Edema, should I be concerned?

[2angelsinheaven]

I have a part time job where I stand all day, about 5 hours straight in flat dress shoes. Today (5 months into this new job) I noticed that my ankles were HUGE (bulging on the side). When I got home I put my feet up to relief the pressure but when I move one of my feet off the other I noticed it had left a deep impression of my whole foot on my ankle... eww!
My mom thinks it's edema, I looked online and it seems kinda scary since most causes are heart related, kidneys, etc. From what I read it sounds like exactly what I have. Pitting Edema, because if I press on my skin the imprint is left. If I lay my hand on my leg from my knee down you can see my whole hand imprint in my skin.
I will call the DR in the morning but this is weird, plus I got off at 3pm and it's still this way. Any advice?

 

[Tiggeroo]

I don't know. I would definitely be concerned though. Perhaps it's just from standing so long but that sounds like an awful lot of swelling. If it was me I'd go to the dr's first thing in the am but hopefully somebody who has personal knowledge will post so here's a bump.

 

[dmslush]

Do you drink a lot of cokes and stuff like that? I sit all day in my job and have swelling in my legs if I don't drink plenty of water. If I drink pleny of water, I never swell.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Nope, no sodas, only water/juice. Any ideas on how to reduce the swelling? Right now sitting in a chair is painful, my legs feel so "full" and tight. I only get minor relief by putting them up.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

What about salt? How much sodium do you intake? Start counting the amounts you take in per day and see your doctor.

 

[Syrreal]

It sounds like you have a LOT of swelling so you should definitely go to the doctor. In the meantime, you have 2 choices--> not change anything you do day to day (liquid intake, salt intake, etc) and keep track of how your legs are doing, or you can go ahead and increase your liquid intake and decrease salt and see how it makes you feel and let your dr know.
I get swollen sometime on airplanes if I don't drink enough water. The only thing that makes it better for me is to drink a lot of water and keep my legs elevated while lying down. Maybe that will help you.

 

[FreshTressa]

are you overweight?

I swell when I'm overweight when I stand a long time.

Drinking water, cutting out salt and sugar helps a ton.

I would still checkwitha doctor though just to make sure kidneys etc. were functioning properly.

 

[Apothecary]

Edema is just a fancy name for swelling. Swelling in the lower legs can be due to many factors, some of them serious. However, I think it is from being on your feet for long periods of time. I'm a pharmacist and I never sit down, except on my lunch break (if I get one). Certainly you should see your doctor. My advice would be to buy a pair of compression socks/stockings. You can get full pantyhose, or, if the swelling is mostly in the ankles you can get some that just come up to below the knee. They work by forcing bloodflow and fluid back up the leg...the compresison is higher at the ankle than at the top. I have worn them for about 2 years, and they work great.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Try reducing your salt intake. And also see your Dr.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

Thanks all, will do. The swelling is still there this morning.

 

[Christine]

Yeah, I think a trip to the doctor is warranted. I think *some* swelling is normal when you're on your feet all day. Heck, just a few hours of housecleaning and my shoes will feel tight. But what you are describing is more serious and, I think, should be addressed by your doctor. What is your age?

 

[sweet angel]

When my dr switched my BP meds, he told me I might get some edema, but as long as it was gone by morning, it was no big deal. It wasn't, so he switched meds.

You said it's still there this morning. I'd call the doc just to be safe.

 

[AMcaptured]

You need to wear support hose if you are on your feet all day. I know a lot of people don't like them but you don't have a choice, esp if your swelling is as bad as you report.

You may even want to get some compression stockings to wear to bed at night, they help tremendously. You can find them at any medical supply store.


Good Luck

AM

 

[VSL]

Sounds like a lot of water retention.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

I missed the DR today, I thought the office was open till 5, but apparently they close at 4:40... weird! The swelling is still there as is the pitting when I touch my legs. I'm 25. Would water pills help until I'm able to contact him?

 

[MouseWorshipin]

Pitting edema can be a sign of something serious. You didn't say how long the imprint was left in your skin.


It is not caused by drinking pop.

I'd call my docotr.

 

[2angelsinheaven]

It takes quite awhile to go away. If I press just for a second the imprint will stay there pretty much until I push it out.

 

[Tiggeroo]

You haven't seen a dr yet? You really shouldn't wait. As others have said pitting edema is a sign of a problem. I didn't think you had to rush but I did think you should act fairly quickly.

 

[KaitlinsMom]

You really should go to a doctor - do you have an after hours care/urgent care? I wouldn't wait till Monday - not trying to scare you, but could be something serious, could not - it would just be better to know so you can stop worrying (and us!) -

Karen

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I would either get hold of your doctor or the on call doctor on the phone, or go to a prompt care place today. In order for elevating your feet to help reduce the swelling, your feet have to be higher than your heart.