Heart Failure Support Group

The difference between life and death. Since I have been on a low sodium diet, I have turned things around. And I feel SO much better. My doctor told me last week that he is amazed at people who don't follow the diet and then they die. I can have 2,000 mg of sodium a day. And I faithfully do that. You can do Chinese takeout once in a while, if you plan for it. Some items also come in low sodium variety. However, I don't know about the sauces you mentioned. It's just this simple...does he want to continue feeling badly and not live a long life or live and feel better? Yes, there are changes, but to me...living is worth it. And there are a MILLION places to get recipes and other hints.

I am with Lynnedz56. When I eat low sodium, I feel better, the meds. can do their jobs easier, on so on. In a nutshell, I get to be alive and feel better. After I ate low sodium for a while, I got used to it. Good Luck!

all i can say is that each person has to decide how they will live with their CHF...i had a nurse tell me one year ago while i was in the hospital just diagnosed...the only negotiables in this diagnosis is how YOU handle it..and that makes the difference..i keep to a low sodium intake for me..and for my family..i want to be here to see my kids grow up..so i pass up the pizza, the soda, the take out...i can have some higher sodium level food..only very rarely..and i do feel it..i have to help my heart..the meds can only do so much...
maybe your husband needs to have the cardiologist explain to him the role of his meds..and how diet affects how his heart works..my doc told me that she also has patients who just do what they want...just rely on their meds...they dont have long life..
you can only do so much...but i know you can also find some lower sodium condiments...try a local specialty store or online at heart healthy market...
good luck...

I was a committed "saltaholic." I heavily salted everything before even tasting it. When I had a heart attack, triple bypass, implanted defibrillator and received the diagnosis of CHF
I began investigating for myself. I fopund that there IS a corellation between high sodium salt intake and the retention of fluid which the CHF heart cannot reabsorb properly.
The fluid buildup plac es a strain on the heart, lungs and other organs.
Some studies have hinted that the potassium salt to sodium salt mixture makes a very big differance.
For me,most of the (potassium) salt substitutes
had a "metallic" taste to them. I didn't care
for the taste of food without the sodium. I
wound up in the hospital three times because I
refused to avoid the sodium.
I found ways to obtain the "taste" of the salt
without the sodium.
I feel a difference in my body and have not had to check in to the hospiotal for over six years.
>>>>>Diet DEFINATELY makes a difference!

Sodium causes fluid retintion which is why he is "uncomfortable" his lungs are filling up. I use garlic (both fresh and powder( NOT GARLIC SALT) to replace the salt in foods also u can try lemon juice as these activates the same tast glands and enzymes as salt. I have found a web site which is kinda old but has good info and recipes. It is CHFPatients.com. Try to buy frozen and fresh veggies, not canned, and throw his salt shaker away, also it is easier if the whole family makes the change. All staek sauces especially worchetire and soy sauce have tons of salt as does most chinese food and soups, It is one of the hardest things he will ever do but the health benifits are great. I personnaly have lost 58 lbs in 6 months, but going to fresh veggies and meat and very low carbs, I make my own pasta sauces and soups. And I think the taste is better. I have gone from an EF of 18 to 35 in 6 months.

My best wishes to him and you
mike'

NJAngel,
i agree with everyone here that a low sodium diet is very important in your heart health. i went from an ef of 10 in january to 47 as of end of may. it is due to diet w/no salt added & reading labels for salt content. and of course the meds. heart healthy magazine also has good information & recipes.

I know overnight when I have eaten to much salt, because I swell up like a balloon full of water. Everyone has told it like it is. It is tough. I love those salt laden foods. But you have to ask yourself what you love more, life and living, or salt and eventually death.

I did find a really good salt substitute. It is Morton salt substitute and is completely sodium free.

Best of luck,
JOann

An EXCELLANT salt substitute is Halsosalt.
It is from the University of Michigan, made out of corn and is available in a number of flavors. The site for additional information is: www.Halsosalt.com
It does not have the metallic potassium taste that so many of the other salt substitutes have.

The best solution is to learn to make your own. If your husband is really into the condiments and sauces, get him to learn to make his own. Most can be made salt-free, and sauces you make yourself are just going to be better anyway. It's a way to turn a hurdle into a hobby.

And FWIW, there's a decent number of mustards out there that are okay for a low-salt diet. But again, it's no big thing to make your own.