husbands large stomach

[mrsmurphey]

my husband had a massive heart attack 8 months ago and had a lot of fluid in his abdomen, which was drawn off in hospital. He is now on many diuretics, but his stomach is still expanding and when he eats, however little , he feels very uncomfortable and bloated. He is now waiting for an amdomen ultrasound. Does this sound like IBS?

[LoftyLottie]

Mrs Murphey. Mr LL had a massive heart attack last year and afterwards suffered with tremendous amounts of air in his tum and continually bloating and burping and discomfort. Our Health authoritiy automatically give medicines to combat this (reduce acid in the stomach) to everyone who takes the heart attack medications, (especially aspirin) These didn't work that well for him and he has been changed over to a different medication which is doing a far better job. I would advise that he talks this over with his GP.

[Sqad]

Heart attack and fluid in his abdomen do not make sense in that I cannot see any connection.

Why didn´t they do the ultrasound 8 months ago?.....I wonder.

[LoftyLottie]

I have to say that Mr LL didn't have fluid in his stomach, but does have the problem with bloating and air when he eats that followed the heart attack. The consultant said that this often happens because of the stress of the heart attack and the diaphragm going into spasms and it was suggested that he have breathing excercises because he was overbreathing (and due to the massive shock). I was there when he was told this by the way. The latest tum tablets seem to have reduced the problems by 75% though.

[Sqad]

Lofty, we are not singing from the same hymn sheet.

[mrsmurphey]

thanks lofty lottie, that sounds just like my hubby. Sqad he didhave all the scans during his month in hospital, but this bloating has since occurred, hence the wait now for USAbdo.

[LoftyLottie]

Sqad. Mrs Murphey is not necessarily saying that he has a lot of fluid in his abdomen now. He is experiencing symptoms very similar to Mr LL, discomfort and bloatedness. However, I misread thinking that his stomach is expanding a little when he eats and now realise that he stomach is expanding on a constant basis even when he eats very little! So not entirely from different hymn sheets. He obviously needs that scan

It doesn't sound like IBS if his stomach is getting bigger though.

[LoftyLottie]

Hope all works out for him Mrs Murphey. A very worrying time isn't it? Fortunately Mr LL is now very fit and well thank goodness.

[Sqad]

mrsM.......the big unanswered question is why was fluid in the abdomen at the time of his heart attack.

If you are assuming that the bloated feeling is similar to lofty´s husband, then well, you MAY be right, but in my opinion it is the recurrence of the abdominal fluid, which has yet to be explained.

In my opinion, the two cases are completely different.

[LoftyLottie]

Funnily enough Sqad, since the heart attack Mr LL finds he can't eat the amount he used to. (Probably a good thing ;o)). He wasn't particularly heavy before but now he is a real Slim Jim. He gets full up very quickly. Let's hope Mr Murphey has some good result whatever the cause.

[society]

What's causing the stomach to retain fluid?

Would Mr. Murphy become dependant on diuretics? Wouldn't this affect his kidneys in the long run?

[Sqad]

soc......the stomach wasn´t retaining fluid.............the abdominal cavity was..........different thing altogether.

[LoftyLottie]

Diuretics are naturally prescribed to people who have heart attacks. Mr Murphey would be getting routine checks for kidney function. I take them for blood pressure. If you take them you get 6 monthly checks to make sure all is well with kidney function. Loads of people take them Society.

[mrsmurphey]

thank you both for all the chat. MrM has also had a smaller appetite since the attack and his body is not big, only the tum. He takes raanatadine and I think perhaps Omaprazole ould suit better, but waiti ng to see what the scan shows. Will keep you posted.

[society]

Thanks Sqad and Lottie.

[mrsmurphey]

just read the further posts, he does have checks on kidney fu nction. so hoping for the best

[rowanwitch]

fluid in abdomen... ascites? the underlying condition causing the fluid collection in the abdomen might have precipitated the heart attack or have the same root cause have they done a full range of liver and kidney tests? and is his 'bloated ' abdomen really gas or has the fluid reaccumulated...
Can I ask a serious question is Mr Murphy or was he a heavy drinker
I think sqad can give a better opinion if he knows these things

[LoftyLottie]

Mr LL switched from ranatadine to Omaprazole with good results!

[LoftyLottie]

It's nice to be kept posted MrsM. Thanks.

[Sqad]

rowan....you have put your finger right on it.

Unlikely to be due to his heart, unless he had heart trouble previously causing congestive cardiac failure........unlikely.

The commonest cause of ascites today is Chronic Cirrhosis due to alcohol abuse, but there are other causes.

To assume that the bloated stomach is something other than a recurrence of his ascites is foolhardy......hence the scan to be performed.

[rowanwitch]

once a liver nurse always a liver nurse...