Fluid retention affecting feet especially left foot and possibly causing breathing problems?

[carkat22]

Help please. Have AF. Fluid retention especially bad with left foot worrying me. Pace maker inserted recently to stop heart going too slow with Bisoprolol 10 mg and Diltiazem 240mg to prevent heart trying to race - it goes into episodes of Tachycardia lasting several days. My GP let me have Furosemide for four weeks. My breathing is terrible, cannot play the piano for more than 30 mins; am a very good classical pianist and attend a master class every month. Yes I am 85 but was a very fit, active lady walking 2 to 3 miles every day, able to spend hours gardening before all this happened. I do keep going but the effort required to do the simplest of things is draining me and I am getting very depressed. Carole

[10gingercats]

Yes. I am also 85 and have had fluid retetion and breathing problems at times.Like you I am pretty active and walking well and doing quite a lot for my age......activities,lectures and going to concerts where I live. I was given Spironolactone(a very small dose as it can afect kidney function) and that with Furosimide worked very well for me. I had massive fluid retention on ankles,calves and thighs .The Spironolactone and Furosimide did the trick very quickly. Maybe ask your GP about Spironolactone. ...but a very small dose.

[carkat22 in reply to 10gingercats]

That’s helpful. Thank you.

[pusillanimous in reply to carkat22]

We are all different, I have this swelling on the top of my feet - feet start out quite normal when I get up, but by bedtime the swelling in evident. Cardio prescribed a low dose of Spironolactone, but I find it makes them worse and certainly does not increase the urine output. I've stopped taking it! The mystery with my feet is that the swelling disappears if I take an anti-biotic for another reason. Cardio says I have no infection. Nobody seems too bothered about it, except me, as I have a cupboard full of shoes I can't wear. I think it could be due to circulation problems. Both feet have suffered trauma of some kind in the past and are discoloured (I am not diabetic). I will discuss with my GP when I see her next for my prescription renewal what specialist I should see. I'm wondering if a Specialist Physician may be the right one, or a vascular surgeon. I'm fed up with this nuisance !

[carkat22 in reply to 10gingercats]

Many thanks. I am getting ready to contact cardio nurse well informed. If the terrible shortness of breath can be eased I would be quite happy. At least I could get back to walking playing the piano, gardening etc. Carole

[carkat22 in reply to 10gingercats]

Thank. You. Will do. My hair is also falling out so badly. I also have Polymyalgia so am on reducing steroids which possibly doesn’t help. Hopefully I will get sorted. Carole

[cassie46]

When did you last see a cardiologist or an EP. I think maybe your medications need to to be looked at. 10 mg of bisoprolol is quite a high dose, I can take upto 5mg, over that and I cannot function normally, very tired and brain fog, I am not surprised that you have no energy. Also the diltazem is quite a high dose, I am also on diltazem but 180mg and I have changed the biso to nebivolol 5mg. Fliud retention usually means signs of heart failure (do not be alarmed it just means that heart is not working properly) I get fluid retentionwas diagnosed with AF and HF 10 years ago (now 77), I also take fluroseimide when needed but also take ramipril to help with the HF, it helps with making the heart pump better. Out of interest when did you have your pacemaker fitted before or after taking bisoprolol and what was your normal heart rate. I really think you should see a specialist as soon as possible to get this sorted, could you go privately it would cost about £200 for a consultation.

When you first started biso what dose were you on, how did it get to 10mg. Take care it can be sorted.

Cassie

[carkat22 in reply to cassie46]

Thanks that is very helpful. Pacemaker fitted about 6 weeks ago and was taking 10mg Bisoprolol before it was fitted. My heart wants to race apparently, I have a Hemi block left side heart which sends out delayed electrical signal. After 10 days in April in ACU while they tried to bring heart rate down I had a cardioreversion, then was back in ACU for another 5 days same racing heart 5 weeks ago Attended AF Clinic for about 5 weeks where cardio nurse tried to help but this came to an end. Am not seeing anyone now but did manage to see my GP who has referred me for an ablation. Frightened of going for private consultation in case it causes a problem with NHS but am considering it. Carole

[cassie46 in reply to carkat22]

Do not worry about going privately, I did this and many others do. I did it because I was getting no where with my cardio at the hospital, he would not refer me to a EP just told me to stay on medication. I chose an EP at Papworth (we live not far from there) and got referred via my GP and at the end of the consultation I asked to go on his NHS list which he agreed to. So should not cause a problem with the NHS.

Cassie

[carkat22]

Thank you. So glad I posted. Carole