Water Retention

[emmie]

has this affected anyone.

[emmie]

i looked it up, but it seems a bit long winded, simple explanation, or what it's consequences are...

[Buenchico]

Water retention (oedema) is usually a symptom of something else, rather than a condition in its own right. So it's the underlying condition (such as a heart or kidney problem) that might influences the 'consequences' that you refer to.

However there are occasions when doctors can't find any underlying cause. ('Idiopathic oedema'). It's more likely to then be an inconvenience than a serious problem.

This is a useful link for basic information:
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Oedema/Pages/Introduction.aspx
but this might be better for practical advice:
http://www.wikihow.com/Reduce-Water-Retention

[emmie]

thanks, i looked up some info but wondered others experience,

[pixie373]

Not personally, but i know a few people that do. It's strange you asked that, because i think i asked you recently if you got swollen ankles. I'll have a look back, but think it was bladder/kidney problem? Have you been given water tablets?

[dunnitall]

Got rid of mine by not eating anything with yeast in and keeping my feet up when sitting resting.

[Buenchico]

Has your doctor identified an underlying cause? People with different underlying causes might have vastly different experiences of coping with oedema.

For example, my father told me that he'd found his ankles were swelling a lot and I told him to see his GP, as I thought it was likely that he head a heart problem. The doctor took the same view and sent him for immediate hospital tests, where the consultant told him that he'd live for less than a fortnight if he didn't immediately change his lifestyle (such as cutting out alcohol) and start taking appropriate medication.

He was put on warfarin (to thin his blood) and diuretics (to help reduce the oedema). He found that the diuretics worked well for him, with the only side effect being many more trips to the loo. (He lived for another 5 years until he could no longer resist the urge to consume alcohol).

However, as my first link points out, diuretics aren't appropriate in all cases, so not everyone with oedema will share his experience of finding that they 'did the trick' for them.

[emmie]

not so far, just that the legs and ankles are swollen, i am drinking as much water as i can, i look bloated, and feel it. everything seems tight to wear, yet i am not massively overweight.

[mazie]

Are you on Blood pressure tablets em?

[emmie]

some things i have to stay clear of food wise, and hardly touched alcohol since last Christmas, some meds definitely give me bad stomach pains, should move about more, been a bit sedentary the last few days,

[Graham-W]

If I were to be facetious I would suggest:
A tap on the knee, drainpipe trousers and pumps.
I'll get my coat

[emmie]

my blood pressure seems ok, from the tests that have done, ECG was clear but nurse in the hospital said from my description i have Atrial fibrillation,
it wasn't something i wish to repeat, but have had something similar in the past.

[tamborine]

emmie, what treatment were you given for AF ?

[homedeeth]

Yes, it caused my fathers kidneys to completely pack up, sending him delierious and very confused. He was put on end of life care and died three days later.

[islasmum]

I had liver problems twelve years ago, and had odema all over. I was in hospital for 2 weeks and I was put on very strong diuretics, which I took for 6 - 8 months. Through this treatment I lost three and a half stone of fluid. Hopefully this will not happen to you, but fluid retention is connected with the kidneys, heart and liver, also it seems that as you get older, you seem to put on fluid more easily - I can see by my legs and ankles in the evening if I have not taken enough exercise, and also the recent hot weather has not helped this condition, so I'm back on Furesomide again for now.