Dehydrated?

I did some research and what do you think of this? I have mentioned that I probably don't get enough fluids and that may have caused that near fatal arrythmia I had. Well, as it turns out, the day that happened I know I was dehydrated because I had spent the day before going pee a LOT. Sometimes I skip taking my lasix if I'm going to be in town all day and driving. (Before the shock, I would drive 2 hours into a bigger town to shop.) So I hadn't taken my lasix for a day, and took it on Sunday causing me to pee a lot. By Monday, I was still peeing, but not putting the fluids back in to compensate for that amount. I read an article just now that described what happens to you when you have CHF and are dehydrated. Your blood pressure drops even further (mine is usually low) and your heart races. Yes. That's exactly what happened. Before this happened, I noticed that my blood pressure was going up and down, it was higher in the morning, then lowering in the afternoon. I thought that was strange because it's usually pretty constant and hear I was getting a reading of 134/90 sometimes then my usual 107/70 other times. 

Maybe this was what caused that episode, it makes sense and I've came close to it before I think. I have boosted my fluid intake carefully, and am making sure I get enough. Hopefully that will help in the long run. What do you guys think? 

3 Comments

Dehydration

by Gemita - 2023-12-17 04:52:21

Janene, agree dehydration is to be avoided at all costs.

Yes I am aware of the importance of staying well hydrated and I know with my own arrhythmias that dehydration is a very strong trigger for disturbances of rhythm, blood pressure falls and syncope.  How many syncope events I have had because of dehydration.  Good hydration keeps everything working better.

People with ventricular arrhythmias frequently have a history of electrolyte imbalance that can be caused by dehydration or extreme exercise or dieting.  Since you have to push so hard to keep your body moving, have little or no appetite, it is possible that a combination of all of these factors may have triggered your sudden disturbances of rhythm.  Also, as I previously mentioned, you have poor heart function at the moment which can also cause electrical instability.  We cannot do anything perhaps about the latter at present, but we can try to prevent sudden electrolyte changes by adjusting meds or paying more attention to diet and to hydration.  

When the body is dehydrated, the heart has to work much harder to pump blood around.  This extra work can increase heart rate and cause palpitations and in your case, may further weaken your heart.  Our blood can thicken when we are dehydrated, making even more work for our struggling heart. 

I have seen dehydration and electrolyte disturbances cause acute kidney injury and other acute symptoms on many occasions and have had to seek emergency help for my husband when this occurred.  Anything you can do to manage these disturbances better can only be a good thing Janene.  Your heart needs all the help it can get

Thank you Gem

by R2D2 - 2023-12-17 12:48:42

These are such comforting words, right now I'm clinging to anything that makes sense, something I can focus on so I don't feel so helpless. My PTSD is a challenge still, but I'm finding ways to conquer it.

dehydration

by Selwyn - 2023-12-17 18:44:25

Certainly dehydration can kill you. Electrolyte imbalance is dangerous.

Your electrolytes should be regularly monitored by a medical practitioner if you are on Lasix ( Furosemide), more so if you have heart failure. 

As mentioned above, it is bad for the kidneys to be dehydrated. Acute renal shock, and chronic renal failure are possible  outcomes. 

Regular monitoring is a safeguard.

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