After a small pericardial effusion was discovered during a routine CT scan in May 2026, life continued almost as usual. The amount of fluid around the heart was considered small, and there were no major symptoms at that time.
We believed that regular monitoring would be enough.
However, over the following weeks, subtle changes began to appear.
The First Sign: Swollen Feet
The first symptom we noticed was swelling in my wife’s feet and lower legs.
At first, it did not seem alarming. We thought it might be related to fatigue, reduced activity, or one of the side effects of ongoing cancer treatment.
The swelling was mild in the beginning, but it gradually became more noticeable.
Unexpected Weight Gain
Another change soon followed.
Despite having a poor appetite and eating less than usual, my wife began gaining weight. Over a relatively short period, her body weight increased by more than 5 kilograms.
This was confusing.
Normally, weight gain is associated with increased food intake, but in this case, she was actually eating less than before.
Looking back, we now understand that the weight gain was largely caused by fluid retention.
Abdominal Fullness and Loss of Appetite
As the weeks passed, her abdomen became increasingly swollen and uncomfortable.
She often felt full after eating only a small amount of food.
Some days, she struggled to finish even a light meal.
Because the symptoms developed gradually, it was difficult to recognize how much her condition was changing.
Looking Back
At the time, we viewed each symptom separately:
- Swollen feet
- Weight gain
- Abdominal bloating
- Poor appetite
We did not immediately connect them to the fluid that had been detected around the heart.
Only later did we realize that these changes were early warning signs that something more serious was developing.
Reflection
One of the lessons we learned is that symptoms do not always appear suddenly.
Sometimes the body sends small signals over time.
Looking back, the swollen feet were not just a minor inconvenience. They were one of the first visible signs that the situation was becoming more complicated than we initially thought.
In the next article, I will share how these symptoms continued to worsen and eventually led to hospitalization.
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