swollen feet

[Skye04]

My sister is in a long term care facility suffering from CBD....Recently when I was with her helping her put on her slippers I noticed how swollen her feet were...She said it is because recently she hasn't been 'walking' (requires 2 PSW's) helping her as they are short staffed... so mostly just 'sitting' during the day...She does have a reclining chair and I urged her to put the foot rest up at times when she is sitting to elevate her feet..When I asked about her seeing the 'resident' doctor in her facility I was told the PSW had to speak to a nurse who then assessed the situation and if necessary would speak to a 'Nurse Practitioner ' who would decide whether or not a Dr. should be involved!! Meanwhile nothing has been done!! I really feel that because of this disease the feeling is 'nothing can be done' so nothing 'gets' done...Even her neurologist who diagnosed her months ago..said "I will see you next year...it's a terminal disease and there is no cure"!! My question is ...Is there anything I can do to help with the swelling..apart from keeping her feet elevated at times throughout the day...would massage or foot bathes help?...if anyone can advise me I would be so grateful...I am getting the feeling once you go to long term care..issues such as this are not considered a priority...Thanks for any advice! Liz

[SuzanneA]

I also live in Ontario and have dealt with services provided by the government health system. My husband passed away due to PSP nine months. You constantly have to push PSW's, nurses, etc. especially in long term care to obtain better care for your loved ones. Ask to meet with their resident doctor. Your sister should also have access to a movement disorder specialist. Thinking of you.

[Skye04 in reply to SuzanneA]

Thanks Suzanne...She has seen a Movement Disorder Specialist but they just say to keep doing physio using arms and legs but long term care do not provide ongoing physio..so my BIL pays for 'physiotherapists' to come and work with my sister three times a week..but they are not reliable and often don't show up! This is why I think her feet are swelling...It takes two PSW's to transfer her back and forth to the washroom...but she does have to wear 'pull ups' as sometimes they don't come after she 'rings' for them ..for 30 - 40 mins! Both her husband and myself are very involved with her care..I just get frustrated when I see how hard you have to push for everything! Thanks for your response...We are in Guelph...

[Hidden]

Larry had one foot that swell up after a massage. It stayed that way for sometime before I started to use a stool softener on him. The stool softener sucked the fluid out of his foot.

[Skye04 in reply to Hidden]

OK thanks Jeff166 will give that a try!

[Hidden in reply to Skye04]

Check with the doctor or nurse first before giving it to her.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

May l ask what brand you like best? Sending hugs... Granni B

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I used Miralax . Polyethylene glycol 3350

is what it is. No idea what it is called where you are.

[Hidden]

Mom had PSP & l would end every visit by rubbing her feet with lavender lotion. I cannot say it really helped the swelling but she liked it & l at least felt like l was doing something to help... PSP made me feel useless in so many ways.

I also found some large soft fuzzy socks she liked.

Sending hugs... Granni B

[Railfan]

I would insist a doctor be brought in to examine her feet. Swollen feet can be brought on by many different things and each requires a different treatment. Things to look at include venous insufficiency, heart or liver condition/disease, diabetes, infection, blood clot and medication.

I have diabetes and had a heart attack with a triple bypass in 2016 (before my PSP diagnosis) and several of my doctors check my ankles on each visit. Due to likelihood of swelling, I've been on a diuretic (water pill) since at least 2016 (before the heart attack). The pill is a pain because it is so powerful that I go about every 20 minutes for the first few hours after taking it. I'm still fairly mobile and that helps. It would be harder to take it if I couldn't get to the facilities. But this too could be accounted for with a catheter or bedside urine bottle.

[Skye04 in reply to Railfan]

Thanks for your input!

[Dadshelper]

You can try compression socks along with keeping her feet/legs elevated in her recliner. As for the run around with the staff don't let them brush you off. I am sure they are shorthanded, most are. Keep after them, ask when the doctor is scheduled to see your sister and plan to be there, if possible. As the old saying goes "the squeaky wheel gets the grease".

Ron

[Skye04 in reply to Dadshelper]

Yes agree...Thanks Ron!

[racinlady]

You definitely need to push for her to see a Dr or at least the nurse practitioner. Swollen feet can be a sign of congestive heart failure and many other conditions that have nothing to do with CBD.

Pat

[messier]

My mum has CBD and she has very swollen feet and legs. Compression stockings were no use as they just bunched up somewhere and dug in and just seemed to move fluid around. She's just had a bunch of tests and no cardiac or other problems. I'm sure it's caused because she can't walk enough to get the leg muscles pumping the veins and she is sleeping propped up as she can't get into any other position. I've now put pillows under her feet at night and got an electric foot massager that she uses 1-2 hours a day and they are now starting to improve after a couple of weeks. She does have a water tablet and I do wonder whether it's causing more problems than it solves. Needing to go a lot in the first hour or two is a problem if you're not very mobile!

[journeyofjoy]

Hello Liz,

My husband, Sandy, had terribly swollen feet. The skin was so tight, shiny, and purple at times and his legs were swollen up to his knees. He now wears compression stockings to the knee, takes a diuretic, and puts his feet up in the afternoon. This has taken care of the problem. Initially he took the diuretic daily. Once the swelling went down, the doctor advised cutting back on the diuretic, if possible. Three days wasn't enough so I believe he's now at four times/week. These things solved the problem.

I think the cause is mostly due to immobility. It doesn't really matter the cause, I've found. Just treat the symptoms.

All the best.

[Skye04 in reply to journeyofjoy]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply... I have urged my sister to put her feet up in the afternoons when resting and I massaged her feet the other day...things seem to be improving but a Dr. will follow up...Thanks again!