swollen leg

I have had load of blood tests. Indeed, had some stress as one came back with higher than should be results for liver function, Had to have another and was told by nurse taking it that if it was fine, then I would hear nothing, otherwise doctor would telephone me in the next couple of days. Following morning, I just missed taking call from GP surgery, rang them straight back but was just told Dr was busy now and I would be rung later that day

Spent a concerned few hours awaiting call and when it did come it was from the Practice Nurse wanting to arrange an appointment to see me to review the 60mg Furosemide tabs.

Then following morning again a call from surgery - managed to answer that one in time (worried). But nothing to worry about, just a call telling me that I need to make an appointment in the next month for my normal annual blood tests. I did ask that receptionist to check to see if Liver function test result was back, she did and it was normal.....Phew!!!

I was told to take those tabs 40 mg at breakfast and 20 mg at lunch, and doing it like have not found that I am having any more than usual loo trips at night.

For those who keep mentioning DVT's, think I have said earlier, no reason for this nor any normal presentation of DVT.

So, back to that fluid retention - probably just another marker of my 84 years being alive.

Have not seen a Doctor for this at all. But I am sure that a Practice Nurse is just as knowledgeable on something like this.

Hopefully, she will decrease this tablet dosage next week. I have a damaged kidney (from a fall I sustained several decades ago), so am slightly concerned at medically induced problems.

Mt61

Blood clots don’t often show up straight away, but your platelet reading may be high, the clot can develop later. did they over you a blood test?

Offer I mean franbern

Blood clots don’t often show up straight away, but your platelet reading may be high, the clot can develop later. did they over you a blood test?

She will know you suffer from osteoarthritis from your note surely. If the pain feels like it’s deep in the calf if could be a blood clot. Did they offer to scan it?

I had one done at my GP surgery.
😯 Lucky you! Our surgery wouldn't do anything like that.

growstuff

Franbern Have you had a Doppler test, which measures the blood flow? It's quite simple to do. I had one done at my GP surgery.

And will also check for blood clots.

I had one last year after an operation caused a pain in my calf. It turned out not to be a clot (apparently).

Over the past couple of years, I have been given more and more conflicting advice from medical professionals. Why? And who to believe?

I also have swollen legs and feet. One painful, one not. Oedema. Have been given diuretics (Furosemide and Bumetanide), which helped. Was told by a previous GP that these should not be taken for more than two weeks, as the kidneys can become affected. Was told by a recent GP that this is not the case.

Allegedly, leg swelling is lower in the mornings because they have been elevated overnight. Makes sense but ..................? Getting up for a pit stop several times during the night is the system getting rid of the excess fluid - according to one GP but not to another! "Rot" was the response!

Apparently, fluid retention can be all over the body, not just confined to the legs. So being lighter in the mornings might make sense, if several trips to the loo had taken place.

Who knows? Just speculating. I just wish doctors would make up their minds.

As an aside, I saw a vascular surgeon (privately|) and, because I have cardiac issues, which could be related to the leg, he advised my GP to make an urgent referral to a cardiologist at the local hospital. GP refused. "I will take an holistic approach", he said. When was anyone last able to make a GP appointment?!!

The thing is, one gets too damned tired to argue the toss with these people.

Just to give a wquick update on this. Nurse had started me off with 20 mg daily of the water tablets - absolutely no effect whatsoever. After five days, I spoke to her on the 'phone and she increased that to 60 mg a day - a big dose.

Am nearly a week into that now, and there has been a small improvement in the swelling. It is down in the mornings, - no quite fully down, but okay - but as the day goes on, even though I sit with it up- slowly ncreases in size, bht not as big as it was before.

I have been told I need to go into see nurse for a review on this medication, etc early next week, so will see what happens then.

No dreadful side effects from these tablets - but I have lost nearly half a stone in the short time I have been taking them.

I agree the nurse would be able to tell what sort of swelling it is from the colour and whether or not the swelling pits on finger pressure, and whether or not there is pain on pressure.

Hope you can resolve your problem Franbern 💐

Franbern

Growstuff thanks for that. No, have not had this test. Nurse did check my heart and some of the blood tests was for further checks. Evidently, all seemed okay from that. I have been called back for further blood tests (for liver function??).

I will definitely keep in mind this Doppler test. After just one day on the very much increased dosage of the water pills (20 mg upto 60 mg daily now), I think there is already a very slight improvement. Hope it is not just me and wishful thinking. Will monitor carefully over next few days.

It's just like having a blood pressure check, but on your ankle. I've had at least four - two at my GP surgery, but I guess it depends whether they have the machine needed.

I don't have a swollen leg, but I do have diabetic neuropathy and my leg (particularly my left one) is often stone cold and I get cramps in my shin when I work, which are a sign of poor circulation (in my case caused by furred up arteries).

I have 6 monthly diabetic checks with full blood tests and I've had numerous ECGs and two echocardiograms. None of the tests show any problems - apart from the Doppler test. As a result, I saw a physio and have exercises for my leg.

IMO it's important to find out what's going on, so it can be treated.

Growstuff thanks for that. No, have not had this test. Nurse did check my heart and some of the blood tests was for further checks. Evidently, all seemed okay from that. I have been called back for further blood tests (for liver function??).

I will definitely keep in mind this Doppler test. After just one day on the very much increased dosage of the water pills (20 mg upto 60 mg daily now), I think there is already a very slight improvement. Hope it is not just me and wishful thinking. Will monitor carefully over next few days.

Franbern Have you had a Doppler test, which measures the blood flow? It's quite simple to do. I had one done at my GP surgery.

Oreo, if there was that sort of infection, then surely there would be some discolouration (redness). Also some warmth - as the body tries to fight any infection. There is no sign of any damage or infection whatsoever in this leg.

Apart from the puffiness between knee and ankle there is no other sign of anything wrong. Definitely a circulation problem as that leg feels (internally not externally, quite cold. Pretty sure Nurse is on right road and it is being caused by fluid. It definitely improves overnight, when I now have the foot of my bed slightly raised, but as the day wears on goes back to where it was previously, even though I am sitting with my legs up in my riser/recliner much of the time.

I have always been wary regarding the use of anti=biotics unless absolutely required. It is far to easy for a person;s body to become too used to these if over-prescribed and then should there be a real need for them, they have little effect. Glad you swollen leg was able to treated with these due to insect bite - but am pretty certain this is not the caese with mine.

Never ignore things like insect bites, and downplay them. They can cause many very serious problems.

Franbern my leg infection wasn’t obvious but having exhausted other avenues it was thought it may have been an insect bite, even tho I wasn’t aware of any.The antibiotics worked like a charm.

A week into the 2-week course of tablets (water ones), I was given and little difference to my leg - indeed if anything slightly more swollen. Have been sent now for further blood tests, and spoke to Nurse Practictioner on phone. Result for hba 1c (sugar) test came back as 'Normal'.

She is upping the water tablets from 20 mg daily to 50 mg to see if that will work.

I had a similar problem the other year and it turned out to be an infection, was treated by antibiotics and the leg swelling went down.I could hardly wear boots it was so bad.

Franbern I’m glad you are seeking medical advice. I hope it’s sorted simply soon. It sounds a bit worrying.
I get swollen feet and ankles quite often and they can stay like that for days. No apparent reason, but I tend to blame my varicose veins.
To reduce them I raise my legs at night. I simply put a big fat cushion under the mattress. It sometimes works overnight but sometimes can take over a week to work. Better than the horrible sensation of feet like soggy balloons!

OH had a painful and swollen leg and a lump behind his knee. The practice nurse diagnosed a bakers cyst. A clot was ruled out because he was taking Warfarin A physio then examined his leg to be able to relieve the pain. She sent him to the doctors -Immediatly because it had a pulse which cysts do not. The doctor sent him for a scan 3 days later. and he was seen by the vascular surgeon that day who told him he needed an urgent op within 2 weeks. He is still here but has difficulty walking.
Do keep checking your leg Franbern, for pulse points and hard areas. Good luck.

Hmm. Unilateral leg swelling. I hope she has considered and excluded a dvt (blood clot)

Mine turned out to be a bloodclot, some of it broke off and went into the lung, by the time they found it I only had about three days left and no, don't use the stairs. Best of luck.

DId she check your oxygen levels? I had a swollen leg( all of it) for 3 days before seeing a doctor, and was told to go immediately to A&E ( had to get a friend to take me - no ambulances) and was in hospital for 3 weeks with a pulmonary embolism.

I have read in the past (from reputable medical journals) that walking up stairs is not good for arthritic knees. However, walking down stairs is beneficial. So for exercise I take the lift up to the 5th floor of my block and walk down.
I would share that with Mr C too, Cornergran, and refuse to be marched up the stairs!
Hope your leg is better soon Franbern.

Glad you had the blood test Franbern . Hopefully they will be ok and you can take the water tablets.

Whiff Practice nurse checked my heart as part of her examination. Pretty sure it is okay, but to be sure actually had blood tests today that she sent me for..