The symptoms begin to get worse...

So, I was on my way through the appointments and testing, and I noticed some disturbing changes going on -- The edema (swelling) in my legs was getting worse and worse, the fatigue was nearly unbearable, and, perhaps most distressing, I was having trouble remembering things and keeping my thoughts straight. As someone who handles large financial transactions, business decisions, and transactions with significant legal ramifications, having my mind getting cloudy (or as my wife lovingly refers to it), getting "loopy" -- more on that later -- is clearly not a good thing!

The first real symptoms that needed immediate treatment came from the edema. My Doctors were walking a fine line to balance the discomfort and issues related to the edema, with the treatment for them (diuretics) to remove the excess fluid. Overuse of the diuretics could cause kidney problems (very bad for a liver patient!), but there came a time when some diuretics were necessary. However, it seemed like no one was certain of all of the medications that I was on, regardless of their computer systems and the lists that I carried with me.

Therefore, the levels of the Lasix that I was taking (or Vitamin "P", as it is lovingly referred to by those who have made all of those trips to the restroom because of it!) quickly became too high, leaving me dehydrated. The first sign of it was muscle cramps throughout my body (but mostly in my feet, legs, and abdomen) that were excruciatingly painful and just wouldn't go away. And soon came my first trip to the Emergency Room since my diagnosis...