[npatterson]

#1069650

I am not sure that one can "catch" when we might be beginning to get a little hypo. It is a longer process than that.

It does seem that we have some increased incidents with swelling. Many times it can be managed with diet (as in don’t eat Pizza [salt] the night before–have it at lunch when you will be active later in the day)

Strange though it sounds, drinking plenty of water helps swelling. Keeping your feet elevated will cut down on lower leg/ankle swelling because of the greater ease of circulation.

For the moment, don’t worry about, but do be aware. Are your feet "flat" in the morning but swell later in the day? That is known as "dependent edema". When you press your thumb in fairly firmly for ten seconds, how much of a dent is left, and how long before it goes away?

Those are the kinds of information that will help your doctor in figuring out what is happening, and what to do about it.

[ewmb]

#1069651

Thanks Nancy,
I don’t think they are different now than they were this morning. It’s more of my ankle than my foot but I may not be seeing it correctly since I look at it all the time. I can’t make a dent in it at all. It does make a lighter spot and then reddens up again. I have been trying to keep my feet up but it’s hard. My mom said the same thing about salt. I will try and keep drinking more. I have been off my water so that may be part of it. My period should be coming too and I know that I usually gain some water weight but this is too much.

I see the doctor on Tuesday morning. I’ll let you know what happens.

ewmb

[ewmb]

#1019147

I am watching symptoms after RAI to try and catch when I am going hypo. Today I woke up with really bad swelling in my left ankle. It is hard to bend. I’ve never had any of the bumpy skin etc. on my shins or any edema in the rest of my Graves journey. Has anyone else experienced this after RAI?

ewmb

[hyperm]

#1069652

I had fluid retention when I was hypo and yes it can happen as the body slows down and struggles to move "lymph" around the body etc…

Is it pitting oedema? So when you press it in does the area remain imprinted with the mark of your finger for a few secs/longer? Or is rock solid hard?

Salt intake does effect fluid retention but the way I am lead to believe unless you have issues with soduim blood levels etc then you would need to be taking a lot of salt intake daily for a prolonged period of time.

Like you say increase your fluid intake – keep your feet elevated when you can and if possible get someone to rub them gently as long as the area of skin isn’t shiny or broken.

We teach patients to do simple exercises if they are sitting for prolonged periods or just in general to move the ankle/foot area.

So circling you ankle like you would do if you are a bally dancer warming up ” title=”Very Happy” />
then sitting with your feet flat on the floor – rock into your toes so that your knees are moving upwards then back onto your heels.

Then pronation and supination of your feet too – just be careful with this is you have weak calf muslces/ligaments or bones….

Again I am not a doctor but as a rehab specialist thats what we would start off with if it was "simple oedema" and nothing else underlying, don’t attempt any of this if it is rock hard oedema. Always best to get it checked out as you say though.

Hope that helps

m xxx

p.s if anyone is flying especially long haul these are great exercises to stop fluid retention and seemingly DVT’s xx

[ewmb]

#1069653

Hyperm,
Thanks for your professional opinion. It does seem to stay white for a few seconds after I push on it and then goes red. I will definitely try your exercises. I hope that you are doing well today. I am heading to the movies with my family today to see Harry Potter and I will think of you if we have to stand in line! We have free tickets from a survey prize my husband won so I hope we’ll be in in a flash so I can sit down. Your movie story was great fun to read but I’m sure it wasn’t fun to go through. Graves’ rage is a weird thing.

I go to the doctor on Tuesday so I"ll get him to check out my edema.

ewmb

[hyperm]

#1069654

Glad it made you laugh I went through the laugh/cringe and now laughing again! lol

No GD rage is horrible but hey that should all fade by Wednesday afternoon!

Hope HP was great desperate to see it! My hubby went to Oxford for 7 yearrs and I have been in the dining hall that was in one of the movies lol!xx

[ewmb]

#1069655

Hyperm,
I did enjoy the movie. I wish I could get to England to see Oxford too. I have a "sister" who lives in Essex right now. She was an exchange student with me in high school back in the dark ages.

Hope your anxiety is leveling off. I think the anxiety is always worse than the procedure.

Wednesday will be fabulous.

ewmb

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