Swelling of feet

[geordiegirl1947]

Does anyone else suffer with leg cramps and swelling of the feet at night,also not happy I have put on 8pounds,since I went on press in March,😥

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Try magnesium supplements or using Epsom salts in the bath (foot bath if you can't get in and out of the big bath) for the leg cramps. Pred makes you lose more of certain ions through the kidneys - including calcium and magnesium. That is why we are given calcium supplements but magnesium is important too.

Unusual for feet to swell at night - usually they go down overnight, Try cutting the salt in your evening meal especially - too much salt when on pred can lead to fluid retention and that contributes to weight gain too.

And when on pred it really does help with the weight gain problem and hunger pangs if you cut your carbs drastically - all processed and simple carbs and sugar in particular. Cutting processed foods also helps with the cutting salt aspect. Eat loads of salads and above ground veg to fill up and watch your fruit and root veg intake, they have lots of carbs in the form of sugars, healthy carbs maybe but still carbs. If you look back at past posts you will find loads on the topic and stories saying how much it has helped not just weight but reversed pre-diabetes and reduced inflammation and pain.

[geordiegirl1947 in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou so much.i will be taken all this good info on board, 😊

[Marijo1951]

I had very bad swollen feet and ankles, plus uncomfortable legs at night, when I was on higher doses of pred (I'm now down to 9 mg). I fully endorse PMRPro's advice to use Epsom salts in the bath. That really helped me. My advice is not to do what I did and give lots of shoes to the charity shop on the assumption that the condition is permanent. As my dose has reduced, so has the swelling. My feet and ankles are back to normal and I really miss some of those shoes. The night discomfort in my legs has also gone.

Regarding weight gain, I gave in completely to the pred rampant hunger and managed to gain about 20 pounds. I gave up added sugar and white carbs in October and since then I have lost a lot of the pred weight. This included 12 weeks of attending Slimming World. However I've reached a weight plateau and now realise that I need to do some more drastic carb cutting if I'm to get to the weight I'd like to be. I went to Tesco yesterday and they had Pizza Express pizzas at half price. I gave in and bought one for my dinner last night. It tasted good but I felt very uncomfortable in an indefinable way afterwards, so I don't intend to make that mistake again. I'm now seriously considering Michael Mosley's Fast 800 diet.

[SnazzyD]

Hello. The only way I avoided swelling and weight gain was cutting salt to practically zero eg. no sauces and not eating pasta, potato, rice, starches, maize and any flours. I was able to eat any time I wanted as long as it was veg or protein. At higher doses the slightest bit of salt made my eyelids, thighs, midriff and ankles swell.

[Hidden]

Keep a bowl of cold water near the bed and sit on the edge of the bed dangling them in the bowl. I actually left ice in the water sometimes. Do the toes change colour?

[Telian]

You've had good advice already and to add try some simple ankle exercises a few times each day - circle the ankles one way for ten then the other - helps the circulation. Hubby has this problem but his is due to heart problems and poor mobility so an ongoing issue for him. The low carb, sugar and salt intake is very good advice that works. Also keep your fluid intake up to help keep the cramps at bay.

[stonecreek]

compression stockings help a lot with the sweeling. I got four pair from Amazon for $14.00 and the are great. in four colors