New Diagnosis

I have received a “new” medical diagnosis: the swelling in my leg that began after I fell through the deck stairs almost two years ago and then spread to my other leg, ankles, and feet evidently has nothing to do with the fall. The results of various tests from the past two weeks indicate that the swelling is more related to my obesity, COPD, and recently found slightly elevated blood pressure.

To use the big words that the doc used, the edema is caused by congestive heart failure, which is the doc’s diagnosis:

The most common signs of congestive heart failure are swollen legs or ankles, difficulty in breathing, and weight gain because of accumulating fluid. Congestive heart failure usually requires a treatment program of rest, proper diet, modified daily activities, and drugs such as digitalis, diuretics, and vasodilators. ~ (Follow the hyperlink above to the document source of this quotation)

Am I upset? Nope

Am I worried? Nope

Did I suspect this diagnosis? Yep.

When the VA medical staff could not find a bone source of my leg swelling and then the edema went to both legs, I suspected that it was something else and began to search websites for the answer. That was almost a year ago. When I suggested to my VA case manager that it might be congestive heart failure, she said that none of the tests the VA had run indicated it.

Of course, my VA case manager never looked at my legs! She has seldom looked at me! About 90% of the brief time we are together she has spent looking at her computer screen and asking me questions. I really am uncomfortable with the practice of modern, computer-based medicine.

Thankfully Dr. Mike and his staff did look at my legs and prescribed a diuretic the first day he visited me. With the confirmation of the diagnosis of congestive heart failure, the frequency of my taking the diuretic has been increased from one a day to three a day. At the moment, he says, I need no other medications, although a member of his staff will be visiting me weekly to measure progress. I feel comfortable with that!