help me help my aunt

[ambot88]

My aunt is 65 yrs old and in terrible shape - she has previously had a heart attack and stroke. She is over weight and not taking care of herself but she does really want to get healthier so I'm trying to help her out. I started her on Tirz because it seemed safer than Reta given her comorbidities but it's been 8 weeks and she hasn't lost any weight or noticed any health improvements. She started on 2.5mg for a month and is now on 5mg every 5 days. I visited her yesterday and she is in the worst shape I've seen in awhile - very swollen, retaining a ton of fluid (which I assume is where most of her weight is - I spent the whole day there and she legitimately isn't eating too much, though not the healthiest choices judging from her pantry) I know you guys aren't doctors and she should see one but she absolutely refuses medical attention maybe someone has some experience with this kind of situation and could give some insight? I think if she could just flush some fluid and see the scale moving it would motivate her to more of the other health stuff I'm pushing but the stagnant scale and seeing none of the benefits I assured her were coming is bumming her out.

 

[yrrdead]

I would be more concerned about CHF and/or kidney disease from your description. I would strongly urge immediate medical attention.

Not a doctor,not medical advice, but seriously go see one.

 

[ambot88]

I would be more concerned about CHF and/or kidney disease from your description. I would strongly urge immediate medical attention.

Not a doctor,not medical advice, but seriously go see one.

oh for sure, just looking at her I think she's in or close to heart failure. As of now she's hard core refusing medical attention, so I was hoping to try and get a little weight off her to at least take some strain off.

 

[neo6488]

Get her to a Dr. If she has a heart attack tonight you want to be the one supplying gray market drugs? Your an easy scapegoat, just saying.

 

[Jfrick11]

oh for sure, just looking at her I think she's in or close to heart failure. As of now she's hard core refusing medical attention, so I was hoping to try and get a little weight off her to at least take some strain off.

You’re trying to help her and that’s kind, but this is beyond what peptides or diet tweaks can safely handle. She needs medical eyes on her.

This really sounds like fluid overload from heart failure, not fat gain. Tirz isn’t going to fix that and could actually complicate things. Swelling, rapid weight gain from fluid, history of heart attack and stroke = this is medically serious, not a motivation issue.

Trying to “flush fluid” without a doctor (diuretics, supplements, etc.) can be dangerous and even life threatening. If she’s retaining that much fluid, her heart and kidneys may already be struggling. Weight loss meds won’t relieve that strain...... proper evaluation and treatment will.

I know she refuses care, but this is one of those situations where it’s urgent, not optional. Even an urgent care or ER visit just to check her heart, lungs, and kidneys could prevent something much worse.

Honestly, I’d stop the Tirz and focus on getting her seen. The scale not moving isn’t the problem..... the swelling is the red flag.

 

[lessthanhalf]

You mention that she had a stroke. Is her mental function ok? or at least good enough to make rational decisions about her health? Or has she just always wanted to avoid doctors?

Heart failure causing the fluid retention does seem possible especially as she has previously had a heart attack.

It sounds like she could be in some danger of possibly not surviving if her condition continues to deteriorate and does not get medical care. In Australia there are aged care teams that can come out and make an assessment, I would expect there would be something similar in Canada. If you are the one involved in looking after her, then it may be up to you to decide that intervention is needed with or without her consent, but if she is mentally ok and just making decisions that are possibly dangerous there is not a lot that can be done other than try to convince her to seek treatment. If there are other family members get them to help convince her to either see a doctor or she may need a hospital stay to sort thing out.

 

[ambot88]

fair enough, I appreciate the imput and needed to hear it. She is mentally sound and I am not in charge of her but I will put the bug in everybody's ear to get her to a doctor asap.

 

[MsGizmo]

While I whole heartedly support getting her to a doctor .. in the meantime:

try midol bloat relief caplets

drink more water

drink protein shakes with added fiber

take a daily multivitamin maybe even add extra vitamin D and B complex

 

[Jfrick11]

While I whole heartedly support getting her to a doctor .. in the meantime:

try midol bloat relief caplets

drink more water

drink protein shakes with added fiber

take a daily multivitamin maybe even add extra vitamin D and B complex

With all due respect. If she's in heart or kidney failure, these suggestions could do more harm than good. There is NO substitute for getting her seen medically.