Swollen ankles?

[fretboard]

I've been having major problems with swollen ankles over and over.  I am on a salt free diet and I eat as healthy as I possibly can.  Does anyone else have the symptom of swelling and what do you do about it?

My concern is that the area that swells is getting larger.  One day last week my legs were swollen all the way up to my knees.  I'm now on a downhill turn and I've gotten a grip over it by drinking plenty of water and taking water pills, now just my left leg in swollen in a small area.  Does anyone know if this is a symptom of HepC?  

Neither of the doctors I've seen have ever given me a straight answer on what it's from.  much appreciation.

[creewoman]

I gain 10-15 pounds of water daily.I take Lasix each night(they seem to work better when laying down for the night) I get rid of most of the water except my left foot.I gave up salt for awhile and it doesn't even make a difference,I think that sometimes my Liver just works better for awhile and I lose it for days then it returns again ,I don't like it and on the(fat)days I have to wear my pajamas because they are bigger.Lots of green tea and blackiced tea water cranberry juice help too (I think?).If you come up with a way to relieve it please let me know.The Doc just says no salt and lots of water.Katy I will pray for you tonight and in the a.m.  Snow

[katy1513]

ive hd this problom for the past month,i guess ifwe all have it and we all got hepc then its from the hepc. im taking water pills and on a NAS diet aswell is anyone on treatment

[fretboard]

sunshine585
You wouldn't think so, but it is the case.  I've been swelling for years, it's like Bill describes "pitting edema".  I've asked doctor after doctor and I've never gotten a straight answer, I can easily get a prescription, I just can't get an answer for the problem.  The strange thing about it is my ex-wife gets the same swelling of her hands and she is HepC positive as well.  I run into some heppers who swell, but not all, it's very troublesome especially since I can't get an answer.  The doctor at the clinical trial site only said that, there is nothing in my blood work to indicate that anything else is wrong with me besides the HepC.  My family history doesn't have any cardiac or kidney problems.    fret    

[Bill1954]

It sounds like you have edema; I believe this can be a result of cirrhosis, as well as many other conditions. Heart disease can also be the culprit, I think, as well as some medications. When you press in on the swelling, does a depression remain? That’s known as ‘pitting edema’. If I recall, you have little fibrosis? It’s probably best to corner your doc and ask them what’s going on; why are they prescribing water pills/diuretics? Do you have a history of cardiac illness?

Take care—

Bill

[sunshine585]

At your stage of fibrosis, you wouldn't have the kind of swelling you describe. Do you have cardiac or kidney problems that you know of?