mild interstitial edema

[marilee176]

I have been wondering if anyone has had mild interestitial edema,
I have been diagnosed with this and am scard, wondered what is the treatment.  they found it by taking a chest xray.  please help.

[marilee176]

Hi,

Been awhile, how have you been feeling, anything new?

[prohomespa]

Yes I have just been diagnosed with same problem,  mine feels like flat water balloons on my mid back, between spinal cord and scapular of right side.  Have you found causes or cure?  

[marilee176]

Hi,

I stayed in today and kept the door and widows closed and i felt pretty good.

I even could breath well enough to vacumm and shampoo half of my carptet.  I felt more like myself but now that evening has come I am getting a little short of breath.  I go to the doctor tomorrow but wondered if this sound similar to what was going on with you?

[prohomespa]

My friend told me to do deep breathing exercises upon rising,  opening windows to get fresh oxygen from airflow! 10-20mins!

[kenkeith]

I haven't had any surgery, but it appears a valve repair is inevitable (=.  

[marilee176]

Hi, so did you have a surgery?  I am happy you are feeling good.
I hope you are right about my condition.

I called the ER today and asked if my tests while i was in there were abnormal would they call me and they said yes they do but it has been three weeks and they nover called but i did get a call from my primary care doctor today and of course I got the message after they were closed so i am a little stressed again to see what they want.  god help me.

[kenkeith]

I was in ICU for several days to normalize the oxygen level. I went to ER because I had shortness of breath and a dry cough that was like choking to death!  I recovered rather quickly with revasculation by stent and medication.  It has been about 6 years ago, and if I remember correctly I was only a few months with lasix (diuretic) 40mg daily.

Heart failure can be successfully treated, and haven't had any problems since a silent heart attack. Medication is to relax blood vessels and dilate for better blood flow with less work for the heart.  Also, a beta blocker (coreg) to help as well.   There have been no limitations for me.  In my situation, I had a heart that was overworked and enlarged.  The enlargement of the left ventricle caused weaker contractions, and weaker contractions was not enough strength to pump out the supply received from the lungs.

Hope this helps give you a perspective, and not to worry.  I had mild edema and problems, and if you don't have any coughing problems, your condition may be less than mild.

[marilee176]

Hi,
Thank you for your response, i have been waiting for someone that had this to let me know cause i am very scared.

so with heart failure can you live a normal life?

i dont feel like i am choking at all laying down but i am short of breath.  it feels like allergies more but i don't know

how long do you have to take the diuretics?  How did they find out you had this condidion?  thank you so much.

[kenkeith]

I had mild pulmonary edema, and the underlying cause was heart failure that caused fluids to leak into interestitial space. I had a dry cough and a choking sensation when lying down...sitting up provided relief. Also, there was shortness of breath and fast heart rate.  It seems the heart was unable to pump all the blood received from the lungs causing blood to back up in the lungs and fluids leaked into the tissues.
  
Although heart failure is the usual cause, it can also occur in altitude sickness or on inhalation of toxic chemicals. Pulmonary edema produces shortness of breath. Pleural effusions may occur when fluid also accumulates in the pleural cavity.

Treatment is to take diuretics to reduce fluids. and correct and treat the underlying cause.  Sorry to hear of your symptoms, and if there is a medical condition it can be successfully treated.  Thanks for sharing, and if you have any followup questions, you are welcome to respond.  Take care.