Pitting Oedema

[DrDr2020]

Hello Everyone, could you help me.

I noticed earlier this year that my (80 year old) mother has developed pitting oedema in both legs. I’ve made her go to the GP/Hospital and they have tested her for cholesterol, Blood Pressure etc.. also given her an ECG. Everything has come back normal, though they did mention slightly high blood pressure (possibly labile) and put her on statins for slightly high cholesterol.

Essentially the Drs have now finished and say she’s ok, however, she still has

Pitting oedema in both legs (socks hurt, leave marks for hours)

Fingers are swollen (started taking her rings off)

Headaches (occasionally can’t lie down in bed)

Swollen abdomen

She is still very active and can walk several miles. Doesn’t take any medication. Diet is ok and she’s not overweight.

My concern is the changes have happened in the last year and I don’t believe these symptoms don’t indicate something that requires treatment.

Can all these recent changes just be “your getting old and basically healthy” just live with it.

Any advice or thoughts welcome.

[Popepaul]

I assume that all the blood tests have come back and they indicate nothing noteworthy. To my mind I would think about the need for an EKG which will give valuable information about the structure and functioning of the heart. You can look up her blood results on the NHS app. See if there are any markers outside normal parameters.

[DrDr2020 in reply to Popepaul]

so they have performed the ECG (EKG) and it was ok. But she hasn’t had an echocardiogram.

[10gingercats]

We cannot give medical advice here and only speak from our own individual experience. Pitting oedema could be from, my experience,fluid somewhere in the body i.e around heart and in lungs in my case.diuretics got rid of this and now I have slight residual fluid around heart and continue to take a small amount of diuretic daily to keep fluid buidup at bay.I think you are going to have to keep pressing your GP for answers if you have continue to have concerns.

[DrDr2020 in reply to 10gingercats]

thank you. I’m not asking for medical advice, more people’s anecdotal experiences if they’d been in a similar situation.

[TasteLessFood4Life]

Can the Doctors not give anything for oedema? Also, good to know whats causing the oedema and if possible tackle it from there.

[DrDr2020 in reply to TasteLessFood4Life]

That is my question. Surely they must have some options

[Happyrosie]

my mother had this for many years. In her case this was caused by a minor on-operable obstruction in the vessel that return lymph (into which all cells are bathed from the blood) to the blood system.

She would always be active and always raised her legs when sitting down.

At age 80 or so she had Physiotherapy whereby the legs were massaged and the odoema did indeed reduce. For a few minutes only.

She lasted until she was 91.

[DrDr2020 in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you for this reply. Maybe I’m being overly concerned. I just feel that the mix of symptoms that she still has haven’t been fully explained, beyond “she’s getting old”.

Either way, thank you internet stranger x

[cometwatcher1927]

slightly different experience with ongoing oedema in leg , post quad bypass 4 months ago now

Consultants have done the usual blood tests , ultrasound for DVT all ok

I’m on 2 lots of water tablets which have made little difference

now the reasoning is that as a vein was removed , there isn’t sufficient capacity to remove the fluid - blood lymph away from the my legs

in extreme circumstances- Surgery has been mentioned again on legs if there has been a blockage

I would keep pressing the docs like I do

I’m very conscious that oedena in legs may be heart related - hence have regular ultrasounds on heart

So I’d be aware not alarmed and rightly so

[DrDr2020 in reply to cometwatcher1927]

thanks for all the details. Could I ask how did you get an echocardiogram on your heart? The Drs have done an ECG but stopped at that, can I request an echocardiogram?

[cometwatcher1927 in reply to DrDr2020]

I’ve found the consultants very good , to talk too

They suggested the echocardiogram as we’re struggling to diagnose the cause of my oedema , especially with the prospect of having DVT

I’ve found the NHS very good but various departments or authorities don’t communicate with each other

keep pestering and good luck

[DrDr2020 in reply to cometwatcher1927]

ok will do, thanks again

[mesally]

Can't help with oedema other than diuretics, but you can get soft top socks to avoid 'strangled' ankles

[DrDr2020 in reply to mesally]

Thanks will investigate

[cometwatcher1927 in reply to DrDr2020]

I bought several pairs similar to the ones I was given in hospital

Really help and don’t put pressure on ankles

[Parsley56]

I think you are right to be concerned and seek out answers. Especially as she is otherwise fit and well. You are being a caring and observant daughter and I admire you. Too often we are fobbed off with 'age' or 'wear and tear'. Be persistent!

[DrDr2020 in reply to Parsley56]

Thanks, I’ll keep trying.

[Asteroids]

I got pitting oedema due to Amlodipine. I’d been on it gif several years, but it suddenly started to affect me. If she’s on meds, check whether leg swelling is a side effect.

[DrDr2020 in reply to Asteroids]

This is the thing, my mum had never been on any meds, and it’s becoming a bit of a badge ie i dont take anything, not even paracetamol - so i must be heathly. Parents eh

[Alicant]

no one really interested if your elderly …

[DrDr2020 in reply to Alicant]

It’s not quite that bad, the NHS kicked into gear really well, yet seem to have quickly concluded as well

[polenta]

All of the symptoms you describe , are the same that I was experiancing when I was in congestive heart faiure. I am surprised that your Mothers Dr. did not suggest a echo of the heart and stress test. I was given diuretics, for the swollen legs and abdomen when I was released from the hospital, among other meds as well. I am in the US, so I dont know how your health system works, but I would push for further testing for sure. Your Mom has a lot of life to live, even at 80 years old and she deserves to be helped with these concerning ailments, not brushed aside. Wish your Mom the best.

[DrDr2020 in reply to polenta]

Thank you for the details. This is my worry. The NHS is saying all these symptoms are just age, and the ECG and blood pressure are all good, so off you go and come back if it gets worse. Obviously, I want to avoid the “getting worse” part.

Can i ask, did you ever faint/collapse at all, please don’t answer unless you are comfortable. My mum has collapsed a couple of times in the last year or so.

[polenta in reply to DrDr2020]

I have never collapsed, but I too was dismissed by my regular Dr. for about a year, and told I was having anxiety, said my heart sounded strong. I ended up going to a urgent care where they did xrays and saw that my heart was enlarged and sent me to the ER where I was admitted and found that my heart was only working at 10-15% EF. Thats why they should do more testing on your Mom to make sure her heart is working properly and figure out why she is having edema and try to figure out why she collapsed those couple times. You will have peace of mind if her Dr. covers all the bases and is SURE she is ok. We all need to be our own health advocates, and our concerns should not be dismissed, period. Take care.

[DrDr2020 in reply to polenta]

Thanks for all the details. I am going to find out if she’s had and echocardiogram. I’d never heard about x-raying someone’s heart. They definitely haven’t done that.

[polenta in reply to DrDr2020]

Hi DrDr2020, Its more like a sonogram of the heart, they use gel and a wand and can see size of the heart chambers, strength of the heart muscle and check to make sure all of the valves are working ok. The echo takes lots of mesurements and pictures of the blood flow within the heart. Its a very easy and painless procedure and will show if your Mom is having any heart issues. Wish the best for you and your Mom.

[Dogsaremybestfriend]

Hello! I experience occasional putting and, just like your mom, am considered "healthy". I did have a small DVT maybe 20 years ago and that vein may be slightly damaged. However, after reading all the comments, not one mentioned kidneys. For me, and I watch my kidneys closely, a slight change in my GFR will manifest with some swelling and pitting. I use compression stockings and this has eliminated the pitting. Whether from the DVT or prior kidney changes, they have helped tremendously. My kidneys are now back to normal, but if I eat too much sodium, I'll still get occasional pitting in one or both ankles. Good luck and peace!

[DrDr2020 in reply to Dogsaremybestfriend]

Thanks for this. Mum can be very liberal with salt on her food. I have tried speaking to her about it, and until recently she was convinced she had low blood pressure.

[Warm-heart]

I agree with others suggesting: blood tests for her kidney function, or has she had these already? - and requesting for an echocardiogram to look more closely at her heart - especially in the light of having collapsed a couple of times this year as you mentioned. You know her better than anyone I'm sure, and if she is having these problems then your gut feeling is correct to push for further investigation as to what is causing these changes. Something in her body it seems is not working as it should be. Let us know how things go, and good on you for being such a caring daughter.

[DrDr2020 in reply to Warm-heart]

Thanks. I’m going to keep pushing for more tests. I don’t know whether they’ve tested her kidney function so will try to find out.

[Warm-heart in reply to DrDr2020]

Please keep us posted 💜

[Tlyna]

I had it years ago and was diagnosed with pulmonary edema and placed on medication (diuretics) which relieved the symptoms. A year ago I was having it again but this time it was a heart valve malfunction requiring surgery. It can be caused by several different problems, you may need to ride the doctors to get them to get your problem diagnosed and resolved.

[DrDr2020 in reply to Tlyna]

Thanks for this. The common message I am getting is keep pushing. Which is what I’ll do. I just wanted to know that I’m right to do so.

[Tlyna in reply to DrDr2020]

Definitely right. The first time the hospital ER only did some blood work and an Xray before sending me home on the medication. The last hospital I went to did extensive tests and showed me on them the results that all added up to the same thing. The first was many years ago so the problem may not have been clear then.

[Fynndog]

dear DrDR2020 you are right to be concerned. There is a reason for oedema and it needs to be found. Try and see another doctor . I’m afraid with todays shortcomings in the health service you having no alternative other than make yourself known. Get a second opinion. If it gets any worse I would go to A&E again. I’m not trying to worry you but there must be a reason for so much swelling.

[DrDr2020 in reply to Fynndog]

I am going to convince mum to go privately if I can’t get the Drs to investigate further. Nuffield offer a private echocardiogram for £250 if I am forced to go that route.