Re: The Doctor is In :-)

Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote:
 
> > This time the diagnosis is that her heart is functioning okay,
> > the lungs are clear but she has been losing sodium over the last year.
> 
> What were her symptoms?

Her bloodtest of Last January showed a sodium deficiency but her family
was not really concerned but told her to take in more salt !

She has been very tired and lack of energy since then, I have no reason
to believe it has any relation but she was also prescribed with coumadin
2mg a few months earlier
  
> > The doctor said she did not have a heart attack, now they just have to
> > find out what caused the dropping sodium level.  Since hospitalized last
> > Thursday they cut back her meds :Tiazac (from 240 to 180) coumadin down
> > from 2mg to 1 or 1.5mg, and they held Atenolol (gave her lazik), and her
> > sodium has come back up from 118 to 132 (4 days) and she's doing much
> > better now.
> >
> 
> 132 is still low. 
>
  yes
 
> >
> > My question:  Was it still consider CHF though it wasnt the heart that
> > failed her but the low sodium?
> 
> With the lungs being clear (no congestion), this would not be CHF.

Oh, I mean her lungs are clear after the fluid has been drawn out....she
does not have any damages in her lungs other than the fluid build up
which was a temporary disorder.
> 
> >  Since these sounds like two different
> > problems. And if her heart is fine (she has irregular heart rate for a
> > long time and the doctor said not to worry about it now) why is she
> > taking heart medicine?
> 
> My guess is that by "fine,"  her doctors are trying to say that her heart is
> not causing the problems this time.
>\
Is there any effective medication for irregular HR for her age (82)?

 
> > I asked the doctor if it was SIADH and he
> > doubted it, said it could be some sort of hormone imbalance.  I'm sorry
> > if I've got the facts a bit confused as I am still learning from the
> > pros in hospital and as much as I can from the web plus running back and
> > forth from hospital.  I would really appreciate your help and comments.
> >
> 
> Has your mom been taking any herbal preparations with diuretic properties
> (green tea for example)?  In susceptible individuals, this can cause low
> sodium (hyponatremia).  Chronic pains can also cause hyponatremia (from
> SIADH).

My mother does not take caffeine or strong tea or coffee.  No herbal tea
But she always have discomfort (no pain tho) in her feet that keeps her
from sleeping well at night.  The doctor said it wasnt arthritis but a
case of deterioration due to aging.

> 
> >
> > Thank you very much, V. Chow
> >
> 
> You are very welcome :-)

Really appreciate it.  Thanks and look forward to hearing from you
again.

V.
> 
> Humbly,
> 
> Andrew
> 
> --
> Dr. Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
> Board-Certified Cardiologist
> http://www.heartmdphd.com/