Just a little confused. Hope someone has some knowledge that may help

General
1

Hi my fellow chiarians, Hope you all are doing well? I am writing because I am having some symptoms that I don't understand. I'm not sure if or how they would be related to chiari or surgery but here it goes...... I am a little over 6 weeks post op and I have gained a total of 15 lbs with 9 lbs of that happening over night (literally), last night as a matter of fact. This actually started before surgery but I wasn't made aware of it until the day before surgery. My NS told me that I had about 4 liters of fluid on each leg. At that time I had no pain and didn't even notice it. Now I am so swollen that I have lots of discomfort and at times have a hard time even standing on my legs and feet for any amount of time. I went to my regular physician in mid December about this and he did blood work and gave me furosemide. On the blood work he checked my kidney functions and my metabolic panel. He said everything was in normal range and to take the furosemide as needed. I wasn't able to take them every day because they made my legs cramp. Well yesterday my legs were hurting pretty bad and I could tell I was swollen but it wasn't until this morning that I realized how bad it was. That's when I weighed and realized I was up 9 lbs since yesterday. I of course made another appointment with my regular physician and when I got there they confirmed the weight gain and my blood pressure was only 92/70 which is low for me. Normally I am 110 over between 60-70. I don't know what kind of role that plays in all of this but I think I was more concerned with that then the doctor was. They took some more blood and did a chest x-ray to check my heart and my lungs. Now to wait!! I hate that. I know that it will be Monday before I have the answers to those test because the doctor is off tomorrow! UGHHHH!!! Ok well there is nothing I can do about that so what I will do is ask my friends on this site.......Does anyone have any idea what this is about?? Even if you can't help thank you for just taking the time to read this.

Oh I just remembered, I also woke up with the worst headache. It was the first one I have had since surgery. Just in case its relevant.

2

Shannon do you take a beta blocker or hypertension medication?

3

No ma'am I don't take anything except Tylenol and furosemide.

4

I'm sure they did, make sure they take thyroid fx tests. Hypothyroidism is associated with CM, and maybe its still out of wack. This can cause low bp, leg swelling, wt. gain you mentioned

good luck,

Geoff

5

I have had many thyroid level test. They all come out normal. However I am scheduled to go to an Endocrinologist the 17th of January. I have been complaining that my hormones or something was and is all out of whack for years. I'm just finally getting somewhere with this.

6

I wonder if the furosemide pulled off too much fluid and caused the drop in your pressure? There are several reasons you could be retaining fluid. Please be sure they do testing in order find out why. What are your sodium levels like?

7

Shannon, I’m not sure what to suggest other than the tests you are waiting on the results for. I’m sorry this is happening, I would be very anxious to find out why this is happening too. If you start to get short of breath than go to the ER. Please please let us know as you find out…cause I’m a little worried about you. How are feeling today?

Jenn

8

AussiePupOwner,

Thank you for your reply. I don't think that it was the furosemide that dropped my pressure because I hadn't taken it that day. I have had more blood work done that they were supposed to call me about today but I didn't hear from them. As far as my sodium levels on my last test in mid December it was 139 which is pretty good from what I have been told, I'm not a big salt eater.

Jenn,

I am feeling fine as I do most days. I have an extremely high tolerance for most any issue so its not that it is an real bad issue. I just know that this is not normal and as far as gaining so many pounds. I can't stand that. I did get the results from my chest xray and they said everything was normal with my heart and my lungs. I'm at a loss.