SWOLLEN FEET, ANKLES AND LOWER LEGS OUT OF CONTROL

[BaliRob]

I have congestive heart failure, following a bout of myocarditis caused by a virus. I really feel for you, those feet look so uncomfortable. Is there a particular reason why you don’t want to elevate your feet? Do you find it uncomfortable or is it just that you’d prefer to be more active? I try to elevate my feet whenever I am sitting. My medication is more than yours: 80mg Lasix and 25mg spironalactone per day. 40mg lasix doesn’t sound very much looking at the condition of your lower legs BUT of course I don’t know what side effects it was that made you reduce your dose.

Porridge is very high carb and so isn’t the best choice of breakfast if you are wanting to keep carbs low, but to be honest I think the heart failure + underdose of diuretics + not elevating your legs are probably more to blame than some porridge. If you enjoy porridge then keep eating it! That’s not unreasonable at your time of life. But don’t kid yourself that it’s good for diabetes because it isn’t.

@Finzi - please read my reply @hopeful below. I think I will go back to incremental use of Lasix again. Regarding Porridge. I would ask you to obtain a copy of the eight-year research programme commissioned by Starbucks into the efficacy of Porridge as a healthy breakfast for those with Diabetes et al. All I can remember all those years ago is that Starbucks made it their Star Meal of the Day (breakfast) which persuaded me to change from Weetbix and banana (which horrified many members) to Porridge. I am aware that there a four methods that go into individual versions of Porridge - steel cut, etc., but none of the Quaker packets detail them and only tell us whether 'QUICK' cook, etc. Notwithstanding whether good or not so good for me - as I only have half a cup of porridge daily - have decided to follow your advice - "keep eating it" To answer your point about elevating my feet. For me to observe any reduction in swelling (which only takes just over an hour to accumulate) I would have to keep them elevated for 5 hours at least - which would mean a very much earlier death. I am a firm believer that activity is the only way to keep the blood carrying oxygen around the body - hence my longevity (82) with such serious illnesses - and I have already survived with 62% (decreasing) Congestive Heart Failure longer than most for c.20 years - most dying before 10 years from diagnosis. So I am a lucky man - just a moaner about the pain keeping me awake at night hahaha.

 

[Hopeful34]

@hopeful Regarding the drug Spironalactone (Aldactone) This drug is not available in Indonesia and I think I would have an impossible task getting it through Customs because of its reputation. From all of the papers I was able to research - extreme caution should be exercised when prescribing this drug which has such narrow parameters for safe use and I hope that your relative knows this. Also, constant monitoring is required which would have also been impossible for me. But thank you nevertheless.

Thank you. My relative was closely monitored.

 

[fendertele]

Might be completely unrelated to my situation but around the time I got my diagnosis I was drinking tons of coffee and energy drinks and it was during this time My ankles stomach and all over in general were balooning up to the point my socks were leaving marks.

I didn't connect the dots but I went to the doctor and got diagnosed with Type 2. I read somewhere when someone is dehydrated that the body will hold onto water and also when dehydrated the sodium in the blood is higher due to lack of water to dilute so the combo can also increase your BG readings or something along those lines.

If I pound really salty meats and dont drink a lot of water my BG levels are higher than if I ate the same things but was properly hydrated.

I have normal BG levels when fully hydrated on a low carb diet.... my BG levels are iffy even on low carb when im dehydrated.

 

[BaliRob]

I am two years on from the period covered above. I thought I was in a bad condition - HOW WAS I TO KNOW IT COULD BE FAR FAR WORSE? My legs are like tree trunks - I can hardly walk (staggering around like a drunk hahaha) please please please - can anyone help me with supplying a medical expert as a contact? Because of the swelling
I am now suffering from leg ulcers which take months to heal and the pain is 10/10. Sleep is a rarity and now feeling
muscular chest pains although gentle at the moment. If I could reduce the oedema I would be over the moon but wake up in the mornings with legs still as swollen as during the day whereas both feet and legs used to be almost normal first thing - but quickly fill up with platelets within the hour. My lady has got me drinking Ginger for past couple of weeks but, apart from refreshing when cold, I cannot detect improvement but I WILL continue to please her.
I still have the desire to live even during the worst pains but would love a more gentle journey to life's end.

Thank you for reading my plea - remember I need an expert Endocrinologist and perhaps a heart specialist for the congestive heart failure to email with - however my local doctor has done her best and is great at ulcer treatment and, but for her, I would certainly have died from Peritonitis like one of my very much younger friends back in England did.
So my problem is NOT being in S/E Asia.

Mod edit to remove personal details

 

[BaliRob]

OK thank you. I tag it a winner, right?

@ickihun - long time since we spoke - hope you are doing better than me. I always remembered your helpful replies....Rob

 

[CatsFive]

Not all our health problems are due to our diabetes, and I think you need good medical help to improve this. AFAIK, most of us are in the UK so we don't know doctors in Bali, or Washington - that's how I read the 'WA' in your post.

 

[lovinglife]

Just a reminder that forum protocols mean that we don't allow members to name individual Health Care Practitioners on the open forum .

 

[BaliRob]

Not all our health problems are due to our diabetes, and I think you need good medical help to improve this. AFAIK, most of us are in the UK so we don't know doctors in Bali, or Washington - that's how I read the 'WA' in your post.

Thank you for your reply. Congestive Heart Failure is a common illness caused by Diabetes - I was diagnosed with left ventrical at 42% - seems always to be the left ventrical - which is the direct cause of the oedema to lower limbs the heart not having the strength to pump the platelets around the circulatory system. Ten years on it must have fallen to a very low percentage. Average life expectancy upon diagnosis is 10-15 years.

I know that there is no cure other than a heart transplant but one always lives in hope even in the last few weeks of their lives. I think "Clutching at straws" seems appropriate.