CHF just suddenly came on again......Yikes!!

[Harrybaby666]

Well now...this is screwy....I have been feeling ok these past couple of weeks, but bam! Tonight my Congestive Heart Failure has suddenly come on again....I suddenly started coughing (which is typical when I do come down with it) and my ankles have given a whole new meaning to the word "Goodyear Blimp" I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas as to what would cause CHF to just suddenly come on like it has with me? Any answers will be greatly appreciated. Harrybaby666

 

[Mb]

Harry:

If I were you, I'd check my meds box. Did you miss any doses?

Also, what have you been eating? High salt content?

Don;t let this go too far without calling your Dr., unless you can come up with an answer. - Marybeth

 

[Ross]

Dude I think I need to come up there and straighten you out some. I have no idea besides what Marybeth questioned. You are turning into a training machine and that's not cool.

 

[Yaps]

Harry, could it be the heat?I am having same problem, even with 240 mg lasix daily, doc is checking kidney functions today.....watch your salt Harry, check packages ok?love the pup

 

[Nancy]

Some of the common things that could cause this are changes in eating, even eating one high salt meal can do this, medication changes, changes in the activity level and possibly kidney problems. It could also have something to do with worsening heart function problems.

You need to call your doctor today and go in to be seen.

Joe has found that once his weight gain gets over 3 pounds, it becomes extremely difficult to get rid of.

Sometimes being admitted to the hospital and given IV Lasix will usually turn it around, since the Lasix works more effectively this way.

There have been times when Joe has been admitted into the ER in the morning, given IV Lasix there and he could go home that evening.

Other times, he's had to be admitted.

Don't let this go on, call today, or go to the ER. When you start coughing, it's not good.

 

[Harrybaby666]

I am wondering....

I am wondering....

Could my Osteoarthritis be triggering this? I seem to have read somwhere that inflammation of the joints (or any inflamation for that matter) has been tied to heart failure....and I have been (unfortunately) out in this heat and humidity more than I would have liked. I will be calling the doc and getting in to see him asap. I am just so shocked that this could come on so fast. Harrybaby

 

[Harrybaby666]

I am wondering that myself yaps...

I am wondering that myself yaps...

Harry, could it be the heat?I am having same problem, even with 240 mg lasix daily, doc is checking kidney functions today.....watch your salt Harry, check packages ok?love the pup

Do you have arthritis as well? I am wondering because I have been in alot of pain since it's been warmer and humid, and as I have stated in my last post, the CHF just suddenly came on as opposed to gradually coming on as it normally does...I do watch my salt and I haven't had too many problems with that, but I will be really watching it now...Gosh this is horrible isn't it? Harrybaby

 

[Mary]

Watch that salt intake Harry! I am also on a regiment to reduce my edema due to fluid retention, and salt really hurts my program.

I don't know about your arthritis, but I have a bad right knee that swells periodically. I've noticed that since I'm taking lasix, I have had much less pain in that knee. I'm guessing that less fluid equals less knee swelling equals less pain!
So it makes sense to me that if you're suffering from osteoarthritis, the two might be related to overall fluid build up.

Hang in there and follow Nancy's advice!

 

[Nancy]

Joe has high inflammation and a high SED rate. His rheumy wasn't at all concerned about it since many of his other conditions could contribute to that.

However, his card. was concerned with it. The card specializes in CHF.

So maybe they are related.

You may need a short course of zaroxolyn to get rid of the fluid.

Sometimes, it can be so, so hard to try to control. With all of Joe's carefulness and compliance with everything, he still gets unexplained CHF. Matter of fact, he is just getting over a spell of it. Not too bad, just 4 pounds, but it's been hanging on for 11 days now, in spite of a huge dose of Lasix, Aldactone and some Zaroxolyn and NO SODIUM except what you can't get rid of (naturally found in just about everything).. He is finally starting to shed it a little each day, a half pound or so. I'm quite sure his kidneys will be complaining soon.

I suspect that this was caused by the huge dose of Zantac that his new ENT prescribed. He's been off it for 12 days, and it has a short half life, but because his kidneys are not functioning on all cylinders, it hung around in his body for much longer.

I don't know at what point the docs decide that kidney function has to be looked into. Dialysis has been mentioned, but in the same breath, the card said, "we are not at that point yet,-- yet."

So do whatever it takes, Harry. Let us know.

 

[Nan]

Harry, I echo Nancy and the others.....watch that heat/humidity exposure, your salt intake and GET HELP!

Nancy, I sure hope that Joe improves....good that he is losing 1/2 # a day...Hope his kidneys can hang in there and that he doesn't have to go on dialysis!

 

[Harrybaby666]

Well Nancy....I am wondering if my arthritis is actually

Well Nancy....I am wondering if my arthritis is actually

Rheumatoid Arthritis as opposed to Osteoarthritis, but I cannot seem to get the Dr.'s to refer me to a Rheumatologist to determine if it could be Rheumatoid Arthritis, as I am just in too much pain. I get this way especially when the heat and the humidity kicks in and then it's LOOK OUT! and I have noticed that my CHF kicks in around this time as well.

I called my Dr. and I will be seeing him tomorrow morning at 11:15 am as this was the soonest they could see me...

Thanks for all the help as it is a real comfort for me...Harrybaby

 

[Yaps]

Saw dr today and had blood panel taken, its chf with me he knows this, he just wants to be sure my kidneys are handling things. He is talking of ace inhibitors now, accupril probably.... hope its accupril, cuz I have some here.. , I do have athritis ..dont know its relevancy to the heart conditions though, no one said they were related. Let me know ok? Take care,Yaps

 

[Granbonny]

HarryBabe

HarryBabe

I hope you have good news from your doctor tomorrow...I think all of the East Coast is suppose to get cooler air in by Thursday..We just had another hard rain..and then the sun comes out..and brings the humid air back.....I know, I am lacking in exercise due to my Dog getting so hot when we try to walk....It has been so rainy in North Georgia and HOT this summer..Looking forward to you and Nancy posting yall's winter scenes..Nancy, you should post the one of your poor grill that winter.. Still remember it..so, we can all cool off.. Bonnie

 

[Nancy]

This is to cure you Harry, and for you Bonnie. One is a scene from our driveway, the other is my sweet little grill smashed by a huge chunk of ice 12"X36"X18" or so, which slid off the roof, two stories up.

 

[Glenda]

Harry, Harry, please take care of yourself. I'm glad you are going to see the doctor tomorrow. This heat is terrible! It's so hot and humid here in Missouri. I've been having trouble also with water retention. I take lasix but it doesn't seem to help very much. I'll be so glad to see cooler weather. Hugs and prayers are coming your way.

 

[Harrybaby666]

There seems to be a trend here......

There seems to be a trend here......

Harry, Harry, please take care of yourself. I'm glad you are going to see the doctor tomorrow. This heat is terrible! It's so hot and humid here in Missouri. I've been having trouble also with water retention. I take lasix but it doesn't seem to help very much. I'll be so glad to see cooler weather. Hugs and prayers are coming your way.

I guess it must be the heat-or at least part of it-as Yaps is feeling the same way, me, and you. All I can do is pray that we all feel better asap. Thanks for all your support and please know you and everyone else I chat with here are in my heart and prayers. Huge Hugs Coming Right Back At YOU. Harrybaby

 

[Harrybaby666]

Thank Heavens!!!!!

Thank Heavens!!!!!

Hi Gang,

Just wanted to let yall know that as it turns out, my CHF is NOT back...YAY!! However, I do have a condition called dependant edema where if I am sitting or standing for extended periods that the blood settles in my ankles...so now whenever I can if I am sitting down, I have to elevate my feet. As for the coughing, the doctor thinks that I have another cold. I then asked her about the Arthritis, and they are checking my "sed rate" whatever that means, anyway, if I can get rid of this pain, I will be sooooooo happy. Well, it's better to be safe than sorry....Thanks for the support and encouragement. Harrybaby

 

[Nancy]

I'm glad it's not CHF. The dependent edema sounds uncomfortable nonetheless.

Take care

 

[perkicar]

Hi Gang,

Just wanted to let yall know that as it turns out, my CHF is NOT back...YAY!! However, I do have a condition called dependant edema where if I am sitting or standing for extended periods that the blood settles in my ankles...so now whenever I can if I am sitting down, I have to elevate my feet. As for the coughing, the doctor thinks that I have another cold. I then asked her about the Arthritis, and they are checking my "sed rate" whatever that means, anyway, if I can get rid of this pain, I will be sooooooo happy. Well, it's better to be safe than sorry....Thanks for the support and encouragement. Harrybaby

Thanks for the update--I'm glad it's "just" edema (annoying nonetheless, I'm sure!). I know it would freak me out if my ankles once again turned to "cankles" (one big calf/ankel combo that I had right before I went back towork LOL). Take care of yourself, get those feet up and heave a sigh of relief!

 

[Debrinha GT]

Relieved!!

Relieved!!

Hi Harry! I've read your posts and I'm so happy it's nothing serious after all. I know the pain can still be very annoying, but I'm relieved to hear that it's not what you'd feared. Take care! How are Bruce and his mum, by the way?
Débora