the water pill dose is 40mg but his Nephrologist (kidney specialist) told him to take 3 pills instead of one because it wasn't working at 1st and that worked for a short time.
He's barely eating anything. He feels so bloated all the time like he's going to pop.
What are other signs of heart failure besides edema?
2006-11-03 14:14:39 · 9 answers · asked by buddabear38 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Symptoms of heart failure start to happen when your heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body. In the early stages, you may:
Be short of breath when you are active.
Feel like your heart is pounding or racing (palpitations).
Feel weak, very tired, or dizzy.
As heart failure gets worse, fluid starts to build up in your lungs and other parts of your body. This may cause you to:
Feel short of breath even at rest.
Have swelling (edema), especially in your legs, ankles, and feet.
Gain weight. This may happen over just a day or two, or more slowly.
Cough or wheeze, especially when you lie down.
Need to urinate more at night.
Feel bloated or sick to your stomach.
If your symptoms suddenly get worse, you will need emergency care.
2006-11-03 14:17:47 · answer #1 · answered by barbi316 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Edema *is* the key hallmark sign of heart failure. Someone else posted and said to make sure your husband is taking Potassium supplements ....please*do*not*take*that* advice.... All cardiac conditions are NOT created equal. If your husband has what's called high ectopy (a certain type of heart condition) then taking potassium could kill him because his heart would not be able to handle the potassium. Instead, whatever your husband's Nephro prescribed for him is what he should be taking and tell him to take the pills exactly how they're prescribed. That means if his dose of Lasix has been increased for a couple of days he needs to make sure to follow those directions.
If he's so bloated, I'm wondering if he has CHF (congestive heart failure) in which, the edema and bloating would be his main complaints in addition to fatigue and shortness of breath. The best thing your husband can do is to get tiny bouts of walking in throughout the day- not far- even if he just goes from the kitchen to the bedrooms a couple of times. The heart is a muscle like any other and even in cases of people with heart problems, this muscle needs to be exercised.
Also watch your husbands blood pressure and sugar levels (glucose) because if he's retaining that much water, he's likely to have a high blood pressure without even knowing it or become diabetic. Either way, you should be in good medical hands by seeing the Nephro. Good luck and tell him he's lucky to have someone who cares so much! :)
2006-11-03 14:59:08 · answer #2 · answered by Gotham*City*Kat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some people don't have all the exact symptoms but a few are:
edema in extremities, mostly legs & feet that makes the skin look shiny. Also edema in hands & face. Extreme shortness of breath, non-productive coughing to clear your lungs but you feel fluid filling them up again. I would be concerned that the Lasix (I assume that's what it is) is not working. If you are having to constantly increase the dosage, then maybe you should see a cardiologist, especially if he has already been diagnosed as CHF.
2006-11-03 14:31:06 · answer #3 · answered by RBRN 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shortness of breath (especially with any exertion), weakness, fatigue, bloating of the abdomen, edema are a few. My concern is your husband is speaking with his nephrologist regarding heart failure, he really should see a cardiologist before too much damage is done to the heart and it can't be reversed. Best of luck to your hubby.
2006-11-03 14:23:04 · answer #4 · answered by julie b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Palpitations, Shortness of Breath, fatigue.
Check out this website:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=339
Why would a Nephrologist prescribed him a water pill (assuming it is Furosemide) for heart failure and not a cardiologist? Make sure he is taking Potassium supplement as well.
2006-11-03 14:23:26 · answer #5 · answered by ltprph 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why does he see a nephrologist? He isn't in renal failure is he? 120mg of (I'm guessing here) Lasix? is quite a lot. Does he have very much urine output after taking it? If he starts having a hard time breathing, u need to take him in to the hospital.
2006-11-03 14:22:22 · answer #6 · answered by dragonkisses 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to a different doctor. They have several pills that he can take if those are not working they need to give him something else. Also, have him drink a lot of water, I know it may sound wierd but, water helps you lose water that is why they gave him H2O pills. Other than that, dont let him drink diet pops as they retain water.
2016-03-28 06:09:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does he take any other medicine? I was on an arthritis medicine years ago that caused fluid retention (no, I don't remember what it was any more). After they took me off of it, the edema went away.
2006-11-03 14:19:34 · answer #8 · answered by quagi m 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.heartfailureinfo.com/TherapyAwareness/application?origin=hfMenuBar.jsp&event=bea.portal.framework.internal.refresh&pageid=Prevention&site=www.heartfailureinfo.com&c=overture_ppc&kw=symptoms_of_congestive_heart_failure
This site has a listing of the many other symptoms of heart failure.
2006-11-03 14:19:33 · answer #9 · answered by Silva 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋