I know this isn't exactly a valve issue but....

[Harrybaby666]

Hey Nancy...

Hey Nancy...

Oh, by the way, Mrs. Dash has come up with some new flavors, and they're really good, mesquite, table sprinkle and some others. They also have 4 new marinades in a bottle. I find them near the steak sauce and ketchup. They're tasty too.

Chef Prudhomme has a terrific no sodium spice mixture. It's right in the spice section. I don't have it in front of me, but I think it's called Magic Seasoning.

When I was in the ER yesterday, the doctor said that I was not in Heart Failure, that the labs showed everything was fine, yet I still feel as though I am retaining water, but he INSISTS that the labs are correct...could the labs have been masked by fluid retention in me? I am wondering if I am getting false readings because I am actually in Heart Failure?

The nurse told me that CHF is curable...that it goes away completely, and that it can come back, and that it's the actual cause of the CHF that sticks around, as in my case, it's Diastolic Dysfunction and Cardiomyopathy, not to mention the valve regurgitation. How would I get this message across to the Cardiologist and/or PCP? I feel like they are not listening to me, as they feel that because they are the doctor, I know nothing and really have no say in my treatment. (Pardon the venting, I just want to show you what I am encountering...it's frustrating..) Thank You for your suggestions..I will try those as well..My Mom uses Mrs. Dash and she loves it. Thanks Again. Harrybaby666

 

[Yaps]

Due to Dennis, I hadnt been able to read much. Just read all on this thread, Harry...I know that with the meds we cannot have salt substitutes,and chf will sneak up and bite... Mrs Dash has some very good seasonings-w/o sodium.
When chf grabs me I swell horribly, cannot breathe especially while laying down, extra lasix is how I handle this.
Now you are still owed an apology, Ive not seen it.
It really was a cold remark!!!!!! , and you deserve better!!!! Love the pup

 

[Nancy]

Hi Harry-

This is long, sorry, didn't mean for it to be, just hard to explain.

Joe has some of the same problems. He went to the ER, a few weeks ago with CHF symptoms, especially ascites, which he is prone to, very little in the ankles. He had a voluminous workup and was examined by the ER doc, his cardiologist, another cardiologist, a nurse practioner and there was a pharmacy doctor there too in case they had to add some more drugs to his large drug list. He had just been discharged from the hospital after a 10 day stay for CHF. The hospital had a hard time keeping him on his low sodium diet, and he did have fluid problems while in there. Some had come off after discharge, but not all.

When all the tests came back, he was not in CHF, according to all the tests.

His cardiologist said that when he came down to the ER to examine him, he was sure it was CHF, since that was always first on his mind with Joe. But he was shocked when the tests came back, not showing CHF. He was sent home with not much in the line of changes, and was even told to get bloodwork less often. What we were told was to add Zaroxolyn when Joe had gained three pounds in a day, stay on the extremely low sodium diet, limit fluid to no more than 8 - 8oz. glasses in a day, and get a CBC and metabolic panel every two weeks. We were both very puzzled and somewhat upset that this wasn't resolved immediately.

A couple of days later, Joe had another appt. with a hematologist who gave him a very, very thorough physical exam and mentioned that there was fluid in the spleen and liver area.

So there was the proof that fluid was on board. But it didn't show up on testing. I think that some fluid retention, particularly in the abdominal area does not trigger the CHF testing.

We did continue on with the cardiologist's recommendations and after a while, the fluid started to come off.

Granted, Joe is on Lasix and a high amount, plus Aldactone, also a high amount. He has the option of Zaroxolyn, which he hasn't had to use in a long time. The ONLY thing that was different was that Joe was now home, and back on his VERY low sodium diet. It takes about 5-7 days from the initiation of a low sodium diet for the body to start to shed fluid, at least in our experience. The body loves to hold on to that sodium.

Plus, I feel the cardiologist was feeling that Joe was being micromanaged way too much, and that given strict parameters, and a little time, his body would "right" itself and become stable. This has happened.

Joe is a marvelous patient. He does what he's supposed to, and doesn't fight the dietary limitations or the heavy testing necessary to keep him under control.

My own feelings are that, first, you have to get on the right combination of diuretics, and then you have to eliminate as much sodium from your diet as you possibly can and you will have to make many things from scratch or buy special foods, and then you have to be tested regularly to make sure that nothing is going out of line.

The nurse it right about CHF, it can go away, but it is a chronic condition, and if your heart is not functioning in an optimal way like yours and Joe's, it will try to come back. So the fight is always there and you can never let your guard down. Anything beyond three pounds gain becomes VERY difficult to get rid of.

It's a terrible struggle, Harry, but one you can really overcome with great diligence. Gotta have a good doc as well.