Swelling of the Feet, Ankles, and Lower Legs...

[CRyoul]

I also have a question about swollen feet, ankles, and legs. For the past few weeks I have been experiencing swollen feet ankles and now it's even moving up my legs from my calves to just above my knees even. the feet are so bad recently that it feels like the skin on them is going to burst open. Especially in the morning when I first wake up and get out of bed because they have been not used all night and when I first step out of bed the skin is pulled so tightly do to the swelling it is very painful. I also drink quite a bit. I drink vodka pretty much daily and about 2 pints a day of it. I thought perhaps this was the cause so I cut way back for a week but that seemed to do nothing to help it really. it seems to be getting worse week after week. I am really beginning to grow concerned as to why this is getting worse not better. I have been monitoring my temperature several times a day and it has always been normal. So I seriously doubt it is an infection because I have no signs that go along with infection such as, fever, cold sweets, shaking, feeling sick, etc. a few days ago my right foot was itching quite a bit so I was scratching it, the next day where I was scratching turned into open wounds, so I have been putting rubbing alcohol on those wounds several times a day and then Neosporin on , to ensure that I do not get an infection. I've been looking online and there are quite a few things it could be. As I said I've pretty much ruled out infection, I don't think it is my salt intake because I don't really use it, it's not caused from being on my feet all day because I am not. I was beginning to be concerned when I read an article about heart failure, because I already have issues with my heart (an artificial Tricuspid valve and pace maker). I called my cardiologist and told him of the swelling issues I was having with my feet and ankles 2 weeks ago and told him I was concerned about heart failure. He told me not to worry about it because and I quote, " I see swollen feet everyday, I'm pretty sure you don't have heart failure because you do not have the other symptoms that go along with it, chest pain, excessive shortness or breath, etc." Well that was a relief , so I'm thinking perhaps it could be liver failure? I have Hep-C and have had it for about 10 years now. As I said I drink quite a bit daily, so perhaps my liver is shutting down? What do you think and what do you think I can do to try and get this swelling to go down and hopefully away for good? Please E-mail me your answer or copy and paste what you write here into an E-mail and send it to my e-mail account on this site my username is "CRyoul". Because I've never been to this site before and doubt I will be able to find it again =). Thank you for your help with this matter. btw I am 36 years old. White Male. if that matters at all when it comes to this issue. Thanks again. Chris

-  OK I just Uploaded the pictures of the swollen feet, Ankles, and Lower Legs to my profile.  To get a better idea of what I'm talking about please view my Profile "CRyoul" and click on my photos, and then select the album titled "Swollen Feet, Ankles, and Lower Legs 2-1-2012".  Thank you very much for your help with this matter, I welcome any and all feedback, suggestions, advice, or opinions on this matter.  - Chris =)

[1oftheclub222]

you don't seem to take this a serious as some of the others who are actually 'in the know' here...Not that I am an expert, but there are many here who know alot...

it doesn't seem to be critical to you, if you think waitng in an ER for a few hrs is not worth your time, or quiting drinking is not really that big of a deal...very sad to watch such self distructive behavior, but it is your choice...hope you don't have any kids or anything...it would be horrible to make them watch something like this...best of luck...

[fretboard]

"I think some of you may have misunderstood me when I was talking about my tolerance to alcohol and how I rarly feel "drunk" no matter how much I drink."

I don't think anybody cares why you drink, to continue drinking with your feet as big as shoe boxes is suicide.  Nobody cares whether you like 12step or not and that's not even the point.  That point is you're killing yourself with alcohol and you need to stop.  Your 5150 attitude and your failure to stop drinking is what's gonna kill you.  Time to stop drinking!!  good luck

[Willy50]

I think that you have read the comments and have remained somewhat objective in light of some of what may feel to you like critical comments, but understand, these people are more concerned with your health than your feelings.  I also think that they are trying to shock you into taking some corrective actions.  Even if the comments are tough, they are intended to be helpful.

You have tested the hypothesis; you could see improvement in days/hours.  

Now.....somehow you need to be able to stop drinking long enough to heal yourself.  Basically, after a certain point, no medical interventions will help untreated medical issues. You seem to have some symptoms associated with cirrhosis, or advanced cirrhosis.

It's a stretch...... but if you cannot stop drinking, what if you switched to pot?  You may be able to save yourself from losing a foot or your legs.  
Obviously, no internet guy can safely diagnose you and so that is why you need medical evaluation.  
Since you almost seem to be avoiding that......(I'm inferring that stopping drinking alcohol will be part of the RX.)..... your situation looks pretty precarious.  For me, it looks as though you could be at a tipping point, and your body is telling you that.

willy

[nygirl7]

if you dont quit drinking it is very possible that you will die shortly.

Cirrhosis and end stage liver disease can be a life ending condition.....I'm not sure what your cardiologist can do about this it's not the appropriate doctor for the situation.

And no, you will not get approved for an organ donation because you are actively killing off your own liver now.

Good luck, I really hope you see the light but other than that there isn't much any of us can do or so that we have not said before.

[CRyoul]

Well first off I'd like to thank everyone for there input and opinions.  I think some of you may have misunderstood me when I was talking about my tolerance to alcohol and how I rarly feel "drunk" no matter how much I drink.  Obviously I realize that this is not normal behavior or "social" drinking.  I know I have a problem and I've had one since about 14.  I've ping ponged back and forth from drugs to booze to booze and drugs to brief stints of sobriety.  How do you think I got Hep-C to begin with, I assure you it wasn't from good and healthy living.  I'm pretty sure that the vodka does have something to do with the swelling because I decided to perform a little experiment, I didn't drink all of Feb. 4th & 5th and my swelling actually went down quite a bit, today (starting around 12 midnight) I began drinking again and I have already noticed an slight increase in the swelling of my feet and lower legs.  Unfortunetly I have yet to make it in to see a doctor.  I attempted to go over to my local ER but the place was swamped on Saturday so I turned arond and walked out.  perhaps today I will pop in and see how busy they are, usually during the week  they aren't as busy.  I must say though that I have been tending to the open wounds on my right foot with rubbing alcohol and I noticed that a clear, thin liquid oozes out from time to time , much like the consistancy and color of water.  So I'm pretty certain the all of the swelling is due to fluid retention and not any type of infection or puss.  So that is a relief.  Give my artificial heart valve and pace maker, infections can kill me a lot easier than yoru average joe.  I appreciate the advice regarding rehabs and detoxes but that just isn't for me, I'm been down those roads before and I perfer to detox in my own home and in my own bed.  I don't buy into all fo the 12 step non-sense because form my personal experience all I have come across in those circles are people to get high and drunk with and then of course there are the perverts who are trying to hit on the younger members of the groups.  The whole experience just left a bad experience in my mind and I'd rather not return to that.  I am currently awaiting my medicaid approval and once I get that I can go and see my cardiologist, so perhaps he can give me some input regarding my swelling.  Well again thank you all for the advice and input.  I will keep you posted as to what the doctors say once I get to see one.  If I am undergoing liver failure and need a transplant, I'm finished , with my other medical conditions, I have no chance in hell of getting approved for a donor organ.  I'm just hoping it isn't that serious yet.  

[Advocate1955]

This sounds like edema that can be a complication of cirrhosis and/or liver disease.  As others have said, you need to be under a doctor's care to diagnose the cause of the swelling and if due to cirrhosis or liver disease, determine the extent of your liver damage.  We need our livers.
Advocate1955