Severe Foot & Ankle Swelling- Need Relief!

Updated on August 18, 2010
N.G. asks from Arlington, TX
6 answers

Hi Moms!

A little background- I am very overweight, have a history of heart arrhythmias with a current Dx of Atrial Fibrillation. I take anti-arrhythmics and coumadin. No diabetes or other health conditions. I am scheduled to have lap-band surgery on August 31st under the advice of my cardiologist. I have been advised, temporarily, not take part in any exercise regimen due to the heart condition.

For the past several months, I have been getting swelling in my feet and ankles. I can't pin it down to a dietary cause- it happens whether I drink more or less, eat healthier or not. It definitely goes down when I lay down for long periods of time. If I am able to rest all day on a Saturday, my feet will go back down to normal size, but the minute I'm up & at em, they are swollen again. Prescribed dieuretics have done nothing to improve my situation.

Obviously I will discuss this with my cardiologist at length at our next visit, but I was wondering if any of you Moms had run into this, and did you find something that worked for you to get some relief? Even when the swelling goes down, you can see, plain as day, that my veins are swollen to three times their normal size, and painful. HELP!

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M.T.

answers from Dallas on

Def discuss this with your cardiologist or doctor right away and dont wait unless he is already aware......it could be a sign of a serious condition worsening not to scare you butCHF is nothing to fool around with......esp if you have the Dx that you stated.
Every well swells in the extremeties in the heat.....but not to the point of which I understand yours.. Edema is a warning sign for those who have heart failure.....right and left side heart failure shows different symptoms....
Call you doctor and get it checked out........A fib can convert to a more serious rhythm...
RN

1 mom found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Portland on

Sounds rather like a combination of varicose veins, which are painful, and a heart not up to the task of pumping your blood hard enough to maintain good circulation. Talk to your doctor about prescribing compression stockings. You can also buy them on your own – call your local pharmacies and see what they have in stock, or google to find on-line sources.

The best time to put these on is after you've been lying down and your legs are not yet swollen.

There are also pumps designed to squeeze excess fluid out of the legs (my daughter used to sell these through medical clinics).

I hope you find something that gives you some relief.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.B.

answers from Redding on

I am worried about this too.
I'm skinny. But I've been under a lot of stress and and my ankles and feet swell like crazy. My fingers swell. I'm going to have tests because I am so scared of congestive heat failure. Adema is nothing to mess around with.
Your cardiologist can advise you better about whether or not this is a good time to have your surgery.
My aunt had to have a heart transplant and when my cousin saw the swelling in my feet and hands, the first thing she said was, "Get your heart checked."
I'm thin. I exercise. I walk about 6 miles a day. But my blood pressure is bad and I've started the swelling. It's so scary.
Just keep up with your heart doctor, to be sure.

Best wishes.

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K.A.

answers from Little Rock on

My sister in law is about 500 pounds. She is currently going to a vein doctor because of the swollen ankles. She has been diagnosed with some kind of vein and lypnod disorder. The doctor is massaging and wrapping her ankles tightly as well as massaging other areas where you have lypnods. She has had her ankle wrapped tight day and night for about 3 weeks with a possibility of 2 more weeks. After that point they will fit her for support hose to continue to apply pressure and will have to wear them for the rest of her life. On her last visit, the doctor said that by his measurements of her ankles, she has lost the equivalent of a 20 ounce bottle off each leg. That sounds like a lot to me.

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L.L.

answers from Tyler on

Hi, N.!
My dad had a heart attack recently. His biggest complaint during recovery was the swelling in his legs and feet. It finally improved drastically when his legs were tightly wrapped with ace bandages from the knees down in rehab. I believe he wore them for a majority of the day--on in the morning and off in the evening. He also kept his legs elevated as much as possible. I hope this helps and that you feel better very soon! Best wishes:)

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N.O.

answers from Phoenix on

I would try Epsom salts in a bath tub. I used them when I was pregnant to relieve swelling in the later months. I also used (and still do to this day) support hose. They make full coverage ones (they look like panyhose) or half leg (the kind I have) that only cover your calves and feet. You can get them open or closed toed (I prefer open) but they really help with pain and swelling.

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