I have a doctors appt tomorrow. I've started to have problems with edema (fluid retention and/or 'puddling' of fluid in my feet, in my case). This started a few weeks ago, very suddenly. We had a sudden hot spell. It went up in the upper 80's for several days after weather cold enough to require heat. I've never had issues with swollen feet before. Not even through 6 pregnancies.

The edema adds to the pain. I guess it's the pressure build up. Ibuprofen relieves most of it.

I lay down at night and my feet are mostly normal in the morning but as soon as my feet hit the floor they start to swell. I have no varicose veins nothing like that. I have no clue what's causing this and there are so many different things that can cause it. Even getting older combined with hot weather can cause it. I don't believe it has anything to do with PN. I don't know whether to be scared or not.

I'll know more tomorrow. Sigh.

I on the other hand do feel that my swelling in my ankles and feet which occurs year round but especially in the heat is caused by my PN. I never had swelling in my ankles or feet before. My circulation is good as evidenced by sonogram and blood pressure checks in ankles. I have tried water pills but they do nothing. My feet are very numb and i think that the electrical signal needed to set in motion the process to remove fluids in the feet is very weak and in the heat that signal slows down further. It doesnt matter if i am on my feet or not, they swell.

Hi. I am sorry for new problems. I am glad you are going to the doctor. I swell sometimes as well and it increases pain. Did you start any new meds? Do you elevate your feet? It may help during the day. I know years back before this I had severe edema and I wore support hose. I could never tolerate that now but for some who can it may help. It may be that your body is not used to the weather changes as I know I am very senstive but maybe when it gets more consistent you won't have this cause your body will balance out. I hope you feeling better

The first thing the doctor looked for was varicose veins. I have none. Because I had symptoms of fatigue that started a couple of months before the edema, which came on very suddenly, she thinks it could be my heart. She ran an EKG but it'll be a couple of days or so for the results. She also said it could be my kidneys because they're not concentrating urine the way they should be. But no protein in my urine, so that's good too! She narrowed it down and said that she thinks it's either my kidneys or my heart. The blood work she got back right away she stated was very good. Everything was fine there so far.

My BP is up from what is normal for me. Not shockingly so but enough to look twice. She's looking at thyroid and other things as well. Again, those results will be a couple of days. She gave me Lasix for the fluid and we'll proceed from there.

She told me that unless I've always had swelling as part of my PN symptoms this is not related. Nope, no swelling until recently.

That answer wouldnt satisfy me. PN symptoms change over time as most of us can attest to. Because you havent had a symptom since you first got PN does not necessarily mean its not pn related. I also had cardiac tests includint ekg's, angiogram and stress test. My feet didnt start swelling until the summer a few years after i developed it. Heat does slow down nerve signal velocity. IM not saying that your swelling is definitely PN related but it could be.

Jarrett...can you PM me the drugs and supps you are currently
taking?

Thiamine deficiency begins with edema in the extremities.
(It may also be linked to failure of the dehydrogenase enzyme systems that use thiamine heavily to metabolize alcohols, etc).

It is often overlooked by doctors who consider most Americans,
"well nourished". It can affect the heart and cause cardiomyopathy too.

Ironically Lasix depletes thiamine (as do other diuretics) but on the short term, it won't have this effect.

Heat affects me too, but the combination of heat + humidity is the worst. I also get swollen hands from gluten, and MSG.

I know for me through this I have developed more swelling. I also have rsd though but my shoe size can vary 1 or 2 sizes. I know when I had my severe edema before this they said it was because of not digesting carbs/fat in a proper way. Have you changed your diet at all? Lastly and I am clueless but when women go through menapause does this happen? I know a lot of women have a lot of physical side effects. I am not sure if you are of that age just wondering and maybe a possible.

Yeah, I didn't know how she could say so certainly that it can't be related...but there is this, it's not *just* my feet. It extends upwards into my calves and that had just started happening. At first it was my feet and gradually my ankles got worse and then I could see it in my calves and she could too. So perhaps that's why she says that? Would PN symptoms get that bad that quickly? Especially since it's not done that with me so far?

I have answered your PM...

This is odd. At least to me. This morning, day after the first Lasix, my feet are 100% normal. More-so than I was aware of. The swelling was going down at night but not 100%. It's also a bit cooler outside than it has been.

The other thing is major reduction in numbess and tingling. This is the best my feet have felt in several weeks. I have more feeling and much less symptom type stuff in my feet.

Legs are better too. My skin's not stretched tight over my calves like it was.

What a huge difference! I had no idea cause this came on a little at a time.