Have a pacemaker with heart failure

Heart Failure

by DAVID H - 2018-10-18 12:10:23

I, too, deal with this. Weigh yourself (after voiding whatever) every morning in your birthday suit. If your weight has increased 2 lbs or more from the previous day, you are accumulating fluid ( or you ate too much apple pie). My drug regime: 20mg lasix, if AM weight is up, then 40mg lasix that day. Limit liquids to 2 liters/day and compression socks help.

A FWIW story:

https://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/heal-thyself-taking-a-fatal-diagnosis-into-his-own-hands-20141128

--Dave--

Fluid retention

by atiras - 2018-10-18 12:37:10

I have severe fluid retention, although am hoping for an improvement once my PM is operational.

I currently take 40mg of Furosemide (lasix?) in the morning and 40mg mid-afternoon, plus 5mg of Amiloride in the morning (because the Furosemide isn't enough). Amiloride is a potassium-sparing diuretic -- important if (like me) all the Furosemide is stripping your body of Potassium, which is essential for the muscles, including the heart. If your dcotor hasn't checked that recently, you might want to ask for it to be checked because you're increasing your lasix.

I try to keep as active as possible, but spend some part of each day with my legs elevated, and sleep with them on a pile of cushions.

One thing I found by accident that helps (because they were prescribed when I had low iron) is iron supplements (not the OTC kind, but the ones prescribed by a doctor.)  My doctor doesn't know why they help (although he speculates that they do something to compensate for poor circulation) but he's willing to prescribe them because he can see they help. I don't know whether this wuld apply for CHF though,

Iron supplements

by DAVID H - 2018-10-18 13:43:40

Be careful with these. Too high a dose of iron will reward you with a severe gut pain that'll prompt you to dial 911.

Edema

by ROBO Pop - 2018-10-18 16:10:55

You bet, I've fought this battle for 11 years 8 months. Edema (fluid retention) is a way of life for those of us with congestive heart failure. and it is the number one cause of repeat hospitalizations for heart patients. 

I enjoy end stage Congestive Heart Failure and take 160mg Lasix (Furosemide) daily plus metolozone as needed to kick start draining the swamp. My point isn't to impress you, it's to illustrate how things like dosage and treatment regimen can vary significantly between patients. While everybody is trying to help, don't do anything until you talk to your Cardiologist. He needs to tell you what the best treatment plan is for you.

"Water" pills may sound like a simple thing but believe me it can have deadly consequences. It can deplete your potassium if not properly managed. Both too much and too little potassium is a serious issue and can result in death. And while what Robin said is applicable to her, fluid (water) management is critical for other patients. I'm on severe fluid restriction and could never use water as a "flush" 

You really need to sit down with your Cardiologist and learn how to best manage your condition. Ask him what if...what if you gain 3 pounds over night or 5 pounds in a wqeek. What should you do? What about potassium depletion symptoms and risks. What if your Lasix stops working? Follow your doctors treatment regimen, monitor and limit your sodium intake as well as fluid based on what limits your dr sets, and exercise

good luck

Mild heart failure

by LondonAndy - 2018-10-18 18:37:15

I have a degree of heart failure, and take 20mg of Furosemide (Lassix), and also 25mg Spironolactone (aka Amiloride apparently) daily, which apparently specifically helps to reduce fluid around the heart. 

My doctor told me with great amusement that in the US, Furosemide is called Lassix because the effect of the tablet LASts SIX hours!  As I have an hour's commute on trains without toilets I therefore take my dose when I arrive at the office, rather than struggle with needing to pee every 15 minutes some days.

I was was finding myself a bit wheezy at night, and one night I realised that I had [unusually] forgotten to take the Spironolactone that morning, so took it as I went to bed.  I found that it helped my breathing a lot.  So I now take it at night, though sometimes get a leg cramp as I wake up and stretch, but I drink some water when I get up for the toilet at about 3am each night ...

Edema

by Rosie111 - 2018-10-18 18:38:06

Thank you everyone for taking time to comment and give suggestions. ROBO Pop my issues are similar to yours. I have been in CHF for 10 years. I have had a pacemaker for 52 years, so being paced for this long the doctors feel that this is why I went into heart failure.

i take 80 mg of lasix in the AM and 60mg in the afternoon , also spronolactone (which is another diaretic). I just saw the cardiologist for  2 extra pounds that I could not seem to drop. He gave metolozone 1.25 to take if I could not get rid of the 2 lbs by trying 80 mg in the AM and afternoon . I have dropped 2.2 lbs so I did not need to take the metolozone. When you take the metolozone to drop the extra fluid do you take your regular dose of lasix about 1/2 hour after the metolozone?

i am very strict with foods we cook all our own and don't eat out at restaurants. I find that my big issue is fluid if feel so thirsty, I have decreased my intake and amazingly I dropped the fluid.

Rose

BTW do you live in Canada?

Rose

by ROBO Pop - 2018-10-18 19:58:19

Not a Canadian, I live in Arizona

When I have a day where I notice the diuretic doesn't work, I'll take 2.5mg Metolazone with my morning dose of Furosemide. That usually kick starts things again. Periodically when things are going well I'll stop all diuretics for a day to switch things up. Doc thinks it helps. I recently stopped taking Amlodipine Besylate and the swelling of the ankles every night has subsided. 

You would probably agree Congestive Heart Failure is a challenge and can really wear you down.My second Mitral valve is worn out and we're out of options, so decided to shut down the defibrillator at my next Dr visit in Dec. We'll leave the pacemaker function going for comfort. We already cut out long term treatment

Iron supplements

by atiras - 2018-10-19 03:55:29

David H, I stay well within the prescription limits (and only take them when my oedema is bad). Yes, there are digestive consequences -- although not, in my case, gut pain -- but it's a case of picking your devil, isn't it?

Heart Failure

by DAVID H - 2018-10-19 10:02:58

One more item RE: Heart Failure and diuretics.  Keep an eye on your blood sodium level. The number should fall between 135 mEq/L and 145 mEq/L . If your number is lower than the 135 mEq/L, you are at risk with hyponetremia. Hyponetremia is deadly, don't fool with it. In my case, the primary Doc I had 4 yrs. ago noted that my number was slowly falling to 124. His comment? "Yeah, It's kinda low." He did nothing to investigate. That night, I went crazy......Screaming, cursing, fighting with the EMS crew that was called. Only thing that stopped me was the "knockout" shot delivered by EMS. The next morning in the hospital's ER, I was certain I was being prepped for shipment to some Russian Gulag in Siberia, so I bolted.  I couldn't find my way out of the facility and a big ole security dude standing in front of an elevator just crossed his arms and smiled at me. I gave up! .......An addendum, in regards to hyponetremia's deadly side:  One of it's effects is to cause swelling of the brain - that's prob. what caused my craziness - and there's no place for your brain tissue to go - except out your ears!  A retired EMS Tech has said this to me: "DUDE! - You came close!"