Very scary Christmas!

[TonyBen]

After a very slow recovery from OHS back in April 23 my husband

[TonyBen]

I'm hopeless with posting but to continue : my husband over the last few months has been much improved and looking forward to UK trip to visit all our family. 2 days prior to trip Cardiologist reduced bisaprolol to 1.25 and stopped diuretic that he had been taking since kidney injury post OHS. That was 14th Dec. On 20th Dec, he rapidly started to become poorly and by 22nd Dec, we had no choice but to attend A&E were he was admitted and spent 4 days in hospital. It appears he had a rebound from stopping the duiretic with sodium levels dangerously low. His usual weight is 76 kilos, weighed in hospital 84 kilos extra weight being excess water. Treatment at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital was outstanding, after very rapid diagnosis from a super smart doctor treatment was started. Weight now back to 76 kilos and feeling well again, but back on diuetics! Wondering if anyone else has experienced this reaction?

[BeKind28- in reply to TonyBen]

Hello

I am so sorry your Husband went through this and how much is scared you both which it would so glad he got good treatment and is doing better now

I have not been through this but your post has given me something to think about I am suffering with a bad stomach and after been on a diuretic nearly 3 years and trying to find out if one of my meds is causing it my Doctor told me to come of the diuretic to see if that made a difference

I researched about stopping them and so many results I were getting were saying you should wean of them

I asked my Doctor about this to which she said you will be fine to just stop them but in the end I got her to agree I would take half a dose for a while and then take it from there reading your post I am glad I did insist that is what I wanted to do rather than just stopping them

After what sounds like not the best Christmas I hope you both enjoy visiting your family and have a Happy New Year x

[TonyBen in reply to BeKind28-]

I shared this pretty awful experience in the hope it might help. I had read about possible 'rebound' that settles after one or two weeks, unfortunately that is not what happened. In retrospect had we known, and hubby had weighed himself daily after coming off torsemide, we would perhaps have asked for help sooner.The silver lining, due to junior doctors being on strike meant he was attended to from start to finish by a consultant, very much at the top of his game. He has also been put back on Spironolactone and furosemide, a step back but a small price to pay to be up and running once again!

[BeKind28- in reply to TonyBen]

Hello

I agree it is good to share good and bad experiences even if it just helps one person it has helped someone

It is Spironolactone that I am trying to get of to see if it helps stomach issues I have that I was told I could just stop but I did read it says you should wean of and so that is what I am doing

If those medications are making your Husband better I would not see it as a step back better he takes them that go through that again and I am so glad as I said he got good care and is so much better x

[gorillaqueen in reply to TonyBen]

Hi TonyBen what a scary time that must have been for you and definitely not what you planned for Christmas. I can relate to your story to some degree since my OHG in November 2022 I have been on Diuretics and told to weigh myself every day. My feet were very swollen because of the Odema and I was being weighed every day in hospital. I have not experienced anything like your husband but I am wondering if I will ever be able to stop the diuretics. If I don’t take them my feet start to swell ( even on them I still have some swelling) my weight increases and I can become breathless.

Your post has certainly made me think about just stopping my Diuretic which I have considered trying as I have been on them over a year now. My GP did decrease my dose from 40 to 20.mg ( I was on 80.mg in hospital) I have also been prescribed another medication to help with the fluid retention. I wish you both a very happy healthy New Year and hope you enjoy your time with your family after such a scary situation 😊X.

[TonyBen in reply to gorillaqueen]

Thank you so much, and all good wishes to you in finding a solution to your ongoing issues. Sometimes think looking at my husbands post op journey(battle) to regain his health - it seems like a really tricky game of snakes and ladders!

[gorillaqueen in reply to TonyBen]

I agree it certainly is. I’m a positive person but sometimes feel my life is centred round hospital appointments etc. Good luck 🍀 and Happy New Year May 2024 bring you and yours good health and happiness 😊