What is this please?

[mtlieb]

Hi All,

My feet are swollen big time... as in the kind of swollen where when I'm walking barefoot, my toes don't even touch the floor (by a lot). Earlier today I noticed them getting kind of tingly, like they were falling asleep, but didn't pay much attention. Now they just plain hurt and are very swollen, and this is something totally new to me.

What the heck is THIS now? I quit taking the Cardizem almost two weeks ago and I'm back to just 100 mg of Atenolol. Last week during my cardio visit he told me i'm carrying a LOT of water. My face right now is as round as a friggin bowling ball, and I have all this new pain in my abdomen. Now tonight the feet thing. Is this because of my gradient increasing? The Cardizem? Is it related to the chest pain, neck pain, headaches, trouble breathing, not being able to sleep? All of the above?

Of course this happens on a friday night so I can't see or talk to my cardio for at least two days :?

Thanks in advance for any advice you might give.

Jim

[Pam Alexson]

Jim , Sorry Buddy this sounds very troubling. If he thought it was fluid why did he not start you on a diuretic? Your desciption does not produce good feelings in me. What was your weight recently before the swelling? How much do you think you are up?Swelling of the lower extremities usually indicates the added dismal picture of right sided heart failure to go along with the left sided that goes with HCM. Remember it is a backing up system as in looking at the anatomy of the circulation; failing of the pumping chambers . Your abdomem is probably uncomfortabe because the liver is engorged with the excess fluid overload. You should watch your girth measurements. Some of the excess fluid in the feet is compounded due to the valves in the vessels of your legs now not functioning efficiemtly due to the fluid overload. Jim 500cc's of fluid ;1/2 liter is = to 1 lb. For it to be showing you have far more then that! I do not mean to bash your doc but, WHAT WAS HE THINKING!!!! Jim I am going to stop scarring you now because you need to go get checked out ASAP!!! No one can predict how much abuse a tired sick heart will take we are all different. IT sounds like you may well be in acute CHF. Yes all the other things you are describing ar eas a result or contributed to by the fluid overload. GO NOW JIM ! Post when you get back I would rather have encouraged you to go on a wild goose chase then take a chance with your well being. Pam

[Pam Alexson]

Oh one more thing don't even try to joke this away , it could be seriious!When you go to the ER and they ask you what you think is wrong tell them you think you might be in failure and need IV diuretic therapy. IF they for some goofy reason like I had happen offer to send you home with pills. Take the IV instead and get the flood gates opened a bit there. By the sounds of it you are going to need a big urinal, I know I know, a little humor to lighten the moment. This way if they start giving you say up past 60mgs of Lasix you can also say do you think I need to chase that coctail with a little potassium? Good luck> Pam

[Lisa Salberg]

This is kinda of like MONOPOLY...
Go directly to ER...do not pass GO do not collect $200.00

See Jim - I fit in a little joke for you :wink:

This is sounding like you have WAY too much fluid on you. If you can not see your doc in the office head to the ER.

Sweetheart...whats the deal with the myectomy?? It appears to be time - PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!

Lisa

[Burton Borrok]

Hi Jim-bo,
Some of us here fight the good fight with water and CHF. Mt feet and ankles swell up big time, and my legs to above the knees get to feel very tight and painful – like water balloons. I also notice it in my arms and stomach. (A couple of times I’ve had to squeeze the water out of my feet to get my loosest shoes on.)

If you’ve been reading my posts you know that I usually take 40 mg of Lasix a day, but I’ve been up to 80, 120, and 160 mg. (Funny thing, at 160 mg I seem to have almost no benefit, while 40 seems to work as well as 80mg. I guess that’s just me.) The last time I saw my cardiologist he added 5 mg of Metolazone every third day to the 40 mg of Lasix. He said Metolazone is a mild diuretic, but in conjunction with the Lasix, it has an enhanced effect. (The jury is still out on that one.) I hope by now you have heeded Pam’s advice and have gotten yourself pumped out. This is nothing to fool around with.

Lisa – a joke? From you? Who takes these problems so seriously? Have I completely corrupted you too? - - Lisa made a funny – Lisa made a funny! - Love you anyway.
Burt

[mtlieb]

Hi All,

Thanks for the responses. I have not been to the hospital yet, but will be heading up there this afternoon. I'm not moving very fast since I didn't finally fall asleep until about 7:00 am this morning and quite frankly, Im just plain exhausted.

I paged my local cardio a little while ago and the man returned my call within minutes. He's turned out to be a great guy and I have tremendous respect for him. When I saw him last week I had only been off the cardizem for a few days, and we both felt it was wise to see if the weight came off by itself before adding any additional meds to my already screwed-up body. It's my own fault I didn't monitor myself more closely after that, and I've now put on 14 more pounds just since seeing him last week, on top of what I already had.

He wants me to go to the ER and get some tests done which he is ordering for me even as we speak. He was pretty adamant about my NOT letting them treat me or give me meds of ANY kind until he has had a chance to review the test results. If they try to force any on me, i'm supposed to just leave. Like most of us, he does NOT trust the ER docs to have the necessary expertise with HCM, so he wants to manage my care directly. And on a saturday no less! 8-)

I feel as though i'm in very good hands here. I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks,

Jim

[cynthia]

Jim,
boy....what else, huh?

It sounds like you are in very good hands with this new cardiologist...please let us know how you make out....good luck...hang in there, buddy! :wink:

[Lisa Salberg]

Let us know how you make out at the hospital.

Best wishes,
Lisa

[Burton Borrok]

By Jim-iny,
The afternoon is past, and you either were admitted with your new cardio’s approval, or you came home exhausted and fell asleep. When you get back to the board, let us know what you’re up to, and what the tests showed.

14 pounds over where you were before – that’s upwards of four gallons – and you wondered why your feet were swollen? Buddy boy, if we’re going to remain friends you’re just going to have to take better care of yourself.
Burt

[Burton Borrok]

Oops, I meant two gallons – but that’s still a load of water.
1 pound = about a pint / 2 pints = a quart / 4 quarts = a gallon ~ 15 to 16 pounds = 2 gallons. - It’s been a long day. I forgot to take my pills today, and almost crashed and burned. I’m better now.
Burt

[Lisa Salberg]

UPDATE:
I just spoke to Jim - who is in the hospital in CHF. He is doing well and his doctor is taking care of the situation. His # in the hospital room is 724-357-7352 - he wouldnt mind a call or two.

I must let you all know that last night Jim was at a party in the hospital!! :roll: :roll: In his own words... " I only went down the hall, had some cake and wishes her a happy birthday" At which point I said "yeh...that is a PARTY -good to know your getting rest in the HOSPITAL! :wink: "

Our thoughts are with Jim as he recovers from his CHF!

Lots of love,
Lisa

[cynthia]

thanks, Lisa...that poor guy has been through so much. I just tried calling and get a real fast beep signal??

[cynthia]

I just called Jim...sounds like such a nice guy...he was glad that I called. He knew which "Cynthia" it was...he said he could tell by my Massachusetts accent . He sounds in pretty good spirits

[Burton Borrok]

Yeah,
I just spoke to him too, and he sounded pretty upbeat to me. He’s on bed rest now. His doc is a bit skittish about giving him a diuretic because of his gradient, so he’s still pretty loaded with water. The doc is hoping as the CHF is brought under control the water problem will go away also. Jim plans on talking with him about it again tomorrow morning.

I gave him Mary’s cell phone number. Hopefully they can keep each other’s spirits up.
Burt

[mtlieb]

Hi All,

The folks here at the hospital are being very cool and letting me use one of the terminals at the nursing station to go online. Thanks so much for all the phone calls and well-wishes. It really means a lot to me. I got to speak with Mary tonight and we had a nice chat. I'm not sure how long i'll be in here yet... but i'll try to keep you all posted.

Thanks again,

Jim

[Donna]

Jim, I am sorry that you are not feeling as good as you could. But I am glad that you listened to everyone and went to the ER. I hope you get to go home soon. Take care and get the all the cake they will give you. ( chocolate is the best.)

[Abbygirl2]

Jim, take care of yourself and rest up. I hope you get feeling better ASAP!!
Take care
Pam

[mtlieb]

Hi All,

Well THAT was fun :shock:

I was released from the hospital this afternoon, based on the fact that my BNP dropped below 100 on my latest bloodwork and there appears to be less congestion in my lungs. As near as they can figure, i dropped about five pounds of water during my hospital stay, but even my cardiologist admits that i've still got a long way to go. He flat-out refuses to prescribe diuretics for an HCM'er though, so our current course of action is lots of bedrest, restricted sodium, and additional atenolol, which he believes will relax my heart enough to allow my body to get through this on it's own.

Personally i think he's being overly cautious on this point, but as long as he's not going to give me diuretics anyway, i might as well be at home. There's still lots of swelling in my legs and feet, and i honestly don't feel any better than when i was admitted to the hospital. I have a hunch that, like Mary, i may end up back in the ER sooner than i'd like. If truth be told, i've felt like i was in CHF for about eight months now, and possibly i'm just at a stage where i'm going to be in and out of it on an ongoing basis.

(As a side-note: They've run out of beds in cardio at the hospital and are in desperate need of space for new patients. I'd hate to think that this was the reason for my discharge, but i think we all know how the system works by now.)

One thing that everyone agrees on, including my doctors, is that it's time for ol' Jimmy-boy to have a myectomy. We've been experimenting with different types and dosages of drugs for well over a year now, and my HCM symptoms and gradient have done nothing but get worse. It's time i think. I really haven't been in denial about this... i've known it was coming all along. I just had to exhaust all other options before i felt comfortable in proceeding.

Thanks again for all of your calls, emails, and posts. This was my first official bout with CHF, so it was kind of scary... but i have calmed down quite a bit and i am doing great considering. I really wish we could change the terminology though. Congestive Heart Failure just sounds so friggin' terminal! When you consider that ALL of us with HCM suffer from a decreased heart capacity to some degree, the possibility of CHF is just a part of our daily lives. But when you tell a non-HCM'er that you're in CHF, they immediately think that you're hours away from death :shock:

Anyway... thanks again folks. You're support has really meant a lot.

Lots of love,

Jim

P.S. Burton: Last night when you called they had just put a new roommate in with me... a big ol' belching farting truckdriver who was a bit irritable and wanting to sleep, so i wasn't able to speak with you as long as i would have liked. I hope you didn't misconstrue that as my not wanting to chat with you... i was just trying to be a good 'roomie'.

[Glen Beamish]

Jim, I wish you all the best and hope things start turning for you real soon.
Stay well!

[shirleymahoney]

Jim

What is the problem with diuretics with having HCM, i've been on them now for over a year now but i'm telling you they aren't doing that great for me being they have me up to 160mg a day and it isn't workingi still have alot of trouble breathing and the doc thinks it has something to do with this fluid iam having clinging to me, i'm telling you i'm about to start jumping up and down screaming at these doctors, i know iam backing off these fluid pills a little, i'm worried about the long term affects on me, iam glad you are at home you will rest better there and hope this is not going to be like mary and put you right back in the hospital, stay home prop your feet and relax buddy

Shirley

[Pam Alexson]

Jim I'm glad your home I do feel as you do that you have a ways to go though . That much fluid and a large gradient = a very hard working heart . Do and I mean do take it easy and slow and get those feet up at least hourly for 30 minutes and keep helping those kidneys so they are not working so hard against gravity. It is a very difficult balance with HCMer's and CHF. Most people of the other variety must be cautioned against the fluid intake and the salt that we need . I learned how different we were from a team of nurses from your neck of the woods . BC& BS assigned me to them. They are called Cardiac Healthways based in Penn.. They had to learn about how my heart needs were different from the standard CHFer. I am trying to be confident but am not sure how this is going to work without diuretics especially going into the warm weather. There is info out there I don't know what sites they are as it has been awhile . Surf around in this time with your feet up please and look for info on left sided heart failure and CHF. Frankly I did not do well until we all got on the same page and realized that it was a carefull monitoring and titrating of fluid intake and po diuretics. I had to be carefull not to wash out too many electrolytes but also drink and eat normal and then watch it when my weight crept up. I can say that although salt is usually better for HCM people , when my gradient was high like yours I had to be extremely carefull as I went into chf of varying degrees with meals from the outside world very easily or just because it was warm or just because. I've said it at least once and I'll say it again the single most important piece of equipment a patient with CHF can have is a good scale used consistently and daily. Jim if you have any need of my experience ,please feel free I am here. Take care . Pam

[cynthia]

Jim,
It was nice chatting with you last night...please get a lot of rest at home and as always, keep us updated! :wink:

[cynthia]

I didn't know that HCMers are not supposed to take diuretics?? I was on them for about 3 months before I saw the HCM specialists..I thought others were on lasix??

[Burton Borrok]

Well Jim,
That’s one way to avoid dealing with a roommate. No, I wasn’t at all offended when you had to cut short the call. Why should I be?

Instead of CHF how about calling it Flood Tide at the Ticker and Bellows? That’s FTTB – very impressive. I know it leaves out the feet, but that is generally not a paramount issue. Or, how about Loaded with Lots of Liquid – Triple ‘L’ syndrome. Hmm, that’s not bad either. How about In Need of De-Flooderation? - INDF. At this rate we can have more names for it then the drug companies can come up with for one of their products.

As I told you on the phone, I am now on two different diuretics – prescribed by my cardiologist. Of course my gradient isn’t even in the same ballpark as yours, but I can’t help but think a small dose of a mild diuretic has got to be of some help in taking the pressure off your heart. If it was me, and my gradient was down from where it was before, I might be inclined to try one of the mild OTC diuretics. See what Lisa and your PCP think of the idea. I think it’s at least worth a second opinion. Over ten years ago, when I first started on diuretics, it was initiated with hydrochlorothiazide (it’s a diuretic and antihypertensive) that has very few if any side effects. If your PCP agrees, maybe he could start you on a low dosage.

Of course we all know what the real treatment has to be. I think you’ve about run out of delaying time. Then again you might try hanging upside down. The water might then run out of your legs – wait a minute, don’t try that. It might make you into a fat head, and we like you too much just the way you are.

In closing may I say, “Head down, Feet up – go watch some TV.”
Burt

[Laoshur]

Jim,

Rest! We are praying for you and rooting for you to feel much better!

Rhoda

[swinand]

Hi Jim, Take care of yourself and get plenty of rest. Feet up, recline, watch salt, anything that will help get rid of all the fluid in your system. It sounds like you have been putting off heading to Cleveland, Mayo or NEMC long enough. It's not the end of the world but you probably need to take the next step. That means head to a specialty center and let them tell you what they find and how treatment should procede. That doesn't mean abandoning your current cardiologist. I went to Cleveland in Jan. They ran tests, changed my meds, I made some changes on my end, and haven't felt this good in a long time. We'll see how it holds up in the warmer weather, but so far so good. Bottom line.... take care of yourself. Do the right thing for you!!! Talk to you soon, Steve.

[sueb]

Jim---So glad you got your doctor's attention and got yourself into the hospital. Sorry things just keep going wrong for you. Maybe Lisa is right about that myectomy!

Please do take good care of yourself!

Sue

[mtlieb]

Well... my legs, ankles, and feet are swelling back up again tonight. I've watched my sodium carefully, i'm keeping my feet up, and the ONLY thing i've done today is to go grocery shopping. Am i in CHF again? Did i ever even get OUT of CHF? Do i go back to the hospital again? Any advice at all will be accepted and appreciated at this point. Thanks! Jim

(Edited by Jim on 5/14 for language. Oops! I get a little CHF and turn into a real potty mouth. LoL.)

[Linda]

Jim, It's time to call your doctor back. Of course, if you are really short of breath, etc, you will need to go to the ER. I appreciate your doc's concern for careful use of fluid pills in HCM, they deserve a healthy respect, but there comes a time when you may need a low dose, check your tolerance/response, and go from there. When he hears that you've followed instructions and still have the prob, he will most likely be ready to work with something new. Did they give you any diuretics in the hosp? If so, how did you respond? Best wishes and please keep us posted. Linda

[Cynaburst]

I am with Linda. Call your doctor or have the doc on call paged.

[mtlieb]

Linda and Cynaburst,

No, they never have yet given me any diuretics. It was felt that with my gradient, that they would do more harm than good. But as you say... perhaps now they will change their minds. I'm going to prop my feet up and give it a few more hours. If i start to feel worse, i guess i'll go back to the ER.

Thanks,

Jim

[Cynaburst]

Jim - Can you call your doc's office right now and talk to the doctor on call instead of trundling over to emergency?

[Burton Borrok]

Jim,
I’m sorry, but I’ve been off in my own world for the last number of hours and am just now getting caught up with the postings. If you have been unable to reach the on-call doctor, or he is afraid to do anything (which many feel obliged to not interfere) and you feel like **** – you might just as well go there – to the ER that is – if there is a distinction.

As far as CHF goes, I’d be willing to bet that you have had it from before you went to the ER, the whole time you were in the hospital, and through to right now. I didn’t think the doctors approach of increasing your meds would do much good, and obviously it hasn’t, but then again I’m not a doctor and really can’t judge these things.

I do know that CHF is not to be taken lightly so if you’re not any better then when you went in last time – go back. See if you can again work a deal to be able to post using a nurse’s computer. There’s a lot of people out here who care and want to hear how you’re doing. If you get a phone, please post the number. (That big gaseous truck driver must be gone by now.)

Take care, and stick to it until it’s resolved.
Burt

[Pam Alexson]

Yes Jim ,I just read your PM before I read this post. My usual insomnia due to arthritic pain has me up so I hope after reading this that you have long since toddled back to the ER and spoken with your doc. It is time as Linda says to get serious with diuretics. You can insist that he try. Long before I reached the point where you are at I took Hydrochlorizide 25-50 mgs daily. Results were a big goose egg, nadda . When they started me on Lasix I was on my back and in a cardiac cath lab experiencing SOB and chest pain. They gave 20mgs IV push and then 10 min. later another 20. Whew I peeed so much they could not keep the bed pans coming fast enough. The problem is if it is too fast it can trigger an arrythmia. It did not happen then I just went down 10 pounds before I was discharged .When I had my myectomy we all decided that the 18 pounds I put on during surgery had to go as it was still there 5th day post op and again the IV push was done. A whopping 3 liters urinated out in 4 hours was too much for my still healing heart so , whamo :a-fib . The high doses of amiodorone got me out that time in 20 hours before I had to be cardioverted. So of course it is necessary to be vigilant but it is probably the only thing that will work at this degree . It needs to be looked at, straining the heart with fluid overload vs straining the heart with fluid removal . I opt for the later. I hope this post is unneccessary and you are happily flooding the ER. If you are still home, no, grocery shopping is not good as is nothing else of that nature during this period. Shopping in your fridge only Jim . Is there someone who can help you? You are getting to the point where this may be a recurring problem until that myectomy is done,even with diuretics on board. Hope to hear from you soon . Pam

[shirleymahoney]

Jim

You can beat this fluid thing my dad is 86 now and has suffered from CHF for 15 years now he has been in the hospital a few times for it, he went back this time but it was all his fault this time, my brother caught him eating a large box of cheese nips and of course when you eat crackers you need something to drink and my dad doesn't know how to sip water, but yes i hope you called someonei swell up like a balloon all the time but fluid pills usually pull it off of me but i'm up to 120 in the AM and 40mg in the PM, h*ll i take more than my dad when it comes to lasix and other diuretics have the doctors put you on anything for CHF, I take Spironolactone to strengthen my heart. I hope you are feeling better today

Shirley

[mtlieb]

Hi... I didn't go back to the hospital last night. I can't go running to the ER every time I have a bout with fluids, so I decided to stick it out here at home and keep my feet up. The scale says that I've put back on the five pounds I lost at the hospital. I have a call in to my doctor and we'll setup some guidelines for the weekend... such as when to go to the ER, etc. Thanks everybody. Sorry I've been a bit of a basket case lately. Jim

[shirleymahoney]

JIm please let us know what the doc says, and be very careful fluid around the heart is not good, i think i did too much this morning i planted some flowers and thought i was going to die before i was done and i even sat 3 times because i kept losing my breath out there but i wanted to get it done before it got hot and now it is an effort to type this to you, i was laying down but kept having palpitations so i got up those things aggrevate me, blood pressure is ok though in fact it is 110 over 76 and pulse 90 so i guess i'm ok, keep those feet propped and if you start feeling worse go to the hospital anyway

Shirley

[Ronnie]

Jim-

I've been following your thread, from your 1st post, regarding your "Fluid Problem"- I thought your symptoms were alarming, diagnosed your problem as CHF (from personal experience) & was relieved that you went to the ER.
I was unaware that HCM & diuretics did not mix! I've been on diuretics (various) since I was diagnosed 15 years ago. I've been in & out of CHF, many times over the years & only diuretics have brought relief. I had hoped that my Myectomy would eliminate the need for diuretics, but it did not.
Obviously, it important to follow your Doctors' orders-if you choose to have this Doctor treat you, you need to have faith & belief in your DR. I just don't understand why he is adamant about No Diuretics & you are in CHF.
I just wanted to add some support & assure you that you will feel Better! I know you are looking at all your Options.
Be Well

[Lisa Salberg]

Many with HCM do take diuretics - it is the over use and dehydration that is the real issue.

Jim, talk to your doctor the CHF can be more dangerous than the temp increase in gradient.

Lisa

[Burton Borrok]

Jim,
You’re a grown man with a good brain, so I won’t presume to tell you what to do. I will however tell you what I would do in your situation.

First, I would go to the hospital. Second, I would go to the bathroom and void. Third, I would get a few urinals and climb into bed. Fourth, I would get an IV push of Lasix, or second choice, Hydrochlorothiazide. Then I would just lay there and pee. I wouldn’t get off my back until I was at least ten pounds lighter – and then only to go to the john when I had to.

I don’t mind telling you that you’re scaring me. Man, thimk - before you swim. – thimk a lot. I know other factors are playing a part, but first things first.
Burt

[Pam Alexson]

Jim, Oh Jim, What is going on if you don't mind me asking for the 100 thousanth time ? What is the plan for the weekend? Now I am going to be busy in old New England heat this weekend giving my son his 18 teenth birthday. Now it is suppose to be a record breaker here and it is not that far to Penn. so going into a hot weekend with excess fluid on . What are we thinking about ? Oh Jim please don't let this go any further. Please let me know there is a safe plan. We are all very concerned for you. Pam

[mtlieb]

Hi All,

Don't ya worry yourself about me Burt, i will take care of myself and head back to the ER with the utmost speed should the need arise. By the way, the emergency room docs did try to give me nitro, and i really had to argue with the guy to keep him from giving it to me. Just think, if i hadn't been well educated by this website, i would have just let them do it. My cardio gave me a nice pat on the back for refusing the nitro. Thanks, Lisa ;)

I really don't look forward to going back to the ER and getting another IV. The nurse had such a hard time getting one in me last time, i have three huge black and blue marks and both arms already hurt like heck. They finally did get one in on the fourth try, but even then it kept closing. I can't even imagine having another one put in so soon.

I don't understand it... i've always been the easiest person in the world to poke. It wasn't until i started messing around with all these heart meds that it got so tough. Is there a correlation?

Jim

[shirleymahoney]

Jim

where are you man, no news is not good news when it comes to this type of problem , Please tell us what you and the doc talked about concerning your fluid retention, i hope you are ok

Shirley

[mtlieb]

Well the diuretic drama continues :roll:

I went back to the ER over the weekend with some painful swelling in my feet (and an additional 14 pounds of bodyweight i might add), but in keeping with my cardio's standing orders, they refused me any diuretics. I even tried my PCP, but before prescribing anything for me he wanted to consult with my cardio first, so you can guess how that turned out. I talked to my cardio again yesterday (i'm not above begging) and he basically told me that for the last time, he's not prescribing me diuretics yet and to please stop calling. Oops! Now i've done it. I just keep making my doctors mad it seems.

Now don't get me wrong, it's not some kind of conspiracy against me or anything... although it feels a bit like one. LOL. My cardio is simply being way overly cautious because of my gradient, and I do appreciate his concern for me, however displaced it might be. It's not like he called the ER docs specifically and told them that 'If Jim shows up again, do not give him the diuretics he wants'. I had just been released from the hospital several days prior, and all of my cardio's orders for me are still being followed there. That's the way it is supposed to be, right?

I also know that he gave the ER docs a bit of a lecture after they tried to give me Nitro that first night, so I can't really blame them now for wanting to follow his instructions to the letter. And as far as my PCP is concerned... he's one of the best i've ever seen, and very well informed regarding HCM and all it's complications. I'd have actually been a bit disappointed if he'd simply written me a prescription for Lasix without consulting with my cardio first. He did what he was supposed to do.

Does anyone remember that episode of Seinfeld where Elaine's doctor writes that negative comment on her chart, and everywhere she goes it follows her around and she can't get treatment? LOL. That's kind of how i feel right now. I'm about ready to put on a fake nose and mustache and slip into another ER under an assumed name :shock:

Jim

[Pam Alexson]

Yeah Jim that was a funny episode. How long has it been since you saw Dr. Maron? Could a call to him help or a phone consult from Lisa to him regarding his opinion be done with your permission? I'm fearing that you could end up in a serious cardiac crisis if this goes on any longer.I keep envisioning the day the little girl in the Willy Wonka movie looked like a big round blueberry! Don't let this happen! Take it slow . Pam

[mtlieb]

Pam...

Just add some blue food coloring, and i would most definitely pass for the blueberry girl from Willy Wonka! Good grief :shock:

To be honest... right now i do feel like a big GIRL. I'm retaining fluid, i'm grouchy, and if i didn't know better, i'd swear i was suffering from PMS. LoL. I do have a call into Dr. Maron, but i would be surprised if he could really do anything for me without having seen me in well over a year. He's a pretty good guy though, and i have no doubt that he might at least have some good advice on how to proceed. I don't want to put him in an awkward position though, so i won't ask him to prescribe any meds.

In the meantime, i have stocked up on all kinds of fruits and veggies that are naturally low in sodium, and are also supposed to be good diuretics. I like all of these anyway, so it's no hardship for me. If you can think of any others to add to the list please let me know:

asparagus
watermelon
cucumbers
horseradish
celery
cranberry juice
lemon juice
green tea
strawberries (for potassium)
bananas (for potassium)

Thanks for your response :)

Jim

[TammyC]

Hi Jim
I'm sorry to hear you're having such a difficult time. I pray you will feel better. I think you truly know when your body is telling you it's time for help. Follow your "big" heart.
Take Care.

[Pam Alexson]

Jim you are so funny and make me laugh and You got the list OK Little Boy Blue. Just watch that asparagus; it makes your urine smell real bad. But I love it anyway. I hope Dr. M . gets back to you soon . As much as you like your doctors if they are not helping you get rid of the fluid well you got to step back and look at the big archialargical site. You know what I mean? Dig in there man and get dirty if you have to! Keep on using that great sense of humor . Pam

[mtlieb]

Just watch that asparagus; it makes your urine smell real bad. But I love it anyway.

You got that right Pam. Yikes! :shock:

Thanks for the help,

Jim