do I have CHF?

[fennell]

Hello,
I have been suffering from edema for the last 2 months and went to the urologist thinking it was a stone blockage. All labs say that my kidneys and liver are functioning OK.
My other symptoms are shortness of breath, chest pains, unexplained weight gain, abdominal distention and choking/coughing during the night.
Went to the cardio for stress test and echo. Waiting for the results. If its not my heart, why am I retaining this water? So much of it, that I had to buy new shoes? Ive had edema off and on for years now due to the kidney stones and salt intake. I am careful with salt to avoid more stones. Even if I need support hose, where is this fluid coming from?
Is it the heart?
thanks

[fennell]

Hello,

Yes, I spoke to my primary last night. I went to him first in May, and all he suggested is that I wear support hose!
I still need to know where the fluid coming from. I went on Effexor last december, and have been doing well with it. The edema didnt start until May. So the protocol for now, is to wean me off the Effexor, and start taking the water pills. He believes that the water pills will only have a minimum effect to my kidneys and not to worry.
There are a billion side effects for effexor, and water retention is rare, according to him. The urologist and the cardio didnt think twice about the effexor when I went to see them. I dont think its the meds, however we will give it a try.
According to my primary, there is a very slim chance that the effexor can cause the kidneys to produce more than needed water. I am to monitor my weight daily for a week, then see if there are any changes. I dont like the idea of taking both pills at the same time, because I may not see if its the effexor or the water pills. Obviously the water pills will work, and if I go off of them both in a week or two, then we can make a judgement.
I have been looking online for weeks now, trying to see if the effexor can cause this. I havent found it yet. Effexor can cause you to gain weight, but not 30 lbs of it! Thats a 1/4 of my weight! It is said that it can cause you to gain, simply due to the fact that you are calmer, and the calories that you eat can finally "stick" without you burning them off with an anxious body.
I started taking it for anxiety only, and its worked wonders for me mentally. I dont panic when things go awry with my job (sales) and am calm about it. Same at home.
So I will start weaning off today, and see how I do. I will research the drug/kidney relationship, and see if I can make sense to all of this.
Any thoughts?

[Momto3]

Hmmmm.......Any chance it is a reaction to one of your medications?  What does your internist think is going on?  I'm wondering about thyroid?  Have you had that checked?  It can whack out your metabolic system and cause weight gain.

GREAT news on the report!!!

[fennell]

Hello!

Just got the report back.....my heart is normal :)
But why do I still have swelling, water retention, abdominal ditention, and choking at night?
Any thoughts?

[fennell]

Hello!
That must have been very frightening. So why did they keep you in ICU? Just to keep you monitored, or to reduce fluids? There are so many variables under the CHF umbrella, what was your dx exactly?
I knew an 80ish year old that was hospitalized for 3 weeks because they found clots behind the heart. She was admitted for CHF, but wouldnt let her go home in fear that she would have another mini stroke. Some days, I wish I would have just went to the ER at the beginning, so that I could get results back sooner. I am assuming at this point, that the first look at the ECHO and the stress test didnt reveal anything urgent. And that if there is anything wrong with my heart, it is either minor, or totally fine.
Tell me more about edema. How much damage/strain does edema put onto your body? By the end of the day, I have no ankles and my toes are the size of sausage links. (sorry for the visual) the VERY scary part, is that I can actually now feel a rift 2/3 rds up to my knee where the water level is. Can you believe that? Its weird. To me, that is way too much fluid! I have NEVER heard of anyone having edema up that far without it being a major issue. Reminder -I eat minimal salt because of the kidneys.
Any other medical info regarding edema would be appreciated:)

[Momto3]

Please let us know how you're doing.  We'll worry if we don't hear from you : )

[fennell]

Hello,
Thanks for responding. Its great that I have you all out there to give me advice.
The cardio office said it could be a week until the results (tomorrow) and if it was urgent, they would have called right away.
No news is good news, I am hoping. But as I read other posts, some have the same symptoms as I do, but the docs cant find the source.
Regarding the diuretic pills, my primary prescribed them to me weeks ago. He also said to wear support hose, and that my veins arent working as well as they use to. Well duh! We know that, but wheres the fluid coming from.
I am the least vain person, and not worried about how it looks! I wanna know why Ive gained weight all because of fluid. Makes sense, right?
Well, I havent taken the pills, because after I left the office, I thought it wasnt a good idea since I have kidney stones. Summer + water pills = dehydration. (not a good move). I think the primary forgot that I have stones....
So, off to the urologist I went. At the office, he was VERY concerned that it was the heart, and called the cardio from his office. He wanted them to see me right away.
So, thats where I am now. Waiting.....all the signs lead to CHF. I wish it wasnt, and they call me and tell me all is fine, and that Im just getting chunky.  (but we all agree its water, docs and all)

[Momto3]

I'm so sorry you have been dealing with edema and the other symptoms you described.  Certainly, you must be tired and worn down.  

You did the right thing by checking in with your doctor.  Hopefully, the tests will reveal what is going on and you can begin earnest treatment soon.  Are you currently taking a diuretic (water pill)?  Assuming this is CHF, and it does sound as though it very well could be, your doctor may start you on a number of helpful cardio meds (beta blocker, ACE inhibitor, diuretic).  When will you have your results?

[kenkeith]

You have all the symptoms of congested heart failure  When there is CHF the cardiac output is reduced.  The system reacts as if the system is losing blood.  The endothelium cells (lining of vessels) react to low cardiac output and sends a message to the kidneys to increase blood volume.  Vessels constrict in an attempt to save from any further loss of blood.  Heart rate goes up to increase the blood supply.  More volume, constricted blood vessels, increased heart rate, etc. places more stress on an already weakened heart.

Four years ago, I was admiitted to ER for the same symptoms and then to ICU for several days.  I am surprised you weren't hospitalized to reduce fluids, etc. to give your heart some relief and time to recover from a couple of months of stress with edema.