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What Should I Do About The Inability To Breathe While Lying Down When Diagnosed With Congested Heart Failure?
Posted on
Sun, 20 May 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 20 May 2018
Answered on
Tue, 26 Mar 2024
Last reviewed on
Question : I am a patient of Dr heekin here in XXXXXXX fla he has recomeended full knee replace of both kneesdue to his patient consultation he told me that the knee must be elevated above the heart after surgery, I have congested heart failure and cannot breath with lying flat on my bed How can I have the surgery done because I have been sleeping in an up rite position for 8 years lying flat I loose my breath.I have canceled and put off my surgeries do to the breathing problem before and after surgery.I have tried to practice elevating my knee lying in bed and I am total breathless and suffer from cosphoby
,can you give me a diagnose due to I am not the only patient that has congestive heart failure I have had bypass surgery 2 times repeated with a pericardectomy my sternimin has been split 3 times from open heart surgeries,how can I get my knees replaced and lye flat,is it possible through a bed becaused the bed I have is electrical lift and I have to be elevated totally up and I have practiced elevating my knee above my heart and I am breathless ,Can you give me a way that I can have my surgeries or recommend a way of leg elevation above my heart after surgery.
,can you give me a diagnose due to I am not the only patient that has congestive heart failure I have had bypass surgery 2 times repeated with a pericardectomy my sternimin has been split 3 times from open heart surgeries,how can I get my knees replaced and lye flat,is it possible through a bed becaused the bed I have is electrical lift and I have to be elevated totally up and I have practiced elevating my knee above my heart and I am breathless ,Can you give me a way that I can have my surgeries or recommend a way of leg elevation above my heart after surgery.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thank you for asking us!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that that first it is important optimizing your heart failure therapy, in order to help improve breathing in lying position.
In this regard, diuretics ( torasemide, furasemide) may help reduce fluid retention and thus the lung congestion, leading to improvement of breathing in lying position.
Another option would be to avoid open knee surgery and try endoscopy (arthroscopy) if possible. This procedure is less traumatic and leads to a lesser degree of inflammation.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr.Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Welcome and thank you for asking us!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that that first it is important optimizing your heart failure therapy, in order to help improve breathing in lying position.
In this regard, diuretics ( torasemide, furasemide) may help reduce fluid retention and thus the lung congestion, leading to improvement of breathing in lying position.
Another option would be to avoid open knee surgery and try endoscopy (arthroscopy) if possible. This procedure is less traumatic and leads to a lesser degree of inflammation.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr.Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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