MetaChat - Fragnabbit!

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02 January 2009

Fragnabbit! I just learned that because of my congestive heart failure →[More:] - just one of a multitude of my heart problems - I should be severely restricting my fluid intake. Although I never strictly followed Atkins because of the associated cholesterol, I did take from it the drinking of vast amounts of water, and I have continued doing so.

Learning this now is a bit weird because I have researched other heart factors quite thoroughly and to the point that my cardiologist can often speak to me in his language rather than layman's terms. However, CHF slipped through the cracks. So, oops, something to discuss with doc next week. Doh!

I also learned this morning that I was showing symptoms of CHF almost ten years before my first heart attack, but I just wrote them off as those little things that came with middle age. This would coincide with my regular doctor's suspicion that my heart disease was already advancing significantly when I was an early teen. Live and learn, eh?

post by: Ardiril at: 11:30 | 10 comments

Put another way: "No more latte grandes for you!" even if they are fat-free.

posted by Ardiril 02 January | 11:34

My father had smoking-related CHF. I don't recall him having fluid restrictions but I remember salt being a problem for fluid retention. This was quite a number of years ago, so things may have changed since then. And I wasn't living at home at the time so I may not have the complete picture. If CHF is part of the problem, I would hope your doc has been talking to you about it along the way.

posted by DarkForest 02 January | 11:49

My previous cardiologists were reactive; that is, they only responded to things I mentioned and didn't do much in the way of background. I just started seeing my new cardiologist and I already present to him more issues* than he can address in a couple office visits. I don't know if he will want me to restrict fluids, it's something I got off WebMD and even that site is half bulshytt.

* For instance, on Monday I was #3 of 5 scheduled for the cath lab. I went in at 11:30 and came out at 5:00. If he did the other two, that was one long ass day for him.

posted by Ardiril 02 January | 12:10

My grandmother has the same condition, and had to restrict her fluids for as long as I can remember. So I guess it's not that unusual.

posted by kellydamnit 02 January | 13:35

Hey Ardiril ... since caffeine is a diuretic, maybe the grande non-fat lattes are still cool?

I'm just saying, don't give up your IV drip of coffee until the doc tells you to. Or, give it up temporarily until you see him next, and then ask about it. 'Cos, dude. Coffee is important.

Sorry to hear about your heart troubles. But it's good you're, you know, taking proactive measures and stuff. Are you still allowed to get whuffles?

::whuffles::

posted by brina 02 January | 13:39

My brother had CHF a few years ago and was also on limited fluid intake. He's fine now. It's pretty damn treatable.

posted by mudpuppie 02 January | 13:46

Ugh. Hang in there, bud. As somebody who ALWAYS has tea, water, or beer close at hand, that "restricting fluids" thing sounds kinda rough.

posted by BoringPostcards 02 January | 14:20

That sucks.
I have something of the opposite problem- I hate water and most other drinks, but then I got a kidney stone as a 20 yr old girl and had to start drinking a lot more of it. You'll get used to the change, don't worry!

posted by rmless2 02 January | 17:06

My father-in-law has CHF (along with other things) and he's always been a salt addict - no matter how many doctors told him to lighten up. Now he's on diuretics to get some of the fluid out of him. I'm glad to see that you take much better care of yourself than he does!

posted by redvixen 02 January | 20:07

Today my doc said my kidney function is fine and to continue drinking fluids like I was on Atkins. OTOH, he agreed with my cardiologist that my will to live and lust for life are the main things keeping me alive. My heart is on a hair trigger and could go at any time for any reason. So, live the life I choose.

I have always wanted to visit New England in the dead od winter, so I will be heading up that way around the end of next week.

posted by Ardiril 06 January | 18:07

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