Could this be congestive heart failure?

[alicia]

For the past 2 days I've been short of breath and fatigued, swelling in my abdomen and have put on a few pounds overnight. I weigh myself daily so I know when I have a weight gain/loss. I had CHF 2 years ago and the symptoms seem the same although not nearly as bad as before. My daughter is a nurse and took my BP which was good but my pulse has been in the 50's each time she has checked it. I called my cardiologist and talked to his nurse several times. My Dr was out until Friday so she spoke to the Dr in house and he advised me to increase my Demedex (fluid pill) and come in tomorrow for my INR/PT and if Im not doing any better then a Dr will see me. Im getting a little anxious now. I've also had nosebleeds and spitting up blood in the morning for the past 2 days as well. Im afraid my INR is too high again.

I have been doing so well up until now. I guess I will know more tomorrow. Any thoughts?

Alicia

 

[Granbonny]

Alicia

Alicia

Sorry you are having these problems again..I know..a few months after my AV..I was having blood in mouth..Turned out to be bleeding gums...Do you go to a dentist regular?Coumadin was making my gums bleed. Now..that I go every 3 months for a good cleaning..No more blood in mouth. I am a lot older than you..but it seems like that is where my problems are. In teeth and gums. I will be having 2 teeth pulled on the 17th..way in back. Don't need them. Nosebleeds..never have them..but this crazy weather we are having in the South has made my eyes water something terrible. Too warm for this time of year. Maybe it is the weather. Hope you hear something soon. Bonnie

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Alicia,

Going to be forward here.....any chance you are in Peri/Menopause?

I experience a long list of items each month. Shortness of breath, swollen abdomen, migraines, dizziness, muscle tenderness. Nothing is going on with my heart....and it only happens around "that time" so it has been deemed female related.

Hope you figure out what is going on. Take care and please keep us posted.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Alicia,

Sorry you arn't feeling very well. I'm glad you called about your symptoms and are potentially seeing a doctor tomorrow. Hopefully the added diuretic will help and you will feel better by then.

Are you spitting up blood or coughing it up? HUGE difference in significance. And what does your pulse normally run? Please let us know how you are tomorrow OK? Also make sure you get in yet tonight if you get worse.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Alicia-

Sounds like CHF. Joe has it and the first sign for him is a sudden overnight weight gain. He eats virtually no salt, so we know that it isn't from salty foods. His other symptoms are SOB, ankle edema, fluid in the abdomen and if it gets too far, it can start backing up into the liver and he starts to get nauseous. Another sign of CHF can be coughing up bloody phlegm, but Joe usually doesn't get that.

As you know CHF comes and goes so it's a constant battle.

Right now, Joe is having a bout of it. He's been on a slight increase of Lasix for about a week and that didn't work, so today Zaroxolyn was added. That works pretty well, so tomorrow should be better for him.

He tries to keep any weight gain to 5 pounds or less. At 5 pounds, I call and get instructions for additional diuretic.

Let us know how things go at the doctors.

best wishes.

 

[alicia]

I've been checked out the wazoo for menopause. I had an ovary and cyst removed in August due to internal bleeding so I know its not that. I will have my INR/PT checked tomorrow first thing in the am.

My pulse normaly runs around the 70's so when it goes into the 50's I can tell theres a problem. Im on Digoxin and they are going to check that blood level to make sure I dont have too much Digoxin in my system therefore causing the low pulse.

I will give you all an update tomorrow. Thanks for the concern.

Alicia

 

[alicia]

I just got home from the cardiologist office. My INR was 1.9 very low so they adjusted my doseage of Coumadin. My BP was 108/68 and pulse was 78 so thats an improvement. I still feel fatigued,bloated and slightly SOB so they are treating it as CHF with increased diuretics and I will see my cardiologist again on Friday (unless I get worse off). I am having my electrolytes checked as well as my Digoxin level.

Just thought Id give an update for those who care. Thanks.

Alicia

 

[Ross]

I thought I told you to stop this stuff a while back. You not gonna listen or what?

I hope you start feeling better and not worse. Enough is enough already.

 

[pegne]

Alicia

Alicia

I am so sorry you are having problems again. I will keep you in my prayers. For those who do not know what it feels like to be in CHF it can be a feeling of impending doom. I feel for you. I hope you get it all straightened around. Until then you will, of course, be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Georgia]

I'm with Ross on this - you need to stop this and get better and STAY better.

I, too, am so sorry you've got problems again. The CHF is a bear, and I most sincerely hope your additional meds straighten it out.

I'm praying for you too and will keep you in my thoughts.

 

[Nancy]

Hi Alicia-

Things should be straightened out soon. Joe's also having a lot of lab work during his little CHF episode.

Good luck!

 

[alicia]

Thanks all and Nancy, I hope Joe gets well quick. Im feeling a bit better today. I just told my husband the other day I was feeling so good it scared me and now this.

Ross and others, Im trying to be a good girl, I swear! LOL

Alicia

 

[Nancy]

Ok Alicia-

You and Joe are having a contest, I'm not going to say what kind.

We'll see who wins.

 

[alicia]

Hey Nancy, Im doing much much better! The excess weight (fluid) has come off and SOB is gone and my energy level is great. I still go next week for bloodwork to check my Digoxin level and electrolytes. Hows Joe doing? If hes feeling good, we will call it a tie LOL. You are all in my prayers.

Alicia

 

[Nancy]

Yup--

Joe too, I think by tomorrow, he'll be back to his regular weight, and have labs on Monday.

He worked outside today in the freezing cold for a couple of hours, so I'd say he's feels better.

So I'm glad for both of you! That's a good kind of contest, winners all.