Lasix - yes or no for dementia.?..

Soul Mate

My husband is stage 5 currently and is type 1 diabetic for 52 years.  He was diagnosed with stage 3 kidney disease a year ago and improved greatly on low salt diet. The doctor prescribed lasix but his legs haven’t really swollen until just recently so I have t used it until now.  

And as to be expected it caused repeated trips to the bathroom.    dH is pretty good at alerting me that he has to go but once in the bathroom.I have to prompt him every step of the way.  This took a lot of time and I didn’t get much done.  Not sustainable. 

Just wondering if any one has any experience good or bad in this regard.

As I was doing some research about it on the internet I also discovered that lasix also causes high blood sugar and we experienced that as well.

Thanks

Cinsababe

Of course each case will be unique. My DH is type2 Diabetic. He is also stage3b Chronic Kidney Disease, diagnosed Alzheimers seems stage 5 to me. His legs never swell, but his potassium levels go very high. So he has to be on torsemide...similar to Lasix.  I would talk to your nephrologist, there may be other concerns besides swelling that they are watching and treating for. DH potassium was 6.6 last month, a deadly level and yet he had no symptoms, he has adjusted well to the meds and after a few days didn't seem to pee as much.  We have increased his insulin to cover the increase in blood sugar numbers.

M1

Soul Mate, Lasix is very difficult to take for many folks without dementia.  My personal choice would be to hold off unless the leg swelling really seems to be causing him pain.  You might also ask if there's something less harsh that might work, but all "loop diuretics" as they are called are going to have this effect.  Sounds to me like it might be time for a palliative care conversation--do what makes him comfortable, but no more checking labs, etc.

Iris L.

Could he be getting extra salt from somewhere in his diet?  When I eat baked goods, which have a lot of sodium, my legs swell.  Can he elevate his legs?  A lot of trapped fluid is released during the night when we are laying flat and our legs are elevated.

Iris

John1965

I don’t have any advice but wanted to share my humor. I honestly confused the diuretic with the eye surgery. I was ready to say it was a good idea so a PWD wouldn’t have to worry about losing their glasses.

Soul Mate

Ha, ha.  Thanks for the laugh.

Especially funny because my husband is also a John and that would be his sense of humor.