Another Bothersome Question :-)

[Harrybaby666]

All right, all right, I have another question for anyone....Is it normal for one to feel some pressure as your losing water that has congested around the heart/lungs?? I ended up taking 80 mg. of Lasix today along with the potassium suppliment, and after running to the bathroom 13,000 times, my chest aches and I am feeling some pressure in my upper chest. I was just wondering if anyone else here who has CHF feels the same way after they have had a bout with fluid retention in the chest. Any thoughts would be most appreciated. Thanks. Harrybaby666

 

[Yaps]

Im prescribed

Im prescribed

80 mg lasix a day.. hmmm.. I feel tired, yawny, and cant breathe, gasping.. when chf is playing ball with me.. when the fluid recedes ..I wake easy , am able to walk, and bend, and cramps in legs arent as severe, Im not sur e if I understand 'pressure in chest' unless its simply easier to breathe?Less pressure I would say, but I do not notice on the 'runs' so to speak. I hope this helps you Harry, Love Yaps

 

[JimL]

Harry, you definitely want to be in contact with your doctor about the fluid retention. I wonder if 80 mg isn't close to the maximum normal dosage of lasix?

 

[Nancy]

Joe takes 80 mg of Lasix twice a day, and then if he needs it, he takes it three times a day briefly, and then if that doesn't work, he takes a very short course of Zaroxolyn once a day along with the Lasix. So 80 mg once a day is just one of the doses that people take, some people takes much more, some less. Along with all this diuresis, Joe has to go for frequent bloodwork to make sure his kidneys are "happy", and that his Potassium levels are OK. He does take Potassium supplements.

He keeps to a very low sodium diet, and his sodium levels have to be checked as well. Recently, his sodium was low and he felt weak, nauseous and tired. We are in the slow process of correcting that. It has to be done very gradually, since it could trigger CHF again. So it's a constant balancing act.

He does tell me that after periods of shedding lots of fluid, he feels weak and kind of exhausted. Lasts for a day or two.

Don't know about the chest pressure, probably should call your doctor to discuss it. Maybe you need some bloodwork to check all chemistries.

 

[Ross]

I've been trying to find that newbie flame .gif for a long time now. Thanks for using it, now I have it.

I'd say consult your Doc. I know I feel like everything is crammed in there and there is no room for anything if that's what you mean by pressure.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Hi Nancy, Jim L.

Hi Nancy, Jim L.

Thanks for the help, I am feeling better than I did right after taking my Lasix, and let me tell you, I got rid of a ton of fluid. My guess is that for some reason the water retention is causing some kind of added pressure to my heart and lungs, and when I get rid of the water, the pressure lets up (I have been watching it closely since I took my Lasix. Jim, I was told by my Cardiologist that 80 mg is still a fairly low dose, as he has had to put some people on 3 X the dosage I am on. Thanks again for your advice, and I will be checking in with the Doctor as I seem to be getting more congested more frequently, even though I am really watching my salt intake. Harrybaby666

 

[Harrybaby666]

No Problem Ross!!!!!

No Problem Ross!!!!!

It was no problem Ross, I love to soup things up and try to spread some laughter as it helps me cope. Here is the website from where I got it: http://www.grsites.com/webgraphics/. It's in the fire/light catagory under clipart about 1/2 way down the page. I couldn't resist this icon, I really love it.. Enjoy. Harrybaby666

 

[Nancy]

Hi Harry-

I misunderstood your first post. I thought you meant that after losing the fluid you were having pressure feelings.

But if it happening while you are retaining fluid, of course, you will be feeling pressure and will be having breathing problems. After getting rid of the fluid, it should let up.

CHF is a tough thing, constant monitoring.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Morning Nancy

Morning Nancy

No, actually, you didn't misunderstand...I didn't communicate it properly. What I meant was, after I have discovered that I am congested again, and I take my Lasix, The pressure still seems to linger on for awhile after I have relieved myself of all the fluid that I retained. I can tell you though that I too like Joe, feel REALLY REALLY tired and weak after an episode, so I guess I have to surmise that it takes awhile for one to get over a bout with CHF (I know that when I have a low blood sugar, it takes me about 8 to 10 hours to really feel like my old self)..It's absolutely criminal to be this sick isn't it? Thanks for your ongoing help and support Nancy. Harrybaby666

 

[Harrybaby666]

Morning Nancy

Morning Nancy

No, actually, you didn't misunderstand...I didn't communicate it properly. What I meant was, after I have discovered that I am congested again, and I take my Lasix, The pressure still seems to linger on for awhile after I have relieved myself of all the fluid that I retained. I can tell you though that I too like Joe, feel REALLY REALLY tired and weak after an episode, so I guess I have to surmise that it takes awhile for one to get over a bout with CHF (I know that when I have a low blood sugar, it takes me about 8 to 10 hours to really feel like my old self)..It's absolutely criminal to be this sick isn't it? Thanks for your ongoing help and support Nancy. Harrybaby666

 

[Nancy]

Well, here's what Joe's labs show today after two days of Zaroxolyn plus Lasix. His sodium was a little better but not yet normal, but his Potassium is low, so he had to take more Potassium than he usually does, and this is dosed according to the Card's NP.

So that's why you should always follow up with your doctor to get additional bloodwork after diuresis. Things get all screwed up, and sometimes corrections are needed. Not major trouble, just enough to be annoying and give little niggling symptoms.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Well Now, Isn't That Amazing....

Well Now, Isn't That Amazing....

Hi Nancy,
Isn't it amazing how a simple little thing like excessive water can really screw up a person? LOL I will be getting in touch with my Cardiologist to see what's up, especially since I have been noticing that my water retention has been coming on suddenly and it happens so fast it's shocking...I just hope the doc doesn't add any more medicines to my list (I take 20 right now), or I will absolutely choke on them. It's horrible. I hope your husband finds it easier to take his pills than I do...oh well, I guess ya gotta do what ya gotta do...Thanks Again. Harrybaby666

 

[Johnny Stephens]

I was just wondering if anyone else here who has CHF feels the same way after they have had a bout with fluid retention in the chest.

I have struggled with this exact problem ever since my surgery. I actually had the problem beforehand, but it was masked by my SOB from the valves.

I take 50mg of Demadex (Torsemide) daily, and 60 MEQ of Postassium 2x a day. That's 12 of them big ole' pills that get stuck in your craw

My docs took away the Zaroxolyn, because I had some dangerously low potassium levels...too bad for me because sometimes I really could use it.

Gonna try without it for another month and then ask for it back if I can't get my sodium intake low enough.

 

[Harrybaby666]

Don't You Ever Know It!!!

Don't You Ever Know It!!!

Hi Johnny,
Boy! Don't you ever know it when it comes to the potassium suppliment...I have all I can do to even swallow 1 of these babies.....I take about 20 different meds so this really makes it hard to swallow....pun intended. lol lol Today I feel much better after getting rid of all that fluid, but it worries me because it comes on suddenly...What A Battle!!! Hope all is well with your chf and keep shovin' those pills to ya.. lol Harrybaby666