Swollen feet update

[PaperQueen]

I had my appointment yesterday for the diabetic checkup and I said I'd ask about having swollen feet as a number of us have the problem. The diabetic nurse was pretty useless. He said to elevate them when sitting and when I asked whether it could be caused by the drugs I'm taking, he had no idea and said to ask the doctor. Hey ho. 😕 xx

[peege]

Dear oh dear, what an anticlimax 🙄

[deejames in reply to peege]

Sounds like an honest answer even though it means you have to see the GP. The elevation makes sense in the meantime

[Caspiana]

Hi PaperQueen. I'm sorry you had such a blase nurse. It really is the luck of the draw sometimes. 🙁For us with lung disease, fluid retention, is not unusual. When the lungs don't work as well as they should, many people experience pulmonary hypertension which puts strain on the right side of the heart causing fluid retention in the extremities. Having said that There are so many reasons why we get swollen feet, impaired kidney function, heart issues, blood clots and even the side effects of some medication.

Although the nurse's advice was not very helpful, it isn't entirely useless. Elevating the feet does help, along with compression stockings ( hate these 😣) and reducing salt intake are ways to alleviate the swelling. Diuretics can help if your doctor thinks it is necessary.

Yesterday my RA doctor told me he's leaving and it would be the last time I was seeing him. I feigned disappointment but really I wanted to punch the air with joy. He was such a useless lump of a fellow full of hot air which no doubt helped to inflate his overinflated ego. But that is for another post.

Take care.

Cas xx 🙋🐶

[Shirazmataz in reply to Caspiana]

haha Caspiana - you made me laugh, i do hope you get a better doctor when this one goes.

[Caspiana in reply to Shirazmataz]

Me too. xx 🤗

[PaperQueen in reply to Caspiana]

Thanks Caspiana. I must admit I do spend quite a lot of time sitting and although elevating my feet helps and I do that in the evening, I can't do my arts and crafts with my feet above my heart. I'm on various heart drugs for a mild heart attack some years ago, and I think that combined with steroids for COPD is exacerbating the problem. I want a drug review as I'm not convinced I need all these heart meds any more, so need to ask for that. Meanwhile, I will mention it to the respiratory nurse when I see her at the end of the month.

Talking of useless medics, when I knew I had the male nurse doing my diabetes check my heart sank. He's pretty useless anyway, I always come out with my arms black and blue when he's taken my bloods. Do hope you get a decent RA doctor now. Sally xx

[Mopsey1897 in reply to PaperQueen]

Beta blockers made my feet and ankles swell up

[PaperQueen in reply to Mopsey1897]

Ah, interesting, I'm on those. x

[Caspiana in reply to PaperQueen]

I hope they are keeping an eye on your kidney function too since you are a diabetic. xx

[PaperQueen in reply to Caspiana]

They are, that's one of the things the bloods were testing. I'm actually pre-diabetic.

[Mopsey1897 in reply to PaperQueen]

Well known side effect apparently

[Ern007]

It seems he did not try and find the cause. Really putting you feet up is correct. so long asyour had good diabetis contol. If he thought a doctor would know, he should have booked you in with GP. Good luck x

[Shirazmataz]

i do hope you get some answers when you get to see a GP Paper Queen. Lots of good advice here in the meantime. x

[Petetriplet]

hi, I have swollen ankles noticed by my doctor. I take amlodipine and it is a side effect of this medication FYI best wishes

Pedro

[leo60 in reply to Petetriplet]

That's interesting, I wasn't aware of that. Thank you xx

[Jan_m in reply to Petetriplet]

I had to stop taking amlodopine as my ankles were swollen and sore. I was never put on a replacement and my blood pressure and pulse rate is much better since stopping them.

[BerryHead]

Look at Purdyspringers Swollen Feet and Ankles post from 4 days ago. I reccomended her to buy a Revitive it worked a treat for me,after having swollen feet for 6yrs. Good luck

[PaperQueen in reply to BerryHead]

Ah, they do what the advert says then 😄? If I rule out other causes I'll have to get one. Thanks for the info. xx

[BerryHead in reply to PaperQueen]

The Revitive really does work on number 60 for 30 mins,I can see and feel my ankles and see the veins on top of my feet after years of not being able to and my toes are back to normal looking,not like little sausages. Good Luck.

[Maximonkey]

Hi PaperQueen, so sorry the nurse was useless. Please do not leave this problem, see your GP and tell them your concerns. I suffered with this problem for a couple of years blaming my meds until mentioned it to my GP one day. He sent me for an ultra sound scan on my heart, something they no longer do for the over 75 unless the doctor flags a concern. I had the scan and it turned out my heart is damaged, it only needed me to take 2 water tabs per day instead of 1 and bingo I felt so much better, my breathing returned to normal and I lost a stone in weight. If I had carried on the way I was going I would have at best ended in hospital. Good luck and I hope there is nothing wrong with you. Maximonkey

[PaperQueen in reply to Maximonkey]

Thanks maximonkey, I had an echocardiogram not so long ago and my heart is OK, which makes me wonder whether I still need the heart drugs. The GP did give me a short course of water tablets a few years ago when I complained of swollen feet. I have a whole load of upcoming appointments for various things so I'll ask about them. xx

[Maximonkey in reply to PaperQueen]

Good luck. Better to be safe than sorry. Maximonkey

[Welshcatlady]

I was advised by my GP to wear compression socks when my feet and ankles are swollen and they really help. I have bought some from Amazon that are really colourful. Also elevation helps.

[PaperQueen in reply to Welshcatlady]

Thanks, I might try them. x

[jackwok in reply to Welshcatlady]

You can get compression socks on prescription.

[Welshcatlady in reply to jackwok]

I know, but I prefer my coloured ones.

[Patk1]

Do see gp to try establish the cause.very often,our lungs put additional strain on the heart,especially when ill,and it can result in oedema. X

[PaperQueen in reply to Patk1]

I am seeing the nurse for my annual review next week, but if she can't help with that I do intend to make a GP appointment. x