swollen legs and feet

[freelance]

my legs have been swollen for the past 4 weeks. At first it didnt bother me but not is starting to become painful. I went to urgent care about it. They ran all sorts of tests. Blood, urine, xrays, some sort of heart monitoring. Found nothing wrong. Said the test results all came back good and that all the numbers are where they should be. Well something is wrong. Why am I retaining water like i am? 2 days after seeing the doctor i weighed my self and i was 30lbs heavier. Doc gave me a script for a water pill. I can't think of the name of it off the top of my head but it wasn't working. My grandmother takes water pills and she gave me something stronger. Furosemide. So far this is the best thing to have work. Not 100% as i still fluctuate back and forth in weight because of water. But it is giving me some relief. But down side is it's depleting my body of potassium and causing some wicked charlie horses.

I don't know what to do. Doctor says nothing is wrong but obviously there is.

[silverfox67]

I forgot to mention, when you lie down, elevate your legs - should be higher than your heart to bring the swelling down.  My natural healing book says to try cell salts:  Natrum Muriaticum (Nat Mur) available at the health food store.  Dandelion leaf is also a good diurectic that doesn't cause lack of potassium. "Horse chestnut improves circulation and reduces edema by promoting fluid drainage from the tissues into the capillaries.  This is important since excess fluid in the tissues accumulates around and in the veins - and when the veins become distended, they're a less efficient circulation mechanism.  Finally, horse chestnut contains small amounts of a blood-thinning agent called coumadin.  When blood becomes thinner, ti flows more esily and swiftly, which helps explain why this herb helps to improve circulation and relieve congestion."  (The Natural Physician's Healing Therapies).  Wish I could be more help.

[freelance]

She knew I was taking furosemide when i went there. I told her about it and she felt it might be too storng. Depleting my body of potassium. That and the script was cheaper. I am currently unemployed and don't have health insurance so that is why i went to urgent care. I'm also 1000 miles away from home right now too. Walking I think is going to be tough. Since this started I can't walk a 1/4 mile down the street before getting winded. I explained all this to the doc and she said there was nothing wrong with me. Nothing that any test they ran could show. She did mention that it might be that since i'm not home i have slowed down a bit. Back home I was outside everyday doing yardwork or something around the house. Since being here i haven't done much of anything. But who really does much when visiting family on vacation.

[caregiver222]

You should not be taking furosemide without a physician's prescription. There are a variety of different medications for fluid retention and they work in different ways. There was undoubtedly a reason your physician prescribed a specific diuretic. Fluid retention is a problem that requires the intervention by an M.D. If you are not satisfied with your present physician, go to a teaching hospital and register at one of their clinics. Often these problems are difficult to diagnose and a team approach will provide a higher liklihood of success.

[silverfox67]

See another doctor who will prescribe the Furosemide.  Also drink lots of water to dilute the salt in your body.  Take a good Magnesium and potassium supplement also.  I hope you find a doctor who wants to get to the root of the problem - could be varicose veins, heart trouble or lymphedema.  One doctor recommends walking to relieve the swelling.  Start with just a short walk - 5 minutes one way then back.  It's not necessary to overdo it.  Just build up to 30 minutes a day.