Hi mcj1018
Welcome to HealingWell.
For those of us not familiar with the term Ascities, here's the definition.
medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/ascites"Ascites is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.
Description
Rapidly developing (acute) ascites can occur as a complication of trauma, perforated ulcer, appendicitis, or inflammation of the colon or other tube-shaped organ (diverticulitis)....or when intestinal fluids, bile, pancreatic juices, or bacteria invade or inflame the smooth, transparent membrane that lines the inside of the abdomen (peritoneum).
Even though it can develop from acute conditions, ascites is more often associated with liver disease and other long-lasting (chronic) conditions.
Types of ascites:
Cirrhosis, which is responsible for 80% of all instances of ascities in the United States, triggers a series of disease-producing changes that weaken the kidney's ability to excrete sodium in the urine.
Pancreatic ascites occur when fibrous walls (pseudocyst) bursts and permits pancreatic juices to enter the abdominal cavity.
Chylous ascites has a milky appearance caused by lymph that has leaked into the abdominal cavity. Although sometimes caused by trauma, abdominal surgery, tuberculosis, or another peritoneal infection, it is usually a symptom of lymphoma or some other cancer. Cancer causes 10% of all instances of ascites in the United States. It is most commonly a consequence of disease that originates in the peritoneum or of cancer that spreads from another part of the body.
Endocrine and renal ascites are rare disorders."Visit the page I linked to, they discuss treatments. It seems, though, that Lasix is indeed a proper drug to use for ascities, but it sounds more like it is used to prevent it, not to diminish it once it occurred. Apparently, ascities can be drained by a medical procedure. In addition, Lasix, an effective drug, usually works rapidly as a diuretic, you should notice increased bathroom trips starting within an hour or so of taking it. As with other diuretics, your potassium levels can be affected, has your doctor instructed you to replace the potassium by diet, bananas and potatoes are a good source. I believe Lasix works on altering the amount of salt in the body, follow your physician's advice on amount of water consumed (doctors may tell you to increase water intake to remove the salt, but ask your doctor first) and be careful of salt in food, read the labels on food, and, according to your doctor's instructions, reduce your salt intake.
Post Edited (JungRulz) : 9/20/2014 4:56:02 AM (GMT-6)