Please does anyone have suggestions to eliminate some of the fluid that collects in the lower legs/feet. I am on a water tablet but it doesn't seem to work alongside the diltiazem. I do put my feet up whenever possible.
In the evenings my feet are so tight it seems that there is not enough skin to accommodate the extra fluid.
Have you asked your doctor, or possibly the pharmacist, whether support stockings would help? I used to suffer from swollen feet on long-haul flights and found that knee-length flight socks prevented swelling.
Hi Enjoy,
That is a really uncomfortable feeling for sure! Do you do work that has you sitting most of the day? Getting up and moving around to keep the circulation going is important especially if your legs are in that "dependent" sitting position for hours at a time. As catbird said, support stockings can help too.
Two things can really worsen the swelling. One is hot weather and another is your salt intake. Are you being careful to avoid not just the salt shaker but salty foods? Foods like deli meats, frozen dinners, canned soups have loads and loads of sodium and that makes you retain fluid too.
There are several different diuretic medications. Maybe your doctor can give you a different water tablet or an increased dose if the one you are on does not seem to be helping.
I hope you find a way to improve the situation! Be well!
Thank you both for your suggestions. I do not do enough exercise I am sure, as the breathlessness makes me avoid making the breathing worse. I also have COPD, which limits the medication I can take.
I never add salt but, as you say grandma, there is so much in frozen and canned foods. I do try to cook from fresh, but take the easy way out a few times a week.
Enjoy,
I had water retention problems a few years back along with high blood pressure. I also was taking a diuretic and did not see much of a difference. I did cut down my salt intake (salt shaker) by switching to a light salt which helped quite a bit but when I started looking at the amount of salt that was in the prepared food I was eating I was shocked. When I started watching that, it really made a difference in both the retention and BP. So what SRM said is 100% true. I never knew how much salt they were putting in those things.
Tim
Yes, I understand. I have CHF in addition to the AFib and my feet swell. Walking helps but it can be difficult with the shortness of breath. If the water pill/ diuretic is not working then you can try to lose the fluids through perspiration. I used to work with dialysis patients who had lost their kidneys and some of them would hit a sauna or steam room to sweat off the fluids. I've tried that when my fluids accumulate and it's amazing how good I feel after. Plus, I can get my shoes on again.
I can welll understand the shoe problem. I have been in sandals nearly all winter as they can be adjusted more easily.
With the warmer weather coming along (we hope) maybe perspiration will be easily obtained.
Thank you for your suggestions.
I too have this problem, I find that the days when I am most active, walking the dog and gardening I have the least problem, but on the bad days my sainted husband has been known to massage from my feet towards my heart for about 5-10 mins when going to bed. This really works by taking the pain away. Recommended! Jan
Swollen feet and ankles
Your experiences with swollen ankles/fluid retention, please
Swollen ankles 
Raising feet at night.
