Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Went back on Atkins about 4 weeks ago. I weigh about 24stone (350lbs?).

About two weeks ago I was just sitting at my work desk when my feet and ankles and calves swelled up like balloons till the skin is stretched so much they hurt all the time. If I elevate my legs it goes down (also sleeping overnight) but as soon as I stand it all starts again. My feet look HUGE and my legs are like those of an elephant. I cannot get my shoes on, only big men's sandals with velcro.

I've never had this before. My b/f said it is maybe water retention so I got some tablets and have been taking 4 a day for four days, no change at all. I have reduced my water intake to about 3 pints but the swelling remains.

It's really making me worried and anxious about what is wrong. Walking and water aerobics haven't made it go away.

Then, today, walking (waddling) along the road suddenly got a cramp on the very bottom of my left calf - not where the big muscle is, below that but not as low as the Achille's tendon. Now I am in pain with every step, though standing still or sitting I feel nothing. I'm hobbling around my house with massive, ballooned legs and agonising pain from my left calf, feeling very depressed as you can imagine.

I don't know if this has anything to do with Atkins, with water, with the menopause, or what. I hobbled in agony to the doctor's but there were no appointments for today they just told me to come back at 8.30am tomorrow morning and try to book one for later tomorrow afternoon (they are not allowed to book a day in advance any more in the UK).

I have no faith in doctors anymore, anyway and I know that they will just bleat on about how it's my weight that causes everything, from a headache to a cold virus, so I am not inclined to hobble down there again in agony tomorrow.

I trust the accumulated knowledge and wisdom of Atkineers more.

So please help - I really feel frightened by this new deverlopment.

Thanks

Helena

[ValidRouge]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

Helena, you need to go to the doctor.

[hopejoy]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

go to an emergency room!
liz

[apple]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

I second, third, and would beg you to go to the doc...even though you don't like them.

Check back with us and tell how things are going.

Take care!

[loo-see]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

check triglycerides!!!!! it may be metabolic disorder......
GO TO DOCTOR,PLEASE

[sallyseachange]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

Yes... go to the doctor... you're in pain and need professional advice/treatment.

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

Went to the doctors again but no appointments today either. Such is the sorry state of the health service in England. In my area there are a LOT of unemployed drug addicts and of course they take up a lot of our local doctors' time.

I slept all night with my legs raised on pillows and the swelling has gone down a lot. This morning I did an hour's water aerobics and looking now they are only slightly inflated and not at all painful.

What's this about triglycerides and emergency rooms? Sounds scary!

[Kate113]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

Helena, I hope you're still checking this thread. I have the same thing happen to me. I have to sleep with my legs and feet up on pillows because otherwise the swelling doesn't go down very much at all. I've been told that sitting at the desk and not moving the legs & feet is a reason why they swell like this. Also, that I'm not drinking ENOUGH water. Once our body gets used to getting water all day long, it will let go of the water in our bodies that we're retaining. So you need to UP your water intake. Believe it or not, when I travel about 50 miles north of home, I don't swell up at all. The elevation there is higher. I don't get that at all, but it works.

If you are in agonizing pain though, I agree with the others that you need to go to the emergency room at the closest hospital. I don't know what they can do, but it's better than sitting around and then trying to get in to see your doctor.

Please do let us know how it goes.

[Waterbabe_Helena]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

Hi Kate

While waiting to see the doc the swelling went right down and I am all back to normal. Going to the emergency room just isn't on. Unless you are haemorraging from a head wound you don't get seen for at least eight hours around here - more sitting down - when what I needed was to put my feet up. I too now sleep with a pillow under my calves.

I see we are similar in weight and height and age, though I am worse on all - three, older, fatter, and shorter!

Well done on your weight loss so far.

Helena

[TyCowboy]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

Water retention/fluid retention is generally found in the extremities...what you're describing sounds like fluid gathering in the legs. I would agree that you need a doctor to verify that before you exercise too much, but I have always been told the best way to get the body to reabsorb the fluid is to exercise without bearing much/any weight on the legs. I.e. water exercise like you're doing now.

But it could be something much more dangerous, so you need to speak with a doctor soon.

Ty.

[kate58]

Re: Feet and ankles swelling like balloons

Forget it - just realised this is a very old post!!