Leg Edema

[elp1705]

I am a 24 y.o., female.  i am 5'8" and weight 140 lbs.  I exercise 5-6 days per week and eat a fairly healthy diet.  For the past 3 years I have been getting edema in my lower legs that pits over my tibia.  Sometimes the edema is in my feet too, but not every time.  This occurs with prolonged sitting or standing in one place and is relieved best by exercise, especially running.  It is sometimes slowly reduced over night or with elevation.  I asked a doctor about it when it first started happening and after he listened to my heart he told me that it was weak valves in my veins.  So I went with this diagnosis for the next few years, however, a few weeks ago I randomly got a lot of swelling in my knees that lasted for 4 days.  This was a new symptom so I went to the Dr. and she did not know what was causing it so I had some tests.  My bloodwork (CBC, WBC's, Na, Thyroid, etc.) was normal.  On my visit my blood pressures was high (140/90) so they had me do a 24-hr blood pressure monitor which I don't have the results of.  I have never had high BP before outside the Dr. office so I think I just get "white coat" syndrome.  My resting pulse is usually 48 bpm. ( i am a runner) I also had an echocardiogram done yesterday which I don't have the results of either but the guy who did it kept telling me things looked good so I am not sure that will have any significant findings.  I was just wondering what your opinion is.  Do you think it is just weak valves?  No one in my family has a hx of this.  Have you ever heard of anyone else my age with this problem?

[Enoch Choi, MD]

you're welcome!

do you wear high heels/pointy toed shoes?  did you ask your doc about raynaud's?

how's your edema?

how'd your echo go?

[elp1705]

Thanks for all of your help!

[Enoch Choi, MD]

the edema and elevated BP would be a result of decreased kidney function, not the other way around

most people with low resting heart rate are athletes or others with a lot of aerobic exercise, that's a good thing.  Not common among those with high blood pressure.

[cheerjen]

I was also wondering if people with HTN often have a low resting HR?  At times mine can get down to 41 or 42 BPM.

[cheerjen]

My echo was normal.
As for the 24-hr BP monitor showed that i have elevated BP as it was sometimes high  and sometimes normal.  Could this be the cause of the edema?  Or could the edema be causing the hypertension?  

[Enoch Choi, MD]

how did the 24 hour blood pressure record go?

white coat hypertension is thought to be concerning for true hypertension.

chronic amox would not be a concern

the toe numbness could be from pointy toed shoes, like high heels, do you use those?

numbness during cold months could be related to "Raynaud's syndrome"

how'd the echo go?

stasis edema isn't unusual in many people.  if the edema is from illness, it could be related to your kidneys or incompetent leg veins like they suggest.

[elp1705]

I forgot to mention that I am currently taking 100 mg of Amoxicillin a day for acne and have been on it for a few years.  Also, I am not sure if this is related to the above condition, but a least a couple of times  week one or two of my toes (usually the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) go numb and turn white.  This can last for an hour or more but it eventually resolves.  It happens mostly in the winter months and I am generally a cold person, esp. my hands and feet.  Do you know what might cause this?  Is it related to the leg edema?