Water Retentoion still an issue

[Guest]

I had AVR surgery in June of 2015 and have been struggling with water retention ever since.
I'm overweight and pre-op, I had been on a diet of 1400 calories per day. Post-op, I take 80 mg of lasix every morning and I'm now back on the diet, and controlling my liquid and salt (staying under 2500mg). But if I get my heart rate up to even 90 bpm, the next day I will have gained 2 lbs. My cardiologist says 1) this shouldn't still be happening (thanks, but not helpful) and 2) I shouldn't worry about some minor swelling in my legs. The thing I've tried to explain to her over and over is that the water is in my chest. My legs aren't swollen at all. I can feel the water in my chest like a pressure, or almost a fullness but higher.
Is anyone else having this issue? I want to start working out more, doing cardio, even just lifting weights, but every time I do, water gain!

 

[harrietW]

This is interesting. I want to follow this l am only a month out and l feel the fluid/water in my stomach but higher although l also have a hiatus hernia but l clearly feel and almost hear fluid. .
Hoping you get some good feedback.

 

[MethodAir]

It sounds like heart failure, you should identify what is causing it. You should be careful exercising with a lasix dose that high, make sure your electrolyte intake is sufficient.

 

[W. Carter]

I agree with MetodAir, It sounds like Congestive Heart Failure. I have had it for the last 3 years and have been hospitalized over it to get intravenous lasix to get the fluids out of my lungs. I was prescribed a beta blocker (Coreg), ace inhibitor (Lisinopril), and Lasix. That cleaned up most of the symptoms and I try to get exercise. Like MethodAir said watch for dehydration while exercising. I don't really even watch the amount of sodium that I consume anymore. For table salt I use Lite Salt 50% sodium most of the time.

 

[dornole]

Do you have any shortness of breath, dry coughing when you lie down or other congestive heart failure symptoms?

My weight can easily change 3-4 lbs day to day and I don't think twice about it . . . . I can easily imagine a doc dismissing a 2 lb weight gain or even "I feel water in my chest" if you don't also say your function is impaired in some way. How are your symptoms impacting your daily life? Does gaining water weight the next day actually prevent you from exercising?

Not trying to be combative, just trying to get you thinking how docs think and how to you might describe your symptoms to get attention vs. a brush-off which is frustrating. I got the brush off even when I said I was coughing up blood! Guess I shouldn't have said "I cough and I have trouble sleeping and even a little blood sometimes" instead of the more accurate "I hack up bright red liquid gobs the size of a quarter and I have to sleep upright in a chair or I can't sleep at all, plus I can't go up a flight of stairs without sitting down to rest."

I hope they'll look into this more and either adjust your treatment plan or give you enough info that you feel genuinely at ease.