A bothersome side effect that I have experienced when I have an episode of AFib is very frequent urination about every 20 minutes for 1 1/2 hours. Is that side effect treatable?
I understand it is caused by a fibrillating atria that releases a cardiac hormone called atrial natriuretic peptide.
You cant do much if you are in AF, so why bother trying to treat frequent urination? Especially when it's only 3 times over an hour and a half. It's your body's natural way of dealing with the situation.
Short and long answer is no.
You just have to put up with it I'm afraid! Worse things could happen....
Normal. No treatment. And while bothersome, resist the temptation to cut back on hydration. You actually need to be hydrated more than ever when in atrial fibrillation because of the water you lose voiding. I find a sport drink like Gatorade is helpful here, because it hydrates faster and also replaces lost electrolytes
Jim
It is very common to do this when in AF., so just have to let your body do its own thing. Stay hydrated, and it’s just grin and bear with all these horrible things going on inside. I also get lots of stomach gas and burp for England. Better out than in.
I thought the flatulence was a “rare side effect” of the Flecainide I take which controls my heart very well, as I never suffered from it before, but now I understand the joke my husband used to make about having to pay a penny to use a public toilet when it turned out not to have been needed!
If you only go every 20 minutes you are doing well, yesterday I was going every 5-10 mins for about 2 hours. I normally find that it’s worse in the first couple of hours of an episode, then calms down. It’s annoying but there certainly are worse things.
It seems also to only happen in PAF not persistent - anyone know why?
A million Dollar question! It would be interesting to know about the experiences of the people with permanent AF. I suspect that they also have no urination issues...
I wish - I have permanent AF and still get this problem. When this happens to me I know that my heart is not happy, so I check my heart rate and blood pressure and always find something is playing up.
Mine is diminishing and I have no idea why. It used to be really bad -every 10 mins. Last episode I hardly had it at all and was able to sleep . The episode before it was a lot less frequent and lasted only about an hour. The length of time between the afib starting and the first trip to the loo is also getting longer.
Interesting, this last episode was the worst I ever had but it was 1 hour of AF and 3 of Tachycardia - I didn’t know a human body could hold that much water!
I felt like that when I was blue lighted to hospital with my first (diagnosed) afib attack. I had to go in the ambulance which was awkward and embarassing despite having voided masses before setting off. And again as soon as we got there! I could not understand where it was all coming from as I had not had any more water with my dinner than usual.
No, this is the body's natural way of dealing with removal of fluid to ease the load pressure on your heart so, just like A/F, you have to sit it out.
A real problem if you have an episode while out and about or travelling . No solution though
As most have said it is unavoidable body reaction with AF . However, if possible try to avoid my 'mistake' of getting into a habit of going to the bathroom too often even when AF is not around due to raised levels of anxiety. I now find it is anxiety prompting urination way more than AF 😖.
yes I have it too. Annoying when having to go a number of times in the night and when out comes on very suddenly
Yup - same here - pee for England at the start of AF. I regard it as an opportunity for exercise as I beaver back and forth to the loo!
Hi
My urologist prescribed a tiny pill Solfenicin Aurius. (spelling)take night before and it helps on the day.
Its great when you have a full day of committing to an outing or a shopping day etc.
I have controlled AF but persistent.
cherio JOY. 75. (NZ)
Hi
I've found the tens machine.
Seems to help.
Twp pads inside leg from high ankle. Use lubricate.
One higher than other by about 6"s.
Or
on back
each side of indent at bottom of spine.
No more tham 30mins. Start weak pulsating and turn up gradually to NOT too rapid.
RELAX
For Sweet.....
JOY. 75. (NZ)
The only issue I have is when the ANP wakes me up every 10 or 20 mins during the night. I get very tired the morning after. I've found all you can do is keep drinking though, otherwise you get a very sore throat.
Not all bad news though. During the day it's very good exercise running up the stairs to get to the toilet before it's too late.
All the best.
Roy
Bad luck. I don't get this often but it is bothersome. If it's caused by an "overactive" bladder, or constipation, then I gather that there are treatments, but it seems hardly a good idea to add extra drugs into the system for temporary problem unless its really troublesome.
I have read that the release of the peptide is a way for the body to help the ventricles perform optimally while stressed.
I wouldn't worry that this will cause loss of water or electrolytes since your kidneys perfectly filter and reabsorb both and keep a healthy balance as part of the bodily process of homeostasis. Of course, if the urination makes you thirsty (or are otherwise likely not to recognise that you need a drink and have dark coloured urine), then extra hydration will be needed. The major electrolytes lost - if they are at all - will be sodium (Na++) and bicarbonate (HCO3--), so a spoon of bicarbonate of soda in a glass of water would replenish these rapidly without the extra sugar that is a part of many consumer drinks.
Steve
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