Oedema Feet And Ankles.

[Theland]

Hello AB doctors.
Since coming out of hospital last week, been suffering swollen feet and ankles.
Was given Flurosimide by the hospital.
Have been drinking four cans of lager per day, naughty but been needing the lift.
Now realise I definitely should avoid alcohol.
Nurse calling tomorrow to take bloods.
Anything else I should know?
Thank you in advance :-)

[brainiac]

Oh Theland, please just stop drinking. Your health and general outlook on life will improve immeasurably. Go on, decide today, and it will change your life for the better.

[Sqad]

No, you have said it all and blood results will be the definitive guide to your further management.

[calmck]

See if you can cut down slowly on the amount you drink each day. Maybe substitute non alcoholic ones

[Theland]

The drink is not a problem as having just googled some stuff, it stops, now, today.
I'll make the effort to drink more water.
To be honest, I'm worried about it developing or having already developed into something more serious.
(My hospital discharge papers said pneumonia. That's the second time this year).

[ummmm]

I don't think there is much you can do but take the meds.

Obviously try and cut out the alcohol completely, it makes it much worse. What has you GP said?

Absolutely no judgement from me but it seems to be two steps forward and then two steps back again.

What does your wife say? When I was poorly the last thing my partner would let me do is buy alcohol.

You know you have to give up alcohol completely....forever. Look after yourself, try and eat well, sleep well and exercise as much as you can manage. The exercise will help with the eating and sleeping.

[brainiac]

One other thing - how much exercise do you get a day? Try to go for a long walk every day, lift your head up, look at what's around you. Go a bit further each time, explore your neighbourhood....

[Theland]

Ummm , Will do. Another GP consultation after the bloods.

(My word you lot are great! I swear you could talk me through whipping out my own appendix with my rusty tin opener).
Thank you.

[ummmm]

What's your dosage of Furosemide?

[Theland]

40mg

[Theland]

Correction - its 40mg twice a day. Just checked.

[ummmm]

That's what I'm on although I spoke to my consultant and he agreed I could lower it to once a day.

Do you have to keep getting up for bathroom visits?

[Theland]

Not as often as I thought I might, but when I do, I pass a !of.
When I'm breathless, it gets urgent and leaky.

[ummmm]

And disturbed sleep is depressing.

I couldn't handle the amount of times I needed the bathroom during the night, during the day I was fine, barely noticed, but they do make you need to pee and quickly.

[Theland]

Why the blood test after being on them a short time?

[calmck]

If you are going to the bathroom more often you will be losing electrolytes Sodium, Potassium etc. So bloods are taken to assess this

[Sqad]

Taking Frusemide may cause, may cause, electrolyte loss and in particular potassium loss. This does not occur with low doses of Frusomide but 40mgs twice daily is not a low dose.
To answer your question, blood tests are usually required to check that you are not losing electrolytes,particularly potassium due to Frusemide overdosage.

[Sqad]

Sorry calmck..your answer was not there when I started typing.

[Theland]

Thank you. I'll look at taking a supplement.
(Oh I do love Answerbank folk! Such a great help and comfort).

[Sqad]

No! no!
No need for a supplement at this stage,wait until your blood results come back.if they are normal, then there is no need and in any case, banana away would give you enough potassium without a supplement.

[Theland]

Banana? Hmmm. The shape of a banana gives me a clue as to how to take it :-)