Aa
scared-do I have cardiac edema?
Hello to all,
I am sorry to bother yall, but have a question concerning me swelling so badly. My abdomen is huge as if I am ready to deliver and have been that way for @ 6mos. to a yr., but my ankles here lately have gotten so big. They are almost 3 or 4 times there normal size. I was told by someone that they thought it might be cardiac edema. I am so concerned since I do have some chest pain. It is right under my left breast and sometimes I can barely touch it. It is really sensitive and it scares me. I do smoke and am trying to quit, but if anyone here has knows how hard it is. I really want to, but I don't know why. Anyway, I am worried because I can actually push in my skin and it stays for over 10 seconds. The feeling I get around my heart area feels like a stinging kind of pain. I am 44 and I weigh 192 and that is mostly because of Lyrica, I believe. I am trying to get off it, but have severe nerve damage. I believe also I have a SCI( Spinal Cord Injury), due to having an ESI(Epidural Steroid Injection), I was hit while having the ESI and I jumped on the table and ever since I have had nerve problems. I do have pain so severly in my legs,especially underneath my knees and it runs up my thigh. I didn't want to worry anyone, but this stuff is pretty scary and have been dealing w/it and it is so hard to get into see a doc. I have had Medicaid for the past 1 and a half, but now have Cigna and am suppose to go see a great NS soon. I just don't want to die in the meantime. I do feel that way. I do worry @ it and I would love to get some response to see what you all think. I am sorry for what is happening to you guys and I will pray for you. I know it must be difficult to go through what you do. May the Lord be with you. If you can give me anything on it, I would appreciate it so much. I can't even wear socks..they hurt and leave rings and indentions. I do have indentions also that stay in my legs. I don't know what has caused it, but they are rings around my legs in some places. I have severly painful legs and I am so swollen in my whole body. I know I need to eliminate the Lyrica..on it. Tomorrow I should start down to the 75mg instead of 150 which is a start. Then I am going to take Topamax. I hope that one will help w/the nerve pain...I will just have to stand it until I get to see the NS.
I wish the best for all of you and hope that I hear from some of you..Best of wishes and always...GOD BLESS..Karen
I am sorry to bother yall, but have a question concerning me swelling so badly. My abdomen is huge as if I am ready to deliver and have been that way for @ 6mos. to a yr., but my ankles here lately have gotten so big. They are almost 3 or 4 times there normal size. I was told by someone that they thought it might be cardiac edema. I am so concerned since I do have some chest pain. It is right under my left breast and sometimes I can barely touch it. It is really sensitive and it scares me. I do smoke and am trying to quit, but if anyone here has knows how hard it is. I really want to, but I don't know why. Anyway, I am worried because I can actually push in my skin and it stays for over 10 seconds. The feeling I get around my heart area feels like a stinging kind of pain. I am 44 and I weigh 192 and that is mostly because of Lyrica, I believe. I am trying to get off it, but have severe nerve damage. I believe also I have a SCI( Spinal Cord Injury), due to having an ESI(Epidural Steroid Injection), I was hit while having the ESI and I jumped on the table and ever since I have had nerve problems. I do have pain so severly in my legs,especially underneath my knees and it runs up my thigh. I didn't want to worry anyone, but this stuff is pretty scary and have been dealing w/it and it is so hard to get into see a doc. I have had Medicaid for the past 1 and a half, but now have Cigna and am suppose to go see a great NS soon. I just don't want to die in the meantime. I do feel that way. I do worry @ it and I would love to get some response to see what you all think. I am sorry for what is happening to you guys and I will pray for you. I know it must be difficult to go through what you do. May the Lord be with you. If you can give me anything on it, I would appreciate it so much. I can't even wear socks..they hurt and leave rings and indentions. I do have indentions also that stay in my legs. I don't know what has caused it, but they are rings around my legs in some places. I have severly painful legs and I am so swollen in my whole body. I know I need to eliminate the Lyrica..on it. Tomorrow I should start down to the 75mg instead of 150 which is a start. Then I am going to take Topamax. I hope that one will help w/the nerve pain...I will just have to stand it until I get to see the NS.
I wish the best for all of you and hope that I hear from some of you..Best of wishes and always...GOD BLESS..Karen
I'm glad you're going to get something done today. I hope the doctor will put you in the hospital until they can stablize you, and perhaps make you feel a little better. I'll pray for you.
I want to let you know that I'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow, Jan 28th, and will be laid up for about six weeks. I'm having my dialysis fistual built so I can start dialysis and perhaps get to feeling a little better. I'll be awake for the entire surgery because of my heart condition, which I'm not looking forward too, but if it helps me to feel better in the long run then I'm willing to give it a try.
You take care my friend, and even if I can't post very much after surgery, I'll keep tabs on you, okay? So, let me know how the visit with your doctor went.
I want to let you know that I'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow, Jan 28th, and will be laid up for about six weeks. I'm having my dialysis fistual built so I can start dialysis and perhaps get to feeling a little better. I'll be awake for the entire surgery because of my heart condition, which I'm not looking forward too, but if it helps me to feel better in the long run then I'm willing to give it a try.
You take care my friend, and even if I can't post very much after surgery, I'll keep tabs on you, okay? So, let me know how the visit with your doctor went.
Dear Friend,
Thank The Lord I am still here. I am still having some of those crazy symptoms and I may be crazy 4 not going in. I just called my PCP, who is in the hospital himself, for Cholestoral...go figure. I thank u 4 ur concern. I am still out of the woods..as they say. I couldn't breath too good all day. Still swelled,having these burning/poking feelings all over. I am going in this morning to see my Internist again. I believe he will put me in the hospital. I know I am having blood work done and I have a few questions 4 him. I am snacking now since I am having my chol. tested when I get there and it is 3:09am here. I believe you have to have a 6 hr. window? Do u know? I hope I haven't messed up, but I am hungry and I will faint it I don't eat. Maybe not literally, but I don't know. It's just a small bowl...:(...It is so hard 4 me not to do a little something like an apple or grapes or maybe a banana. I, growing up had hypogocemia...but now I bet I have diabetes..my dad does. I even had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my first boy, but not second..OH man, I am so tired of this burning stuff I am having. It seems to be so bad in my legs...especially the left. I pray and have been that The Lord have mercy on me and take whatever this is away. I have this knot under the right side of my chin...under the ear area. I won't be able to talk long....dad gummit..what a word...I live deep in the south of AR..lol..a definate country girl...:)
I even sting on my eye lids..Hot, but it shows 64 in here..okay time to settle down and lay down again... Painnn in midddle back ...burning. I will be okay..just say a prayer 4 me.
I am so sorry that I haven't even asked @ how ur doing. I hope ur well girl. You inspire me to move. I would lay in that ole bed and feel stuck watching the ole tube. I don't do much when I feel like this. I am going to try to get a couple more hours of sleep b4 I have to get up and get going. I don't know, time has a way of moving out from under us. You take care now...and I will get back 2 u when I get back in..Lord Willing...:) ...just pray...always GOD BLESS... Karen
Thank The Lord I am still here. I am still having some of those crazy symptoms and I may be crazy 4 not going in. I just called my PCP, who is in the hospital himself, for Cholestoral...go figure. I thank u 4 ur concern. I am still out of the woods..as they say. I couldn't breath too good all day. Still swelled,having these burning/poking feelings all over. I am going in this morning to see my Internist again. I believe he will put me in the hospital. I know I am having blood work done and I have a few questions 4 him. I am snacking now since I am having my chol. tested when I get there and it is 3:09am here. I believe you have to have a 6 hr. window? Do u know? I hope I haven't messed up, but I am hungry and I will faint it I don't eat. Maybe not literally, but I don't know. It's just a small bowl...:(...It is so hard 4 me not to do a little something like an apple or grapes or maybe a banana. I, growing up had hypogocemia...but now I bet I have diabetes..my dad does. I even had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant with my first boy, but not second..OH man, I am so tired of this burning stuff I am having. It seems to be so bad in my legs...especially the left. I pray and have been that The Lord have mercy on me and take whatever this is away. I have this knot under the right side of my chin...under the ear area. I won't be able to talk long....dad gummit..what a word...I live deep in the south of AR..lol..a definate country girl...:)
I even sting on my eye lids..Hot, but it shows 64 in here..okay time to settle down and lay down again... Painnn in midddle back ...burning. I will be okay..just say a prayer 4 me.
I am so sorry that I haven't even asked @ how ur doing. I hope ur well girl. You inspire me to move. I would lay in that ole bed and feel stuck watching the ole tube. I don't do much when I feel like this. I am going to try to get a couple more hours of sleep b4 I have to get up and get going. I don't know, time has a way of moving out from under us. You take care now...and I will get back 2 u when I get back in..Lord Willing...:) ...just pray...always GOD BLESS... Karen
Hey, friend, if you're having pains in you left arm it's a good time to get to the hospital ER and have an EKG done. Call the ambulance, and tell them you think you're having a heart attack. It could very well be what you're going through.
Take care and I'll keep you in my prayers.
Take care and I'll keep you in my prayers.
Hey girl,
I woke up kinda afraid this morning at 3:00. I was having this pain in my left leg and then noticed my left arm feeling the same way. I did have a little labored breathing...not bad. Just the pains in moved into my right leg and right arm..Girl, I hope I am having CHF. I have been told by the Internist that he wasn't ruling it out and the Intern that is helping me with a lot of questions even feels it could be what it is. I really been praying hard and always keep u there. I think ur a wonderful person. I can feel the caring in what u say. I do pray that u get better, but as u said that if ut heart held up..it will. I feel The Lord has good use for us. I think He has more plans for us to take care of. We have to just keep on fighting to stay alive and do the right things in life. Be a caring, empathetic, and most of all a Christian person...then He will do his part and give us a long life here so we can help others. Maybe that is His plan. I believe so..in my heart I know I can and want to help others in some way or another. I feel ur the same. SOOOO, u have to read, have more faith in urself...I do. Take care girl...until next time...GOD BLESS... Karen
P.S. Yes, I will continue to take the Lasix....:)
I woke up kinda afraid this morning at 3:00. I was having this pain in my left leg and then noticed my left arm feeling the same way. I did have a little labored breathing...not bad. Just the pains in moved into my right leg and right arm..Girl, I hope I am having CHF. I have been told by the Internist that he wasn't ruling it out and the Intern that is helping me with a lot of questions even feels it could be what it is. I really been praying hard and always keep u there. I think ur a wonderful person. I can feel the caring in what u say. I do pray that u get better, but as u said that if ut heart held up..it will. I feel The Lord has good use for us. I think He has more plans for us to take care of. We have to just keep on fighting to stay alive and do the right things in life. Be a caring, empathetic, and most of all a Christian person...then He will do his part and give us a long life here so we can help others. Maybe that is His plan. I believe so..in my heart I know I can and want to help others in some way or another. I feel ur the same. SOOOO, u have to read, have more faith in urself...I do. Take care girl...until next time...GOD BLESS... Karen
P.S. Yes, I will continue to take the Lasix....:)
I can't say I know about the pain, because I've been mostly fortunate and not had too much of a problem with pain, except for the heart attacks I've had over the last 2 1/2 years. They always seem to attack my back and shoulders and I feel like I've been hit with a baseball bat until they get me to the hospital and start morphine and nitro.
As far as End Stage Reanal failure, I won't get better, only worse until my days here are over. Of course they tell me my days could turn into years, IF my heart holds up. The plan is to do dialysis at a center, 70 miles from my home, 3 days a week until I'm stable, then I'll be issued my own dialysis machine and do the treatments at home, with a monthly visit to my doctor, 90 miles away.
I certainly hope you find someone, somewhere who will help you, and not just medicate you. Over medication is too easy, and pain pills are only treating the symptoms. However, don't quit taking your lassix, as it is the only thing that will keep you from swelling and having a lot of the other problems you're experiencing, okay?
Take care, and keep me posted.
As far as End Stage Reanal failure, I won't get better, only worse until my days here are over. Of course they tell me my days could turn into years, IF my heart holds up. The plan is to do dialysis at a center, 70 miles from my home, 3 days a week until I'm stable, then I'll be issued my own dialysis machine and do the treatments at home, with a monthly visit to my doctor, 90 miles away.
I certainly hope you find someone, somewhere who will help you, and not just medicate you. Over medication is too easy, and pain pills are only treating the symptoms. However, don't quit taking your lassix, as it is the only thing that will keep you from swelling and having a lot of the other problems you're experiencing, okay?
Take care, and keep me posted.
Dear friend,
I wrote to u yesterday,but my comp. gave me some complications with posting. This crazy thing. I hope ur doing well today. I had to change my patch today and it call for a painful day. I am trying to get it lowered back down from the 75mcg,back to the 50mcg and just change it every 48hrs. It is just tooo painful on that third day. If I can get my doc. I have been praying bc he was out Thur and Fri.and the receptionist said she didn't know when he'd be back. I asked her if the NP could see me or the other doc that is in the group and she said that they wouldn't be able to give me my meds. I have never heard of it b4,have u? I went to a group in MS and if my doc wasn't available I would get to see another one. I am down to one patch. It just scares me for the pain in my left arm is killing me right now. This patch is slowly starting to work, but it can't just be stopped or can't it kill u or something? OH well, just say a little prayer for me too.
I read ur post again and girl u have been thru it. I sure hope the Lord blesses u with a lot more better days ahead. It is a slow process to feeling better, I have to agree with u. When u get weight on like I have it is so depressing. It seems to take forever to get a pound or two off. I have seen the Internist and he did tell me to continue to take the Lasix and I have and it has taken some more fluid off. I am so glad. I just wished I could walk right in and see a NS tomorrow and he tell me what needs to be done and that would be it. I know I am dreaming.
I do have someone who is an intern giving me some help with my symptoms. I like how he is so interested in helping me. It feels so good to feel cared for, not that I don't have a great set of parents that are always calling and coming over. Mom walks over,that is how close we live to one another. It is good and bad. She cooks all the time and all that fatning stuff. In the morning,every morning she cooks home made buscuits and milk gravy with sausage and of course eggs. I know most of my weight has come on since we have lived here. I am glad they are so close though so I can keep an eye on them as well. They are getting older and it is so hard to see that and me being so bad I know it is hard on them. My mom still doesn't get it. She asked me if I would get better if I went into rehab and got off all of my meds. I couldn't believe it. She knows I am in anquish. I don't understand. They are just older and barely take an aleve, so she is worried and I understand her worrying, but I told her there was no way that would help me, I would be in bad shape. I have some serious issues that need addressing. Until I can get to a NS who can dx the damage that has been done to some part of my body there is no way. I could give u a list and u would say how in the world could she think that. Well, my dad's sister fills her head with ohhhh she shouldn't be taking those patches and I do agree. I wished I would have never started taking it in a way, but then I think of how much my pain has progressed. I have this knot too in the right side of my neck that scares me. It is more noticable now that some of my swelling has gone down. It is under my lymph nodes and above my surgery area of my neck. So, I am wondering what in the world it is.Aren't ur lymph nodes directly under ur ears. This is more over to the middle..HMMM?
Well,I noticed up above on one of ur post u mention BP med. and I haven't been on any, but my BP so far has been ok. Now, when I went to the Int. they had to take it 3x and my arm was killing me. The first time she said Karen ur BP is high. I sighed. She said I want to take it again with another tester thingy(can't think of it at moment). Anyway, she finally said it was fine. I think it was 128/85, in which I think that bottom number is still high isn't it? I feel better now that I have been taking the Lasix and thank you for persisting and reminding me in my mind @ it or I might not have mentioned it w/my mind. Short term memory loss from Lyrica. Speaking of, now I only take 3-75mg. a day now. I am glad. I will be glad when I can get off it, but my nerve damage is so extensive, I think bc the pain gets so intense like I am burning all over and my head starts to pounding. I wanted to start taking Topamax, but that woman named Karen Lee Richards(Health Connection website) advises against it. I have heard good things and bad. I took it two different times. First time,just for one day and I had a splitting headache and got scared of it. The second time,just two days later, I felt great and was doing better, but then my ankles swoll up so bad. I mean 3-4x their normal size. IT was spooky and creepy. I quit it again. I do want to try it again, but I want to get down to 1-2 75mg. Lyrica a day this time instead of the 3-4 150mg. I was taking at the time it happened.
I am going to go for now. I have blabbed enough. I sure hope as I said that ur doing well and let me know for I will always keep u in my prayers.
Take care and always...GOD BLESS... Karen
I wrote to u yesterday,but my comp. gave me some complications with posting. This crazy thing. I hope ur doing well today. I had to change my patch today and it call for a painful day. I am trying to get it lowered back down from the 75mcg,back to the 50mcg and just change it every 48hrs. It is just tooo painful on that third day. If I can get my doc. I have been praying bc he was out Thur and Fri.and the receptionist said she didn't know when he'd be back. I asked her if the NP could see me or the other doc that is in the group and she said that they wouldn't be able to give me my meds. I have never heard of it b4,have u? I went to a group in MS and if my doc wasn't available I would get to see another one. I am down to one patch. It just scares me for the pain in my left arm is killing me right now. This patch is slowly starting to work, but it can't just be stopped or can't it kill u or something? OH well, just say a little prayer for me too.
I read ur post again and girl u have been thru it. I sure hope the Lord blesses u with a lot more better days ahead. It is a slow process to feeling better, I have to agree with u. When u get weight on like I have it is so depressing. It seems to take forever to get a pound or two off. I have seen the Internist and he did tell me to continue to take the Lasix and I have and it has taken some more fluid off. I am so glad. I just wished I could walk right in and see a NS tomorrow and he tell me what needs to be done and that would be it. I know I am dreaming.
I do have someone who is an intern giving me some help with my symptoms. I like how he is so interested in helping me. It feels so good to feel cared for, not that I don't have a great set of parents that are always calling and coming over. Mom walks over,that is how close we live to one another. It is good and bad. She cooks all the time and all that fatning stuff. In the morning,every morning she cooks home made buscuits and milk gravy with sausage and of course eggs. I know most of my weight has come on since we have lived here. I am glad they are so close though so I can keep an eye on them as well. They are getting older and it is so hard to see that and me being so bad I know it is hard on them. My mom still doesn't get it. She asked me if I would get better if I went into rehab and got off all of my meds. I couldn't believe it. She knows I am in anquish. I don't understand. They are just older and barely take an aleve, so she is worried and I understand her worrying, but I told her there was no way that would help me, I would be in bad shape. I have some serious issues that need addressing. Until I can get to a NS who can dx the damage that has been done to some part of my body there is no way. I could give u a list and u would say how in the world could she think that. Well, my dad's sister fills her head with ohhhh she shouldn't be taking those patches and I do agree. I wished I would have never started taking it in a way, but then I think of how much my pain has progressed. I have this knot too in the right side of my neck that scares me. It is more noticable now that some of my swelling has gone down. It is under my lymph nodes and above my surgery area of my neck. So, I am wondering what in the world it is.Aren't ur lymph nodes directly under ur ears. This is more over to the middle..HMMM?
Well,I noticed up above on one of ur post u mention BP med. and I haven't been on any, but my BP so far has been ok. Now, when I went to the Int. they had to take it 3x and my arm was killing me. The first time she said Karen ur BP is high. I sighed. She said I want to take it again with another tester thingy(can't think of it at moment). Anyway, she finally said it was fine. I think it was 128/85, in which I think that bottom number is still high isn't it? I feel better now that I have been taking the Lasix and thank you for persisting and reminding me in my mind @ it or I might not have mentioned it w/my mind. Short term memory loss from Lyrica. Speaking of, now I only take 3-75mg. a day now. I am glad. I will be glad when I can get off it, but my nerve damage is so extensive, I think bc the pain gets so intense like I am burning all over and my head starts to pounding. I wanted to start taking Topamax, but that woman named Karen Lee Richards(Health Connection website) advises against it. I have heard good things and bad. I took it two different times. First time,just for one day and I had a splitting headache and got scared of it. The second time,just two days later, I felt great and was doing better, but then my ankles swoll up so bad. I mean 3-4x their normal size. IT was spooky and creepy. I quit it again. I do want to try it again, but I want to get down to 1-2 75mg. Lyrica a day this time instead of the 3-4 150mg. I was taking at the time it happened.
I am going to go for now. I have blabbed enough. I sure hope as I said that ur doing well and let me know for I will always keep u in my prayers.
Take care and always...GOD BLESS... Karen
First of all, I think the last thing I would do is quit taking the lasix. At least not until you see the doctor and they tell you to do so. The gaining weight problem could be your condition getting worse, or it could be your bowels filling up because of the drying effect from the lasix, which is notorious for causing constipation. The full lungs is a sure sign that you need the lasix, and speaking from experience you do not want the lungs to continue to fill.....so, take the lasix. My doctor tells me not to be afraid to take a stool softener to elevate the constipation.
I, too, have pain in my heart area a lot of the time, but none of the doctors seem to know what the problem is. I've had a heart cath done and they tell me my heart is elongated and weak, but the arteries are clear, so they scratch their heads and send me on my way. The last heart attack I had was called a small vien thrombosis, which basically meant that I had a small blood clot in one of small viens in my heart. The effect is the same as a "real" heart attack, you get the horrible pain, and your blood even shows the heart attack enzyme marker, but the attack itself isn't life threatening....so they tell me anyway. Usually in a woman, the pain from a heart attack isn't in the chest itself, it usually feels as though you have been hit with a baseball bat right in between your shoulder blades, and it hurts to take a deep breath, along with the "sometimes" jaw pain, which feels like you have a bad cavity, or infected tooth that just won't quit hurting.
I can sympathize with how you're feeling, as I went through about the same thing, a couple of years ago. It wasn't until I spent 3 days in the hospital and received 7 pints of blood that I finally started to feel better, but it was a SLOW process.
Now, I am in stage 5(end stage) renal failure, and I'm sure I was pushed there by the horrible virus I had, which caused the heart problems also....so...I'll be undergoing surgery, then starting on dialysis 3x per week for the rest of my life.
So, my friend, my advice to you is to PUSH the doctor into doing something for you, and if they won't, find another doctor who will. Life isn't supposed to be this way, and if you don't get something done I'm afraid it will continue to get worse for you.
I, too, have pain in my heart area a lot of the time, but none of the doctors seem to know what the problem is. I've had a heart cath done and they tell me my heart is elongated and weak, but the arteries are clear, so they scratch their heads and send me on my way. The last heart attack I had was called a small vien thrombosis, which basically meant that I had a small blood clot in one of small viens in my heart. The effect is the same as a "real" heart attack, you get the horrible pain, and your blood even shows the heart attack enzyme marker, but the attack itself isn't life threatening....so they tell me anyway. Usually in a woman, the pain from a heart attack isn't in the chest itself, it usually feels as though you have been hit with a baseball bat right in between your shoulder blades, and it hurts to take a deep breath, along with the "sometimes" jaw pain, which feels like you have a bad cavity, or infected tooth that just won't quit hurting.
I can sympathize with how you're feeling, as I went through about the same thing, a couple of years ago. It wasn't until I spent 3 days in the hospital and received 7 pints of blood that I finally started to feel better, but it was a SLOW process.
Now, I am in stage 5(end stage) renal failure, and I'm sure I was pushed there by the horrible virus I had, which caused the heart problems also....so...I'll be undergoing surgery, then starting on dialysis 3x per week for the rest of my life.
So, my friend, my advice to you is to PUSH the doctor into doing something for you, and if they won't, find another doctor who will. Life isn't supposed to be this way, and if you don't get something done I'm afraid it will continue to get worse for you.
Hello,
I haven't got to go see my reg. PCP,he's out a lot so I made an appt. w/an Internist in which I go see this Fri. I still feel horrible, and the swelling is still in my legs, but my ankles not as much. I have started to have pains in my kidney area(lower abdomen) so I stopped taking the Lasix and I am scared 'cause I don't know what to do. I still smoke...smart me...I know I am stupid. I tried to quit cold turkedy a couple of days ago...a no go. I had 4 or more hrs. under my belt..yeah..I have a Nicotine patch besides the bed unopened bc I am scared to wear it with my Fentanyl Patch. I want to quit..really I do. It is so hard when u just lay here. I know I must seem week...I have a lot of stressful things going on and I know that is not a good excuse. I just need to know what to do. Since I started the Lasix, I have shown that I have gained weight on my scales....How is this possible? Does that mean I have something else going on? Help me if u can.I do have some labored breathing, not much. I do have some pain sometimes in that area. I just hope the Internist is going to put me in the hospital and then maybe I can get it dx to what it is. Thanks for any info u can give me on this.
I still am wearing the Fentanyl(75mcg.),Lyrica(75mg..now),Norco 10/325,Xanax 1mg. that I only take when needed. I usually take half at a time. It usually winds up being one by the end of day. Sometimes I have taken one, and that is just bc I feel anxiety more now that I have more going on. I take Nexium 40mg.1xday,I have the Topamax that I want to start so badly so maybe I would lose this weight, but since I have my heart area making me rub it every once in a while it just scares me to add anything else. I hope u can help me in some way. Thanks and GOD BLESS..Karen
I haven't got to go see my reg. PCP,he's out a lot so I made an appt. w/an Internist in which I go see this Fri. I still feel horrible, and the swelling is still in my legs, but my ankles not as much. I have started to have pains in my kidney area(lower abdomen) so I stopped taking the Lasix and I am scared 'cause I don't know what to do. I still smoke...smart me...I know I am stupid. I tried to quit cold turkedy a couple of days ago...a no go. I had 4 or more hrs. under my belt..yeah..I have a Nicotine patch besides the bed unopened bc I am scared to wear it with my Fentanyl Patch. I want to quit..really I do. It is so hard when u just lay here. I know I must seem week...I have a lot of stressful things going on and I know that is not a good excuse. I just need to know what to do. Since I started the Lasix, I have shown that I have gained weight on my scales....How is this possible? Does that mean I have something else going on? Help me if u can.I do have some labored breathing, not much. I do have some pain sometimes in that area. I just hope the Internist is going to put me in the hospital and then maybe I can get it dx to what it is. Thanks for any info u can give me on this.
I still am wearing the Fentanyl(75mcg.),Lyrica(75mg..now),Norco 10/325,Xanax 1mg. that I only take when needed. I usually take half at a time. It usually winds up being one by the end of day. Sometimes I have taken one, and that is just bc I feel anxiety more now that I have more going on. I take Nexium 40mg.1xday,I have the Topamax that I want to start so badly so maybe I would lose this weight, but since I have my heart area making me rub it every once in a while it just scares me to add anything else. I hope u can help me in some way. Thanks and GOD BLESS..Karen
The jerky muscles, not feeling like you can go on, the problems with your chest are all the same symptoms my husband had with the virus and they could never find anything wrong with him, so they tried to send him to a shrink which made him so angry that he stopped going to the doctor. At the end of the 6th month he started to feel better, but still has down days(almost 3 years later).
If you have the virus several things can happen, or not. You could end up like me, or end up feeling better. In any event, I call it the "marble bag" syndrome. Every day you will be allotted a certain number of marlbes, and everything you do will cost you a marble. Example: You get out of bed, it costs one marble. You get dressed it costs you another marble. You drive the kids to school, it costs another marble, etc. At the begginging of the day, you will never know how many marbles you'll receive, and you never know how many things you can do until you run out of marbles, hit the wall and have to rest....and...some days you will wake up and your marble bag will be empty and you won't even have enough energy to climb out of bed. Other days you'll receive a FULL bag and feel like you can take on the world....those are the days you're wanting, so don't give up.
As far as your meds go, I'm not a doctor and I certainly don't know why you're taking most of that stuff, but if at all possible, I think I would lose the Hydrocodone since it interacts with some of the other stuff you're taking, causing it to work differently than intended.
Does your doctor know about everything you're taking? The mixture of drugs you're taking might be what is causing you to feel the way you do, or at least contributing to it. You have a antidepressant, anti-anxiety, strong pain reliever, betablocker, an airway relaxer,steriods, and now anti seizure medication, it all seems like it might be what is causing your problems in the first place. I think I would sit down with all of my drugs in a bag and go through them with my doctor and see if there are some of them you can go without. It seems like there are too many "head" medications on your list, and who knows what the effects of all of them are,especially when they are grouped together and taken by the same person. If the doctor you are seeing is the one who put you on all of those meds, then I would go see a good country doctor and talk to him/her about the med lineup. Country doctors don't seem quite so quick to overload a person on medication they might not need.
I think if you could lose some of those drugs and make it through the withdrawals, that you would find that you feel remarkably better. Like I said before I'm no doctor, but I know about being overloaded with medications, and what it can do to you, and it's not good(speaking from past experience). However, be duly warned, you do NOT want to just quit taking any of your meds. You need to be weaned off of them, with the help of a good doctor. Don't try to go it alone, okay?
Take care, my friend.
If you have the virus several things can happen, or not. You could end up like me, or end up feeling better. In any event, I call it the "marble bag" syndrome. Every day you will be allotted a certain number of marlbes, and everything you do will cost you a marble. Example: You get out of bed, it costs one marble. You get dressed it costs you another marble. You drive the kids to school, it costs another marble, etc. At the begginging of the day, you will never know how many marbles you'll receive, and you never know how many things you can do until you run out of marbles, hit the wall and have to rest....and...some days you will wake up and your marble bag will be empty and you won't even have enough energy to climb out of bed. Other days you'll receive a FULL bag and feel like you can take on the world....those are the days you're wanting, so don't give up.
As far as your meds go, I'm not a doctor and I certainly don't know why you're taking most of that stuff, but if at all possible, I think I would lose the Hydrocodone since it interacts with some of the other stuff you're taking, causing it to work differently than intended.
Does your doctor know about everything you're taking? The mixture of drugs you're taking might be what is causing you to feel the way you do, or at least contributing to it. You have a antidepressant, anti-anxiety, strong pain reliever, betablocker, an airway relaxer,steriods, and now anti seizure medication, it all seems like it might be what is causing your problems in the first place. I think I would sit down with all of my drugs in a bag and go through them with my doctor and see if there are some of them you can go without. It seems like there are too many "head" medications on your list, and who knows what the effects of all of them are,especially when they are grouped together and taken by the same person. If the doctor you are seeing is the one who put you on all of those meds, then I would go see a good country doctor and talk to him/her about the med lineup. Country doctors don't seem quite so quick to overload a person on medication they might not need.
I think if you could lose some of those drugs and make it through the withdrawals, that you would find that you feel remarkably better. Like I said before I'm no doctor, but I know about being overloaded with medications, and what it can do to you, and it's not good(speaking from past experience). However, be duly warned, you do NOT want to just quit taking any of your meds. You need to be weaned off of them, with the help of a good doctor. Don't try to go it alone, okay?
Take care, my friend.
Both of you give me inspiration ,I've really been through nothing compared to you both therefore I press on
A trip to the ER for coughing up blood stained Phlegm resulted in an overnight stay which was diagnosed as bronchitus and muscle tears in my chest.Chest cts have revealed nothing.They did take cultures of the sputum which haven't came back yet .
My internal med. DR. has diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and put me on lyrica which I can't afford.Every bone in my body aches,I'm extremely swollen. When I lay down My body jerks uncontrollably.
Next step is an mri 9 days from now . I've been referred to a rheumatologist also. Can Anxiety cause these symptoms .these are the meds I'm currently on and truly think I'm being overmedicated Metoprolol,prozac,xanax,prevacid,ventolin,advair,lyrica,hydrocodone,and usually some type of antibiotic which never seems to stop the cough .At this point I'm ready to stop all the meds and put this thing in Gods hands.
I am a contractor and have to really hide my ailments from the people I work for ,My work has really dropped off.This is a dawg eat dawg business. I try to keep my appearance up but my weight gain and loss of muscle is becoming obvious.Its too painful to work out..I'm going to keep on going til I can't go anymore because of both of your stories and I got 4 kids/5 if I count my wife Pray 4 me as I will U both,
Rick
A trip to the ER for coughing up blood stained Phlegm resulted in an overnight stay which was diagnosed as bronchitus and muscle tears in my chest.Chest cts have revealed nothing.They did take cultures of the sputum which haven't came back yet .
My internal med. DR. has diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and put me on lyrica which I can't afford.Every bone in my body aches,I'm extremely swollen. When I lay down My body jerks uncontrollably.
Next step is an mri 9 days from now . I've been referred to a rheumatologist also. Can Anxiety cause these symptoms .these are the meds I'm currently on and truly think I'm being overmedicated Metoprolol,prozac,xanax,prevacid,ventolin,advair,lyrica,hydrocodone,and usually some type of antibiotic which never seems to stop the cough .At this point I'm ready to stop all the meds and put this thing in Gods hands.
I am a contractor and have to really hide my ailments from the people I work for ,My work has really dropped off.This is a dawg eat dawg business. I try to keep my appearance up but my weight gain and loss of muscle is becoming obvious.Its too painful to work out..I'm going to keep on going til I can't go anymore because of both of your stories and I got 4 kids/5 if I count my wife Pray 4 me as I will U both,
Rick
Hi Karen:
Mistakes or not, I understood every word. Thanks for posting, it's nice to know that somehow I can make a difference.
A word of caution, if the doctor gave you lassix to take, you must take it on schedule every time or you could wake up in worse shape than you were to be begin with. I don't feel like I can stress the importance of it enough.
I used to think that I could get along without taking it, from time to time, and one day it caught up with me and I almost drowned in my own body fluid. My lungs filled up completely and I could not take even a small short breath. I ended up in ER, and had to have breathing treatments, as well as mega doses of lassix for about 36 hours. It's not a good place to be. However, if you take your lassix on schedule it shouldn't happen to you.
Take care, and follow your doctors instructions, okay????? See ya!
Mistakes or not, I understood every word. Thanks for posting, it's nice to know that somehow I can make a difference.
A word of caution, if the doctor gave you lassix to take, you must take it on schedule every time or you could wake up in worse shape than you were to be begin with. I don't feel like I can stress the importance of it enough.
I used to think that I could get along without taking it, from time to time, and one day it caught up with me and I almost drowned in my own body fluid. My lungs filled up completely and I could not take even a small short breath. I ended up in ER, and had to have breathing treatments, as well as mega doses of lassix for about 36 hours. It's not a good place to be. However, if you take your lassix on schedule it shouldn't happen to you.
Take care, and follow your doctors instructions, okay????? See ya!
Oh...I am so sorry gmachris518, I made mistakes sometimes..of course, we r all human...at least I hope so...I am a little silly too. I get it honest...from my dad. He is a character....lol...:) U take care and I will see u round...man..K
I feel exactly the same way..girl. I was in the mirror a few moments ago b4 I read my watchlist and was praying for GOD to give me strength to keep going and when I read ur post it inspired me so much to be stronger. We have 2b 4 others...THAT is who we r. We stand up strong and fight...inside.
Last night my son had his cousin stay the night. It had been a rough day and seem like everything went wrong that could, but at the end of the day after a good movie(it was @ angels and it was so moving..a must see...I cried...it was called "Bless the child"-made in 2000 w/Kim Bassinger...it was a good movie.) I reached and got my Bible and tucked the boys in bed and read from Proverbs Chapter 3 and it seemed perfect for the boys. They feel asleep and the next morning said that they slept fine. I do have to mention I used the light from the TV and believe it or not that TV cut off I believe 4 different times as I read. I have got a shadow over my son in a pic. that I will add to my pics if u want to see. It might take me a few to get it there, but I will. It was strange how things happened, but God made me strong and I just kept on reading and felt so alive. He is the only Life we have. In Him, He makes us carry on...I thank u guys 4 being there always and I am stronger and will carry on...U do the same..keep fighting...inside...GOD BLESS..Karen
By the way...my swelling did go down some after the first Foresemide(Lasix) I took so I didn't take another..scared of meds...if I need another that is if the swelling comes back or should I take them and just eat bananas..cause the cramps in my feet and hands are rough...so, I will check back and see...now I have to go my mom is expecting our nightly prayer call....BBL...K
Last night my son had his cousin stay the night. It had been a rough day and seem like everything went wrong that could, but at the end of the day after a good movie(it was @ angels and it was so moving..a must see...I cried...it was called "Bless the child"-made in 2000 w/Kim Bassinger...it was a good movie.) I reached and got my Bible and tucked the boys in bed and read from Proverbs Chapter 3 and it seemed perfect for the boys. They feel asleep and the next morning said that they slept fine. I do have to mention I used the light from the TV and believe it or not that TV cut off I believe 4 different times as I read. I have got a shadow over my son in a pic. that I will add to my pics if u want to see. It might take me a few to get it there, but I will. It was strange how things happened, but God made me strong and I just kept on reading and felt so alive. He is the only Life we have. In Him, He makes us carry on...I thank u guys 4 being there always and I am stronger and will carry on...U do the same..keep fighting...inside...GOD BLESS..Karen
By the way...my swelling did go down some after the first Foresemide(Lasix) I took so I didn't take another..scared of meds...if I need another that is if the swelling comes back or should I take them and just eat bananas..cause the cramps in my feet and hands are rough...so, I will check back and see...now I have to go my mom is expecting our nightly prayer call....BBL...K
I'm surprised they didn't do a chest x-ray, since you were having trouble breathing. If your lungs are filling up with fluid a cheap chest x-ray would be all that would be necessary for them to see it. Instead of several hundred dollars for blood work and the EKG, they could have done a $30 x-ray. That really ticks me off.
The Hospital I was in was Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane,WA. I was life flighted there and in my room without ever having to pass thru ER, it was kind of nice. The ER is not a good place to be when you're in a life threatening position. It seems like ER staff stick you in a room and then just forget you're there.
My husband went through some of the same stuff you're talking about, and they told him it was a virus and it would work itself out, and for him it did. I got the virus from him, and it didn't work itself out, and you know where I've been, and what my outlook for the future is. So, whatever is going on with you, it's worth pushing, shoving, insisting that they keep looking until they find the cause of what you're going through.
I think a lot of the reason I'm still around is my attitude. Death is going to have to run me down, bind me, and drag me kicking and screaming to the grave, because I'm sure not going to go down without a fight.
I have never told anyone this, but when I looked up CHF online and saw a 6 month life expectancy, I broke out in a chorus of "This World is Not My Home"....and I cried. Then I got mad, and decided whatever is left of my life is going to be MINE, and I took back control, and here I am 2 1/2 years later.
The Hospital I was in was Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane,WA. I was life flighted there and in my room without ever having to pass thru ER, it was kind of nice. The ER is not a good place to be when you're in a life threatening position. It seems like ER staff stick you in a room and then just forget you're there.
My husband went through some of the same stuff you're talking about, and they told him it was a virus and it would work itself out, and for him it did. I got the virus from him, and it didn't work itself out, and you know where I've been, and what my outlook for the future is. So, whatever is going on with you, it's worth pushing, shoving, insisting that they keep looking until they find the cause of what you're going through.
I think a lot of the reason I'm still around is my attitude. Death is going to have to run me down, bind me, and drag me kicking and screaming to the grave, because I'm sure not going to go down without a fight.
I have never told anyone this, but when I looked up CHF online and saw a 6 month life expectancy, I broke out in a chorus of "This World is Not My Home"....and I cried. Then I got mad, and decided whatever is left of my life is going to be MINE, and I took back control, and here I am 2 1/2 years later.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
From the description of your symptoms, it seems like you have got CHF (congestive heart failure) and thus you should get further evaluated for the same like with an echocardiography. This will help in ascertaining whether the edema is really due to primarily a cardiac cause. The other common diseases which can give rise to a similar swelling is the liver & kidney disease and they also need to be ruled out once the cardiac status is known. Initially, you’ll be put on diuretics to take care of the edema. Please do consult a physician and seek further treatment. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care.
From the description of your symptoms, it seems like you have got CHF (congestive heart failure) and thus you should get further evaluated for the same like with an echocardiography. This will help in ascertaining whether the edema is really due to primarily a cardiac cause. The other common diseases which can give rise to a similar swelling is the liver & kidney disease and they also need to be ruled out once the cardiac status is known. Initially, you’ll be put on diuretics to take care of the edema. Please do consult a physician and seek further treatment. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care.
You strong must be a strong willed,brave person to go through so much and not give up hope you've really motivated me to not give up Thank you ,I worked out of town today, was having chest pains and couldn't breath.On the way home I stopped at an ER. An EKG & bloodwork revealed nothing,they offered no explanation for the swelling and told me to follow up with my dr. They were too busy having a pizza party to really listen to what I was saying. I feel like I haven't slept in days.I look like death. I THINK THIS THING IS STARTING TO AFFECT MY MIND AS WELL. I can't remember things.I haven't been diagnosed with anything so maybe on monday I can get some health insurance and then get some answers.
Maybe if I go to a metro area hospital they could find the problem/could you give me the name of the cardiac unit you were in.I thank God everyday I'm still alive, but I need answers soon Thanks for listening
Maybe if I go to a metro area hospital they could find the problem/could you give me the name of the cardiac unit you were in.I thank God everyday I'm still alive, but I need answers soon Thanks for listening
It sounds like you have some really scarey stuff going on, and stuff that should be addressed by a medical professional.
I remember feeling like I was going to just sit in my house and die. I couldn't lay down for 7 months because I couldn't breathe when I tried to lay flat in bed. My legs were so full of fluid that when I tried to walk it felt like I had about 60 pounds of sand attached to each leg, and everything I used to do for swelling in my ankles wasn't working anymore. I constantly felt like I needed to go to the bathroom and I can only surmise it was because of the extreme swelling in my lower body putting pressure on everything. At one time I fell down in some gravel and cut little holes in one of my legs. The holes never bled, they just weeped fluid for about 3 months.
Then I started to have "heart attack" pain, and the only thing that helped the pain(that I had in the house) was aspirin, so I took aspirin for the pain and about 3 days into the aspirin therapy I got the worst case of diarrhea I had ever experienced, and the stool was black. I had started bleeding to death through a hole just outside the exit of my stomach. By the time my husband finally took me to the doctor I was so weak I could barely walk, and I spent the next 3 days hooked up to a blood pump, receiving someone else's blood, as I was down 50% on blood volume. As it turned out I received 7 pints of blood, some of it to replace red blood cells. In any event the body only has about 8 pints of blood total, so I was in pretty bad shape.
I don't remember coughing up black and green stuff. It could have happened and I just don't remember. But I definately remember the feelings of helplessness, and being afraid dying if I didn't do something, but not able to do anything(in my mind), because I didn't have health insurance.
Before you go to your appointment, make a copy of your last post and take it with you to your appointment. There are several red flags in that post, and any doctor worth a nickel will definately take action.
Good luck with your trek. I wish the best for you, and I would be interested to know what you find out. I really do care.
I remember feeling like I was going to just sit in my house and die. I couldn't lay down for 7 months because I couldn't breathe when I tried to lay flat in bed. My legs were so full of fluid that when I tried to walk it felt like I had about 60 pounds of sand attached to each leg, and everything I used to do for swelling in my ankles wasn't working anymore. I constantly felt like I needed to go to the bathroom and I can only surmise it was because of the extreme swelling in my lower body putting pressure on everything. At one time I fell down in some gravel and cut little holes in one of my legs. The holes never bled, they just weeped fluid for about 3 months.
Then I started to have "heart attack" pain, and the only thing that helped the pain(that I had in the house) was aspirin, so I took aspirin for the pain and about 3 days into the aspirin therapy I got the worst case of diarrhea I had ever experienced, and the stool was black. I had started bleeding to death through a hole just outside the exit of my stomach. By the time my husband finally took me to the doctor I was so weak I could barely walk, and I spent the next 3 days hooked up to a blood pump, receiving someone else's blood, as I was down 50% on blood volume. As it turned out I received 7 pints of blood, some of it to replace red blood cells. In any event the body only has about 8 pints of blood total, so I was in pretty bad shape.
I don't remember coughing up black and green stuff. It could have happened and I just don't remember. But I definately remember the feelings of helplessness, and being afraid dying if I didn't do something, but not able to do anything(in my mind), because I didn't have health insurance.
Before you go to your appointment, make a copy of your last post and take it with you to your appointment. There are several red flags in that post, and any doctor worth a nickel will definately take action.
Good luck with your trek. I wish the best for you, and I would be interested to know what you find out. I really do care.
Thanks for the advice ,I have a appointment with the internal medicine Doc next week,I feel terrible, the situation seems hopeless,I use to think as long as I'm still breathing there's still hope,I'm starting to doubt that theory. I am having difficulty breathing,and coughing up green and black who knows what,fits of sneezing, stabbing pain in the chest along with a constant pressure,my vision is extremely blurred.These symptoms don't make sense ,It burns when i go to the bathroom and has weird stuff floating.
I know exactly where you are coming from. I was without insurance when I landed in the hospital the first time from the CHF. The bill was well over $50,000.00. Then, after I was diagnosed, it was next to impossible to attain health care insurance due to pre-existing, and I didn't/do not qualify for anything. I now pay almost $600/mo for insurance, and pay off the CHF bills as I can. Putting food on the table is tough now days.
Instead of going to ER, have you tried going to a family doctor and telling them what is going on with you? This isn't something that you can let go, and hope it gets better, it only gets worse if left untreated.
I know of a woman who was engaged to be married to one of my husband's Legion brothers, and she had CHF which she tried to ignore in hopes it would get better. She ended up dying in the ER, while the ER staff were trying to decide to/or not take a long needle, insert it into her lungs and remove the fluid enough for her to be able to breathe. She, in effect, drowned in her own body fluids. Personally, I can't think of a worse way to die. However, I've been to the point of not being able to breathe and I know from first hand experience just how awful it really is.
IF you do have CHF, then you can't give up. You HAVE to keep trying until you find a doctor who will listen to you. You certainly have a lot to live for, and it's worth fighting to be around for all of them, right? If it's not CHF, it still sounds like you have some serious things going on that need to be addressed.
I wish I had some answers for you, short of winning the lottery, there isn't much a person can do but keep pushing until someone will listen. Then worry about paying for it later.
I waited so long that I almost died twice because I didn't have health insurance. The thing of it is, whether you wait until you're almost ready to expire, or whether you run up the bills now, the end result is it will cost, and it's a scarey situation to be in. However, the longer you wait, the higher the bills will be, due to longer hospital stays, and more medical treatment to get you going again.
Just one last thought. Which side do you normally sleep on? If your left side is normal for you, try switching sides of the bed and sleeping on the other side for a while. Perhaps you have some nerve damage going on, causing the pain. Very real pain can be caused by something as simple as sleeping on the same side every night.
The pain can be in the shoulder, under the arm, in the left chest, and up into the neck, even causing horrible headaches. The same pain can appear in the hip, causing what feels like appendicitus(sp?), due to hot nerves. I suffer from both hip and shoulder pain, and usually the pain subsides when I switch sides of the bed and sleep on my right side for a few nights. It's something to try, and the advice is free. I hope it helps.
Instead of going to ER, have you tried going to a family doctor and telling them what is going on with you? This isn't something that you can let go, and hope it gets better, it only gets worse if left untreated.
I know of a woman who was engaged to be married to one of my husband's Legion brothers, and she had CHF which she tried to ignore in hopes it would get better. She ended up dying in the ER, while the ER staff were trying to decide to/or not take a long needle, insert it into her lungs and remove the fluid enough for her to be able to breathe. She, in effect, drowned in her own body fluids. Personally, I can't think of a worse way to die. However, I've been to the point of not being able to breathe and I know from first hand experience just how awful it really is.
IF you do have CHF, then you can't give up. You HAVE to keep trying until you find a doctor who will listen to you. You certainly have a lot to live for, and it's worth fighting to be around for all of them, right? If it's not CHF, it still sounds like you have some serious things going on that need to be addressed.
I wish I had some answers for you, short of winning the lottery, there isn't much a person can do but keep pushing until someone will listen. Then worry about paying for it later.
I waited so long that I almost died twice because I didn't have health insurance. The thing of it is, whether you wait until you're almost ready to expire, or whether you run up the bills now, the end result is it will cost, and it's a scarey situation to be in. However, the longer you wait, the higher the bills will be, due to longer hospital stays, and more medical treatment to get you going again.
Just one last thought. Which side do you normally sleep on? If your left side is normal for you, try switching sides of the bed and sleeping on the other side for a while. Perhaps you have some nerve damage going on, causing the pain. Very real pain can be caused by something as simple as sleeping on the same side every night.
The pain can be in the shoulder, under the arm, in the left chest, and up into the neck, even causing horrible headaches. The same pain can appear in the hip, causing what feels like appendicitus(sp?), due to hot nerves. I suffer from both hip and shoulder pain, and usually the pain subsides when I switch sides of the bed and sleep on my right side for a few nights. It's something to try, and the advice is free. I hope it helps.
Thanks for the info. The local ER has all but told me not to come back because their EKG's & Blood work show nothing .The pain is in the left chest area also is under my arm & neck . my head has a numb tingly feeling and it is unbearable when I lay down. The lack of health insurance has caused me to spend all of my savings. I have never smoked and quit drinking completely 5 months ago when these symptoms came on. I have been turned down for medicaid because i have more than 1 vehicle although only 1 runs . I have 6 dependants ,a 16 yr old daughter,a13 yr old daughter,a 9 yr old son ,a 6 yr old son and a beautiful 35 yr old wife,I try not to act sick around them but whatever this is has worn me down.I have my own business and pay outrageous amounts for workers comp and liability but have never been able to afford health insurance ,I don't know what to do
There wasn't any one test that determined CHF, it was the symptoms I had. The fluid build up was the first clue, then I went through a 3 day stay at one of the largest cardiac hospitals in the US, where I was hooked up to 24/7 monitors, and my heart readout showed a constant heart attack. After the 3rd day of running into my room, thinking I was dying, my doctors finally relaxed and called it CHF, which covers a lot of different symptoms, but which means your heart isn't pumping properly, or strong enough to pull the fluid out of your lower body, hence the Congestive part(a real understatment when you experience it) of the name, and since your heart is responsible for doing the pumping, and it's "failing" to do so, then the name of the affliction is called Congestive Heart Failure.
If left unchecked, the results can be devastating, or life threatening, as the Congestion builds up to the point of filling your lungs, and making it impossible to breathe, or talk, or, as in my case, your heart becomes enlarged, and weak and the amount of lassix it takes to do the job increases, and the BP meds increase, and the hospital stays become an expected part of your life.
If you look up CHF online, it will scare the daylights out of you. It will tell you that your life expectancy is about 6 months. I've had CHF for over 2 1/2 years and I'm still going, so don't just give in, but DO get a doctor who knows about CHF, and get what you need to take care of the swelling before it takes care of you.
If left unchecked, the results can be devastating, or life threatening, as the Congestion builds up to the point of filling your lungs, and making it impossible to breathe, or talk, or, as in my case, your heart becomes enlarged, and weak and the amount of lassix it takes to do the job increases, and the BP meds increase, and the hospital stays become an expected part of your life.
If you look up CHF online, it will scare the daylights out of you. It will tell you that your life expectancy is about 6 months. I've had CHF for over 2 1/2 years and I'm still going, so don't just give in, but DO get a doctor who knows about CHF, and get what you need to take care of the swelling before it takes care of you.
i have this same type swelling and have gained 20lbs in last 4 months/all the heart test and scans show normal,I have terrible chest pains/dizziness,confusion,cough up some blood ,my heart rate is in the low 50's. What test determined your CHF ?
Rick
Rick
First of, I am NOT a doctor. However, I have been through the horrible swelling you're talking about. It went on for about 7 months before I finally decided to heck with going into debt, I had to find an answer, so I went to the doctor.
What I have is diagnosed as Congestive Heart Failure, and it is treated with lasix, along with medication for high blood pressure. IF you do not get medical attention, you are right, you may die. I don't want to scare you, but let you know that you ARE in danger and NEED to get attention ASAP.
What can happen is even worse than what you are now going through. If left unchecked the swelling can go to your lungs and make it extrememly hard to breathe, if you are able to draw a breath at all. After two years of living with CHF, I was rushed to the hospitl with lungs that were experiencing a total whiteout on xray, which meant they were completely full of fluid. It was really scarey when I awoke from a nap and was unable to breath. So, when you do get lasix, TAKE IT without fail.
Also, since I waited for 7 months to see a doctor(no health insurance), I now will live the rest of my life with a weaken, enlarged heart, and probably won't have near the lifespan I should have had.
Besides the lasix, you will need to cut salt out of your diet, and work on trying bring your weight down.
The good news is...if you get to the doctor and get some lasix, you will lose several pounds in the first week of using it. I lost almost 40 pounds, and several pant sizes just from taking the lasix....it felt so GOOD. Of course that is ONLY if you do have CHF....
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Chris F.
What I have is diagnosed as Congestive Heart Failure, and it is treated with lasix, along with medication for high blood pressure. IF you do not get medical attention, you are right, you may die. I don't want to scare you, but let you know that you ARE in danger and NEED to get attention ASAP.
What can happen is even worse than what you are now going through. If left unchecked the swelling can go to your lungs and make it extrememly hard to breathe, if you are able to draw a breath at all. After two years of living with CHF, I was rushed to the hospitl with lungs that were experiencing a total whiteout on xray, which meant they were completely full of fluid. It was really scarey when I awoke from a nap and was unable to breath. So, when you do get lasix, TAKE IT without fail.
Also, since I waited for 7 months to see a doctor(no health insurance), I now will live the rest of my life with a weaken, enlarged heart, and probably won't have near the lifespan I should have had.
Besides the lasix, you will need to cut salt out of your diet, and work on trying bring your weight down.
The good news is...if you get to the doctor and get some lasix, you will lose several pounds in the first week of using it. I lost almost 40 pounds, and several pant sizes just from taking the lasix....it felt so GOOD. Of course that is ONLY if you do have CHF....
I hope this helps.
Sincerely,
Chris F.
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