Swelling of the Feet, Ankles, and Lower Legs...

[CRyoul]

I also have a question about swollen feet, ankles, and legs. For the past few weeks I have been experiencing swollen feet ankles and now it's even moving up my legs from my calves to just above my knees even. the feet are so bad recently that it feels like the skin on them is going to burst open. Especially in the morning when I first wake up and get out of bed because they have been not used all night and when I first step out of bed the skin is pulled so tightly do to the swelling it is very painful. I also drink quite a bit. I drink vodka pretty much daily and about 2 pints a day of it. I thought perhaps this was the cause so I cut way back for a week but that seemed to do nothing to help it really. it seems to be getting worse week after week. I am really beginning to grow concerned as to why this is getting worse not better. I have been monitoring my temperature several times a day and it has always been normal. So I seriously doubt it is an infection because I have no signs that go along with infection such as, fever, cold sweets, shaking, feeling sick, etc. a few days ago my right foot was itching quite a bit so I was scratching it, the next day where I was scratching turned into open wounds, so I have been putting rubbing alcohol on those wounds several times a day and then Neosporin on , to ensure that I do not get an infection. I've been looking online and there are quite a few things it could be. As I said I've pretty much ruled out infection, I don't think it is my salt intake because I don't really use it, it's not caused from being on my feet all day because I am not. I was beginning to be concerned when I read an article about heart failure, because I already have issues with my heart (an artificial Tricuspid valve and pace maker). I called my cardiologist and told him of the swelling issues I was having with my feet and ankles 2 weeks ago and told him I was concerned about heart failure. He told me not to worry about it because and I quote, " I see swollen feet everyday, I'm pretty sure you don't have heart failure because you do not have the other symptoms that go along with it, chest pain, excessive shortness or breath, etc." Well that was a relief , so I'm thinking perhaps it could be liver failure? I have Hep-C and have had it for about 10 years now. As I said I drink quite a bit daily, so perhaps my liver is shutting down? What do you think and what do you think I can do to try and get this swelling to go down and hopefully away for good? Please E-mail me your answer or copy and paste what you write here into an E-mail and send it to my e-mail account on this site my username is "CRyoul". Because I've never been to this site before and doubt I will be able to find it again =). Thank you for your help with this matter. btw I am 36 years old. White Male. if that matters at all when it comes to this issue. Thanks again. Chris

-  OK I just Uploaded the pictures of the swollen feet, Ankles, and Lower Legs to my profile.  To get a better idea of what I'm talking about please view my Profile "CRyoul" and click on my photos, and then select the album titled "Swollen Feet, Ankles, and Lower Legs 2-1-2012".  Thank you very much for your help with this matter, I welcome any and all feedback, suggestions, advice, or opinions on this matter.  - Chris =)

[hepc4Sandi]

After reading all these posts and seeing your photos, I can see where your symptoms could be any number of things. The first thing my liver doctor does every time I see him, is he checks out my feet, ankles, and lower legs, though I have never had any swelling there. So obviously there is a symptom he is looking for there. I can also see where it could be congestive heart failure, or diabetes. All these diseases are made so much worse by drinking. Have you gotten any help and how are you doing now?

[truredhead]

I seen your pics and you my friend are in bad shape. What is going on with you now? Did you see the doctor? I am 60 yrs old and would give anything to be your age again, I would do everything in my power to keep from killing myself like you are doing. I am a addict and have been clean for 20 years. It took a program like methadone to accomplish that but I did it. You seem to not even realize the damage you are doing to yourself. We have such a short time here on earth, when it is over, it is over, you are not coming back to repair the damage.

[pablodeablo123]

Stop it before it stops you, your not in controll now the bottle is smash the bottle today!

[pablodeablo123]

Stop it before it stops you, your not in controll now the bottle is smash the bottle today and live tomorrow!

[beverlydean]

Hello my friend, I'm gonna be blunt, you are an alcoholic.  You drink large amounts of alcohol & don't get a buzz, that is because your liver is not able to process that large amount, your liver is shutting down, I beg you to go to the E.R. ASAP!!  I know all about being an alcoholic because I am one. I was drinking a 5 liter box of wine in a day & a half, I got to the point that there never was enough. I would wake up after passing out & I would shake uncontrollably. I would slam down about 4 glasses just to stop the withdrawals. Well 20 days ago I had 2 glasses soon as I woke, it wasn't enough & 2 hours I went into serious DTs & ended up in the hospital, I almost died!! when I was released they gave me 7 days of Librium, I was so freaking sick that the first few days I could not walk so I crawled. I got a walker after that. Let me tell u about the hallucinations, AWFUL!! I am sober now & working the program, My body is so messed up because of the years  of drinking, Drs have told me I will die soon if I didn't stop!  Please I beg u get help immediately!! I will be praying for u, You wont be able to do yourself because your disease has reached the YOUR GONNA DIE SOON STAGE. .You can get help & there is still hope. GOD bless you!!

[staroflife]

You are going to give yourself cirrhosis of the liver n die a young tragic death...it can also gift you kidney failure and land you on dialysis and dont forget the best one...esophageal varices...i imagine its tough living with hep. C and having so much heart work done at such a young young age...you have to realize your quality of life could be so much better..., jen