Just got home from Disney & my feet are super swollen

[ms.yt]

We drove in over the last 2 days, with the bulk of the trip today. I guess it's because we spent 15 hours in the van over the past 2 days, but my feet and ankles are extremely swollen. Is this normal after traveling at this time of the year? They look terrible. I'm sitting here with my feet up, and I hope they start to go down soon. If they are still swollen in the morning, should I call my doctor?

 

[HunnyPots]

I had the same problem after our 2006 trip and, yes, we drove also. I also wore Crocs in the parks which did not have nearly enough ankle support.
Drink lots of water and lay off the salt for a couple of days and you should be fine.

 

[Mickey527]

I just spent 5 days at the parks in croc flip flops that I wear every day at home.
I took my water pills every morning but my ankles are so swollen it hurts to walk.
I also got blisters between my toes from the flip flops and I didn't pack any other shoes. Had to go to Walmart and buy some sneakers for the last day.
but, this is the first year that I didn't get the "Florida rash" on the back of my legs. I have gotten the rash for the past 10 years. It looks like heat rash and burns and it itches terrible. The hospital told me a few years ago that it was a combination fo the clogged pores from sunscreen and the heat radiating from the sidewalk on to the legs. I notice mostly light skinned women get it, I haven't seen it on many men or children.

 

[crz4mm2]

Really pretty common (unless you have some other underlying health problems).
Take a nice 20 min bath. Soak as much of you IN the water as you can get. THe water will help push the fluid back out of the tissue.

Good luck.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

Mine swelled like that on the 6 hour trip down and the swelling didn't go down until the following Sunday after we got home and I was miserable. I was so glad that it went down over night and didn't have to end up taking a water pill, those can be miserable.

Suzanne

 

[FireDancer]

It is a bit late at this point but if you do have this problem from time to time and will be spending a lot of time in the car I would stop every hour or two and just walk around for 5 minutes. This is also important for anyone on birth control to do, especially if they are a smoker. This goes double for anyone meeting that criteria in a plane. The pressurized cabin added onto the BC and smoking is a leg problem waiting to happen. It is more of a blood clot risk than swollen ankles but a blood clot can be deadly.

 

[SpecialK]

We drove in over the last 2 days, with the bulk of the trip today. I guess it's because we spent 15 hours in the van over the past 2 days, but my feet and ankles are extremely swollen. Is this normal after traveling at this time of the year? They look terrible. I'm sitting here with my feet up, and I hope they start to go down soon. If they are still swollen in the morning, should I call my doctor?

The exact same thing happened to me in June after an 18 hour ride. I kept my feet up and drank a lot of water. I was back to normal after a couple of days.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

We drove in over the last 2 days, with the bulk of the trip today. I guess it's because we spent 15 hours in the van over the past 2 days, but my feet and ankles are extremely swollen. Is this normal after traveling at this time of the year? They look terrible. I'm sitting here with my feet up, and I hope they start to go down soon. If they are still swollen in the morning, should I call my doctor?

I know I am always swollen after days of WDW salty food. Flush, flush, flush with water.
I would be concerned because of the threat of blood clots (speaking from experience at 38 years old). I think a call to the doctor is a good idea.
Good Luck!

 

[I'mwithGrumpy]

We just returned last Sunday night and I had the same problem. I'm still a little swollen and the Florida rash is almost gone..still some itching. This is the first time I swelled like that. We also had a long, full day drive home. By the time I got home I couln't even get my crocs on my feet

 

[ksjayhawks]

Next time, stop every two hours and move around for 10-15 minutes. Yes it adds on some time to the trip, but you need to stop for potty breaks and gas anyway. Plus, it will be easier on you when you get home.

 

[veraletta]

I just got home and this is what happen to me too, I'm swelled really bad, its hard to walk.
How long did it take for your swelling to go down?

 

[veraletta]

Do you think I should call the doctor on Monday?

 

[ms.yt]

Within 24 hours I'd say mine were almost back to normal. If they aren't better Monday I'd say definitely call your doc. I sat with my feet elevated and drank lots of water. Hope yours get better soon!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

We just returned last Sunday night and I had the same problem. I'm still a little swollen and the Florida rash is almost gone..still some itching. This is the first time I swelled like that. We also had a long, full day drive home. By the time I got home I couln't even get my crocs on my feet

I did not know that Florida Rash was what it was called but I do not get it so much on my legs as on my arms. Wow I thought it was an allergy to the sun or something.

 

[emma'smom]

If you have any circulation stockings, you might try wearing them. They sell basic version at the drug store. I'm only 37, but have started to have this problem after long, hot days on my feet. My doctor recommended them....and while I am not a die-hard fan (I like to wear flip-flops and capris), i see the value of wearing them on long car trips and flights (and walking every few hours too). I've had a few issues with cellulitis (infection in my calf)....apparently the infection is more likely to develop in pooling fluid (ie. swollen ankles)...thus, I pay close attention to situations where they become swollen.

Drink water, put you legs up, avoid salt....it usually isn't serious---just annoying!

 

[I'mwithGrumpy]

It took longer for me. The rash got lighter and lighter over several days, but it took almost 2 weeks before my feet and legs were back to normal. The huge puffiness I experienced about 6 hours into our drive went down a great deal by the next day, but I still had swelling in my feet, ankles and legs for over a week. But heck, I'd go back to Disney now if I could

 

[veraletta]

Thanks everyone, I've started to drink more water and its seems as if the swelling is going down slowly.
It's kind of scarily when you start swelling and you have never done that before.

 

[momof1princess]

yes, i too don't normally suffer from swollen feet but when i ride back and forth to wdw from NE alabama, my feet and ankles become horribly swollen. you should be fine in a day or two. i am also very fair-skinned and also get the epcot rash, as i call it, on my legs. from what i understand, there is a special added something in the pavement at epcot that causes more light to be reflected from the sidewalks, which causes the rash in people who are more susceptible, such as myself. i saw several other people with it. it itches unlike anything else in the world! i am also allergic to the sun, but i don't normally apply sunscreen to my legs b/c i don't break out on my legs...until i get to epcot, lol.