Treatment for diuretic caused stomach churning?

Posted by tadueo @tadueo, Jul 8 5:24pm

I'm 91 with CHF and have been taking strong doses of Furosemide, 120 MG, to remove water but it causes diarrhea and severe stomach churning. When I complain to my Cardiologist he tells me to go to the ER. I think he's given up on me.
Anyone know how I can rid myself of this problem? The diarrhea, not the cardiologist.

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gloaming | @gloaming | Jul 8 10:50pm

Diarrhea has several causes, including the bowel and other organs sensitive to the cardiac output insufficiency (I dislike the term 'heart failure'). Everything slows down, including bowel motility and kidney function. Normally, when things are better, motility increases and the kidneys do more processing, both of which tend to take up water and put it in the blood stream and/or into the bladder for excretion. This is important for the maintenance of electrolyte balance everywhere in the body so that uptake, re-uptake, and discharge can take place efficiently. This includes cardiac output, meaning myocytes need fluid and electrolyte balance as well. If you have CHF, your system simply cannot do all it needs to to keep you feeling well. Ascites, as you probably know only too well, is a common problem, and I would think that maybe diarrhea is a close cousin, even if it gets encouraged by the Furosemide (about which I know nothing).

This is my feeble attempt at situating you with your other health problems, sorry. I sincerely hope you get others offering more tangible help.

I hate to suggest it to you, but the cardiologist may actually be unable to help you. It might be his/her professional or experiential limitations, or it might be that the current science offers him/her, and you, no practical remedies.