Cruise swelling??? Anyone else???

[CruisinEars]

I have always had super bad swelling on cruises (I have done 7). This last cruise I was, and am, on an extreme low carb way of eating due to medical reasons. I had no swelling at all. I am thinking it might be all the sugar and breads I would have eaten in the past. I don't blame salt at all even though I have my share as I just recently learned salt is not an enemy of our systems the way we think.

Article:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/o...the-truth-about-salt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

 

[sweetpee_1993]

This is quite fascinating!


Absolutely some amount of salt is needed by the body. Several years back some friends of ours did this diet where you cut out all salt. A week into it the husband was mowing his grass and passed out on the front lawn. It was the lack of salt!

 

[lilpooh108]

I have always had super bad swelling on cruises (I have done 7). This last cruise I was, and am, on an extreme low carb way of eating due to medical reasons. I had no swelling at all. I am thinking it might be all the sugar and breads I would have eaten in the past. I don't blame salt at all even though I have my share as I just recently learned salt is not an enemy of our systems the way we think.

Article:http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/o...the-truth-about-salt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

This is so interesting. I don't eat carbs and haven't had an issue with swelling yet but I do swell on airplanes.

 

[Tink rules]

That's me!!! It was a week before I could put my shoes back on...

They even had to let me into Palo (all dressed of course) with flip flops on!

 

[KyCruisinSusan]

I never had this issue when we cruised in 03' (3 night) or 04' (7 night) so I sure hope it doesn't happen on my EBPC next year (14 night), cause it sounds like it sucks.

 

[Tink rules]

I had it on the WBPC cruise in '08... I'd go prepared... ask your doctor for a water pill to use if you are worried.

 

[lilpooh108]

What's a water pill?

 

[ilovetexas]

What's a water pill?

It's a diuretic and it pulls water out of your system. There are many different types of them and I don't recommend them without the approval of your doctor. They can be dangerous if you are being treated for other conditions or if you have any kind of kidney problem.


My feet swelled like crazy on my last cruise and I thought they were going to explode when I was in Cuba in May. After I figured out the bottled water we were drinking in Cuba had sodium in it and found a different kind, that helped.

"Salt" isn't the problem. Sodium is the problem and regardless of the article posted above and any debate re: longterm effects on blood pressure, increased sodium intake will make you retain water and swell. That's basic anatomy and physiology.

 

[Dug720]

It's a diuretic and it pulls water out of your system. There are many different types of them and I don't recommend them without the approval of your doctor. They can be dangerous if you are being treated for other conditions or if you have any kind of kidney problem.

My feet swelled like crazy on my last cruise and I thought they were going to explode when I was in Cuba in May. After I figured out the bottled water we were drinking in Cuba had sodium in it and found a different kind, that helped.

"Salt" isn't the problem. Sodium is the problem and regardless of the article posted above and any debate re: longterm effects on blood pressure, increased sodium intake will make you retain water and swell. That's basic anatomy and physiology.

Pretty sure the article wasn't saying to increase your intake but that we all need SOME in our diet. How much depends on sweat and activity level. Too little and you risk hyponatremia, which can be deadly.

 

[justmestace]

Does the ibuprofen work after the swelling starts?

It does. I've tried everything and it's the only thing that helps, even after I start swelling.
I read the article PrincessSchmoo posted, but none of it is true for me.
Water pills don't do anything for my swollen legs, but they do cause me to visit every restroom onboard!

 

[sweetpee_1993]

Soooo, I'm trying to think about how to reduce the amount of sodium I get when eating on the cruise. Hmmmm.. Stick to fresh fruits & veggies? I don't drink sodas so that's not a problem. I wonder if the water at the soda fountain & ice has sodium content. I don't eat seafood. Obviously it'd be good to stay away from pork. Interesting! I may just put in a call to the doctors office to ask about water pills. I especially would want to be cautious with my husband. He takes blood pressure meds.

Thanks to all for their input & sharing. Sounds fairly common. Good to hear different approaches to cause and managing it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Not just the salt in the food, but also the salt in the air from the water the ship is sailing in. I swell every cruise as well as when I go to a beach.

Interesting. Moderately related (to the salt air port).... I've had a few instances in my life when a beach day turned my hair deep red. First happened when I was blond (the sun in CA, it turned out, is what caused my hair to be blond...as soon as I moved to WA it started turning brown) and the other times have been while brown-haired. It's SO weird to see my hair get all red, and I know it's some weird chemical reaction from the heavy salt air. (b/c there's no other reason)

According to Drugs.com, fluid retention has been observed in some patients taking ibuprofen.

And according to my hubby, it's true. Doesn't seem to happen to me, but he can expect a really bad WW weigh-in if he's hurt something and takes more than 2 ibuprofen in a week.

This last cruise I was, and am, on an extreme low carb way of eating due to medical reasons. I had no swelling at all. I am thinking it might be all the sugar and breads I would have eaten in the past.

I know several people who cut out refined sugars and lost a bunch of bloat. But I also know people who modify their salt intake and the same thing happens.

Water pills don't do anything for my swollen legs, but they do cause me to visit every restroom onboard!

DH takes triampterine to reduce swelling caused by something else he takes, and he HAS TO drink a TON of water along with it. If he doesn't drink enough water, he uses the bathroom all the time, feels like crud, and is still swollen. When he gets enough extra water in, the bathroom breaks calm down as the day goes on, he doesn't feel ill, and he loses the swelling. If you ever take a diuretic in the future, try upping the water you're drinking and see if that helps more.

I especially would want to be cautious with my husband. He takes blood pressure meds.

Definitely. What DH takes for swelling is the same thing a relative of mine takes for high blood pressure. He wouldn't want to double up.

 

[LadyCP]

Here I thought I was the only one! After my 4th cruise I realized I didn't need to pack all the shoes since I could only fit into flip flops by the 2nd day

The last couple of times I've tried a combination of things when we travel to Florida and they tend to help but not eliminate the whole problem.

I will detox days before travel (no alcohol, salt and heavy carbs, fats). I wear compression socks on the airplane and take water pills as well as rubbing Arnica gel on my ankles and feet where I get the most swelling. Even on the first day ( since we usually fly from the west coast we tend to add park days prior to a cruise) I don't wait for the swelling to begin. I ice my feet and prop them up any chance I get in our cabin. I've sacrifice the cute shoes for comfy wide flip flops and figure as long as I can walk I'm happy even though my outfit doesn't match accordingly.

If that doesn't help.. Just head to the nearest bar have a seat, order a mojito and wait for the pain to fade away.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

We've been cruising for around 9 yrs. When we first started, I never had swelling, or if I did, it was barely noticeable. As I've gotten older, I've noticed swelling in my ankles any time I eat a salty meal, which isn't very often. Even pizza night makes me swell. At home, it's very obviously connected to my salt intake. With cruising, we have meal after meal full of salt so it doesn't end til we're home & get back to eating homemade food. I do take a diuretic for high blood pressure so sometimes I'll take an extra one mid-week.

I also have varicose veins & since I'm on my feet all day at work, I now wear heavy compression stockings (knee-hi's) to work, to bed & when I'm doing housework & just hanging out at home. (Never if the kids have friends over!)
It's my firm belief you should be at least 80 yrs old to wear them with shorts outside the home. I call them my Granny Socks.

So for cruising, trips to WDW, etc. I pack a couple pairs and wear them once I change into my nightgown & wear them to bed. Sometimes by then, my legs are so swollen it's hard to get them on but by morning they are back to normal.

Mine are open-toe but you get the gist of it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GCMZXC/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_5?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1L9NKXDNACY0J

hth!

 

[sippican]

My feet swelled like crazy on my last cruise and I thought they were going to explode when I was in Cuba in May. After I figured out the bottled water we were drinking in Cuba had sodium in it and found a different kind, that helped.

"Salt" isn't the problem. Sodium is the problem and regardless of the article posted above and any debate re: longterm effects on blood pressure, increased sodium intake will make you retain water and swell. That's basic anatomy and physiology.

Water was he culprit for me too!
The processes used to purify water usually removes all minerals and the water is then treated to add back in those components. Sodium is one element. Guess who is one of the leading producers of water treatment chemicals? Morton salt!
It is unknown how much sodium is actually in the water onboard (or in some bottled water). I do know that I blamed my "cruise cankles" on the food, but after a couple of trips Ii switched to drinking mostly bottled water - no more swelling.

 

[faithfullyeeyore]

I get cruise swelling really bad as well. Some cruises it's just so so and others its horribly painful and definitely has the "flinstone" look! I used to take water pills and they helped some. I finally asked my doctor and he recommended Midol. I know, crazy sounding right? But it has the water reducing element along with anti inflammation. It has really kept my feet swelling to a minimum! Definitely ask your doctor before taking anything though!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

"Salt" isn't the problem. Sodium is the problem

It's the same thing. Salt is sodium chloride. Most people don't sit at the dinner table saying, "Please pass the sodium chloride."



When I first starting taking blood pressure meds, my dr. warned me to try to avoid ibuprofen when possible; it has sodium in it also. Not that I can't ever have it, but it shouldn't be the first thing for me to try for a headache.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Water was he culprit for me too!
The processes used to purify water usually removes all minerals and the water is then treated to add back in those components. Sodium is one element. Guess who is one of the leading producers of water treatment chemicals? Morton salt!
It is unknown how much sodium is actually in the water onboard (or in some bottled water). I do know that I blamed my "cruise cankles" on the food, but after a couple of trips Ii switched to drinking mostly bottled water - no more swelling.

I believe it. My parents shore house used to have well water and the water was very hard. To soften it they had a whole-house water softener device in the laundry room with a huge drum full of salt chips. Every so often they'd have to add more. If you didn't have a softener, it would stain the sinks, tub, washer, clothing, everything a rust brown color. Sometimes you see that brown color on curbs & sidewalks where sprinkler systems have hard water.

 

[msbiscuit]

And I thought mine was the only body that absorbed salt from the air!
Cruises, vacations in California or Sanibel Island, FL = cankles for me!

 

[bella2396]

Oh no, I hope this doesn't happen to me. I was born with lymphedema in my left leg so it swells like crazy anyways!