Going off diuretics....

[Rick]

Hey everyone,
A week ago my doctor did a BP check on me, which I have had done quarterly for the last few years, and it was really, and I mean really low. This is unusual for me, as I've had high BP for years. I've been on lasix (a diuretic) for years. Before, when I'd go off of it, I'd gain like 10 lbs in 2 days, which I knew was water retention... anyway, he took me off of it on Monday. I have stuck strictly with the induction phase of Atkins, and in the first 3 days I did gain back, quite a bit actually, of what I lost in my first 3 weeks of this WOE. Well, I had lost 23 lbs pretty quickly, then I gained back 5 in those days. I have leveled off the last two days, so I am guessing that it's just my bodys reaction to being off the diuretic.

I have to say that I think I'd have gained a whole lot more if it weren't for this WOE. I have actually lost a lb since yesterday, which is promising for me. With no BP meds, my BP tonight was 115/73, which is awesome!!!

I'm just hoping that now the scales will start dropping again. Has anyone else gone through this? Have you been on a diuretic to start Atkins, then gone off of it? Did you gain back, then start to lose again? If so, how long did it take your body to get used to not having that little pill to take care of water weight? I just hated to see the scale come back up again after all of my hard work. But, I know that I'm better off not taking the meds and letting my body take care of itself.

If you have anything to say about this, I'd sure appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks!
Rick

[2big4mysize]

Re: Going off diuretics....

congrats on getting off your lasix.

Just losing weight can lower BP cause being 25 pounds over weight means your body had 5000 more miles of blood vessels to pump through and then add the natural diuretic effect of Atkins with the stable blood sugars so you don't get the high blood sugar spiking your blood pressure and it is easy to see why your BP would be low with a med too.

Desertthorn stopped and restarted her fluid pills serveral times in thelast yr so you could PM her about it.

You are right their will be a rebound issue with the body needing to make more of the chems that kick out excess fluids now cause they were shut down using the drug to take care oif it. keep drinking yir water and your body will adjust. just remeber that scale number isn't what folk are seeing nor does it tell you how much fat mass you have actually shed since the last time you were on it.

Didi your doc give you a limit on regain fluid before you call him?

happy low carbing.

[Rick]

Re: Going off diuretics....

Thanks for the quick reply 2Big. I was hoping that you'd read this thread and respond.

No, my Dr. didn't give me a number to call him back, but I am going back again next week to check in with him. He was so happy to see my numbers down that he wants to validate next week that it wasn't just an abnormal reading. So, we will discuss that next week.

I guess I just wanted the validation that this wasn't unusual. I'm not a dummy, so when I saw the lbs creep up again I wasn't all that concerned really, thinking that it was just my body doing what it thinks is right. And, like I said, the scale has dropped a pound since yesterday, so I think I'm really and truly on the right track health wise. I know that I've gone off of it before for a couple of days and seen the scales change dramatically... it wasn't all that bad this time, and I really expected it to be worse. It makes me feel good that it wasn't bad, and that it went down today. It makes me think that I'm really doing this right this time and that Atkins is working for me. I am not discouraged in the least about the gain, and if anything I am encouraged that it wasn't as big as it was in the past. I have a good feeling that it'll be heading downwards again soon. And, you're right, it's not the scale that people notice. I've been working out steadily since I started this, and I know that I'm in better shape, the BP numbers show that. Endurance has increased, self esteem has increased dramatically, and I'm in smaller clothes and even went shopping today to get more of the smaller variety.

Again, thanks for the quick reply, and the validation of my thoughts. You're truly a gem on this website!!!!!

Rick

[2big4mysize]

Re: Going off diuretics....

your welcome

good to see your body hasn't gone way up with fluids when you came off. I know that was Dessertthorn's issue with it.

the pound limit was more from a health standpoint as added fluid will make your heart work harder as you know.

[Rick]

Re: Going off diuretics....

As for the lb limit. Well, I'm still down about 20 lbs from when I started 4 weeks ago. So, I think my Dr. is happy about that, and I know that my heart is too!

Thanks again.
Rick

[LC_Dave]

Re: Going off diuretics....

Hey Rick, I would say that you are correct about the water retention.

As you know, your weight will now start decreasing.

You may know this already but I have heard that keeping the water intake up with help with water regulation. (You probably already know that!)

Are you taking any suppliments ? I heard garlic suppliments are good for BP.

These are the ones I take, I heard Garlic has a positive impact on the cardiovascual system!

http://www.gnc.com/sm-natural-brand-...i-2133198.html

[Rick]

Re: Going off diuretics....

Hey Dave,
Thanks for the reply.

Yep, I do take garlic, in it's natural form, ever day. Actually, I don't take if for BP specifically, but for another health issue. I suffer from something called Meniere's Disease, which is an inner ear disorder, and garlic is supposed to help with circulation, and that's supposed to help with Meinere's. I've been taking it for about 6 months. Combine garlic breath with Ketosis breath and it's hard to get a date!

I really like to get my supplements naturally if I can, but I do take a one a day multi-vitamin.

Yep, I'm drinking probably in the range of 100 oz. of water a day. I did notice a significant drop off in urine output (sorry if that's gross) during the first few days of being off the diuretic, which was to be expected. It was also foul smelling (again, I apologize) and dark. I increased the water intake even more, knowing that it's a sign of dehydration. Ketosis has been very high on the stix, so I know that I need to drink even more water.

Looking forward to more validaton on the scale, but am happy where I am.

Thanks again,
Rick

[LC_Dave]

Re: Going off diuretics....

Hey Dave,
Thanks for the reply.

Yep, I do take garlic, in it's natural form, ever day. Actually, I don't take if for BP specifically, but for another health issue. I suffer from something called Meniere's Disease, which is an inner ear disorder, and garlic is supposed to help with circulation, and that's supposed to help with Meinere's. I've been taking it for about 6 months. Combine garlic breath with Ketosis breath and it's hard to get a date!

I really like to get my supplements naturally if I can, but I do take a one a day multi-vitamin.

Yep, I'm drinking probably in the range of 100 oz. of water a day. I did notice a significant drop off in urine output (sorry if that's gross) during the first few days of being off the diuretic, which was to be expected. It was also foul smelling (again, I apologize) and dark. I increased the water intake even more, knowing that it's a sign of dehydration. Ketosis has been very high on the stix, so I know that I need to drink even more water.

Looking forward to more validaton on the scale, but am happy where I am.

Thanks again,
Rick

Hey Rick, I am curious about Garlic.
I'm only new to supplimentation (thanks to Dr. A.!)

Do you think there is actual advantage to raw Garlic as apposed to suppliments ?

The disadvantage is the smell of course, but I have heard peopel prefer the actual cloves to supplimentation.

[slimndown]

Re: Going off diuretics....

Doesn't matter what form it comes in - garlic will make you smell!!! I am a fresh garlic eater and used to take garlic pills and would get same garlic breath, sweat and whatever else the natural stuff would give me.

[Rick]

Re: Going off diuretics....

Dave,
I honestly don't know if taking garlic in it's natural state (raw) is better than the supplements or not. I just prefer to not to take pills if I don't have to. It's just my preference. I'm sure there are people here who are more knowledgable than I about it.

Rick

[2big4mysize]

Re: Going off diuretics....

raw garlic gives you the antibiotic action too and Dr Atkins said garlic was #1 on his list of foods with the most phytonutrients per carb page 88 of DANDR.

[Analog6]

Re: Going off diuretics....

Dear Rick

As you know from a previous post, my Mum has been on diuretics and BP meds for many years (try 40+). She tried Lasix but suffered many of the nastier side effects. When she went off her diuretic (not Lasix, can't remember the name!) she put on 2 stone (28 lbs) and blew up like a balloon. Howver, eventually the weight subsuded and the oedema disappeared - it took a LONG time becuase she had been on them for decades.

Here's a couple of sites on Lasix and it's nasty effects (I reckon if everyone was given this first, they'd never take it). Both my Mum and sister suffered the sun sensitivity. http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Use...semide,00.html http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-8043...ame=Lasix+Oral

Can I suggest a herbal remedy if you still feel you might e retaining water? Dandelions are a well known diuretic (their nickname here is 'wet the beds'!). I believe celery, parsley and juniper are also good.

Here's some links
http://www.herbnet.com/ask%20the%20h...0Diuretics.htm
http://www.blackmores.com.au/product...prod=63&src=az (AN aUSTRALIAN COMPANY BUT LISTS THE INGREDIENTS)
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...261226119.html (A forum discussion)
http://www.zooscape.com/cgi-bin/mait...ornada30419163 (a commercial site selling herbal remedies - again, it lists the ingredients)

Hope all this is of some help.

[Rick]

Re: Going off diuretics....

Well, I guess I was too quick to think that I was over the lasix effects. My BP is still staying great, but I have been gaining back weight again. And, my Dr's appt was moved back until next week. I'm up a total of 5 lbs since I went off of the lasix, which is kind of discouraging, but I honestly believe it was to be expected. I'm sure it'd have been worse if I weren't doing Atkins.... actually, I'd still be on the stuff and still about 18 lbs heavier than I am now, or worse.

Don't worry, I'm not even thinking of giving up! I'll just be glad when my body is back to normal and I start losing again. I'm still eating right, 3 meals a day, spreading carbs, drinking my water, and doing the treadmill almost every day.

If there's anyone else around here that has gone through this, I'd appreciate hearing how long it took for your body to get through this.

I realize this could also be partially due to P.I.S.S

Thanks everyone for your input.
Rick

[Rick]

Re: Going off diuretics....

YeeHaaaWWW!!!! I got a major whoosie!!!! I guess the timeframe (for me anyway) was 8 days. Yesterday I spent most of my day in the bathroom (sorry if that offends). I guess my system finally figured out that I didn't have a drug to make me urinate, and that it'd better take care of it before it got bad. From yesterday morning until this morning I lost a full 7 lbs, and I'm sure it was all water retention that I'd built up since coming off the diuretic. By this evening it was down another 2 lbs. That's a lot of water!!! I know that I kept strict to the WOE during this time, and kept my exercise up as well as I could, but it was hard at first. So, I'm expecting it to level off pretty soon to what it would have been if I hadn't been on the diuretic to start with.

Just wanted to share.
Rick

[sombersusie]

Re: Going off diuretics....

A big sigh of relief for you eh? I'm glad you could get off that drug and your body could get back to 'business' so to speak, lol. WTG on your continuing loss!