Just plain concerned

I am so concerned that so many have shortness of breath. The main thing I learned after my heart attack was to weigh every morning...naked. If there is more than a 3# increase in weight-it is NOT fat! It is FLUID! Do your rings feel tight? Are your ankles swollen? If you have a fluid buildup you may need a diuretic. Call your Dr. Anyone with heart trouble is a candidate for CHF(congestive heart failure. It can be easily controlled with diuretics when needed. You may not need it. But weigh daily and consider this when you get short of breath. If this helps just 1 person, it is worth posting! You are all great and I admire so many of you. so-o-o-o....here goes. Bev of NC

5 Comments

Fluid weight gain

by Grateful Heart - 2013-06-25 11:06:16

I agree Bev. I weigh myself each day and watch my calorie and sodium intake closely. If we go out for dinner, the next morning I gain 3-4 lbs without fail. I order healthy and wisely, with salad dressing on the side and use it sparingly. No sauces or butter on veggies....all the "right" choices I am supposed to make.

I take it back off in a day or two, which confirms it is not fat like you said, but it just shows how much sodium is in "healthy" choices when you eat out.

Grateful Heart

now I am scared

by cb - 2013-06-26 07:06:19

I am one of those who has breathlessness.(Pm for complete heart block, no medications) No doctor has told me about the sodium issue....now I will start putting the breathless together with the possible swelling. I am SO glad all you are out there! CHF? I am going to research that right now!

cb

by Tracey_E - 2013-06-26 08:06:40

Take a deep breath!!!! There are a thousand things that can cause sob. There are a lot of things that can cause swelling. Just be aware that a LOT of water gain combined with sob is a POSSIBLE sign of CHF. They probably haven't told you about the sodium thing because it doesn't matter for you, though it's always a good idea to watch it, everyone should heart patient or not.

CHB is just an electrical problem, a short circuit that happens in an otherwise healthy heart. It's what I have also. I've been paced almost 20 years now with no signs of additional problems. I watch salt just on general principal, I don't want to get high blood pressure or other heart disease. What I have is plenty, thankyouverymuch :o) If I had to guess, I'd say your settings need tweaked.

Everyone is different

by Grateful Heart - 2013-06-26 09:06:31

cb, salt may not be an issue for you. I find I am extremely sensitive since I have been watching my salt intake. For others it is not a problem.

Weighing yourself on a regular basis is what I do and it's a way to keep an eye on the fluid......for me.

So not everything you may read here may apply to everyone.....just take note of what does and the rest.....take with a grain of salt :)

Grateful Heart

fluid

by Tracey_E - 2013-06-26 10:06:35

Shortness of breath and swelling should always be checked out, esp if you have both at the same time! Sometimes the swelling is CHF, sometimes it's sodium. In my case I figured out it's diet. I knew some foods left my hands more puffy than others. As an experiment, I cut out grains, diary, soy, sugar and as many preservatives as possible for 2 weeks... no swelling at all after the second day. Then I added things back in and figured out it was the grains and sugar. Reading labels can be tricky, manufacturers have so many ways to sneak crap into our food all in the name of making it taste better. I try to not eat things with labels, stick to fresh food, then I know I'm not accidentally eating something I shouldn't. I drink green tea and water with lemon and cucumber, too, those help flush things out.

Angry Sparrow, a lot of Thai food, esp curry, is pretty easy to make. And check around, I found two places nearby that don't use msg and make everything fresh. I can eat there without problems as long as I don't eat the rice. Thai doesn't use soy in most dishes like other Asian foods do.

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