cindi o'h Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 I was a good girl and went in to the ER. I have been sitting on this ever since the pain started the night that Timmy died... however long ago that was. I have been trying to ignore it and be patient with it and worry about "who" I should get to help me and where. Finally, I got the shove I needed from ya'll.. thanks to all who gave me a push. Had a CT, EKG, blood work, a couple nebulizers. All very nice people at this little community hospital. Turns out I had some kind of elevated heart enzymes that lead the doctor to dx congestive heart failure. It sounds bad, doesn't it?? I don't think it is as bad as it sounds though. I think they are just words that describe something that is treatable!!! He was a young man and a cold fish. Too young to be so cold. Too bad. He did say that he thought that this was brought about by the prednisone. I am hoping that if I can get off the prednisone that maybe the CHF will go away too. Follow up with the doc I met last week here in town. Three days of lasix and pee pee pee. All for now. I will have to learn what all of this is about. But, I am much more interested in what pies Dave's Mom baked this Thanksgiving!!! Anyone want to guess? I am going to say Pumpkin and Peach! love, Cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daggiesmom Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 I'm right there with you. I pray that you'll be ok. Get someone GOOD to take care of you. You matter to me and many others here. Get your self treated and get the ..ll out of there ASAP. Thanksgiving AWAITS!!!! Joanie (Bailey's on the rocks, please!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nushka Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Cindi, Fluid around the heart. Could very well be from the pred. I hope that once you reduce the pred that your shortness of breath from the CHF will cease. It seems it is damned if you do and damned if you don't. Get plenty of rest. Keeping you in my prayers. Nina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Cindi, Well at least now you know what it is. I have it myself, was diagnosed with it about the same time as my lung cancer. It is treatable and do able. Does not mean ones heart will stop/fail but rather ones heart does not pump blood properly. Depending on what degree you have etc there are going to suggest you watch/limit your fluids and salt (sodium) intake, not gain more then a pound or two a day--weigh yourself each morning. Also exercise--like walking helps I found, doctors/nurses approval of course. Keep those down and you will be surprised at how well it helps ones breathing. The lasix pills will flush that out of you. A good indicator one has fluid buildup is the legs or feet (elevate them if they do swell helps to bring them back down--or have sex with your legs in the air ) swell. One or both. For me it is just the left leg/foot. Warning on the lasix pills, if you take them and you have to travel somewhere make sure you know where every single bathroom is on the way. Let the floodgates begin, makes one pee like a race horse. What I do if I go somewhere is wait until I get there before I take them. Below are a couple of sites about it. I'm sure I'm forgetting something but at least gives you some food for thought and a start. Hope this helps. Rich http://www.cardiologychannel.com/chf/ http://www.americanheart.org/presenter. ... ifier=4585 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geri Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 So glad you got it checked out, see you do do as you're told........if told by enough people! Take care and get better Geri Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C. Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Cindi, Get the measuring cups handy. Take care and no cheating with medication Just get well. You are excused from bar duty at the Pub, Frank will take over, don't trust his donuts. Love Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Just think of all the weight you're going to lose with that water gone. Hey we need to look at the bright side here. I hope you feel better soon. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Cindi, They intially diagnosed my dad using the words "congestive heart failure" after his heart attack. After much research and questions to the docs it seems that they get this diagnosis from some level that comes back in the bloodwork and also I believe it helps indicate fluid build up around the heart. After some Lasix (sp?) to drain fluid in his body the counts went down and they said it wasn't congestive heart failure. So, yours very well may be the fluid in there. At least that's my masters degree in psychology diagnosis Hang in there and I'm glad to see you went to the ER! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Cindi, I'm so sorry you have this , but it is treatable. I do know from experience with Mike that swelling and fluid retention with all that prednisone is common. His legs , feet and whole body was swollen plus his bp was sky high. Hope you find that with the Lasix alone you will start to breathe better. Please follow up on this and take very good care of yourself. Happy Thanksgiving . Love, Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patkid Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 We prayed all night that you were not alone. Prayers are answered. Our God is a Faithful God. So relieved to hear from you. Brian is simply not up to a trip to St. Cloud.........but we were going to call on Paul Bunyan and his big blue ox. Geez, we love you! P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieD Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Cindi, Glad you took the advice and went to the ER. Sounds like they got to the bottom of it, thank God. We're going to start calling you and Addie the "Timex Twins". You both "Take a lickin and keep on tickin". Two tough and wonderful ladies. God Bless you both. CharlieD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazy Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Whew!!! I am SOO glad you went...No more of that armchair doc stuff (altho' I think somewhere I read Debi is working on a home doc degree...gonna send her, and her Wal-Mart BP machine after you, if you do that again! ) That prednisone really IS a double-edged sword...take it, or ya can't breathe...take it too long, ya can't breathe... Hoping & praying for improved health, happy holidays, and YUMMY pies, whatever they may be. ~Stacey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LynneH Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Cindi-girl, good thing you got your butt off the couch and headed in to your home away from home. Do they just keep a running tab for you? Pee it all away and let's get that specialist in to make sure your ticker is going full strength. I don't know about you, but I've been thinking about Rich's idea for your swelling legs. "A good indicator one has fluid buildup is the legs or feet (elevate them if they do swell helps to bring them back down--or have sex with your legs in the air ) swell." Now, Rich said it only affects his left leg. So, I'm kinda picturing Rich with one leg in the air....well, never mind....... Happy Pie-eating, Lynne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kasey Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Oh Cindi, So hoping today you are not feeling so awaful. Glad to know there is a reason for how you have been feeling. Wish I could help out - PA is pretty far away though. Loving you from afar, Kasey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Wood Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Cindi, so glad you went to the ER. Nothing to mess around with. It is treatable. Don Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Hi Cindi, I don't know much about congestive heart failure, but when my mom has the acture respiratory distress after her anyerusm procedure, her heart enzymes were high also and they said it was possibly congestive heart failure which is treatable. Turned out she did not have CHF, but they did say it was treatable when they thought it was Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar Posted November 24, 2005 Share Posted November 24, 2005 Hey Cindi, Good thing you did as you were told hey???? Hope you feel better soon, I think you have put up with enough for now!!! Warm hugs, Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tnmynatt Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 Cindi, So glad you got some answers. Praying for you girl! It's not the same without you serving in the pub. You HAVE to get well soon so you can serve 'em up. Take care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maryanne Posted November 25, 2005 Share Posted November 25, 2005 Hi Cind, Sorry about CHF, but it is very treatable. My mom went into the hospital a couple of time and they gave her IVs to drain the fluid for the heart. At home she took lasix and she was fine. You will be alright. I would say pumpkin pie and apple. take care girlfriend... you will be fine. Maryanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cindi o'h Posted November 26, 2005 Author Share Posted November 26, 2005 Did a follow up visit with my new family doc in town. He is all of about 20 years old. I stay on the lasix for about 2 weeks. I have high hopes that this will make me feel better. (please, God) It was like Christmas there. I asked for drug samples as my supply is really low... I got about 5 different kinds from their medicine cabinet totalling about $700 worth! (I take some expensive ones) I LIKE this doctor! Continued prayers for all of you. I know we are struggling in our own way; some to a greater degree than others. My hopes and prayers are with each and every one of you that we can all get through this one day at a time and holding each other up. Thank you all for holding me up when I need it. Means a whole lot to me. (speaking of holding things up...where in the world did the legs in the air comment come from, Rich? That one got me laughing! I like that. You are usually so quiet...) Bar's open... I really did buy some pickled asparagus tonight for Bloody Marys... join me? love, cindi o'h Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don M Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 Hi Cindi: it looks like you are on track to get rid of this problem. I hope it is only temporary. Don M Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bunny Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 whew. I am so glad you went in, got some answers (cold fish notwithstanding). you're never far from my thoughts, here's to getting through this latest hurdle swiftly and fully. mom had lasix, too, a few times. mucho peeing. hope it all does the trick. xoxo amie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 Cindi, It's the quiet ones that surprise people the most. But seriously glad to see things are going in the right direction. I would follow up with your cardiologist to be on the safe side and see what they say/recommend if you are not going to already? CHF is treatable and doable but also can be fatal if not taking care of properly. Not trying to (or play doctor) scare you or anyone else just saying what is my understanding of it and having to deal with it, plus a prior history of heart problems like you and me both have--better to be safe then sorry. See you at the bar, Take care. Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darci Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 Cindi...you are amazing! I am gone for a couple days (little bout with a stomach virus for 3 of our 4 family members!) I come back...and you have been to the ER, gotten a diagnosis of CHF...and you are wondering about pies? Hope that you are feeling better by now!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shineladysue Posted November 26, 2005 Share Posted November 26, 2005 Cindi , Is that a low salt Bloody Mary ? This is one of your armchair doctors chiming in here. I think you should leave those Bloody Mary's for me. You really struck a nerve with that one. Seriously, I sure hope the Lasix will do the trick. We are all keeping our eye on you. Praying for a better feeling bar tender. Love, Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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