Indigestion causing CHF???

[Andrea]

This is kinda weird but last night I had a big bowl of pasta for dinner around 7:30. Afterwards I felt very bloated and uncomfortable. It got worse about two hours after dinner and I walked circles around the house hoping to digest. I couldnt burp, pass gas or any of those fun things. I took some exlax and waited for it to work. It never did but at 3:30 am I passed alot of gas and felt much better.

This is where it gets weird...

As soon as I did and I felt the pressure subside then my heart went nuts. my pulse went up and I could feel my heart pounding. I tried to get comfortable and figured it would go away once I relaxed. Next thing I know is I was panting and my lungs were filling up. It was like instant congestive heart failure. I had to sit up on the edge of a chair and with my pillow I had to keep coughing to clear my lungs. I got to a point of practically heaving up 'lung gunk' I called my Mom who is a charge nurse with many years of CCU SICU experience and she checked my lungs. They had some crackles and we headed for ER for an xray. On the way there I coughed up a ton of frothy liquid and when we got there my breathing and pulse was normal. We both decided to go home as it was an apparent CHF incident and I have Lasix at home. Being a horrible stick we didnt want blood gases drawn and we both have good knowledge of CHF.

I got home, took a double lasix and was fine. But I'm wondering if maybe the bad indigestion had anything to do with it. My Mom thinks it could have stressed my heart and caused the CHF which can come on quickly. Did anyone else have this happen? I hope my Cardiologist says I can have gas-x or something because the whole thing sucked. Its 7am and I still havent slept one minute

 

[Nancy]

Andrea-

Joe has been battling for years with CHF. It's not something to fool around with. You really need to get an appt. with your card. asap.

Coughing up frothy stuff and gasping for air and not being able to lie down are sign that your CHF are decompensating. Please don't wait another minute. Call your card. TODAY and get in to see him/her asap.

He can check you with a new blood test BNP and see if your are in CHF. You should be carefully monitored by the card and you will have to get over your fear of needle sticks. This is your life. Not that I want to alarm you, but I want you to get moving on this, FAST.

All kinds of things can happen, including arrhythmias which could be a bad thing.

Are you on a low sodium diet?

Please, please Andrea, don't wait any more. Call the doctor now.

 

[Les]

Andrea,
Nancy has stated it clearly...make the appointment with your cardio and get this checked out now... Let us know what's going on.
_______________
Les AVR '93 / '95

 

[Andrea]

Well, I'm not officially on a low sodium but I think I'll stick myself on a no added at least.

It isnt a fear of needles its the fact that they cant get blood from me 90% of the time. We figured they would need a chest xray and possibly blood gases (which they probably cant get) the xray would simply confirm the congestion which we knew was there. I have had many bouts of CHF just not that seemed to be brought on by indigestion. I must admit it was pretty bad indigestion but geez.

I will definatly follow up with my cardio today and let him know it happened. Hopefully he will ok some gas-x or something to prevent this from happening again.

I think I will live on flavorless oatmeal from now on

 

[plb]

Andrea, that is so weird. I have had trouble also. I am going on 6 weeks post-op for AVR and have had trouble similar, but not as severe many times after eating. I am seeing my cardio next week and am going to ask him. I was praying for a burp!! Good luck and like everyone says, get it checked out. God bless you!

 

[Nancy]

Here are a few links from the American heart Assoc. regarding Heart Failure.

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1486

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=339

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=330#class

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=324

http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=337

 

[Andrea]

Well, I talked to my cardiologist and he thinks the anti-inflammatory they had me on is causing too much water retention so he cut my dosage. They had put me on it as the swelling was so much that I was running a fever. He says its no biggie and just to know when to pop a lasix and to weigh daily.

 

[bvdr]

Hi Andrea,

I'm glad that your problem seems to be getting better. Are you on a potasium supplementation? If you're not and need to take Lasix at all frequently then you risk getting too low on Potassium. You may want to read up on Symptoms of low potassium for your own info.

How is everything else doing? ............Betty

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Andrea,

I had digestive problems for close to 2-1/2 years post op. Once I went to the ER thinking it was a heart attack. Turned out to be indigestion. They later did an upper GI and found that the "little flap" duo something leading to my esophogus was not closing properly. Go figure another valve problem, LOL. Anyway, did not have a care in the world prior to my valve surgery. I always say one cure causes another problem.

I really think you should have it checked out. The vomiting is abnormal and should be very concerning.

Take care
PS. Watch your INR with the anti-inflammatories.