Got a shock yesterday ,I noticed my feet were swelling, up my ankles had disappeared and my legs were like thick tree trunks, I am a lightweight little old lady.
I was quite relieved this morning when I noticed the swelling had gone down, but what caused it, the heat or the fact that I am eating more than ever now especially sweet things so have put a bit of weight on?
Is this yet another side effect of COPD?
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memah
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I understand that this can be a side-effect of COPD too. I also get swollen ankles every day and put on about a kilo in weight which I lose overnight with several trips to the toilet during the night. I make sure I drink plenty of fluids, but sometimes my urine is dark even though I have drunk a lot. Some people have posted on here that they have been prescribed water tablets by their GP - it might be an idea to show your swollen ankles to your doctor and see what he or she says.
Thank you for your input eregendal. I too drink about 2 litres of water every day resulting in loss of sleep with lots of visits to the loo,however my urine is normal as are my stools.
As this is the first time this has happened to me, I don't think I will bother my Doc yet.
My feet don't normally swell too much but the last couple of days have been bad. Especially my left one. It's probably the heat. If it continues though see your gp. I've got an appointment for next week. M x
At least you can keep a watch for it now & see the GP if it happens regularly. When resting, raise your ankles higher than your hips for a few days to help with 'drainage'!
I had a recent episode of badly swollen ankles. I'd had a bit of swelling for a while but it flared up after a time when I drank a large amount (& don't tell my doc but it wasn't water).
Anyway it didn't settle & when I went to the GP she immediately changed my blood pressure tablets (I had been on amlodipine which she reckoned often causes swelling). Along with a bit of lying on the settee with my feet up (a tough therapy but I coped), the problem has eased significantly. She did send me off for some blood tests as well though to check for some other things so if it persists it's always worth getting it checked out.
I had been on amlodipine for about 7 or 8 years, so when she said straight away that would most likely be the cause I reacted much the same: "it won't be that I've been on it for years". Anyway I changed for a different BP tablet & the swelling more or less vanished within a couple of days so don't rule it out as a possibility.
I guess maybe sometimes something just triggers it (in my case it might have been a sip or two...ish of real ale but I decided not to mention that).
As I mentioned she has also ask for various blood tests but the swift reduction in swelling suggests she called it right.
Good luck anyway; whatever the cause I hope you get it fixed.
Hi I had a spell of getting very swollen lower legs and ankles before I had copd. It was caused by putting on weight. As soon as I lost half a stone it disappeared completely. x
It does not look good on me as I am only 5'1", I look like a dumpling as it is all around my tummy area so don't be envious, you probably suit whatever weight you are, you know they say 'age is only a number' well so is weight only a number.
We should be happy whatever we weigh shouldn't we, after all we are still here having fun and enjoying life especially with the beautiful blue skies and lovely warm sun on our backs?
Mine are swollen by the time I go to bed in this heat but fine by the morning. I believe that if it was the COPD they would stay swollen. My husband's stayed swollen, heat or no heat.
Only just seen this post, i to had exactly the same on Wednesday evening, swollen feet and ankles very sore as the skin seemed to be very tight. I am convinced that it was the heat alone that did it as by Thursday morning they were fine.
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