You need to get to a cardiologist who specializes in Heart Failure. You will find them at teaching hospitals.There are medicines that can help you, but many cardiologists, who are not HF specialists, will mess you up more than help you.
Think of your body as a great machine. It just needs a little attention each day.
To relieve or limit swelling, elevate your legs above your heart for 10 to 15 minutes several times a day. (I don't know if you can do this at work :-) ) You can also try support hoses to prevent swelling. What you certainly can do is stand and walk around at least every hour or so. Oh, and try cutting down on your salt intake.
My bp is mainly between 120/140 over 90 but can go as high as 150/100, it is also sometimes as low as 116/76! I don't know if I trust my machine!
It's the swelling in the ankles after a days work I can't bear!!
Thanks, I know and I am trying to make changes, I have started to eat well and lost a few lbs but at 5 foot 8 inches and 300lbs it is going to take time. I walk 20 minutes most days when my anxiety isn't too bad.
Do you think the ankle swelling will lessen when I lose weight?
Your bp is a bit too high. It does not explain your ankle swelling and other problems, but needs to be lowered to avoid future problems.
The edema in your ankles is probably due to your inactivity. The fluid has to go up against gravity and can do that only by muscle activity. Actually your muscles squeeze the fluids up through the veins and lymphatic vessels.
When you are in horizontal position, without gravity effects, it of course goes much easier. That is why you loose the fluid overnight.
It seems to me that you really need to stop the sedentary life. Try to walk everyday for at least half an hour (good for loosing edema) and/or some other physical activity and try to loose weight. You can slowly build it up (intensity / duration).
Once your physical condition get better, you will notice that your resting hf will go down, your get more energy and perhaps your even bp will lower to acceptable levels without medication.
And while enjoying better physical condition, you will also notice that your overall well being will improve.
Go girl!