What could be wrong? the doctor said that the result of the chest xray reveals liquid and enlarged heart?

Question

i have been diabetic for sometime now, and insulin has been working for me. of recent i have discovered that my glucometer [i use accu check advantage] reads abnormally high 450 upwards. am i no longer responding to insulin or the machine has gone gaga.
i have swollen legs and sometimes the face when i wake up. have gone to tests, the doctor said that i have fluids - water in the heart area and lungs, that s why i experience swollen legs and shortness of breath at night. He has not told me why it is so, is m y liver okay, or kidney, why would water find it difficult to leave the system.
what can i do to arrest this situation, i was given drugs, but i am not satisfied yet. My legs become pretty large especially after a days work, and you can see the impression of the object used to press the leg. please i need help before it is too late, and a suggestion of what may as well be responsible. I intend to go herbal medical. i need advise.

Answer 1

it sounds like you have congestive heart failure, one of the many risks faced by diabetics who do not or cannot control their blood sugar.
Unfortunately there is no cure for this, and medicine is limited in what it can do for you once you develop congestive heart failure. The heart gets large and flabby and doesn't pump effectively anymore, and it will simply continue to worsen until ultimately it will result in death. To prolong your time, you need to keep strong control of your blood sugars, you must not eat any salt at all and you must continue to be active. If you are not seeing an Endrocrinologist and a Cardiologist, then those are the two doctors who have the best chance of prolonging your life. If you haven't gotten your affairs in order, I suggest you do so.

Answer 2

First and foremost ignore the answer by noodle. Perhaps his brother did die in 8 months. You are not his brother and he is not in a position to tell you this.

It sounds like you have a condition called congestive heart failure. People who get this live for many many years quite sucessfully with this disease.

You are right not to be satisfied. Please, keep in close touch with your doctor. Talk to him. Ask questions and listen carefully. Write down what he says because once you leave the doctor's office everyone tends to forget and muddle what was said. I do not know what speciality your doctor is in. It might be wise to also see a cardiologist. if your insurance requires a referral be made by your primary you might ask about this.

It may take sometime and some adjusting of your medication to get this under control. As far as your diabetice your doctor can run some additional test to verify if you are indeed out of control with that, or if it your machine. Based on your problems I am betting the machine is correct.

You might have to be a squeeky wheel. Keep going back to the doctor. Let him know your concerns and that you are dissatisfied.

The very questions you ask here, things you find yourself wondering about are the very things you should be asking your doctor and insisting on answers that you can understand.

If he answers but you don't understand make him explain it in terms that you can. Doctors tend to forget that not everyone speaks medical language. Sometimes they assume you won't understand anything and explain things too simply. It sorta sounds like he takes the latter aproach. Water around your heart and in your lungs is too simplified. You need more information.

In your situation the drugs that the doctor can give you will be much more effective than herbs. In your case you need more than herbs. Do not bring herbs into the mix without first talking with your doctor because when combining some herbs with some western medicines you can have adverse reactions. Some herbs and some drugs do not get along.

Sometimes it is ok to mix them but talk to your doctor first, and follow his advise.

Answer 3

Hi,

Sounds like your dr's not being v helpfull - maybe you should try seeing someone else? esp they should be able to tell you what's up with your blood sugars - insulin will be working, but you might need to increase your dose - I'm assuming you have type 2 diabetes?

I don't think that fluid retention is something commonly linked with diabetes (but as with everything for people with diabetes, improving your blood sugars will be beneficial) and I am worried telling you what to do as it is obiously severe in your case - I get fluid retention and take tablets for it as well as eating asparagus, which I'm told is v good for it, but mine is nowhere as severe as yours and your dr is the first place to go. Keep on at them about how you're feeling etc. so that they understand the effect this is having on your life, and as I said, get a second oppinion if you're not happy with what they're doing.

If you're thinking about alternative therapies, they may have something to offer. The first thing is to remember to always tell both your gp and whoever you see all of the medication you are on, and do not stop taking medicine given to your gp in favour of alternative therapies! A lot of western drugs actually come orriginally from a herbal source or may work in the same way so it is important that everyone knows everything that you are taking to ensure that you don't overdose on anything. The other thing that I'd say is to go for a western looking one where every thing is not in chinese or anything like that - I've nothing against chinese or any other medicinal systems, but you don't need a communication problem with a practitioner and a western specialist is more likely to take into account other medications you are on etc. and to explain everything to you a lot better (I'm saying this from experience!) - they will probably know more about the western drugs that you are taking too and in my experience won't hesitate to refere you to someone else (western or not - they'll know who's best) if what they're doing isn't working for you, so that's where I'd start.

Good luck - hope you get better soon xxx

Answer 4

If you start trying to self-medicate with herbs, you will only hasten your own death. There is little you could do that would be more foolish.
You need to go back to your provider and ask questions - the exact ones you're asking here. There are virtually NO experts who contribute to this forum. You should ask your physician to refer you to a Certified Diabetes Educator - a very highly trained and specialized person who can answer your questions, and more importantly, help you devise more appropriate self-monitoring measures and a proper diet.
Diabetes is a killer, no doubt about it. I've had the God D*mn disease for a dozen years and I have the academic background to understand and deal with it. And it's still hard for me!
It's NEVER too late to get control of your health. But do it right and don't monkey-putz around with "herbal" or "complementary" remedies - they'll cost you an arm and a leg and they will hasten your death. Capisce?

Answer 5

my dad had this, the kidneys and the heart are linked quite a lot. My dad started with atrial fibrillation and then got the diabetes.
Your heart is finding it hard to pump the blood around the body. The lungs problem is to do with both the heart and the kidneys. If you look up COPD you will find information about the fluid on the lungs.
My dad survived a good 6 years after diagnosis.
They increased his water tablets and he had to be very careful with his blood sugars as well.

I have put a link in for the British lung organisation.

Answer 6

I just recently tried https://tr.im/NnK71 last month to see if I could track down my birth-parent. My bio father left me when I was 8, and has refused to contact me since. I grew up with my biological Mother and Step-father. I have only ever talked to my biological dad a couple times till recently. All I knew of him personally when I conducted the search was his full name, and the state of a previous address he used to have.
When the results came back based on the minimal info I had, It pulled up a current address even his phone number. When I called the phone no., I heard the voice of what sounded like it may be my step-brother. I asked if Joseph(my bio father) was present, and he said no but to try back after 7.
I haven't done anything with the info since, But yeah I found what I was interested in.

Answer 7

You are retaining fluid. Do you drink water? I didn't say diet cokes, tea, these dehydrate. The medical issues you have describe cause fluid retention, and you can still be dehydrated. Water... first choice to herbal/alternative medicines.
I have R.A. and have done a bit of study for the fluid issue. I was retaining fluid but was so dehydrated couldn't find a vain to take blood.
God bless you.<><

Answer 8

Your doc did not leave anything out. You have fluid on the lungs and heart which is not uncommon. This happens often to people espescially those with heart and lung problems. Diuretics are what is used to get rid of the fluid. You need to be sure to put on a pair of very good support hose BEFORE you get out of bed in the morning since you legs are swelling. Once you put the legs down off the bed it is of no use to use the support stockings as fluid and blood has already pooled down by your feet and you run the risk of causing the blood to for a clot in your legs. You also need to elevate your legs as often as you can. If you have a standing job you may need to take a medical leave until you get this controlled. If you sit down at a desk for your job then bring something you can prop your feet up on while you work. Even a wastebasket with a pillow to put your legs on is better than nothing. At night you need to elevate your legs on pillows or a wedge and try to get them higher than your heart. As for your glucometer run your control checks to be sure your machine is functioning properly and also check to be sure your machine is set to the number on your bottle of strips. If your machine checks out ok then update your doc about your blood sugars so he can advise you what he wants done next. One rule of thumb here...............if your doc doesn't explain things clearly as in "he has nottodl me why it is so" then YOU need to SPEAK up and ASK him what is causing your problems.

Answer 9

This sounds like congestive heart failure (CHF). Follow your Dr's advise to the letter. Fluid is backing up because your heart can not pump it efficiently.

Answer 10

Your doctor should have answered these questions. I am no doctor but my father died of diabetes and congestive heart failure and had similar symptoms. Go back to your doctor and demand some answers.