Unintentional Weight Loss: Diagnosed... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Unintentional Weight Loss

Netter profile image
9 Replies

Diagnosed with A fib Nov 18. On 10 mg Bisoprolol, 12.0 Digoxin, 40 mg Furosemide and 20 mg Rivaroxaban. Heart rate was initially 130 now in low 90’s. Although not moving around much and eating somewhat less than I would normally do I am loosing weight. 10% of my weight in the last 4 months and 7 lb in the last week. Have been tested for thyroid which was negative. Would be interested if this has happened to anyone else. I thought it might be connected to rapid heart beat.

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Netter
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9 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Whatever the cause it sounds serious. 7lb in one week even I can't match re-building my kitchen ! lol 😁 Think you need to discuss with your doctor pretty soon.

Did you have a lot of swelling in your feet and legs before the weight loss? Sometimes when people are put on furosemide, a potent diuretic, they drop alot of weight at first which is excess fluid. 10% is a dramatic loss. Maybe keep a food diary for a couple weeks and track how many calories you are actually eating. Depending on your age and size, gender, most older adults probably require around 2,000 calories daily to maintain. I have to eat less than 1,200 calories to lose much weight.

As already said, shifting retained fluid in heart failure will cause weight loss, sometimes quite dramatic. Digoxin in excess causes loss of appetite. Second guessing your dose of digoxin is 1.25mgs, which is usually ok if kidney function is normal.

That said, I agree you should see your GP again.

Netter profile image
Netter

Thanks for your comments. I already excluded the 22 lbs I lost in hospital when i was first put on diuretics and totally water logged. I do like the slimmer self and want to keep this way but it is obviously not right. CHF has been mentioned

10gingercats profile image
10gingercats

Only a doctor can begin to get to the bottom of such a dramatic weight loss. Go soon.

Jalia profile image
Jalia

Netter, unintentional weight loss of 7lbs in 7 days should be investigated as indicated by others here. Do make an appt with your GP this week

cassie46 profile image
cassie46

As the others have said you must get this investigated. In 2014 I was admitted to hospital with heart failure and AF, I had in two weeks prior to this retained 2 stone in fluid. I was in hospital for 12 days and on furosemide, in that time I lost the two stone and thereafter have remained at my normal weight. So it is not usual to lose weight as you have.

Cassie

Cutie1 profile image
Cutie1

It may be the diuretic that has reduced the water in your body .

Jfarreast profile image
Jfarreast

My friend's husband lost 90 lbs in one week while in hospital on diuretic. However he was morbidly obese when he went in.

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