Atrial fibrillation - paroxysmal - increased urination

Sounds scary. I'm glad your GP is taking it seriously. Good luck.

This is what I have and would you believe that I put up with it for 16 years before seeking advice or anything-----and I was working at a hospital at the time. However, 16 years later it came to a head and I had to be hospitalised to bring my heart into normal sinus rhythm. 10 tablets and two drips later it took 6 hours before it levelled itself out and was under control.

I've had 3 hospital visits since 2006, the last one being just over a month ago after having a rapid heartbeat for 2 hours so the hospital put a solution through an IV line and it settled within a couple of hours and I was allowed home again. I have warfarin to keep the blood flowing so that it doesn't form a clot.

I did have a TIA 2 years ago but that came out of the blue and thankfully there was no lasting damage done. It's never worried me unduly-----best not to anyway.

Thanks Ellan and Jane. I’m happy that GP will monitor for now.

It’s definitely worth getting used to taking own pulse regularly so you know what it’s normally like. Then it’s easier to recognize an abnormal rhythm.

I presume you are talking about a Kardia machine which measures if you are having possible atrial fibrillation in a 30 second trace and can be used in conjunction with your iPhone or equivalent? About the thickness of an After Eight chocolate but a bit more rectangular. I had a very successful ablation under general anaesthetic for my AF in 2012 followed by about 6 years of complete normality. Ive had the odd attack since (less than 5) so now I am on blood thinners (Apixaban are better than Warfarin as you don't have to keep being checked for side effects) and also take Rosvustatin as a statin. I also have Flecanaide as a 'Pill in the Pocket' to be taken in connection with Adizem but haven't used more than one of those since beginning of this year. There is an increased risk of stroke with Atrial Fibrillation - hence the blood thinners. This was the system advised from seeing one of the top London cardiologists who specialises in Atrial Fibrillation.

@elasticatedslacks - Yes, that's the gadget I have now, but of course all the ECGs I've taken since I got it show no arhythmia! My resting pulse is fairly low - around 68. I already take a statin and GP will refer me to cardiologist if I have another episode and blood thinners were mentioned.

I was diagnosed with AF 3 years ago after having some sort of attack ( pain down jaw and neck) which left me with palpitations. After suffering them for about 3 weeks husband insisted I went to the doctors and as luck would have it I was in the middle of an attack at the time when he did an ECG at the surgery. Upshot of it was I was told to go straight to the pharmacy in the surgery and pick up a prescription for beta blockers (Atenalol) and blood thinners (Rivaroxaban) and not to leave until I'd taken quite a large first dose!! He then rang me at 7pm that night to make sure I was ok as did the chemist which I thought was excellent service. Although I periodically have episodes of palpitations the last ECG I had showed everything was ok on the dosages I'm on. Hopefully you will get some feedback on your results when you send them in and have the proper treatment.

Just a quickie before I go offline - do you take meds. to lower your blood pressure?
Because I do, and also often have these symptoms.
Very scary. I agree.

I too have paroxysmal AF and take propranalol (not really a cardiac specific beta blocker but I could not tolerate the others) and riveroxaban, and anti-coagulant. The latter is the most important thing, as during an AF episode the heart is not beating in a regular rhythm (my OH used to describe it as like a bag of snakes) and blood tends to pool in the bottom of the heart. Pooled blood has a tendency to clot and when the heart returns to normal rhythm and starts pumping there is a danger that it will send a clot off round your vascular system and it could cause a stroke or pulmonary embolism.

I have had several episodes and they have told me that, as long as I am on the riveroxaban, I only need to seek help if the rate/speed is very fast. Other home remedies are to cough, to pretend you are pushing out a 50 pound baby! or to splash your face with cold water. These things will sometimes abort an episode.

Lots of people live quite happily with this - and there are indeed some people who go around with slow AF all the time. As long as they are taking the anti-coagulant they get along fine in the main.

No blood pressure meds- it’s always been normal. I know that if/when formally diagnosed I’ll be put on blood thinners but it’s reassuring to hear from others with the condition.

I have another arrythmia which causes tachycardia but have also had episodes of PAF. The worst had me in hospital and yes, I was weeing for England afterwards. At the time I thought it was because I was on a drip but when I googled it I found it's a known side effect. I'm on calcium channel blockers which control it quite well. Not on anticoagulation because my CHADSv score is 1. It's unusual to be put on aspirin these days, are you in the UK
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Sorry you have had such a worrying time. I went to my GP after problems with circulation in April, and was almost instantly given a Dopla test (ultra sound for veins) which showed very irregular heart beat. I had an electrocardiograph to confirm diagnosis of AF, and have been on Warfarin ever since (can't take modern meds because of treatment for epilepsy) and take a statin daily. At first I felt conscious of every little imagined ripple, but now after seven months have almost forgotten I have a problem and fortunately my Warfarin levels stabilised as required quite soon. Good luck!