My grandmother has congest heart failure and she is so swelled up she has fluid seeping out around her ankles. She refuses to go to the dr or hospital and I dont know what to do. Is this serious??
2006-10-17 04:25:41 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
she is already on water pills
2006-10-17 04:38:52 · update #1
CALL 911
Have her Baker Acted (admitted to the hopital against her will - at this point she is a danger to herself, and not thinking clearly) - she'll be mad, but she'll be alive... and that's what's important.
2006-10-19 15:37:34 · answer #1 · answered by crisagi 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is BAD! I don't want to frighten you - but if you don't get her to the hospital a.s.a.p. it will be "lights out." I've dealt with a lot of people with heart disease, including Congestive Heart Failure, including myself and have never heard of fluid actually seeping out of someone.
My suggestion would be - don't give her a choice. Call 911 and get the professionals there. They'll take one look and off she goes.
Also, consider who, if anyone, has Power of Attorney or Health Care Proxy for your grandmother. That person could (should) force the issue.
My best guess is the poor thing is scared to death - literally. She KNOWS how bad this is and is afraid that if she goes to the hospital she'll never leave (alive, anyway). Right now she remains the master of her own destiny and she doesn't want to give up that control - even if it means losing her.
She may also be working on assumptions and/or information that's out of date. The advancements they've made just in the last couple years are amazing. She should go for any number of reasons. At least they could make her more comfortable.
GOOD LUCK!!
2006-10-17 08:38:59 · answer #2 · answered by 34th B.G. - USAAF 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This is very serious. The "water she is leaking" around her ankles is called 3rd spacing. it means that the cells have taken all of the fluids that they can possibly hold and the excess is running out between the cells.
In a patient with CHF this is NOT good at all. If you raise her legs the fluid will go to her lungs. BAD BAD BAD
What you need to do is call the ambulance and take her to the hospital unless she wishes to die at home.
:o)
Jerry
2006-10-17 22:48:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It looks like your grandmother might be in fluid overload as a result of her congestive heart failure. If she decides to go to the doctor, he/she will probably order diuretics (water pills) to flush out the excess fluid. I would explain to her the seriousness of her condition and explain that it can be easily fixed and controlled with medications and will NOT take a trip to the ER. I hope all goes well and good luck!
2006-10-17 04:34:34 · answer #4 · answered by gatornurse 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If she refuses to go to the hospital, call an ambulance anyway, this is very serious and can cause death. don't wait any longer the longer you wait the worse she is getting, the fluid is more than likely the same around her lungs and heart so call 911 now!!!1
2006-10-17 05:34:24 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Does she have frothy fluid running from her nose and mouth. Is she propped up gasping for air? If not, this is right heart failure, and not left. Of course, any heart failure is serious. Is she digitalized? She will have to go eventually.
2006-10-17 08:13:00 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
YES that's serious!! That is only one of the symptoms of CHF (congestive heart failure) you need to take her in to be treated...she could have so many other things going wrong...like kidney and liver failure...
2006-10-17 05:03:57 · answer #7 · answered by PPB21 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Call an ambulance if this fluid is seeping out now.
2006-10-17 04:34:27 · answer #8 · answered by demilspencer@yahoo.com 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
very serious, if she won't go to a medical dr. go to a pharmist and ask them what you should do. but they do have those water pills (generic) that you could get for her, she needs to get rid of the water, espically if it is around her heart and lungs! my grandmother had the same thing, but she did see her dr regurarly, and he had her on diazide, i have been on the same water pill since 1991, i retain water, and swell alot when i sleep.
2006-10-17 04:40:57 · answer #9 · answered by sandra t 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
SHe needs to go to the doctor!!!
There is more they can do that kust the everyday water pill she is already on.
There is an injectable drug that works quickly. And stonger pills.
How is her breathing? She could also have fluid on her lungs.
2006-10-17 04:49:35 · answer #10 · answered by Wallflower 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋