HELP ... Severe edema in feet and legs...

I've belonged to this site for some time and read almost every day, but rarely post. I hope that won't deter you all from helping me out!

I have severe swelling in my feet and legs. I "thought" I had severe swelling most of pregnancy until this past 2 weeks when I realized what severe really is. The swelling is in my feet, toes, ankles, calves, knees, and now thighs! It is sooo painful and feels as if my skin might split open. I can barely bend my knees. I don't have high blood pressure or protein in my urine so the doctor does not believe this is pre-e. Nor do I have swelling in my face (my hands are swollen, but not like my legs). My doctor says swimming is best, but I don't have access to a pool. I lay on my left side and keep my feet up and it doesn't help. I have been working full time and tomorrow is my last day, but today I am working at home on the couch with NO relief. I just want to cry. :cray: I have a scheduled c-section in 2+ weeks, but is there anything else I can do? I drink lots of water, too.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

I'm not a Dr., but that doesn't sound too good. Did you tell your OB about the swelling on your thigh's now? I think I would give him/her a call now about it. I don't think you are supposed to swell that much. What does everyone else think? That just doesn't sound right or good to me.

 

When you last saw your doctor was the swelling as bad as it is now? Maybe if you haven't seen your doctor since the swelling has gotten worse maybe you should try to go in so s/he can see how bad it is.
Or
I don't know where you live but if it's too cold to swim are there any indoor pools you could use like at a gym or fitness center? I swim in the pool every day and it REALLY HELPS so that might help you too.

 

you know, i just started to swell like that yesterday. it's crazy gross. i had an appointment yesterday and i didn't have any protein in my urine. i don't have any pointers for you but wanted you to know that i am right there with you!
do you have gestational diabetes?

 

:hug99: I know the kind of swelling you're talking about! I would be worried, but if your doc says you don't have pre-e then I don't think there's much you can do. Drink plenty and pee often. The ONE thing that I found helped me with the edema to a small degree was to drink lots of water flavored with lemon to taste. Something in the lemon helps with the water retention.

 

I would really call your doctor and make sure they address this. I had very severe swelling towards the end of my pregnancy and it only got worse after the babies came. I was induced so it may have had a little something to do with the pitocin. Once your body gets that overloaded with fluid it becomes very hard for your body to reverse it. Then after you have the babies there is a huge fluid shift which can make things even worse. About 10 days after I had my boys I was having a very hard time catching my breath and I noticed that my pulse was very low, at this point I could press and leave marks in any part of my lower body. I ended up back in the hospital for 3 days with congestive heart failure due to all the extra fluid. They also have to watch for toxemia. Don't worry just take it seriosly and hang in there sweetie it is all worth it once those little ones are here.

 

You poor thing. I'm so sorry! I have severe edema as well...(in fact, still have the stretch marks on the insides of my knees to prove it! :winking0009: ) I remember feeling like my skin was about to stretch open and water would just come pouring out!

While my edema was chalked up to preeclampsia, what you are experiencing sounds like it should be monitored to make sure you don't develop it. I think it can come on pretty quickly. It's good your BP is good...just keep watching it or ask your doctor to watch it.

And...as silly as it may sound, drinking lots of water and fluids will help! Good luck and hang in there!

 

Oh do I feel your pain - I got to be the same way. and I wish I could help, but I did not find anything to help me out. Nothing. Just when I thought I might explode, the peri determined that I had pre-e (besides the swelling, my liver enzymes were off, my bp had been creeping up for weeks, and that particular day, I'd had a headache I just couldn't shake). He wasn't even willing to wait until he'd rec'd the results to my 24 hr urine test - I was admitted to the hospital that day, and delivered the next day at 34w 1d.

Your swelling might be nothing, or it might be a sign of pre-e. I would urge you to talk to your doctor and make him/her do what needs to be done to rule that out.

 

Stacy, please let us know what happened. Did you go into your OB??

 

I'm sorry to worry so many of you! I'm heading to the doctor's office in a little while. I will be sure to update as soon as I can. Thanks for all of your concern! It means a lot.

 

Please let us know what happens. Did you get my PM last night?

 

(((Stacy))) thank you so much for referring me to this awesome board! these ladies are great. I hope you got some good news at the Dr. keep us posted!!


Missy

 

This happened to me around 28 weeks too. I kept calling my OB and she said the same thing - urine and bp were fine and swelling is normal. I also had a desk job where I sat all day. I finally went in and showed her the swelling and I was put on bed rest with feet elevated for a week. That brought most of the swelling down. I continued on bed rest due to PTL, and at 31 weeks was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lung) and a DVT (blood clot in the leg). The severe leg swelling was my only symptom until the chest pain started at 31 weeks.

If the swelling is severe, it probably means something is not right. Like others have said, keep drinking lots of fluids and keep your feet elevated above your heart. (I put mine over the back of the couch.)

PS-Who knew swelling could hurt so bad! I remember not being able to bend my toes or keep my ankles at the normal 90 degree angle with my legs.