I was wondering if anyone has any information or is experiencing what I'm witnessing.
My dad has had end stage copd for the past 7 years. The last year he's been on oxygen throughout the day and wears a Niv mask at night he also retains co2. He's been admitted to hospital around 8 times during the past year luckily enough he's come back home each time.
From what I've read and the basic biology of a human I understand that his heart would and is still possibly under a huge amount of strain. During his last stay in hospital (about 2 weeks ago) the nurse stated to me that "his heart has definitely been affected " I questioned her being quite concerned wondering what test he had taken in order to make the above statement. Her reply was " no he hasn't had any test but it's just obvious ". 2 days later my dad was discharged and when I did ask if he had any examinations or mri test etc she told me "no, things seemed to have levelled out".
I understand that swelling is a common sign of heart failure my dad is on water tablets but it doesn't seem to be making a lot of difference. His feet are swollen, his legs are bulging from underneath his knee cap to above his ankle on both legs and his arms seems to be swollen.
How can he not of had any test yet? Does anyone think it could be his heart, I'd rather know so I can keep an eye on any change rather than put it down to his copd.
Sorry for the long post, any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you x
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Melissa87
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16 Replies
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If is arms don't inprove I would get doctor out USALLY when it's legs it's not that drastic BUT when it creeps up to arms neck is hospital job BUT it all depends on swelling.
I would ask doctors next time you seem them dose your dad have left or right side heart failular
Lot of lung dieases suffers are walking about let's say with left or right heart failular the quite unare off.
If gets worse I would skip doc and go back to hospital ITs what I would do if my arms started swelling.
Hope it's just water and your both fine WISHING you both well n let's hope it's nothing really BUT best to be safe
Thank you for replying, his stomach/abdomen is also swollen. My dad is 62 years old around 5'8 and weighs 50kg but has a belly that Looks like he's a few months pregnant! Maybe because his bed clothes cover him it's not as noticeable but I will point it out to next medical professional.
Can't really add anything to what you have said. There is no doubt that lung problems do put the heart under a great strain. COPD can cause pulmonary hypertension. And the heart will have to work even harder when the lungs cannot oxygenate the blood fully. I am surprised he has not had an echocardiogram. Simple, cheap, painless bedside investigation. (They do them on Holby all the time!)
Look after yourself, I hope you are getting enough support.
My previous husband Bob had the complication of a swelling abdomen as part of his COPD/Asthma/ peripheral vascular disease/ heart failure diagnosis. He also became food intolerant to cows milk products which increased the swelling in his abdomen, and bleached flour products, which increased his asthma. His food intolerances were one of the reasons I went back to college as a mature student and studied dietetics. It can be dangerous to exclude two major food groups without knowing how to replace the nutrients they provide.
Bob eventually died of heart failure as his only response to difficulty was to fight it by pushing on rather than slow down and keep pace with the limits of his condition. He also continued to smoke....
Hi I have a rare lung disease and this past year I have been suffering from very swollen feet and legs right up to the ground. Also in the last 6 months I have started with swellings at the top of my back, face and neck which is very uncomfortable. I have had heart scans and ECG'S done which have come back ok. They have said I have fluid in the lower half of my body the upper swellings are caused by the high steroid dosage. If your father is on steroids this could be what is happening to him, but please press the doctors for answers after all it is your fathers right to know what is happening. Take care Jenny x
Good post Melissa and one I often wonder about, maybe one of our lovely members will be along to explain why they don't seem to check heart as often as we think they should. Wishing your Dad well. Xx
This is just my experiences with my dad, he has IPF and now it effected his heart too, due to lack of O2 in the blood and he got Pulmonary Hypertension, also; he also had swollen feet to begin with (fluid retention) and got more breathless; so seen by the cardiologist ECHO and other blood test were done prior to the diagnose (ECHO was the important one for P/H). He is on diuretics and some times if he gets his swelling again his cordiologist review his dosage and recently she increased his dosage.
I m not saying this is the exact problem that your dad have, but it's something that we also had go through, and my dad in Sri Lanka so health care system little different, some investigations we go privately to skip the waiting list, but all his lung care with government hospital because that is the best place to be for IPF, good luck, may be speak to your dad's GP.
Forgot to say, I was diagnosed with the beginnings of a right sided heart enlargement when I was checked out for heart problems before being diagnosed with moderate COPD. The heart consultant said it was indicative of lung problems and asked me if I was wheezy or coughed a lot, neither of which I did (and still don't very much). So I think all lungies will have some damage to the heart, whatever stage we're at.
My dad had a condition called Cor Pulmonale in which he seemed to share these same type of symptoms. He took water pills if I remember correctly. It was a serious heart ailment I am sorry to say. He was not a retainer though, he had emphysema. So I do not know if this applies to your dad but thought I would share.
What you're explaining sounds exactly like my dad! He has COPD and has been admitted to hospital quite a lot this year so far (he's in now!!)
He has significant swelling of the legs and ankles and has been on water tablets aswell, he has had tests because of this (ECG and Echocardiogram) and the result shown that he has 'heart failure' due to strain on the heart from the breathing difficulties associated with COPD. That's all we know at the moment but I'd advise in asking for maybe some further investigation.
O Melissa I don't have any suggestions to add to these very good replies. I imagine it must be very distressing to see all this going on with your father and I wonder how you're coping with it all? Sending love - online hugs! Xpiggix
I have COPD and have done for many years since having a lung removed due to cancer. I am on oxygen 15/20 hours a day and recently had swelling right up to my armpits which I hadn't noticed just thought it was my legs and needed a new bra. I felt very poorly and went into A&E who took me in for a week with bed rest, oxygen, intravenous water reduction .... I was then told I had heart failure so now I have oxygen and keep my legs up as much as possible but do take walks around the shops, garden and house when not on oxygen for the exercise and so far I have kept to the weight I was when I left hospital. It will go down but it is vital to ensure good health for the heart with diet, fluid etc but only 1.5 litres a day.... Hope this helps a bit x
A good friend as well as myself have COPD. He is on oxygen 24/7. Sadly he is also way over weight and not a young man. over 80. Not long ago he went in for a procedure that took 65 pounds of water weight from his body. I cannot imagine that much weight in water and being able to draw it out. Perhaps this is an option for your dad.
Hi Melissa, I don't think I can add to the many excellent replies you have had. But I would stress, I would ask his GP or lung consultant for a definitive diagnosis. Take Care Margaret x
Hello Melissa, so sorry you are so worried about your Dad.People who have c.o.p.d, which becomes v very severe, i.e.: end stage, which as you are experiencing can be of a long duration.As you know our Heart and Lungs work in unison, supporting each other.The Pulmonery Artery artery connecting the Lungs to the Heart, will be under pressure.The worse the c.o.p.d becomes, the likelihood is that Pulmonary Hyertension will be present.This will cause fluid retention, which at an earlier stage will in all probability will respond quite well too Diuretics, with progression of the disease Cardiac problems are somewhat Ineviatable.Therefore undertaking Cardiac Scans and other Diagnostic Investigations is not always necessary.I'm sure he would have had relevant Blood Tests during his Hospitals admissions, these will have provided accurate information on the implications to his Heart.Your Dads specialist Clinicians, i.e.: Respiratory Consultants and Trainned Nurses, are able to understand the progression of the Disease and it's Implications.Sometimes as a result, of the enormous strain put on the Heart Cor _ Pulmonale result, but not always.There will not be guesswork, the Clinicians are experienced in the Path of c.o.p.d.My experience is based on Nursing my late Husband through End Stage c.o.p.d, and being a Respiratory Nurse.If your concerns remain, ask to speak to the specialist involved in your Dads care.However, people are very unique and can be Stoical in coping with a very distressing disease, I hope I will have been of some help, X.
Thank you, would artery blood show any abnormalities?
I'm not questioning they're professionalism but as they had officially said he hasn't got anything wrong with his heart and hasn't been tested as last admission (3 weeks ago) I just want to make sure the swelling he's experiencing isn't due to heart failure. There's no way he's well enough to under go surgery so part from water tablets what can they do. He also has lung failure but is that another name for c.o.p.d?
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