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water retention issue

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Posted 10/16/2013 7:19 AM (GMT 0)
My husband is having a very hard time with water retention, he has been doing the low sodium diet but still continues to have horrible water retention from his knees down. He has his first appointment with the GI in a week and a half and his follow up with his doctor the very next day. Hopefully at the GI we will get some more information. But until then is there anything he can do to get rid of the water retention? He has also been having foods that are natural diuretics. Will this water naturally go away or should he go to the ER. He says he's not in pain that just his feet hurt when walking ( they are big from water) he says if they don't go down he will go to the ER, which i think is the best thing. Vel

Post Edited (vel1982) : 10/16/2013 9:15:50 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/16/2013 11:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Vel,

This was my question a few months ago. The kind folks here gave me some info that really helped.

Try the T.E.D.S compression stockings and have your husband lay down as much as possible. I got them at Walgreens. He had to measure the leg for the correct size. T.E.D.S are pretty difficult to get on until you get the hang of it. My husband has the lenghth that go to the knee. His swelling is below the knee, mostly ankles and feet. He sleeps in the stockings and by morning his ankles are much better. This is not a cure since the fluid will return,  but does help. Of course, if there is a concern go to the ER. Hugs, themiz

Post Edited (themiz) : 10/16/2013 8:49:40 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/16/2013 1:59 PM (GMT 0)
 Vel, TheMiz nailed it. You mentioned natural diuretics and low sodium. Is he taking prescription diuretics?

Ziff  

Posted 10/16/2013 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
No prescription diuretics yet. When i prepare his meals i try to use vegetable diuretics but i think it's just not enough. I imagine that this will be something that is prescribed. I did get the compression socks but i didn't get the right size so i have to go back cause he needs a bigger size
He has lost weight, he use to weigh 210 now he's around 170. He just started drinking the ensure drinks. When you have cirrhosis are you able to gain weight back ?

Post Edited (vel1982) : 10/16/2013 9:17:57 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/16/2013 3:59 PM (GMT 0)
He needs to be taking prescription diuretics. The low sodium diet helps but it isn't likely to do much without prescription meds at this point. Try not to be impatient with fluid issues. Even with meds it may take several adjustments to get the right dosage. I went from 215 to 160 in a matter of a couple months and most of the 160 was fluid in my abdomen. They drained up to 16 liters of fluid 2 times a week from me. My case was extreme and far from the norm, but I didn't respond to medications. I've seen a few people with edema and non-extreme ascites fully recover with just meds and go on back to their normal weight and lives. Every person responds a little differently so it's hard to say what dosages or types of meds he should be taking, Hence the trial and error as mentioned above.
I, myself ,have managed to recover but it took about a year or more to do so and it was a bumpy ride in between. It doesn't always turn out to be doom and gloom and I believe a lot of what keeps people going in these situations is a positive outlook, A glimmer of hope that you hang onto that tomorrow will be a new day.


Ziff

Post Edited By Moderator (hep93) : 10/16/2013 5:54:34 PM (GMT-6)

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