fluid retention?

[gorbybelle]

sometimes when I wake in the morning I feel as though my arms and hands have swollen-up during the night - they feel sort of bigger and harder - occasionally the lower arm muscles have stabbing pains when I get this - my hands don't feel stiff.  I don't notice fluid retention in my knees or ankles - which I think I would if it were down to 'fluid retention' in general.  Does anyone else get this type of 'thing' ???

[JackieCalifornia]

My symptoms have been similar to Wonko's.

I can have horrible mornings, better as the day wears on (I'm well into treatment now, and the symptoms have lessened considerably).  

Hot showers help.  

I was taking magnesium supplements but have switched now to occasional foot soaks with Epsom salts (which are magnesium).  It's amazing how much better I feel afterward.

I keep water by the bed and drink a half glass at least before I even get out of bed in the morning.  

I also try to lie down in the morning and stroke my legs from ankle to knee and knee to hip to encourage the fluid build up to move out.  

Little things, but they seem to help.

[patsy10]

I feel like this almost every morning but my hands and fingers are usually swollen.  I wake up all night with numbness  down both arms and hands.

[gorbybelle]

Thankyou both for your detailed discriptions of this 'swelling' thing. -  I really thought I was imagining this - I have noticed I feel worse if I spend too much time 'not moving around' - people have said to me 'why don't you sit down and relax' and I usually say 'I feel better standing-up' -  I sit on the sofa in the evening to try and watch T.V..or something - but it's not long before I start feeling 'uncomfortable' - I wasn't a 'fidget' before all of this stuff!  on the days I feel the swelling I also have more cracks/pops and less energy - sort of all round yukkier!! - I did think it was connected to my menses but as I only had about 2 or 3 in the last year - I'm pretty sure it's not - then again I'm not sure about any of this!!

[SOONERMOM]

I started noticing this a few months into my illness.  I would get throbbing while lying down (mostly left sided) and then in the morning I would notice swelling (again mostly left sided).  For a while, I couldn't sleep lying down because of the throbbing weird vascular-type symptoms.

In the very beginning,I had swelling in my face (left-sided) and it just kept creeping down until it reached my feet.  I would notice it in the mornings when I would hop out of bed and they would hurt when they hit the floor. I had stabbing type  pains on the bottom of my feet in the morning.   Months later, my feet would vibrate and the toes would just feel all twisted up.

I remember mentioning the morning swelling to my neuro, who promptly told me not to start imagining things...or something to that effect.

[wonko]

YES!

This is a huge source of discomfort and symptoms in my case.  I've consistently had elevated c-reactive protein and/or SED rate, both non-specific markers for inflammation.  (Never "through the roof high," but above normal ranges.)

In me, inflammation causes all of my symptoms to get worse when lying done or even just reclined.  It also causes me to gel or "seize up" when I'm still for too long, like at the movies or on a plane.  

When I wake up, it is often the most painful part of the day.  As I start to move around, I loosen up and morning exercise (which I am more capable of now that I'm 4 months into treatment, one's ability is of course dependent on one's state of health) helps a lot.

I'm a women of size, hehe, and I've seen my weight fluctuate by >10 lbs in <24 hours!  I do sometimes notice fluid collection around my knees or ankles, and often my face is kinda puffy, esp. earlier in the day.  I'm really looking forward to returning to a better equilibrium as my treatment continues.  

I try to drink lots of plain filtered water, limit my caffeine, and sometimes take NSAIDs like ibuprofen.  It doesn't resolve the issue, but at least I feel like I'm putting up a good fight.