Dealing with edema (fluid retention)

Hey everyone.
My mom is 60. She deals with high blood pressure, but she manages to keep it under control with her medication. Over the last few months, though, she's been dealing with some pretty bad swelling from fluid retention. Her heart and kidneys seem to be functioning normally according to the doctors. On top of that, she’s finding it really tough to walk up hills lately. What do you guys think could be causing all this fluid buildup? You can clearly see how swollen her ankles have become. Thanks!

Melissa Kern6, just to be safe, she should probably get her thyroid levels and an ultrasound checked

Melissa Kern6 said:Hi everyone.
My mom is 60. She deals with high blood pressure, which she manages with medication to keep it within a normal range. However, over the last few months, she’s been dealing with significant swelling due to fluid retention. Her kidneys and heart are supposedly fine. On top of that, she’s having a really hard time walking uphill. What else could be causing all this fluid buildup? You can clearly see how swollen her ankles have become. Thanks.

What medications is she currently on? Is it something like amlodipine?
Who actually confirmed that her kidneys and heart are okay?
What specific tests has she undergone regarding this issue?
For now, the thyroid can wait.

Hey there. Anyone else dealing with constant water retention? I've been struggling with this ever since I had my baby, who's 19 months old now. Teas haven't really done much for me; they help for a second, but then the bloating just comes right back 😢. I heard about these drainage capsules that are supposed to be amazing, but apparently, they're pricey. Has anyone actually tried them? Are they worth the cash, and where can I even find them? Or honestly, any other advice would be great because I'm losing my mind here
.

What exactly makes you think you're retaining water—is it just seeing a higher number on the scale, swollen legs, or something else...? How old are you, and are you actually keeping an eye on your blood pressure regularly? Did you deal with any BP issues back when you were pregnant? Also, have you had your kidney function checked out at all over this past year?

When your blood pressure is running a little high, the standard advice is to cut back on salt to help flush things out; but you can't just wing it, you know? It needs to be done carefully. Messing around with diuretics too aggressively can totally throw your body's electrolyte balance out of whack, which leads to some seriously nasty—we're talking potentially fatal—complications

My blood pressure was steady at 130/70 during my pregnancy, but it’s been running a bit lower lately. I’ve never dealt with high blood pressure before, and honestly, I haven't been able to drop those last 10 pounds since having the baby. I just feel constantly bloated. My legs are always swollen, too—I actually went for a massage recently and the therapist told me she could literally feel the water retention under her fingers 😢. I’m turning 32 soon, and I’ve never really had a sweet tooth for salt; I’m more of a spicy food person. My kidneys seem fine, and I wouldn't say I have issues with urination, though I do go pretty frequently during the day and usually have to get up once or twice a night... clearly that's still not enough...

boldtinker82 said:so I was actually at a massage the other day and the woman working on me told me she could feel under her fingers that I’m just totally bloated with water😢...

Don't take this the wrong way, but honestly, that sounds like total nonsense. What you can actually feel during a massage is subcutaneous fat, definitely not "excess water"
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Do yourself a favor and get some actual medical tests done—CBC, metabolic panel, check your kidney function (seriously, tell your doctor what’s bothering you because you can't just guess if your kidneys are doing their job or not), and start tracking your blood pressure once a week. If you really are having trouble flushing fluids, a doctor will give you actual medication for it—DO NOT go out and buy random supplements off the shelf to fix it yourself.

In the meantime, watch the sodium in all that processed stuff you grab—you know, things like deli meats or pastries from places like Panera or Dunkin' where everything is loaded with salt even if you don't taste it; maybe try drinking some cranberry juice once a day for a week (that nighttime bathroom tripping up usually points toward blood sugar issues or a minor UTI), and you absolutely need to get some cardio in. Like, thirty minutes minimum—forty-five would be better—every single day. And I mean purposeful, brisk walking where you're huffing and puffing enough that you couldn't hold a conversation if you tried... not just wandering aimlessly around the mall or pacing around the office.

...

Look, I’m not blaming you 🙂, just repeating what I was told. Thanks for the advice, but I’ve already done the whole routine—blood work, monitoring my blood pressure, drinking herbal tea for months on end... nothing. I’m walking, I’m staying active, even signed up for Zumba just to move more, but no luck. I don't want to sound like a hypochondriac, but waking up with swollen legs after eight hours of sleep is sketchy... and it’s not just my legs, it's my whole body. I thought maybe it was weight so I tried some strict diets, but the swelling didn't budge. Honestly, if my blood counts, sugar, and kidney tests are all perfect, then either these doctors don't know what they're doing or I'm actually losing it

if that's the case, you should probably just ask your VA referral for a specialist appointment with a nephrologist. a basic blood panel doesn't always tell the whole story... and maybe get your thyroid checked out too, while you're at it

I really need some input on this whole swollen ankle situation. For instance, mine always blow up whenever I’m traveling—like when I’m hopping on a Greyhound bus for a weekend trip or heading down to the coast. If my legs stay stuck in one spot for too long, they just swell up. And honestly? It looks pretty gnarly; it's actually kind of scary to see. It takes a few days just to get my ankles back to looking normal again. My joints don't necessarily hurt, but there’s this intense tightness and fatigue in my legs that just won't quit. I've already had my kidneys checked out and everything is fine there. Also, during the summer when it gets hot, they tend to puff up a bit, so you can really see the difference between how they look in the morning versus the evening. But those long trips? That's when it gets brutal. Is it possible this is just crappy circulation, or am I just naturally prone to swelling?

It all kicked off around 4:00 AM this morning when both of my ears started swelling up. The left one is significantly worse than the right—so much so that you can't even see the cartilage anymore. I originally figured it was just an infection in my ear piercing.
But now, the inside of my left palm is swollen too, specifically right under my index finger. And then I noticed my left ankle is acting up as well (though, to be fair, I did break my fifth metatarsal on that same foot about two months ago).

There’s no itching. There’s no pain. It is simply, maddeningly swollen.

WHY?

Allergies?

Kidney issues?

Just a few years back, I went through a full battery of allergy testing, and turns out, I’m not allergic to anything at all.

I should probably mention that I seem to be running to the restroom constantly—it feels like every hour on the dot, just a little bit at a time.😁 So, honestly? I highly doubt my body is actually retaining any water...