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Diuretics
How do you live normally with taking diuretics as furosemide?
I take three pills every day of Furon (name of diuretic medicine here in Czech republic), but then I spent several hours going on toilet every few minutes. How can I go anywhere in such state? How do you do it, when you have to pee so often? I can´t imagine to go to cinema or theatre, or travelling by bus or car or train anywhere. Is there solution? Thank you! -
71 Replies
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Hi Martina,
Unfortunately that is what diuretics do and how they work. When people take them they have to frequently go to the bathroom. For me, this lasts about 2 to 3 hours and then stops and is regular again. I would suggest asking your doctor about a good time to take them so that going to the bathroom doesn’t take up your entire day. Maybe early in the morning? Definitely ask about it! -
I take 3 pills daily as well – 2 in the morning and one about 2 pm. Like Brittany, I have about a 2-3 hour time frame after taking the meds of needing the toilet. Sometimes, it doesn’t bother me until after I’ve taken the 2 pm pill. Good luck and keep us posted! HUGS!
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Beverly,
Thanks so much for the response. It definitely is hard to manage the symptoms but unfortunately it is necessary for many of us to take these! I wish i could skip it some days but the next day and sometimes the same day I pay the price.
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I am on 60 mg of Lasix,I take it first thing in the morning,I don’t seem to have to urinate as much as I did in the past.I do try to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day,I also was just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes but have been trying to control it by my diet.I see my doctor tomorrow,my AC1 is at 6.8 and she may want to put me on something for the diabetes.My ankles do not swell but I think I swell around my belly,it always looks and feels bloated which seems to push up on my lungs making breathing more difficult.Take care Martina.By the way my sister maned her daughter Martina after our grandmother on my daddy’s side of the family,beautiful name!
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Hi Pam,
I remember when i first started it and took 20 mg i had to urinate so much and so frequently. After getting used to it and adjusting too it , it doesn’t seem as often that I am running to the bathroom. I feel for your discomfort with the bloating around your stomach. My legs don’t swell or bother me as much as my stomach swelling which just def adds to the trouble breathing . It’s vicious.
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Dear Martina, Brittney is exactly right. #1 the fact that your urinating that much from the beginning means your body was bloated and needed a good flushing out of the water.If affected in this way, just stay home for a few days and We promise that you will almost become regular after the original flushing out of your body. this includes, legs, other limbs, your belly and your entire body had much access to water. Stop the salt, at the beginning double up on our potassium and limit your fluids during this initial. My dear, we have all been through to the point that draining out the water, have large urinations actually will feel good in the future. Do not Worry, just have fun.
Ron Cole…Pissing Expert.-
Ron,
Great advice about the salt intake! Martina,I would also consult with a doctor and see if they have any restrictions on fluid intake. Fluid is also found in things like fruits, lettuce, etc. There’s hidden amounts of it that you may be consuming during the day! Ask a doctor about how much fluid is best for your given your dose !
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DEAR MARTINA,
I AM NOT GIVING YOU MEDICAL ADVICE ONLY SHARING WHAT I KNOW AND DO.
Martina, I was told the Maximum is 2 liters a day. When you take, let say 3 water pills, like120 Mg of Lasix, I would double up on your Potassium 5 out of seven days and take these pills all at once about 10 AM so your urination does not keep you up. Honey, each case is different, If you’re thirsty all the time, keep a small glass in the kitchen, and spaceout your cold water because it is refreshing. Do not worry so much dear. a little too much or not enough water on a given day will not harm you. You could also buy sugar-free popsicles and have a few of those each day for your pleasure. THE STAIRS. just do one stair at a time, eventually, you will reach the top. Do not start out looking to climb them all in your mind, one at a time and don’t put a time limit on your journey, also don’t dread going up and down. This PH will have its peaks and valleys, just accept your challenges one day at a time. do not sit there and fret. Personally, I have been fighting with this lousy Oxygon Provider, I have had NONE in my CPAP machine at night and I have to get up, go outside 3-5 times a night and breath in deeply just to get by, so life’s a beech. Work, I would suggest while you able to apply for all the assistance you can get now, go for every dime you can get, also use catholic charities, you do not have to be Catholic. They have folks that will help you, at no charge to you. Ask your Doctor to get you Home Health Care, at least you will have a nurse coming by 2-3 times a week and if you’re in dire straights they can guide you. Just take it easy, do not fight this challenge, just kind of flow with it in your mind and thank God for your good days, Girl, You are not alone, believe me. I wish you peace and comfort. Ron Cole USMC -
Martina, You call him and demand Potassium, this could be the reason your feeling bad. In the meantime eat one Banana a day and 6 oz of real Orange Juice. Keep Bananas around like one ever two days. they are only 90 calories.
Ask him about your blood work, perhaps your natural potassium is too high but I doubt it. Tell him on 2-3 Lasix a day you looked it up and how many should you take I think perhaps the amount I told you. but I am not a Doctor.
Call and demand and try to get a pharmacy who delivers, no sense wasting your energy running back and forth dear.
You can write me anytime, when I am free I will answer you for sure, it takes time dear, read all you can on this site but seeing something here does not mean it applies to you.
God is your Co-Pilot, do not forget that.
Ron -
Hi Brittney,
The Medication I take for stomach bloating is spironolactone 50 mg daily.I take it in the Morning, perhaps you’re taking the same thing under another name.
Join the site. Drugs. Com. You can find anything there, great site.
Look it up and study it before you call your doctor.Hope this helps you.
Ron
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Thanks for the info Ron. I’ll be sure to check out that site! Didn’t even know they had a site like that 🙂 Very helpful!
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I took Aldactone too, Ron. Same time as Lasix. Never had any issues, except peeing constantly.
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had an appointment with my cardiac specialist last night. He wants me to drink so i don’t get dehydrated. New regime..Mon – Wed – Friday 2 pills (20 mgs each) in between 1 20 mg pill. feet were swollen again last night. I asked him if i should be eating bananas he said no. However, i do have to have blood work every 2 weeks.
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Hi Rosemary,
I took experience some swelling even with the diuretics. It doesn’t take it away completely, just is supposed to make it less. I hope that you continue to stay hydrated with it because swelling can also be a sign of dehydration and these pills can dehydrate us quickly. They are doing the right thing by giving you some type of regimen. Give it a few days of being on it to see more improvement and if it gets worse don’t hesitate to let your doctor know. I hope the blood work tapers off a bit for you! I had to do a lot of bloodwork in the beginning but now it is just when I’m feeling symptomatic or having more muscle pain as that can be a sign of low potassium levels. Stay well! -
Aldactone (spironolactone) is NOT the same as Lasix (furosemide). Very important to realize the differences! Very, very important in regards to potassium metabolism. Too high or too low in potassium can kill.
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@beverly-duffield My understanding was that Aldactone worked to combat some of the effects of Lasix, which is why I took them simultaneously.
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Rosemary
Your feet are still swollen, Proves he does not know anything about PH. Do some Research and find a Cardiologist who understands the Total Disease of Pulmonary Hypertension, that’s what I would do. -
Ronald, this man is a specialist in PH – Guess different strokes for different folks.
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Ron, I still can’t get over the way you responded when i posted about my specialist.
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I’m sorry about Ron’s reaction, Rosemary. Edema is a common symptom of PH and its presence does not prove whether or not a doctor knows what he’s doing (I know you know this). Dehydration isn’t good for anyone, so his recommendations make sense. You may need to increase Lasix to every day to get all the fluid off you, but this comes with its own risks. Your doctor can see from a comprehensive metabolic panel blood test that your potassium level is within range, which is why he isn’t asking you to change your diet.
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I’m very new to this, just diagnosed in March & stil going through testing too. My symptoms become bad in January and the one every Dr doesn’t understand is the water retention just in my abdomen. But it sounds like I’m not the only one who has this! I have low blood pressure and potassium so my primary Dr had me try sprolactone but it didn’t work. Further testing did find an Atrial Septal Defect (hole in my heart) which also causes PAH, especially with adult onset of symptoms. My current cardiologist doesn’t specialize in either area & my Pulmonologist wasn’t helpful since I don’t have any lung disease for him to treat. Hopefully I’m one test away (next week) from being referred to the right specialist!! Reading that others also have water retention in just the abdomen makes me feel better. I knew it had to be from this, just the Dr’s not knowing their stuff! My face & neck also swell, but gravity helps as I sit up during the day.
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Hi Erin,
From my own experiences, abdomen swelling is common for me ! I have been treated with duiretics for that (lasix) but my blood levels are monitored as it can lower potassium even more. As far as the ASD, i would make sure to see if you can get an ACHD specialist because an ASD is usually a heart defect that you were born with that grew or caused problems when you got older. I know this because i had a VSD repaired as an infant but it was very large that it caused PH and damage even at a young age for me. Definitelt see if you can get in to see a CHD(congenital heart disease) specialist and a pulmonary hypertension doctor. All the best!
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Welcome, Erin. I still don’t have a handle on this disease..Hopefully more answers will come for you next week
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Thank you Brittany and Rosemary!! I also have an autoimmune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis as well as Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, both of which are pretty rare and took quite a battle to get a diagnosis and to the right Dr’s for treatment. So thankfully I have experience advocating for myself and proper care. That’s how I got to where I am today too, by asking rather than waiting. I found out at my last appointment my cardiologist couldn’t see the size of the ASD nor does he have experience treating them. He tried to dismiss the ASD & my symptoms, which have decided to get worse in the last couple weeks. But,now he’s doing a test to measure the size of the ASD & get a better idea of pressures. Then I’ll get a referral to the Adult Congenital Heart Disease clinic in Portland, just 45 miles away. I don’t know if they deal with PAH but will find out & get another referral if needed. The Pulmonologist I originally saw doesn’t seem to have a clue.. I was very frustrated after those appointments. Felt like I was begging for them to care & take my symptoms seriously. I’ve been fighting chronic pain for 9 years and that’s quite a battle. But add these symptoms on top and I’m a mess!! I thought I was fatigued before. Turns out there’s a whole different level of fatigue I couldn’t even imagine.. The beta blocker has lowered my heart rate but that made the water retention worse! Hopefully after the test on Tuesday I’ll be one step away from the right Dr!!
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along with the swollen feet, does your feet turn red and rashy looking?
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Hi Rosemary,
Yes! They get bright red and get rashy around the toes. My dermatologist said this is a sign of hypoxia and is actually called something but i forget the name of it!
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i was beginning to get a bit frightened….was thinking celulitis? or worse? Do you do anything for it?
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Rosemary,
They gave me a cream like an antifungal cream that works on the splotchy part of it that looks like a rash around my toes. Other than that I make sure to ice and rest my feet when I can and keeping them elevated helps the color to return to somewhat normal usually (besides the rash). The rash for me is on the sides of my feet and around my toes. Almost looks a little swollen and red around the toenails too. But she did say this was oxygen related so it made me feel better about it. I would get an opinion from a doctor though and maybe yours could refer you to a dermatologist just to make sure it’s not anything to worry about! Probably just another one of our bodies warning signs.
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My feet get like that as well! I thought maybe it was from having Reynauds and something had changed. Reynauds is an over-reaction to cold, blood vessels constrict in my hands, feet & lips turning them white, red or purple. My toes turn purple, sometimes red as they get warm or more blood flow again. But they have had a rashy texture around the toes for quite awhile, I’ve just never known why!
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Hi Erin,
Yes! Mine are the same way ! I would suggest a dermatologist if it starts to bother you. As I said before, Mine was the one who told me this was actually hypoxia related. And there I was thinking it was some weird athletes foot or something ! It was like a rash that would sometimes peel like how a sunburn does !
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here is the latest in my sage – as of this morning am taking torsemide instead of the lasix.. 30 mgs. necessitates me splitting a pill to make 30..seems to be working much better – also gave me spironolactone – now i need blood work once a month. told me not to eat bananas and celery which i was doing. my last test last week showed up a bit on the potassium. who knew that xtra potassium could be a bad thing..
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Rosemary,
I love to stay updated on how you’re doing and changes in medications that are working for you. I’m glad you have a doctor that is keeping such a close eye on you and is keeping track of your blood levels and electrolytes on these medicines. I didn’t know that about potassium either! I know some people who even take potassium pills! Glad it is working better for you! Keep up the posts and sharing here 🙂 we love hearing from you.
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once a month was wishful thinking..it is now once a week at HUMC heart center..opens at 7:30 will be there b4 i go to work.
also saw pulmonary yesterday. that i put under oxygen-
The once a week checks and blood work will become like second nature to you in no time! I hope you have help for this too and ttansportation if you need it
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Good Morning everyone,
I am going today o my PH Specialists at UT Southwestern. I take 3 water pills and one of the spironolactone, this has been my drug program for the last three months.I had a felt panel a week ago and all was well including taking just one Potassium. I have other issues, take many other drugs including Tresieba for Diabetes and lots of Heart meds as I have had 2 open heart surgeries and a new heart valve. I think I mentioned I was wounded in my back near my spine and most days I have heavy pain and weakness in my legs because of that. I refuse to take Pain Pills so they give me shots in my lower back which lately have become useless. in 30 days they are doing another procedure called facet injections which could help my back. I have good days and bad days but for me, it’s about sleeping well, I have been on CPAP for 20 years and that’s an on and off situation. I do read these columns often and get much great information from all the great comments. I am a full grown man, if I see something different than mine I just feel that must work for that individual, or in some cases not work. The dramatic weakness comes on certain days and I am not here to cure myself, I am here to just have support knowing I am not alone. I am trapped in a building with many stairs, now I am diligently working on a complete lifestyle change, like moving and getting better situated. I will post what my PH Specialist says after 90 days on my program, perhaps he will have some new approach.
Ron Cole -
I was diagnosed with PAH a few months ago and was put on Viagra. It made my blood pressure so low that I was dizzy all the time and it caused excessive head sweating that I could not tolerate. So, I am now on Opsumit 10 mg. I seem to be tolerating it ok except for retaining fluid in the feet and my stomach. I had an old Rx. of Hydrodiurill 25 mg, so I started taking 2 every morning which helps somewhat. I think I need to be on something stronger so I am going to make an appt. with my primary Dr. to see what she recommends.
Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts and advice.
Jan McCrory
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Hi Jan,
as you can probably tell form this forum, there are many others with PH that experience swelling especially in the areas you are talking about. I am also on a diuretic of lasix and go anywhere from 20 to 40 mg depending on the level of fluid retention. I weight myself each morning and decide how much of the medicine to take. You should definitely reach out to your doctors about this. If you see a cardiologist and PH specialist this would be the best person to talk to about these symptoms and the ones that are best to prescribe it! Best of luck! Keep us updated. -
Welcome Jan.
Do you have a PH Specialist treating you?
Were you diagnosed with a Rt Heart Cath?
What were your Pulmonary Pressures?chris
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Jan – I too was recently diagnosed & still doing some testing as well as waiting to see a different Cardiologist who knows what they’re doing! But I retain water just in my face, neck & abdomen. My primary Dr had me try Spironolactone because my potassium tends to run low & my blood pressure is normal. It didn’t do a thing!! He won’t give me anything stronger so 7 months later I’m still carrying several pounds of fluid on my abdomen. I really hope I get in to see the new cardiologist soon & he can help me get the fluid off safely! Be very careful, you don’t want your bp to drop too low which can happen with some diuretics at a high dose. I was warned of this by a specialist in the ER while vacationing in FL. She came right before an ER Dr was going to hook me up to IV lasix to get fluid off to hopefully lower my heart rate. She told me he would have put me into shock. Yikes!!
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Hi Erin,
WOW what a scary thought about being put into shock by IV diuretics ! You are right though, doctors should monitor the dosing very carefully to make sure the blood pressure isn’t too low on it and to make sure you are still staying properly hydrating and keeping your nutrients in your body! Also, my kidney function is checked periodically with being on lasix too! Thanks for you response !
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Yesterday, was weekly blood test – Showed slight decline in potassium – now i am to eat a banana every day. Everything else remains the same. I asked if i could increase the water pills as my feet are still swollen when i get up in the morning. No other changes were prescribed other than the banana. Tuesday i go for the blood gas, chest xray and pft at the hospital. So far this is what i need to see if medicare will pay for the NIVU – After the hospital have a meeting with the NIVU people at pulmonary’s office.
Keep smiling,
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Rosemary, I’m sorry you are still having problems getting your levels right. Did they agree to have you increase the diuretics? What does NIVU stand for? Sorry I haven’t heard that acronym before.
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The last 10 years of my father’s life, he suffered from congestive heart failure. The doctor put him on Lasix, and as his condition worsened, she kept increasing the amount that he took. I’m not sure if all diuretics are the same, but Lasix will rob your body of potassium. Eating a banana or even eating an avocado helped. Once a month, he would go in and they would give him intravenous Lasix. They would always check his potassium and his liver function before administering the intravenous Lasix.
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Good point about the potassium Michael! I even know of some people who are on potassium pills. I had to be on them when I was hospitalized one time. The nurses said it is actually common for people to have low potassium while in the hospital (I wonder why!). But the bananas is a good natural way to get it. I always have one with my medication in the morning. I didn’t know about the good sources of it in an avocado too! Just a good excuse to make some homemade guacamole hahaha!! 🙂
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Hello to Everyone,
My PERSONAL EXPERIENCE is strange. I just met with my team and they want more water off. They increased my water pills to 4 a day that is 160MG.
They told me to take 2 in the am and 2, 6 hours later as they said water pills flush through your system every 6 hours. I started doing exactly what they said along with increasing my potassium. What happened was I started gaining water weight right away, after a week I called the Dr, He told me to go back to just 4 in the mid-morning, since then I take them at 9 am and by about 2 PM the urination has stopped and I am definitely lighter. I think these water pills work differently for everyone. If your drinking lots of coffee in the morning like I am, perhaps it’s pushing the water out faster. My urine is never dark yellow, it is always very light, that means it is fresh urine pushing through the kidneys. Just thought I would share my situation. I am not doing well lately, Weak as hell, eyes closing every day, tired and exhausted. I guess for me it’s like an elevator a little bit down every day. I still pray for everyone here, I find if I pray for you, instead of myself I feel non-selfish. Ron-
Hi Ronald ,
Always good to hear from you. I’m sorry it sounds like you are going through so much. You certainly are doing the right thing by addressing this with your doctor and it seems like they are trying to get the right amount of adjustments for you. I know it’s so hard when you’re still experiencing symptoms though. Feel free to vent here any time. Is it very humid where you are? The weather has been just awful and has increased my swelling a lot and pain in legs.
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