my pulmonologist predicted. Obstructive sleep apnea, the typical problem, and central sleep apnea are entirely different animals. If your sleep study diagnosis was obstructive apnea, CPAP is the correct treatment. However, the ASV-type machine I previously mentioned is required for central sleep apnea and it works like a charm for me. If CPAP was prescribed for you, the diagnosis must have been obstructive apnea. Yes, getting used to the mask takes A LOT of patience and effort. After 6 years I’m pretty much used to it but there are nights when it comes off after 4 or 5 hours of sleep. However, the benefits far outweigh the inconvenience and occasional discomfort. Don’t remember ever having to pass a glass of water 10 minutes after drinking it. That’s gotta be a big pain in the but t. I wish you good luck in finding something that helps. As an aside, my fiancée had untreated obstructive apnea, fell asleep on the way home after work and took out a light pole in front of the police station. Fortunately, no one was injured but it was devastating to her pride and Isuzu. If you have a problem with brain fog in the morning and/or daytime drowsiness, I’d suggest trying again with the CPAP.
Thank Yoy for the information, No I don't have brain fog just in so much pain from my past endeavors and I don't sleep at night, I feel if they would address my pain issues things would be a lot better but the pain clinic I go to seem's to think they are above everything else and are very independent but I always think things could be worse than they are so I'm thankful of that. Thank You for your response and have a Blessed Day. I'm glad to hear your fiance is OK after his accident.
I'm busy writing 100 lines 'I will not get defensive, I will not......" One nurse may have been clueless, so may one doctor. This nurse knows all about it and the physiology, as she has to put up with it too!!😃
YES, YES!
Yes, yes. Always.
Yes bobech and learig mre everyday. I go toth VA Hospital and they're pretty sharp but every time I go to the ER and in afib I need to remind the nurse's I pee a lot while in it. Have a Great Day.
Amazing timing, as I am just about an hour into an Afib episode and mentioned to my husband that I had made 4 hurry up stops to the bathroom in a very short time. So, think this is the first time I've noticed that happening but it is exactly as you described. Hoping someone has some more info!
I've read a lot of the replies which have been informative and a big thanks to those who have shared their experiences.I do have an enlarged prostate and I did have prostatitis last year which was horrible.
My only thought is that I'm Furosemide for fluid retention partly due to liver cirrhosis and the side effect of the body expelling so much fluid mean my electrolytes drop especially my potassium and no amount of potassium rich foods can reverse the effect of low potassium which then means my PAF episodes increase and now mental health want yo put me on anti depressants which can also affect my electrolyte levels and which also can cause bleeding so my rivaroxaban that I take becomes a concern.
Does anyone else struggle with so many physical and mental health issues and does anyone else struggle to make consultants from different disciplines understand the interactions of different health issues and the medication they want you to take?
No wonder my mental health is a problem because I am struggling to manage everything.
Sorry don't mean to go on but as you can tell I am struggling with everything.
Don't feel alone, a lot of us on the forum suffer with many ailments and stress out as well. I for one have no cartilage in either knee (bone on bone) Dr is amazed I can still walk, heart attack 2017, both shoulders torn rotator cuffs, sciatica in back, enlarged prostate, neuropathy (numbness in hands and feet), severe sleep apnea, ptsd and more and this afib for 32+ years. My point is take courage and don't stop fighting, I've been fighting most of my life, in the war and in the boxing ring. Just listen to what the Drs. tell you and if you have any doubt or concerns "let them know," and learn as much as you can about your physical conditions. I always ask the Higher Source for help and Guidance and HE's never let me down now going on 78 years . I hope this helps a little to ease your anxiety a little which is a battle for some of us with afib. I will be Praying that peace and Comfort comes upon you. Have a Blessed Day!!
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