Ok....For those of you who have CHF besides me......

[Harrybaby666]

I would just like to ask if any one thing seems to set off your CHF. I am asking this because I am back in Heart Failure. My ankles are swollen fatter than the Goodyear Blimp, and I am horrendusly tired and my dry cough is back with a vengance, and I just don't know what set this off this time....I just thought I would ask to see if I can find a trend. Thanks in advance. Harrybaby

 

[hensylee]

Are only your ankles swollen? Yesterday my bro had very swollen ankles but nothing else. Think it could be CHF? My 'little' sister, who has him in Dallas nursing home, didn't think it's CHF but that it's his kidney acting up again.

I have no idea what sets off a bout of CHF but I will keep up with this thread to be better informed.

 

[OldManEmu]

Chf

Chf

Harry I had class IV CHF in the weeks before my AVR. After my AVR I was very diligent about the CHF until my heart recovered and remodelled. I weighed myself every day to look for fluid retention and was very diligent to keep my fluid intake below 2 litres per day and to minimise my sodium intake. I paid particular attention to any packaged foods and the sodium content they contained. In the months immediately after surgery I found both increased fluid intake or sodium intake would cause weight gain (fluid retention). Fortunately my heart has remodelled and I no longer suffer from CHF.

 

[Der Biermeister]

Harry
I am not sure if I am dealing with a bit of CHF, or just "normal" fluid retention in the immediate weeks post-op. Whatever it is -- it seems to be lessening.
My right leg was the donor leg for my bypass vein(s). It gets more swollen each day than my left leg. But even the left leg, or ankle/calf area, gets swollen to the point where socks dig in. So I've been folding the socks down to help.

A few weeks back, I was noticing significant weight gain every couple of days and I had to increase my diuretics to control. Now, I only have to increase the dosage maybe once a week - so this is why I think it is lessening.

Before surgery, I was told that the majority of my CHF symptoms were due to the AI (which was moderately severe). Now that I supposedly no longer have AI, I am a bit bewildered as to this lingering swelling problem. BUT, I've also been put on a Beta-blocker (Toprol) which DOES cause fluid retention. So, along with another drug I take (Norvasc), this plays a role. I am still only 5.5 weeks post-op, so perhaps I am expecting too much too soon? I can definitely see my lung capacity and breathing improving each week. For instance, I can walk up hills now without gasping for air like before. So I am pretty sure I am not having fluid buildup behind my lungs.

I am hoping I follow the course that OldManEmu did and that my heart "remodels". Time will tell.

 

[Ross]

Harry do your kidneys work ok? I ask because I've done everything and I'm building up again too. They did a BNP and cardiac wise I'm perfect, but kidneys ain't doin so hot, not even with all the diruetics I'm on and I'm on just about all of them. I think I'm looking at paritial renal failure.

 

[Nancy]

Here are some things that can trigger episodes of CHF for Joe. You all know that we are EXTREMELY vigilant with his sodium restriction which is 500 mg sodium per day or less, much, much lower than most. His heart problems, kidney problems, anemia and pulmonary hypertension make a toxic mess for him and his CHF. We do all the things that are recommended, low sodium, daily weights, close supervision by his doctors and the addition of extra diuretic when necessary.

Even with all of that, Joe has spells of CHF that seem to come from nowhere. It's very frustrating for us and for his doctors. His CHF can turn on a dime. He has many medical problems that contribute.

I think that if we weren't so vigilant, he wouldn't be here right now.

Here's Joe's nasty list:

Anemia

Medication changes

GI tract bleeding leading to anemia

Kidney failure

Changes in his activities (he does better when he exercises)

Surprisingly enough, hospitalizations have given him his worst cases of CHF. They cannot keep his sodium low enough, most refuse to even try and even the use of IV vehicles which use a sodium solution are enough to put him into Class 4 CHF. There is one hospital, our local one, which will at least try to keep his sodium within his very low range. And that makes such a difference.

High sodium in his diet would be a death sentence for Joe, that's an obvious one, but I'll put it on the list.

Paxil was a baddie according to his kidney docs, so they switched him to Lexapro.

And he was on ProCardia and recently taken off it. That possibly had cut down on his cardiac output. He has constrictive/restrictive heart problems. Not too sure about this one, but he's doing better without the ProCardia, so far. I don't recommend that anyone go off any medications. Joe's doctors made these decisions.

Oh, and if his fluid retention gets to the point of ascites, then it's game over, nothing works but IV Lasix, in the hospital. So we try our darndest to keep it from getting that far.

His conditions are extremely complicated.

 

[OldManEmu]

Der Biermeister

Der Biermeister

Der Biermeister I found that while I was on Metoprolol both standard and the XL extended release I had problem with fluid retention. This is a great drug and I credit it with helping my heart remodel, I also found that it caused problems with fluid retention. Fortunately I no longer take it; it took me 14 months post surgery until the Cardio would discontinue it. If your heart remodels and you have no other problems I would push the Cardio to discontinue it. Personally I don't like being on any drugs unless they can give me a very good reason.

 

[Mary]

I would just like to ask if any one thing seems to set off your CHF. I am asking this because I am back in Heart Failure. My ankles are swollen fatter than the Goodyear Blimp, and I am horrendusly tired and my dry cough is back with a vengance, and I just don't know what set this off this time....I just thought I would ask to see if I can find a trend. Thanks in advance. Harrybaby

Harry,
Are you weighing yourself every day? I think this is an area that is too often overlooked, and it is an easy way to know if you're getting in trouble with your fluid retention. Nancy said that they look for a five pound increase with Joe while my cardio said no more than 2 pounds with me.
As Nancy says, limiting your sodium is critical. I think it's possible to believe you're limiting your intake, but unless you're actually reading labels and recording all food and beverages, there's alot more sodium in our daily meals than we think. I was loathe to adopt a very low sodium diet, but I did in order to reduce my reliance on diuretics. I am very fearful of damage to my kidneys as a result of taking them, so the fear has helped make a believer of me in regards to NO SALT!
If you can get a moderate amount of exercise each day, that also helps.
Have you been sitting more at work, or gone on any long car trips?
I hope you figure out what has triggered this episode, and then take steps to prevent its happening again.
Hang in there!
Mary

 

[Harrybaby666]

Oh Yes....I have been every day...and it's been a rollercoaster...

Oh Yes....I have been every day...and it's been a rollercoaster...

Harry,
Are you weighing yourself every day? I think this is an area that is too often overlooked, and it is an easy way to know if you're getting in trouble with your fluid retention. Nancy said that they look for a five pound increase with Joe while my cardio said no more than 2 pounds with me.
As Nancy says, limiting your sodium is critical. I think it's possible to believe you're limiting your intake, but unless you're actually reading labels and recording all food and beverages, there's alot more sodium in our daily meals than we think. I was loathe to adopt a very low sodium diet, but I did in order to reduce my reliance on diuretics. I am very fearful of damage to my kidneys as a result of taking them, so the fear has helped make a believer of me in regards to NO SALT!
If you can get a moderate amount of exercise each day, that also helps.
Have you been sitting more at work, or gone on any long car trips?
I hope you figure out what has triggered this episode, and then take steps to prevent its happening again.
Hang in there!
Mary

Hi Mary,
Yes, I do weigh myself every day and as a matter of fact, I did the other morning, and found that I had gained 5 lbs overnight, but then I took my Lasix and the fluid dropped my weight by 5 lbs, but then I found that I gained it back again, so I am going to pop another Lasix today and hopefully that will help things. I really haven't been doing much out of the ordinary, but I do know that I cannot tolerate exercise, due to my spinal issues, my arthritis and my neuropathy.....I can only walk short distances, and I am having to use the handicapped shopping carts when I go into say a Home Depot or Walmart...

I was thinking that it might be my anemia that set it off, but I can't imagine how.....Harrybaby

 

[Harrybaby666]

I am wondering too Ross...

I am wondering too Ross...

Harry do your kidneys work ok? I ask because I've done everything and I'm building up again too. They did a BNP and cardiac wise I'm perfect, but kidneys ain't doin so hot, not even with all the diruetics I'm on and I'm on just about all of them. I think I'm looking at paritial renal failure.

I have started to pass more kidney stones, so I am wondering if my kidneys are alright......I just hope that this isn't the case for you or for me....this is not what we need now is it bud?

 

[Mary]

Harry,
I was told to call the cardio if I gained the weight and couldn't get it off with an extra dose of Lasix. I know you don't have good luck communicating with your docs, but I would still give them a call.
Regarding your exercise, is it possible to get to a pool so you could move around in it? Water is so much better for people with arthritis and spinal problems, but it does need to be warm.
I'm wondering about the anemia myself. I have alot of trouble with it, and until Nancy mentioned it, I didn't know that could be a cause. Have you had your hemoglobin checked lately?

 

[Nancy]

Here's how the weight thing works for Joe.

If he gains 2 pounds overnight, we call, or we do have the option of giving him an extra dose of Lasix.

If he gains 5 pounds over the course of several days, then that is also considered fluid retention, and we do the same things as above.

If it goes, then fine, if it does not, then we call again. Have to also consider K-Dur for the extra Lasix, but that has to be figured out with labwork, 'cause too much can be bad, and too little can be bad.

BTW, when your kidneys are not working well, the potassium can build up in your system. It has been dangerously high with Joe on a couple of occasions. And that can be especially true when you are also on Aldactone.

 

[Harrybaby666]

I have noticed my hands and my abdomen are swollen as well...

I have noticed my hands and my abdomen are swollen as well...

Are only your ankles swollen? Yesterday my bro had very swollen ankles but nothing else. Think it could be CHF? My 'little' sister, who has him in Dallas nursing home, didn't think it's CHF but that it's his kidney acting up again.

I have no idea what sets off a bout of CHF but I will keep up with this thread to be better informed.

Hi Hensy, My hands are also swollen and so is my stomach....I also feel EXTREMELY tired and weak and I have a horrible persistant dry cough that is accompanying everything else... I would say as for your brother Hensy, that they should watch him very closely to see if he does develop any of the other symptoms that I have mentioned above, because this could be just the start of CHF, because Kidney trouble is also a symptom of CHF. I hope this helps, and I pray that it's not CHF in your brothers case...I will keep him in my prayers that he gets to feeling better. Harrybaby

 

[Harrybaby666]

I was told the same thing Mary, so that's what I do....

I was told the same thing Mary, so that's what I do....

Harry,
I was told to call the cardio if I gained the weight and couldn't get it off with an extra dose of Lasix. I know you don't have good luck communicating with your docs, but I would still give them a call.
Regarding your exercise, is it possible to get to a pool so you could move around in it? Water is so much better for people with arthritis and spinal problems, but it does need to be warm.
I'm wondering about the anemia myself. I have alot of trouble with it, and until Nancy mentioned it, I didn't know that could be a cause. Have you had your hemoglobin checked lately?

As for the anemia, I had blood work done a couple of weeks ago, and it was fine, but then we all know that things can change in an instant, so I will be calling my doc on Monday to see what he wants to do...As for a pool...I LOVE to swim, but don't have access to a pool right at the moment. I am trying to save some money up so I can join the Dover Public Indoor Pool, as I know my insurance won't cover it....Go figure....Harrybaby

 

[Harrybaby666]

I have been watching my sodium very carefully

I have been watching my sodium very carefully

Harry I had class IV CHF in the weeks before my AVR. After my AVR I was very diligent about the CHF until my heart recovered and remodelled. I weighed myself every day to look for fluid retention and was very diligent to keep my fluid intake below 2 litres per day and to minimise my sodium intake. I paid particular attention to any packaged foods and the sodium content they contained. In the months immediately after surgery I found both increased fluid intake or sodium intake would cause weight gain (fluid retention). Fortunately my heart has remodelled and I no longer suffer from CHF.

and I really don't have problems when I am making sure that I don't have sodium, so it's something else that has triggered this...I am wondering if my getting a cold could have done it....Harrybaby

 

[Kathleen]

CHF site

CHF site

Harry
If you have not visited the CHF site take a look at it. It is full of information regarding triggers. I have stage 3 CHF and in all these many many years I can finally say what has helped me the most is my Medtronics InSync Maximo bi-vent pacemaker/defibrillator. I had a pacemaker explanted 9 months ago and the defib implanted due to a sudden cardiac death episode. It was a quick change and now reading about its capabilities and positives for CHF I can say it has helped a great deal for me. Possibly not the route you want to take but I did want to share what has helped me.
Kathleen

 

[Georgia]

Harry, a cold is what sent me into the doctor when I thought I had pneumonia but it was chf (from the valve). Your lungs get loaded with fluid from the virus, and if you don't have much capacity anyway (in my case, I of course had chf) the symptoms overwhelm you.

 

[Harrybaby666]

I also wanted to mention....

I also wanted to mention....

That I have had lung trouble since birth and I read on a heart failure website that people who have had numerous bouts with upper respiratory infections also develope heart failure....and I have had a TON of the upper respiratory infections, and I am glad that since I keep up with my Pneumonia shots and Flu shots, that this has been minimized. Just thought this might help....Harrybaby