The FastDay Forum

Just wondering if any intelligent people out there can advise me, I have oedema had it for years, on heart probs at all, and having lost 2stone I'd have thought it to be better than it is, I do have diuretics to take as+when needed but would prefer not to take these, I also went to Low salt some 20yrs ago I don't use salt in cooking and I am now having more salads probably use fraction more than before, I'm drinking more water than ever (but still need to up this) More importantly I don't mean puffy as with the weather I mean really bad as in can't get shoes on.
I'm so happy with this WOL. BUT to get my swelling down some more would be the icing+cherry on the cake!!!
Doctor not much help, but is due for an ear full, and seeing nurse in 3 weeks, neither no about weight lost so will see how that goes.
Thanks for readind any help? Please Sue

Sue, have you tried upping foods like celery, just munch plenty of raw strips, and make dandelion tissane - just pick the dandies, discard the flowers, keep the leaves and try to include the root and pour boiling water over it and drink the tea a couple of times a day ( you can always sweeten or add lemon if you dislike the taste). Lemon balm is also a nice drink and helps too. My feet were very swollen last week but am on meds that produce this side effect, but I am eating and drinking these things and swelling has gone way down. .

Thank you dhana I am having celery 1/3 sticks daily, but will ''try'' the dandelion tea sounds disgusting but I'm so desperate, my neighbour has loads in his garden lol.
Off food shopping now so will sort it out later Sue

Good that you are seeing the nurse to have a discussion

Dont think I can help but must ask did you mean to write 'no heart problems'. What are your ankles like when you wake up and before you get out of bed and start walking around. Also just a personal reflection ~ my ankles which were puffy by end of each day though now skinnier still puffy. I know why this is due to understanding all my medical issues and you ought to be able to understand why you have oedema in feet

I'd be asking my local doctor to explain why he/she has prescribed intermittent diuretics as there ought to be a diagnosis and a reason for such a drug

What do you eat ? Carbohydrates are associated with water retention, as shown here

OK, so I'm not a doctor.... But going on the advice given to me for oedema when pregnant, I was told to:
cut caffeine
cut processed foods and ready meals (although to be honest I never really ate those)
drink nettle or dandelion tea - you can buy teabags, you don't need to make it from scratch
Loads of water - I was told to drink enough to make me need to go to the toilet every half hour! (Which is anyway not difficult when you're preggers!)
and exercise - of the cardio kind because it improves circulation (walking, cycling etc.)

But to be honest, if you've had it for years then I would expect there to be some kind of medical issue behind which should be sorted. I doubt it's salt on its own that would cause it all the time, unless you eat a lot of processed food which it sounds like you don't.

After reading philT's link and understanding its general drift, it would still seem to me a discussion with your prescribing doctor why the diuretics as they are a drug to not be prescribed lightly from my understanding. I agree with Lisainch what kind of medical issue lies behind your oedematous feet and that to guild the lily is a discussion to have with your treating md who has your medical history

Must be frustrating though so I wish you all the best with it

Thanks to PhilT's reply I will not be asking my doc for a diuretic to take with me to Sardinia at the end of the month. I am worried about ankle swelling, to the point of not being able to walk without skin cracking etc. which I have had before in very hot weather. Sardinia is hot in August!! family get together otherwise would not choose to go during the hottest weather. Am planning to eat very high fat, low carb which should be fun surrounded by mountains of pasta and pizza (thank goodness for olive oil and fresh fish! and great cheese!!)but my ankles will thank me, I'm sure! I'm hoping the Italians will just put it down to the strange eccentricities of we Brits!

Do you by any chance have lymphoedema? A friend of mine has it and only got proper treatment when she changed GPs. Her old doc just kept on giving stronger and stronger diuretics until he totally messed up her blood chemistry and, of course, the swelling got to the stage where it wouldn't go down at all. She got referred to a specialist clinic and has never looked back as she now has properly made support stockings, a low carb diet and the correct medication. She also has access to specialist help if she thinks the swelling is getting out of hand. It did take several months of really strong bandaging to get to this point though so I would act now rather than let it get too bad. Once swelling reaches a certain point the fluid balance in the tissues alters and its the devils own job to reverse it! I'm afraid there are still far too many GPs out there who have a poor grasp on the use of diuretics!

Wow what a response Thank-you all + yes did mean to say no heart probs + yes they are quite acceptable first thing in the morning!
Thanks Phil I used to eat lots of carbs but not so many now but maybe its still too many will deffo check that out, would love to pack in tablets + get ankles back to something like ''normal'' during the snow earlier in year was basically housebound coz could only get men's adjustable sandals on!!! Will have good chat with nurse first to see what she thinks, no one has ever mentioned lymphoedma but I certainly will do because after all I'm achieving + really proud + so chuffed with my current position this is so depressing for me, I don't talk about it much because it has ruled my life ( Truthfully at this moment in tears now)
Sorry Sue
Back again also meant to say walking 3/4 days each week doing between 4+6 miles each time ( in said foot ware above!!!

http://www.patient.co.uk/health/idiopathic-oedema and other resources using both the proper spelling "oedema" and Americanism "edema" http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/gard/6 ... esources/1

I don't see drinking more as a solution, if you have an excess of water on board adding water to it fails the first test of logic.

Thanks Phil the idiopathic sounds spot on to me, just booked appointment with nurse for mid August she's away so got to wait, will definitely look into upping potassium levels to combat the sodium/salt
Forgot earlier to say do have compression socks and use daily even in this heat they do help a little and will elevate legs in evenings I've stopped doing that for some reason, and can easily fit in daily walks.
Read somewhere that thyme is a salt substitute would that be better to do in cooking instead of low salt on meals?
Hardly any processed foods I the house cut that back many years ago.
Many thanks to all, don't know why but its got to me today as I started replying, blame it on the heat Sue

Sue.Q,

I can't help you with your problems but I can send you a great big virtual hug and best wishes so, here they come ...................get them? Good, hope you can get some relief soon, best of luck,

Ballerina x

To drink or not to drink, that is the ??? Most sites I have read about water retention urge us to drink more water but PhilT says no, don't do it. What is a waterlogged girl to do?

Thanks ballerina yes dhana that was a big surprise to me too and thanks to to also I did get very emotional when replying I suppose I'm so chuffed to have accidently come across this WOL + how its working for me like nothing has before, and the ''old'' problem got the better of me but I shouldn't have to sweep it under the carpet + live like this, so I've just got to toughen up with the nurse + Doc
As for the water well I have found that the more I drink they sometimes show improvement so will continue until mid Aug when I see nurse.
Many thanks to all + Good luck