Think I'm going to burst

[Mb]

Hello Ross!

Well! As you know, Wayne has had CHF for about three years now....maybe even more. He takes 120 mg of lasix, and most of the time it works really well. As far as the cooking is concerned.......there ARE salt free potato chips, and I do the cooking/baking at home. When I bake, I do add about half the salt the recipe calls for. No canned soups or veggies, Ross.
I think you will find a HUGE difference in weight over the next couple of days. Frankly, in your condition, I'm kinda surprised you weren;t on lasix already! Let us know how you are doing! - Love, Marybeth

 

[Ross]

This is my first non hospital event of CHF. I've had plenty of lung fluid episodes with the Hemosiderosis, but never CHF. I'm bummed because it looks like all my jumping for joy on finger sticks might as well have fallen out the window, since I'll be getting poked for potassium levels all the darn time now. I'm in a dazed, shock, brain scrambled, disbelief right now. No pain, no discomfort, just elephantitis.

The possum is in the pictures folder just waiting for you to relax, then he'll come out and stare at you some more but for now, I'm reverting back to my inner child and going with Where the Wild Things Are.

 

[RCB]

Do the low sodium thing

Do the low sodium thing

There is no need for salt in our diet. You get plenty in the average diet.
1. Get rid of salt in the house.
2. no processed food- they are loaded with salt- read labels.
3. Get a bread machine and bake your bread. It is a big myth that salt is needed to bake bread.
4. Make your own soups- use fresh veg. and if you have to use canned, get no salt types.
5. Use more spices to make up for the salt.

I have my daily intake of sodium down to less then a
1000 mg. I was advised to make sure I eat a can of tuna
a week to replace the Iodine in salt that is no longer in my
diet.
I'm glad you didn't wait, but got on top of this.
Take care my friend

 

[Karlynn]

Well, lets make sure this gets taken care of quickly and thoroughly or there's some doctor out there that is going to have a lot of very ticked off people on his hands.

 

[bvdr]

Glad to hear back from you, Ross. Sorry about the CHF. I'm in a managed care program for it with my insurance company. It depressed me a little (maybe more than a little) when they sent me the forms to sign but I really do well except if I don't watch my salt. I do try not to drink very much unless I am thirsty and that helps too. I rarely use Lasix at all anymore.

I hope your cardiologist comes back with a good plan for management. Lyn will get the hang of it with some practice.

I just want to let you know something about Lasix that happens to some of the people who take it....especially in the beginning or when a high dose is used. You may feel like your head is in a barrel and your ears are stopped up.

Put your feet up and take it very easy for the next two days. Don't lay flat quickly. If you want your head lower, get rid of one pillow at a time to let your body adjust to the change.

I am sooooooo glad you went and had this checked!

 

[Birky]

Fluid

Fluid

Sorry to hear that you have hit a little snag. It seems that I retained alot of fluid over the weekend. Upped my lasix on Sunday. My feet do not swell as much as my belly and top of my legs but when I take off my socks, you can see pretty good size indentions. I try to watch the salt but the only thing I can point the finger at is the warmer weather and drinking more fluids. Who knows? I really thought that this would go away with the surgery but I guess not. Hope everything works out okay for you. Thanks for the birthday wish, I needed that since yesterday was such a lousy day.

 

[hensylee]

Thanks for telling us, Ross - look how many pages of inquiry so far. Shows how much we love you. So it's CHF - dang. Well, the lasix will have you trotting unless you carry around a bottle! Hope the br is closeby. I know you and Lyn will keep watch on this and perhaps the fluid will be gone in short shrift. Blessins.......Ann

P.S. now I can go out for the evenin w/o worryin.

 

[Granbonny]

Salt

Salt

I had my first M&M sandwich for lunch. Mayo and Mater (tomato) and lots of salt on it. Dang..Well, I guess I'll not do that again.Tomato was vine ripe. Yummy...See my Cardio for 6 month checkup tomorrow. And no weight loss..Maybe I'll wear big shirt and he won't notice. When you take a fluid pill. I heard that bananas help? Well, Ross, you have soooo many friends that we now want to know how often you go to pee Is that a bad word. Wee-Wee? Maybe you should take a picture of your calves and let's see how they go down..day by day. Love ya, Bon

 

[SJJ]

Ross,
Well you're gonna be a peein' fool for the next couple of days. Of course we'll want to know what the cardio says on Wed. so don't think you'll get by with anything less than a full report........we hope there'll be some positive news to relay. Wed. at 12:15, right? We'll be checkin' in.
Sue

 

[Susan BAV]

Hey Ross -

Glad you caught this before it got worse! What is the difference between CHF and SOB?

One other thing, I was prescribed Lasix (actually flurosemide -sp?- which was a joke with my folks because my insurance would only pay for the generic and their rotten little pit bull dog was prescribed the name-brand by their veterinarian because he had CHF) several years ago (with hypertensive meds) but it had a BAD REACTION with Synthroid, which I have taken for hypothyroidism for the last decade. THE THING IS, I discovered this (dangerous) problem by myself because the contraindications didn't flag the Lasix generic at that time! So cross-reference your meds, okay?! And then cross-reference them again! We don't know what we would do if your fingers swell up too and you can't type on your keyboard for awhile !

Did the doctor tell you to watch your fluids for awhile also?

Hope you are doing way better very soon, Ross! Best wishes, ~Susan W

 

[Christina L]

Ross,

"God helps those who help themselves."

Thank goodness for living in modern times - for skilled surgeons and heart surgery miracles, for modern medications such as Lasix and for God giving us the ability to change/manage our health through our diet and what we eat.

CHF is just another chronic condition that people live with and live with well from what I have seen. I know, Ross, you will handle this new challenge with tremendous bravado!

Thinking of you and hope you'll be past this soon! Who needs extra salt on their food anyway!

Christina L.

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Ross,
Sorry to hear about the CHF but like the others have said it is controllable and I hope your Doctors will get you all taken care of.
You and your family are still in my thoughts and prayers.
Take Care

 

[Ross]

Thank you everyone. I don't really have anything to add until I see the Cardio on Wednesday and probably still won't have much right away. It's a combination of heart/lung problems that I'll have to figure a way around. I suppose I'm in for at least an echo Wednesday, but who knows what he'll do for sure.

Thanks again, your all wonderful.

 

[hensylee]

Bonnie, we also call it 'tinkle'.

Happy tinklin, Ross - get it all out. You'll probably have to watch everything that goes in your mouth hereafter. Sometimes changing the way we live is a big help and with your current heart/lung problems, I am surprised you are not already on something in the way of diet restrictions.

 

[Glenda]

Ross, it's great to be loved by so many people isn't it? And no, you are the wonderful one for all the advice and work you put into this forum. You'll never know how many lives you have helped and touched. You are going to have so many jewels in your crown someday.

I think it is so amazing the love and concern that everyone on this forum has for each other. It touches my heart deeply. I'm come to love each and every one of you even though I only know you through your words. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me be a part of this big family! !

 

[Nancy]

Hi Ross-

As you probably know, Joe has had CHF for many years. It's a condition that can be controlled with a lot of vigilance on the part of the patient and the doctor. Not easy, but doable.

Wishing you all the best. Better to know the devil you're facing than to not know.

 

[Georgia]

Hey Ross - haven't had a chance to be online for a few days (actually, I haven't been online for a long time at home due to back problem - try to sit as little at home as I can, since I sit all day). ANYWAY - I was really sorry to see your "issue" when I got on here today. I know how you feel - lost 11 lbs. when in hospital last year for CHF (when valve thing diagnosed) - IV lasix (hm-m-m - a pint a pound . . .). Can't tell you how much better I felt. But fyi the oral lasix didn't do the job until I'd had the IV; once I was rid of the fluid the oral kept it down.

And Susan W - same thing with me - generic lasix for me, name brand for my old cocker spaniel. But when she runs out she has to put up with my lowly medication.

Ross - take care. I'll bet you're feeling better already. Love ya!

 

[bvdr]

Susan,

You asked the difference between CHF and SOB.

CHF is the abbreviation for Congestive heart failure. SOB is the medical abbreviation for Shortness of Breath. SOB is a symptom of CHF.

Does that help a little?

 

[tobagotwo]

I thought the SOB was the guy who told you you had CHF.

Unfortunately, you didn't also get the wrist swelling, or you could have gone for a shot as Robin Williams' stunt double in Popeye II.

Sometimes things just don't work out.

The only non-textbook thing I can really tell you about CHF is this: I know someone who has lived with it for over 35 years, and another for over 30. You probably feel a little miserable and cheated about it right now, although it certainly doesn't show in your posts. I know I would. It's probably good to realize you can be miserable about it for a very long time. Roll your eyes if you like, but you DO get parking privileges.

Look around, Ross. You're a wealthy man. Family aside, this is a LOT of people who care about you.

Very best wishes,

 

[Granbonny]

Checkup with my Cardio today

Checkup with my Cardio today

I had my 2 year check-up today. He came bouncing into exam room and said You look Great. After listening to my chest and back and checking my feet..Said everything sounds great, too. I said, Would you give me some Lasix to get rid of this fluid in my stomach. And he laughed and said, I was born at night..but NOT last night. That's NOT fluid..That's fat. He said that ALL valvers should walk one mile at the same time..everyday..not break it up...Helps to keep your arteries clean and lose weight at the same time. I told him my PCP wanted to put me on a Statin Drug for cholesterol..and I did not fill the script because I didn't fast the night before..I mentioned the muscle weakness and he said that was a myth...that they also help with the Alhimers (sp). He had just read a paper proving so..Said he would see me in 8 months. No mention of echo....Sorry, Ross, I didn't mean to vent on your thread...John (huby) was in exam room, too. He had diagnosed him 9 months ago with CHF..and said he looked great, too. No swelling and the man works like crazy..with all kinds of projects. He takes 2 meds for it and should add another 10 years to his life if nothing else goes wrong. He is age 73 and now, I guess he will live to be a hundred. Bonnie