While I was at The Community* on Thursday, I left a message for Dana*,
mom's hospice nurse, to please look at mom’s left foot when she visits her on
Friday. I informed her that mom is on
Lasix, but her foot and ankle is still badly swollen.
On Friday Dana* called to give me an update after looking at mom’s
foot and ankle. She agreed that mom’s
left foot is very swollen. Dana* spoke with
mom’s regular nurse who in turn spoke with mom’s doctor. He prescribed
doubling mom’s Lasix for three days starting on Friday.
Lasix is a loop diuretic (water pill) that
prevents the body from absorbing too much salt, allowing the salt to instead be
passed in the urine. Lasix treats fluid retention
(edema) in people with congestive heart failure which mom was diagnosed with
several months ago.
The negative with taking extra lasix is that mom
will need to stay close to the restroom for the next three days. Dana made sure to inform mom of this side
effect.
In addition, the doctor is also going to give mom a blood test to
check her levels of potassium. If she is
low, he will start supplementing her with potassium.
Hopefully, mom’s swollen foot and ankle problem should soon be rectified.
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