Husband has A Fib possible CHf

[Taylor Jo]

Sorry I haven't been very attentive to my pink blanket post but my husband has been very ill. We've been to a Cardioligist an hour + away and THEN back down again for all day test on him. Originally 2 weeks ago his regular Dr said she suspected A fib after doing an EKG and sent him to the Cardio Dr. We went and saw him the other day and they did another EKG and he said yes he did have A Fib and we had been taking his BP which was running 180/70, 150/170 with a pulse of 41, 45. The Dr said w/ the stress test he was ordering, and echocardiogram to check his heart valves, chest x-ray he would order a holtier moniter to see what his pulse is doing for 24hrs. That was last week.

He kept getting worse, he could hardly breath then he couldn't lay down and sleep and breath hardly. So yesterday he called his reg Dr. and she wasn't in and he left her a message to change his BP med as it was really bothering him, not letting him sleep for the past month, indigestion, other things, PLUS, give him some Lasix's to get rid of the water off of him cause he's all swollen up and 18lbs heavier, along w/ not being able to breath. Well his Dr called back this morning and she referred it back to the Cardio Dr's and said to call him.

"I" called immediatly. I told them he NEEDED to be seen. His nurse came on and I told her basically what said above, plus the fact that I felt he was going into CHF with all the fluid and I WAS very concerned about that. So she went and talked w/ the Dr. and they said to have him take 80 mg today and tomorrow of lasix's then 40 mg there after and potassium. If he's NOT better in 3-4 day's THEN he probably is in CHF and to take him to the ER.

This morning when I went out to the barn he was feeding the horses, (which he wasn't suppose to be) he could hardly walk and talk or carry a flake a hay to the horse. Then when he got into the house he sat down and got up later and went to the kitchen to the living room he could hardly breath.

When we were at his Cardio my Husband TOLD him he was NOT on any lasix or his old BP med, he TOLD the Dr. Then the Dr told him JUST to continue on his one med. When I called down there today she said (the nurse) I don't understand what the problem is he's on lasix's and this BP med. I said NO, he's NOT he was taken off that a month ago and my husband TOLD the Dr that. OHHHHHHH, he did; she said. YES, I said. DERRRRRRRR.

So tonight he took the lasix's so we'll see how he does and IF he gets' better I'd appreciate your prayers and good thoughts. He's suppose to go back Sept 1st. but I'm going to see if he can get in earlier.

I'm soooo worried and scared he's never been this sick before. He's older then I am too and that's even more frightning. I don't want to live w/out him, EVER. He's the love of my life, he's all I have. TJ

 

[Reble]

Thinking of you in your time of need

 

[miniwhinny74]

My heart goes out to you (I don't know what I'd do without the love of my life, either!) I'll keep you both in my thoughts.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Im sorry to hear what your husband is going through. I cant understand how Dr.s dont listen to their patients ...that would certainly get me fuming!! Sending prayers your way

Heidi

 

[luv2ridesaddleseat]

Major prayers for both of you.

Keep us posted....

 

[AppyLover2]

Remember the old saying about the squeaky wheel getting the grease.......just keep calling and setting things straight with the Drs about how he's feeling, what meds he is and isn't on, etc. Don't let them put you off if you think he should get immediate attention. If you yell loud enough long enough you'll get their attention. In the meanwhile I'll keep you both in my

.

 

[minie812]

I will put the both of you in my prayers this evening.

 

[Sterling]

Thinking of your hubby and hoping he feels better soon. I have found in the past that taking myself to the hospital instead of waiting around for my regular doctors has given me a head start in getting better. Don't hesitate if something seems not right...scoop your man up and drive to the ER room.

 

[SampleMM]

TJ--I certainly will keep you and your husband in my prayers. It is so scary when a loved one is sick. Last year my dad had e-coli throughout his whole body, congestive heart failure, & pneumonia. This all happened one week after a major surgery and then he fell off his front porch. I honestly thought he'd never pull through but he did and is doing very well today. I have faith that your husband will be fine too but do keep pushing the doctors if you feel something else is wrong and needs looked at. I ended up pulling my dad from one hospital and into another because I didn't think he was getting the proper care. Remember, you are your husbands advocate and you might have to flip your b*tch switch even if you're not that type of person. Take care and we will all be thinking of you.

 

[Minimor]

Prayers from me that your husband will get whatever treatment he needs and be okay. That is definitely scary!

Those symptoms--swollen, 18 lbs heavier with fluid, inability to breathe--those sound like just cause to visit the ER for some immediate treatment. Family doctors can be just a little too ho-hum about serious health issues--sounds like in this case even the cardiologist is a little too unconcerned.

Definitely do not sit back and wait--make some noise and insist on treatment sooner rather than later. Wait and see isn't always a good plan of action--wish more doctors could understand this.

 

[twister]

TJ you and your husband are in our thoughts and prayers, be strong, he needs you to be.

HUGS Yvonne

 

[SampleMM]

TJ, not to scare you but the more I think about this, the more I'm convinced your husband needs an ER visit now. When my dad had the congestive heart failure he was swollen and the one hospital was just ignoring this that's why I switched him to a different hospital. The 2nd hospital immediately drained the fluid off his heart. I can't remember for 100% certainty but I think it was around 20 lbs. of fluid they drained. The doctors said my dad wouldn't have lasted much longer. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but I really think you need to take him asap. PLEASE.

 

[Taylor Jo]

I woke up this morning with all the plans in the world to take him to the ER but when I got up my husband said he'd been up in the night going to the bathroom several times and he looked so much better. He actually had color in his face and hands. We weighed him and he went from 168 to 161 lbs from last night to this morning. His legs, feet and belly are still somewhat swollen, but they said to give it another day. He's not as short of breath when he talks, only when he walks now. So we decided to wait and see what tomorrow will bring. HOWEVER, I am NOT waiting till Sept 1st for his appt. I'm calling next week, like Monday and setting up an earlier appt to get the reading of his test. Like one of you said; put my B mode on and the squeaky wheel gets things done. Correct, plus I AM the pt advocate and I can do that well. I want to thank you all for your prayers and advice I sincerely appreciate it, this is a VERY trying time for me. I live here in Mo w/o any of my family and it would NOT be feasible to move back if something happened to him and I would only have his daughter for support. That frightens me all the more. I think of ALL the horrible things that can happen, would I loose my horses cause I couldn't afford them, I mean it's one thing to have money to survive on for your self but money for horses is another. I would loose him and then my horses, it would be devastating to me. That's not EVEN talking about showing anymore that's just talking about having them as pets. Then to give up my biggy I just got would break my heart. I know I'm projecting and I don't mean to and I know it's in God's hands and he's the one with the ultimate control, I just NEVER thought all this would happen so soon. I was HOPING I wouldn't have to deal with any of this till my husband was in his 80's. I guess that wasn't meant to be. I'm just hoping it's A FIB and they can treat it with medication and he'll be fine and life will go on and I'll have him for years to come. I'm praying soooo. Thanks again, I love you all..... TJ

 

[shorthorsemom]

Wouldn't be a bad idea to check out the ER and to have his oxygen levels checked. My friends mom did that run around between doctors and it didn't have a happy ending. She should have been in the hospital. Hope this isn't the case with your man, but better safe than sorry. I hope he gets better soon for you, I can read the worry in your words. Best wishes keep us posted

 

[Jill]

TJ, you and your husband are in my prayers!!! With what I have been going through, I have been really aware that I'm "happy" it's me and not Harvey. And that's not because I'm any saint. I just could not cope emotionally if it was him going through this, vs. me. I hope everything will be okay and I am glad you are not going to wait for the appt. I learned a long time ago to press and press the doctors when you've got a gut feeling on something and it really paid off for me it seems. Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers!

 

[bfogg]

T.J. please get your husband seen very soon. I can tell you to lose the man who is the world to you is a terrible thing.

I learned you have to be a bit-h to get even a little care in todays hospitals and with the doctors. They really really don't care. And the person caring for your husbands health could have been working in the cafeteria a few months ago.

God bless the nurses who have had real training,most of the time the nurses know more than the doctors, and do really care.

Prayers and hugs,

Bonnie

 

[Taylor Jo]

Thanks Bonnie. I just put a call into my daughter in law who is a cardiac nurse in AZ. Yesterday and the day before they had my husband on 80mg of Lasix's and he was doing really good he lost 10 lb's of fluid, he had a really good day yesterday. But, today the weight lost has stopped and he's not going to the bathroom as much and the swelling has not gone down anymore, it's like it's stuck and won't go anywhere. The only good thing is he's NOT as SOB but only a little. However, I'm very concerned about the swelling and still the slight SOB when he talks and walks and has no stamina at all. So I put the call into her asking her advice about what to do cause I'm really at a crossroads. Do I wait till he gets REALLY bad with his SOB and take him in to the ER to where they'll do something besides just up his lasix's back up to 80mg and send him home, I don't know, I don't want to toy with his life, so I'm hoping if she say's take him to the ER that she WILL convience him that YES he is bad enough to go. Right now he DOESN'T think he is. HE think's he's fine other then a little swelling. So I'll keep you updated. Thanks so much. TJ

 

[Jill]

Please please please take him to the ER! Ask yourself why NOT to take him? And there's probably not as good a reasons on that list as on the list to take him. If there's not a good reason for him to be there, it's just some time and some money but if he should be there............ Please get him there!

 

[Taylor Jo]

I just talked to the medical people about my husband and they told him to take another 40 mg of Lasix's and as LONG as he's NOT in any distress breathing he's NOT to come to the ER. Swollen legs and feet does not consitute a trip to the ER. If he was in distress breathing yes but swelling no. So we're going to see what tomorrow brings. I'll keep you posted. Thanks Jill. TJ

 

[Genie]

So sorry for what's going on with your husband.

I just can't believe how the Dr.s are so seemingly unconcerned with all the things he is presenting with.

I would be going to emergency and demanding that he be admitted, however health care in Ontario, Canada may be completely different that what you deal with in your area.

It seems like the health care field around here is pretty lax, and doesn't sound much different there.

Sending prayers your way for a good outcome.