2 questions imp. To me
1. I’m eating very healthy and vigorously exercising almost daily but sometimes when I’m doing well and dropping weight which is important for me, all of a sudden I’m up 4-5 lbs for no apparent reason.
Do others experience this. I hate to have to take a diaretic almost daily then pee for 6-7 hours, not the life I want! Is the diaretic dangerous if taken a few times a week for inc water weight?
Is a Sauna helpful when you have chf?
Thanks to whomever comments
Thank you being a part of our forum discussions! I think the question of whether sauna yes is safe is probably best directed towards your medical team. It is very hard to give overall advice on something like that, when you don't know whether you have mild or severe heart failure, as well as any other medical conditions. Also, I totally get being up 4 to 5 pounds overnight. Do you have sodium restrictions and how fastidious are you following that? For instance, eating healthy does not necessarily mean low sodium. If you truly are not eating anything and routinely gaining weight, did your medical team give you directives on when to call them regarding your weight gain? I'd refresh yourself on those guidelines.
Lastly, yes, diuretics' use sucks - it's a double edge swords as they make me feel so much better, but I still have to watch my sodium and they are uncomfortable to take and last for so long. However, I know that if I don't take them I will end up in much worse shape so it's something I do daily, but hate it. I will say that to help, I've learned to a ) watch my salt like a hawk (also not fun) and b) try to help my diuretics' work when I take them. For me, for instance, I find that they work best when I am laying flat and calm. If I take them and try to run around, they take longer to do their thing! Yes, that also has a sacrifice as I know I have to spend evenings lying on a couch, but to me it's a sacrifice that's worth it. Also, if it's at time when I know I have several pounds to take off, I try to supplement with some form of caffeine (like green tea) and/or a natural diuretics' like asparagus to help move the process along! To me, going without is not going to happen, so catering to my diuretics' helps - it does not make it easy, but it makes it easier to cope. To cope with that, I try to make use best use of the time when I am up and around and fill it with things and people who truly bring me joy/fulfillment.
I hope that helps! Morgan (heart-failure.net Moderator)I did not address your question on taking a diuretics' a few days a week! Personally, I recently switched from taking my diuretics' as needed, which was 3/4 days a week, to daily. From personal experience, I can tell you that I'm happy with the switch. I have to deal with the side effects of diuretics' every day; however, I rarely have the 3 - 5 pound weight gain that I used to, which makes the diuretics' not last as long as they used to because there is less to take off. They are easier to tolerate now (now easy, but easier). Also, FYI fluid build up is a serious matter. Not only does the increased fluid put additional strain on your heart, but it also makes your kidneys work harder filtering the extra fluid. Kidney issues can come after heart issues, which is a risk you want to mitigate. Said another way, when I asked my doctor how to mitigate the risk of kidney damage, she said to keep the fluid off to the best of my abilities. All in all, I would not skip any diuretics' doses unless prescribed by your doctor! Morgan (heart-failure.net Moderator) thank you Morgan. That was interesting. I thought the use of diuretics should be a last resort. I thought they could hurt the kidneys but you said the opposite. Of course I’ll check with my cardiologist which is just common sense but I could deal with daily diuretics as you are doing and not having to deal with these crazy and dangerous weight gains.
I do watch my sodium but you said you watch it “ like a hawk” I haven’t been that meticulous but obviously that’s a mistake.
Thank you so much and the Sauna is a no no for me.You are correct that diuretics' can hurt your kidneys, and doctor's take it very seriously when they prescribe them. However, heart failure is also very serious and is about managing risks. The extra fluid does bad things for your heart failure, so the risk of potential kidney damage is outweighed by the known and immediate impacts the fluid has to your heart (and kidneys to an extent). As an example, if I am carrying extra fluid my doctor tells me to call the office before I take extra diuretics', and every 6 months my blood work is taken and a part of that is checking my kidney health. However, without the diuretics', my heart failure would not be stable, so it's a trade off.
Like the salt, watching my sodium like a hawk and eating an extremely low amount is painful, but the work and sacrifice (for me) is worth not having the crazy weight gains or the diuretics' lasting the full 7 to 8 hour. As an example, I stay under 500 mg of sodium per day, every day. If you aren't tracking it fastidiously, you might find that you are eating more then you realize. I hope this helps! Morgan (heart-failure.net Moderator)
Thank you for your question. If you are retaining fluid you should see your doctor or ensure your cardiologist knows, it often depends on your condition. As for the sauna, you should ask your cardiologist about that as well. I thought you weren't supposed to do saunas, but I could be wrong. -Olivia hello Olivia. Your instinct was correct. Saunas no longer an option. Thank you for responding. 
I'm glad to hear that you have found this forum helpful. Please let us know how you make out after speaking to your cardiologist about your weight gain and diuretics. All the best, Lauren (team member)
