Holding water

[graybass]

I figure I can trust my brothers here at PM to help a brother out. I am older than dirt (I'll admit to over 60)
Severe heart disease in my family. Recently diagnosed with CHF congestive heart failure. I must avoid holding water at all costs. I'm on heart meds and recently added some Lasix but still tons of edema. I eat zero salt!
any recommendations? My feet look fat. This is deadly serious for me, triggered A-Fib last week. Have all the docs and cardiologists working on me but I know as much as they do.
Anything else I can do?

 

[emeric delczeg]

What type of lifestyle did you had for the last 20 years, hormone use, diet , smoking , alcohol.

 

[graybass]

I have been a personal trainer/sports nutritionist/aerobics instructor, for the last 35 years. Never smoked, social alcohol (never during the day) Used to cruise and blast, but now just hrt.
I competed in PL for 20 years.

 

[Reno911]

What is your EF at? Had you known it was dropping over the years?

Can you list all the meds you're on? Heart, BP, kidneys, etc

 

[headtrainer]

I figure I can trust my brothers here at PM to help a brother out. I am older than dirt (I'll admit to over 60)
Severe heart disease in my family. Recently diagnosed with CHF congestive heart failure. I must avoid holding water at all costs. I'm on heart meds and recently added some Lasix but still tons of edema. I eat zero salt!
any recommendations? My feet look fat. This is deadly serious for me, triggered A-Fib last week. Have all the docs and cardiologists working on me but I know as much as they do.
Anything else I can do?

Is your ejection fraction below 40%? I would suggest in addition to eliminating the salt in your diet that you also lower your carbohydrate intake and replace it with protein. I would also recommend cardio in addition to weight training. Take magnesium daily. Use spironolactone daily instead of lasix because it’s a potassium sparing diuretic. You need to keep electrolytes in balance for the heart to pump properly! Use no more than TRT dose of testosterone. You might actually have to reduce fluid intake depending on the severity of your heart failure. Remember, you can still have congestive heart failure with a normal ejection fraction.

 

[bbxtreme]

Ideally you will want to avoid lasix as this can actually make AFIB worse.

In the case of heart failure generally spironolactone will be indicated to control the edema. Secondary to that is where Jardiance shines and is indicated for usage.

There’s many other factors you could consider and look at as others mentioned above (reducing carb intake and increase cardio) but in my opinion the most important one is that you are working with a well rounded up to date cardiologist. It sounds like an easy concept, but I can assure you good cardiologist are hard to come by in my opinion.

You want someone who isn’t interested in just chasing insurance guidelines, but factors in a treatment and screening plan that aligns with your desired quality of life.

 

[Rafacarvalho]

I figure I can trust my brothers here at PM to help a brother out. I am older than dirt (I'll admit to over 60)
Severe heart disease in my family. Recently diagnosed with CHF congestive heart failure. I must avoid holding water at all costs. I'm on heart meds and recently added some Lasix but still tons of edema. I eat zero salt!
any recommendations? My feet look fat. This is deadly serious for me, triggered A-Fib last week. Have all the docs and cardiologists working on me but I know as much as they do.
Anything else I can do?

So sodium restriction will cause you to retain fluid. The WHO recommends 6 grams of salt which is equivalent to 2400 grams of sodium. In my consultancy, especially with girls, I experience these cases of fluid retention quite frequently.

Another point to pay attention to would be your intestinal health, a good functioning intestine will mean you have less fluid retention...see if your stools are normal...if you have liquid stools it is a sign that you need to make improvements.

Around 10 to 20 grams of fiber daily, I would still use prebiotics and probiotics.

And of course maintain a very good water intake.

These are just a few basic points, but nothing replaces the recommendation of your doctor.

I hope it helped.

 

[M@NU]

since i also suffer from a genetic cardiomyopathy (non compaction cardiomyopathy) and went through all issues by myself:
What medication are you on? did you add lasix on your own or is it doc prescribed?
you do not give enough information to help you.
for my case:
i am on 20mg torasemide, 49/51 entresto x 1,5, 10mg nebivolol, 25mg jardiance and 25mg eplerenone

 

[buck]

How are the kidneys? Getting them to function better could lead to mire fluid being removed.

 

[SouthernMuscle]

since i also suffer from a genetic cardiomyopathy (non compaction cardiomyopathy) and went through all issues by myself:
What medication are you on? did you add lasix on your own or is it doc prescribed?
you do not give enough information to help you.
for my case:
i am on 20mg torasemide, 49/51 entresto x 1,5, 10mg nebivolol, 25mg jardiance and 25mg eplerenone

Why do i see NOBODY else using this???

It’s just as easy to find!

also, scheisse thats a hefty dose

 

[M@NU]

Why do i see NOBODY else using this???

It’s just as easy to find!

also, scheisse thats a hefty dose

its the best loop diuretic for "constant use" imo.
i could probably go down to 10mg but i like my gh too much...

 

[lifter]

Just curious @graybass what do the cardiologists say about the HRT? IMO you should follow the expert advice of your doctors as closely as possible as you are in quite a serious situation (in other words, I would not start taking prescription items not recommended by your doctor).

Did cardio docs prescribe the Lasix? Im with others here in that I believe there are much safer options compared to Lasix for continuous use. The fluid retention in a lot of cases is nearly unavoidable meaning you will still notice puffy legs even on a diuretic.

Have you ever had any heart surgeries?

 

[MR. BMJ]

What is your dosage of hrt?

Why not just make an appt with your physician to see what may be causing the current water retention issues?

 

[graybass]

Yes I have prescribed Lasix, I don't have the list of meds in front of me but I know I'm on Metoprolol, Entresto, a 40mg statin (Lipitor) they just added Jardiance. I'll post the full list later.
I had major Quintuplet bypass surgery 18 years ago. Recovered wonderfully. Having a hard time with cardio since I tore both quad tendons, hoping will make them stronger. Doing light legs. I did not have a lot of edemas till after the hospital for A-Fib. Got out of hospital 2 weeks ago.
I was kinda hoping to find more natural diuretics.

 

[bigains]

You could utilize a standard 2L fluid restriction and 2g sodium restriction, which works well for people I have seen with CHF. Being you are on lasix which wastes potassium and other electrolytes, If your kidneys are ok, you could add no-salt, potassium chloride to season your food instead of regular salt, magnesium helps potassium function properly in the body as well. Also potassium helps balance out fluid retention from sodium to some extent. If the fluid retention remains mostly in you legs you could try compression stockings(Jobst compression stockings are a good brand, you would have to measure your legs for proper sizing). If the edema is more generalized all over and the above doesn't remove enough edema you could consult with your doctor about adjusting your medication/diuretic dosing.