Back in the hospital

 Discontinuing Janie's Aldactone and cutting her Lasix dosage in half after her discharge last week back-fired. After being released from the hospital last Wednesday, she began to accumulate fluid in her entire body over the weekend (ankles, legs, tummy, etc) with her gaining 14 lbs in three days.  Her Hepatologist had me take her to the ER again Monday afternoon where she was admitted once again. Since Monday, she has been receiving Lasix via IV three times a day, and her swelling is just now starting to go down. Her hemoglobin was 10 monday, 8 yesterday, and 7.1 today, so  when I left for lunch they were planning on giving her 2 units of blood today. We are waiting on results from a stool sample to see if she might have a GI bleed, however her Hepatologist says they will scope her before she is discharged again in any case. Since her potassium is now a little low, as opposed to being dangerously high the last visit, she is going to start her back on Aldactone.

She says she feels much better today, so we will see...............been there done that so many times

Charlie

Charlie, I'm so sorry to hear that Janie is back in the hospital.  I did think that was a big mistake to increase her Lasix and take her off Aldactone.  Aldactone prevents the Lasix from leeching potassium from the body (and urinating it out), which can take it dangerously low.

Also, I was talking with my transplant coordinator today about my kidney test on Mon. (which was fine) and mentioned to her that I had decreased my Lasix to 10 mg (because I know it's hell on the kidneys.)  She told me not to change it again without speaking to her, as it can backfire and cause fluid to return that will then be difficult to get out of my system.  However, since I've only had very mild problems with edema and no ascites in years, I think I will be okay.  She said I could remain on the 10 mg of Lasix and 50 mg of Aldactone twice a week.

I do hope they sort things out for Janie and that she will be home soon, feeling much better.

Hugs,

Connie

We should have the results of the stool sample from yesterday to see if there was any blood in it. I doubt that there is as she has had numerous transfusions over the past 3 yrs, and they have yet to find the source. Her liver doc says the the loss could be from her liver disease, in that she is just not making enough new red blood cells.

Connie, I also was worried when they discontinued her Aldactone and cut her Lasix in half, as I had this feeling of doom.......... that it wasn't going to work. I know the specialists have the medical degrees and all the training, but I have been her care-giver for so long that I seem to be able to sense when there is going to be a train wreck before they do. As a lay-person I can question their decisions, but that's about all the input I have. I just hope that when she is released this time we can keep everything on an even keel for a while. This revolving door of hours and hours in the emergency room, then days of hospital routine is getting old for both of us.

I am trying to get plenty of sleep and rest, but there are mornings I wake up tired, just thinking of the day ahead. I believe it is just as hard on the care-giver as it is on the patient.

Charlie