My aunt is 65 yrs old and her condition is really poor - she's had a stroke and a heart attack before. She carries extra weight and doesn't look after herself, but she genuinely wants to improve her health, so I'm doing what I can to support her. I put her on Tirz because, with her comorbidities, it appeared less risky than Reta, yet 8 weeks have passed and there's been no weight loss or any health improvements she can notice. For 1 month she was on 2.5mg, and now she takes 5mg every 5 days. When I saw her yesterday, she was in the worst state I've witnessed in a long while - heavily swollen, holding a huge amount of fluid (which I figure accounts for most of her weight - I was there all day and she truly isn't eating much, though her pantry suggests the choices aren't the healthiest). I realize none of you are doctors and that she ought to see 1, but she flat out won't accept medical care. Maybe somebody here has dealt with a similar situation and can offer some insight? I believe that if she could just shed some of that fluid and watch the scale go down, it would push her to do more of the other health things I keep encouraging, but the number not budging and her seeing none of the benefits I promised are leaving her discouraged.
Seeking guidance for my aunt
- Thread starter ambot88
- Start date
From what you've described, heart failure and/or kidney problems would worry me more. I'd really push for getting medical help right away.
I'm not a doctor, and this isn't medical advice, but please actually go see one.
I'm not a doctor, and this isn't medical advice, but please actually go see one.
yeah definitely, just from looking at her I'd guess she's dealing with heart failure or something near it. Right now she's absolutely refusing to see a doctor, so my plan was to try and help her drop some weight to ease the pressure on her body.
It's a good thing that you want to support her, but peptides and small diet changes aren't enough to deal with this safely. A medical professional needs to look at her.
What you're describing doesn't sound like fat gain — it sounds like fluid overload caused by heart failure. Tirz won't solve that, and it might even make the situation worse. Swelling, fast weight gain from fluid, plus a history of heart attack and stroke = this is a medical emergency, not a question of motivation.
Attempting to "flush fluid" on your own without a doctor (diuretics, supplements, etc.) can be risky and even deadly. If she's holding that much fluid, her heart and kidneys might already be under severe strain. Weight loss meds won't ease that strain...... proper evaluation and treatment will.
I understand she won't accept care, but this is a case where it's urgent, not optional. Even a trip to urgent care or the ER just to have her heart, lungs, and kidneys checked could stop something far worse.
Honestly, I'd stop the Tirz and put all your effort into getting her seen. The scale not moving isn't the problem..... the swelling is the red flag.
lessthanhalf
Explorer
You brought up that she suffered a stroke. Is her mind still working properly? Or at minimum sharp enough that she can weigh her health choices sensibly? Or is avoiding doctors just something she has always done?
Fluid buildup caused by heart failure does look like a real possibility, particularly given that she has already had a heart attack.
It seems like there is a chance she might not make it if things keep getting worse and she does not receive medical attention. In Australia, aged care teams can visit and carry out an assessment, and I would assume Canada has something along the same lines. If you are the person taking care of her, then the call about whether intervention is necessary, with or without her agreement, might fall to you, but if her mind is fine and she is simply making choices that could be risky, there is not much anyone can do besides trying to persuade her to get treatment. If other family members are around, get them to help push her toward seeing a doctor, or she may need to be in a hospital for a while to get things sorted out.
Fluid buildup caused by heart failure does look like a real possibility, particularly given that she has already had a heart attack.
It seems like there is a chance she might not make it if things keep getting worse and she does not receive medical attention. In Australia, aged care teams can visit and carry out an assessment, and I would assume Canada has something along the same lines. If you are the person taking care of her, then the call about whether intervention is necessary, with or without her agreement, might fall to you, but if her mind is fine and she is simply making choices that could be risky, there is not much anyone can do besides trying to persuade her to get treatment. If other family members are around, get them to help push her toward seeing a doctor, or she may need to be in a hospital for a while to get things sorted out.
MsGizmo
Explorer
Getting her in front of a doctor has my full backing .. but until that happens:
- give midol bloat relief caplets a shot
- increase her water intake
- protein shakes that have fiber mixed in
- a multivitamin every day, possibly with additional vitamin D and B complex on top