Why did I need diuretics?
As a patient with kidney disease, experiencing various symptoms is common, and some can be quite bothersome. One such symptom is water retention (or oedema), typically seen as swelling in the feet and ankles.
It can also cause possible puffiness and swelling around the eyes. I regularly dealt with swelling in my ankles, which often forced me to adjust my walking gait, resulting in sore feet.
To address the swelling issue, my nephrologist recommended furosemide (one trade name is Lasix®). It’s worth noting that there are other similar diuretics (e.g. bumetanide and torasemide) that can also be used for this purpose.
I didn’t hold much hope of these little tablets to get rid of the excess fluid on my ankles – they were fairly swollen, and sometimes painful to touch. The first time I took them, it took a long time for them to work. But when they did, boy did they go through me!
How did diuretics affect me?
I’m one of those people who say they have a weak bladder. I pee around 15 times normally, even with small amounts of fluid consumed. Furosemide probably doubled the amount of wee I do. I could have filled a bucket within the first hour!
They have been effective for me. Whilst I have found them to clear excess fluid easily, I am aware that some patients have faced challenges with them.
What are the side effects?
These tablets do have side effects, particularly dry mouth and dehydration, which I have personally experienced. It’s crucial to stay well-hydrated when using them, despite their intended purpose of eliminating excess fluid.
It was evident that I was using the toilet more frequently (which is their intended purpose), although some people find this surprising.
I also experienced frequent headaches, likely due to dehydration.
Feeling fatigued was also a regular occurrence for me. Dehydration can lead to tiredness, particularly when coupled with frequent trips to the bathroom. For those with weaker bladders, the constant walking up and down stairs to the bathroom can also contribute to fatigue levels – though it does offer a good cardio workout!
This article was written by Darren, who has provided his first hand account of patient experience with diuretics. We hope you have found it useful. Below are some related articles that you may also find interesting.
- 5 Stages of CKD
- What is furosemide?
- What is bendroflumethazide?
- What are the 10 best water tablets (diuretics)?
Last Reviewed on 21 April 2024