Severe water retention - or something else? Worried.

[Gina009]

I wasn't too sure where to post this question, since it doesn't really fit into any of the specific categories, but here goes! I got home after a very long day and was very tired and hungry, and decided maybe just this one time I would eat and go to sleep. Usually I don't like doing that because I wake up feeling nauseas. Also I tend to gain weight fast and this would contribute to that. But, like I said, I was very tired and decided to eat a rather large meal, and random things. From what I remember I ate a whole can of tuna mixed with mayonnaise in a wrap, a bottle of Powerade, and a whole chocolate bar to top things off, as if it wasn't enough already! I ate a few other things but I don't remember.
ANYWAY...I took about a 2-3 hour nap, and I woke up and my stomach was extremely puffy, is the only way I can describe it. The one and only...water retention. When I say extremely, I mean, before I went to sleep my stomach was not hanging over my pants, and when I woke up I had love handles AND my stomach was hanging over my pants. It was quite a shock to see this much water retention (I can't think of anything else it could be).
Anyways, over the next few days it subsided...ALMOST!
I'm quite worried, because first of all I gained about 3 pounds in about 3 hours, which I can only think of as being water retention. The problem is, it never fully went away. It's been almost a month now, and still I see the bulges that were never there before. Of course this bothers me, but I am also worried about the underlying more serious issues that it could be. I'm in my 20's and have never had a history of heart, kidney or liver problems, and have always been healthy. I don't have a history of this in my family either. I am wondering what this could be? And will this ever go away?

[Gina009]

Sorry, one more comment. Acute kidney failure can also cause generalized or localized swelling, I was wondering if this is a possible scenario, and if so how would this come about? I guess my problem could be caused by a number of things...hormone or sodium imbalances, kidney problems...would I be able to get a run down of all these things with a blood test?

Thanks again!

[Gina009]

I will definitely do the things you mentioned.

The only thing that strikes me as this being abnormal, that within a span of 3 hours (the nap I had) I had gained up to 3 pounds of water weight, and within a month it only subsided to about 2 pounds. I eat and drink normally, as I always have, and all of this happened literally instantaneously.

Not only does it show on the scale, but it physically shows as well! My stomach bulges in ways it never did 3 hours prior to eating and going to sleep. Someone had actually told me that the fat may have shifted to this area due to hormonal imbalances. This sounds a little far-fetched though, could it be possible, in a span of 3 hours? Strange.  

Is it possible that I could have gained a few pounds of weight within that span of time due to the amount of type of food I ate, and immediately going to sleep?

Thanks.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

Get all your basic indicators checked: heart rate, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar and if normal there is nothing to worry.

If you have normal bowel movements and urination then your system is working fine.

Some people tend to have less BMR and they gain weight faster and after the age of 20 any extra calories do not contribute in increasing your length but will only contribute in increasing your width.

Eat healthy, drink enough water, plan a balanced diet chart near a dietician and if the symptoms persist get yourself checked near a GP.

Take care!