swollen feet

Ok, so my feet and hands have been swelling off and on for the last few weeks (I'm sure due water retention) but the last couple of days it's been more on than off. Actually, no off, they've just been swollen, especially my feet. Other than drinking lots of water to relive the water retention, is there anything else I can do? Does soaking in cool water help? My hands seem better the more I move my fingers, but there's not a lot I can do with my toes. Any advice you can give me would be great!

Thanks!

 

You can get some temporary relief for sure if you have access to a swimming pool. I had to go to the pool at the end of my pregnancy. They told me "low fluid" in one sac. What they say is that it takes the swelling from other parts of your body and puts that fluid back in the sac. So I did! It felt REALLY GOOD to be weightless and the swelling would go down for a while.

Other than that, you can elevate your feet and drink TONS of water!! :hug99:

My cankles were nicknamed Fred and Barney, take pics!!!

 

Other than soaking them and putting them up there isn't much else you can do. It all goes along with it. I was so swollen at the end of my pg, that even laying down with my feet up, didn't help anymore. It takes time to go away, but the best advice I can give is keeping them cool. At least that way they don't hurt quite so bad. Have dad give a good foot rub with lots of cooling lotion. Try putting lotion in the fridge so that it feels good and cold when massaging them! Hope you feel better... not long now.. the next couple months will go really quickly!

 

I actually found JOBST pantyhose, medium or high compression, has helped the swelliing in my ankles and feet. I got a pair of embolism medical hose from Jobst prescribed by my doctor, and they don't work as well as the medium compression pantyhose, especially the feet. They are DAr&*** EXPENSIVE, but if you could get measured and get 1-2 pair of the high compression it might help. For me, it helps my feet and ankles not get as swollen during the day. Now, they didn't make the swelling go DOWN, but if you can get the swelling down a bit overnight over a few days, at least, it has helped with me. I prefer the thigh high and NOT the full pantyhose because the material makes me sweat.

At least in California, you DON'T need a prescription to get the high compression if you buy from a specialty maternity store or foot/ankle store.

I hope this helps!

 

My dr told me that swelling can actually be caused by not drinking enough water.

 

I'm right there with ya. I drink a lot as well, and it just doesn't seem to help much at all. I'm very frusterated. When I walk, it feels as though I'm carrying huge cinderblocks on my feet. It's heavy!!!

The only thing that gives me relief is to go to sleep at night and in the morning the swelling is down some. By the afternoon, they start to get swollen again. Ughh!

 

QUOTE(~* dfaut *~ @ Jul 25 2008, 08:30 PM) [snapback]897126[/snapback]
My cankles were nicknamed Fred and Barney, take pics!!!


OHHH that is FUNNNNNNY!!!!!

I think soaking & elevating (and of course water) worked best Good luck!

 

My husband bought me a foot spa and I would put epsom salt in it and just soak. But by the time I was around 30 weeks, nothing seemed to help. Just try to elevate as much as possible and stay off of them. But seriously, I could have stayed off all day and took a trip to the bathroom and they would be huge!!

 

I found that if I elevated my feet to where they were above my heart, the swelling would go down. So I would sleep with 2 pillows under my feet. In the morning, the swelling would be much much less.

 

Drink water!!! Gallons of it!!! Flavor it up with a mix when you get tired of it or throw in some lemon/lime/orange slices. I would sit in a comfy chair and elevate my feet for most of the day.... I was on bed rest. Also, Old Navy flip flops seemed to fit well (they are cheap and cute) and gave me a little cushion for walking to the bathroom 300 times a day. And they were much cooler than bedroom slippers.