weight gain in the mid section

Hi fellow pacers,
I have had my 3 lead pacer for 1 year this month and have a question for anyone who might have a problem with weight gain. I am a 49 year old female, and obviously it is also that time in life that things are changing anyway, but I have been packing on between 1-3 pounds a week for the last month of so, and am wondering if this is something to be concerned about. A little background info, one of my leads is not making a good contact so my voltage is jacked up and draining my battery which last visit to doc says about 4 more months left. I have definitely been noticing the extra weight very much in the stomach and can really feel it when I am sitting. I hate calling the doc with every ache and pain and I hate to be a complainer, but, this weight gain is very troubling. I did call my cardiologist Friday, but they had already left for the day, so I assume I will get a call early this week. Anyone have any insight? Thanks fellow pacers.

9 Comments

Edema?

by Gonnie - 2010-10-31 11:10:06

Are you taking a diuretic? I finally convinced my cardio doc to prescribe a small dose daily and it's helped me a lot. Beta blockers are not our friend either when it comes to weight gain. I'll be interested to hear what you learn!

weight gain

by thomast - 2010-11-01 01:11:09

I suspect you have fluid retention. I was given a very acurate digital scale and told to weigh every day to watch for weight gain. I take lasix to stop fluid retention. I can tell by my anlkles if I am retaining fluid. I am not supposed to but if I see fluid gain I increase the lasix for a day or to and it works. If you do have fluid retention it is serious and you should talk to your doctor.

Thomas

call

by Tracey_E - 2010-11-01 08:11:15

Weight gain happens as we work our way through our 40's and our hormones slow down but 1-3 a week is a lot! Is it swelling? That would be more hands and feet than stomach. Beta blockers can cause it but not that quickly. Thyroid can also cause weight gain. I would check with your internist first. Unless it's all fluid in the extremities, it's not likely it's heart and it's extremely unlikely it's the pm.

Anyway, ask your dr and see if there's a medical reason for the gain.

Thanks for the thoughts

by kathyfletchall - 2010-11-01 08:11:31

I actually finally got a call today from my Internist who wants me to see my cardiologist, and then a call from the cardiologist wanting me to see my internist. I can't stand being juggled around. I called the internist back and told them what my cardiologist said, and now will call me tomorrow (another day wasted waiting) I guess to schedule an appointment. According to my internist it could be possible to gain fluid in the mid section from my congestive heart failure, but the cardiologist said it is probably something else going on and not likely pacemaker related. I guess we will see. Wish me luck or I might consider another set of doctors that will not play tag with my health.

Fluid

by cruz - 2010-11-01 11:11:14

I go to a Heart Failure Specialist. One of the first things I was told was that I was to weigh myself EVERY day, right after the first time I go to the bathroom in the morning. They explained that if I gain a couple of pounds during the night, there is no reason for this other than fluid build-up. I was told to call the doctor if I see the weight gain. While I don't want to bother them needlessly, I think it merits at least asking them if it could be fluids. This is important, so don't worry about calling and asking a question.

I love all the good feedback!

by kathyfletchall - 2010-11-02 02:11:55

Thanks for the last few comments as well. I did get a call from my internist this morning and she wants to do a full blood workup on me tomorrow. Cabg Patch's comment is true about the possibility of just actual weight gain instead of just fluid retention. The funny thing with me is, as much as I thought it could be just actual weight gain, I am also very winded just walking swiftly across a room. I do take diuretics daily and my heart med has a diuretic in it as well, and it does make a long nights sleep pretty much impossible. Anyway, I think I know my body pretty well, and I know when something is just not right. Hopefully it could just be a weird thing going on, but I would like to put my mind at rest knowing that nothing is wrong medically with me. My cardiologist says that since I have severe myopathy I may not ever feel "normal" again as far as full of energy, but I should be able to walk across the room without having to catch my breath. I'll keep all interested up to date after I see the doc. Thanks for all the feedback.

weight

by Binky - 2010-11-02 06:11:51

I have had my Pm for 4 months now and in that time have gain 15lbs. Which is very annoying as i had lost 50 lbs before PM. Some of my meds say that weight gain is possible but never thought to ask my Heart doc. Which i will do next visit cause it doesn't matter what I do those lbs won't go away. Just never thought of fluid. so thanks .

Update from the doc

by kathyfletchall - 2010-11-04 10:11:35

Went to the doc today and she wants me to have another ekg done because of the shortness of breathe and my arteries in my neck were bulging when I was laying down which made her wonder if my heart was working too hard. Ran a bunch of bloodwork and have the ekg scheduled on the 15th. I just hope my weight gain is just mid life related and nothing is wrong. I hope that I can finally find a happy mediam where I don't have to go back and forth to the doctor except for check ups. Hope everyone is happy today and I'll keep you all posted.

Where we have "swelling"

by cruz - 2010-11-29 10:11:17

My HFS says that swelling/gaining in the stomach area is more common than most realize. My ankles, wrists, hands and fingers NEVER show any retention of fluids. I gain in the stomach. My first cardiologist ONLY checked my ankles and hands. I ended up having to switch cardiologists and at the first examine, I didn't know what he was doing when he started vigorously pushing down on my stomach. I later found out he was checking for swelling.

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