Bringing Out The Big Guns

Sorry about the long delay between posts, but it's been a busy weekend. Not where did I leave off in the story? Oh, that's right... I was still having some issues with the edema. Although I hadn't inflated like a Goodyear balloon, it was increasing at a troubling rate.

On Thursday I took my regular dose of Lasix @ 100mg. It was totally ineffective! By Thursday night, I had still continued to gain fluid in my upper legs. It was a little scary because it was starting to affect my walking, which I haven't had problems with in quite a few months.

On Friday I decided to kick it up a notch and go to my 'maintenance dose', which in my case is Lasix @ 120mg. Usually when I take this elevated amount, it starts doing some good. It is a little unnerving to go this high, but it seemed to be the only way to get this under control. I was apprehensive, but confident. Edema, please go away!

But again, nothing happened. It hadn't reduced the edema at all; it had only kept the edema from advancing any further. Now, this was starting to tick me off.

So here I am on Saturday, and I've raised my dosage twice without any success. I am a little panicked at this point because a) I don't have any control of it and b) maybe my kidneys are getting worse? While in the midst of an anxiety attack, I decided that there was only one way that I could get a rein on my fatty legs. Send in the Zaroxolyn!

Astute readers will remember my tales with this drug a few months ago. This was the drug that had removed the thirty or so pounds of fluid that I had amassed while undergoing treatment. It was a little too strong, as after a while it had started to make me sick. I was a little hesistant to unleash this beast in my system, because it is really good at what it does. To compare: if Lasix was a shopping-mall security guard, then Zaroxolyn would be a Green Beret.

So I searched for my old bag of medication... the one I've named, "Drugs I Hope I Never Have To Take Again". I blew off the dust, and pulled out the nearly-empty bottle of Zaroxolyn.

On Saturday, I took the Zaroxolyn followed by the chaser of 80mg Lasix. If this doesn't work, then nothing will. I scratched plans for the evening knowing that I'd be making frequent restroom breaks.

An hour passes, and I don't feel a thing. Two hours... three hours. Nothing. What is going on here? I've taken the strongest stuff in the house, and my kidneys aren't making as much as a peep.

Then, it happened. The Zaroxolyn started to kick in and start working. I had to keep on going. And going. All through the night and the following morning. By Saturday night I was five pounds lighter than when I started. That my friends, is the power of Zaroxolyn.

I decided to take a break on my water pills for Sunday. My plans are to get back on my original dose of Lasix @ 100mg, and hope to keep the fluid down. My six-month evaluation is in a week, and I'd like to look good.