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Swelling of the Feet, Ankles, and Lower Legs...
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 =)
- 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 =)
I PM'd him the responses so far.
If you happen to find the site again just click on the little box beneath where you post;
[ X ] Add to watch list.
When you get a reply, you'll get a notice; maybe one per day. Follow the link in your e-mail back to this thread
I think I would consider going to the ER or going to the doctors and showing him, or sending pics by email. Phone them and send them pics saying you think it's serious and people have urged a trip to the ER.
You may also need a hepatologist. You might ask either at the ER or your doctor for a fibrosure test; a blood test which approximates liver damage; results in 3-5 days and a relative low cost.
I think you may have more serious issues than you think/ your doctor thinks. A guy your age on all these drugs w/ all these issues? Something ain't right.
Yeah, it is vital whoever sees you knows you are HCV positive and the staging of your liver, what drugs you are on and whatever co-morbidies/health issues you have.
Also.... in all likelihood, no one is going to e-mail you.
If you are savvy enough to find this site, join and add pictures you can probably find and read this thread.
willy
[ X ] Add to watch list.
When you get a reply, you'll get a notice; maybe one per day. Follow the link in your e-mail back to this thread
I think I would consider going to the ER or going to the doctors and showing him, or sending pics by email. Phone them and send them pics saying you think it's serious and people have urged a trip to the ER.
You may also need a hepatologist. You might ask either at the ER or your doctor for a fibrosure test; a blood test which approximates liver damage; results in 3-5 days and a relative low cost.
I think you may have more serious issues than you think/ your doctor thinks. A guy your age on all these drugs w/ all these issues? Something ain't right.
Yeah, it is vital whoever sees you knows you are HCV positive and the staging of your liver, what drugs you are on and whatever co-morbidies/health issues you have.
Also.... in all likelihood, no one is going to e-mail you.
If you are savvy enough to find this site, join and add pictures you can probably find and read this thread.
willy
PS: Just in case I did not make it clear in my last post, your medical condition is very serious and you do need to be seen by someone very soon, like today. If your doctor cannot see you today, then you should go to the Emergency Room.
First, I am very sorry to hear how ill you are and that you have Hep C.
Second, I don't think your e-mail address is public information so I don't think anyone can e-mail you.
Third, we are not doctors, just people who happen to have Hep C and post to get information or to answer questions.Therefore, we cannot give any medical diagnoses and you need a doctor for the medical diagnoses and treatment.
Fourth, you do appear to have a serious problem. The photos of your legs and feet attest to that.
Fifth, you really must stop drinking. This I am sure you have heard many times before, but it is probably one of the first things you should do. I am not being judgemental or preaching, but it is highly likely (I would say probably definitely) that drinking a quart of Vodka a day is going to eventually kill you in one way or another. You are only 36 years old. That is very young to be as sick as you seem to be. You already have several medical problems and a quart of Vodka a day is probably going to exacerbate all of them as well as probably add some new problems. I would seriously and strongly suggest you contact AA and any alcohol detox. group/clinic/counseling in your area. You may need medical detox from the alcohol because detoxing from a quart of Vodka a day for ? number of years could very well send you into physical alcohol withdrawal which in itself can be medically dangerous if you are not monitored and treated while detoxing from the alcohol.
Sixth, you need medical help. I know you said you have a cardiologist, but you need someone who is going to investigate your symptoms taking into account all of your diagnoses in order to determine what is going on medically. If you need to see more specialists, then you should. Once you are diagnosed a treatment plan needs to be set up.
Keep in mind that many doctors are not particularly fond of treating actively drinking alcoholics for several reasons. For one thing, if you are drinking a quart of Vodka a day, that alcohol is having somem effect on your body. Therefore, as long as you are actively drinking, it is difficult for the docs to determine which problems are due to the alcohol and which are due to something else. Compliance to the medical treatment is often a problem when one is drinking. Plus the drinking itself is most probably (again, I would say definitely) exacerbating your physical medical symptoms.
Others may be able to tell you more about liver disease and its symptoms. No one can actually give you a diagnoses except a qualified doctor who has examined you and run tests to determine what is causing your symptoms.
The bottom line is, you must stop drinking. It will kill you. (By the way, cutting down for a week is not long enough or sufficient enough to have your symptoms improve). You must also find a doctor who will thoroughly examine you and determine a diagnoses and a treatment plan.
I sincerely wish you the best and I hope you can solve your medical problems before it is too late. You are only 36 years old, way too young to do nothing about your medical problems.
Second, I don't think your e-mail address is public information so I don't think anyone can e-mail you.
Third, we are not doctors, just people who happen to have Hep C and post to get information or to answer questions.Therefore, we cannot give any medical diagnoses and you need a doctor for the medical diagnoses and treatment.
Fourth, you do appear to have a serious problem. The photos of your legs and feet attest to that.
Fifth, you really must stop drinking. This I am sure you have heard many times before, but it is probably one of the first things you should do. I am not being judgemental or preaching, but it is highly likely (I would say probably definitely) that drinking a quart of Vodka a day is going to eventually kill you in one way or another. You are only 36 years old. That is very young to be as sick as you seem to be. You already have several medical problems and a quart of Vodka a day is probably going to exacerbate all of them as well as probably add some new problems. I would seriously and strongly suggest you contact AA and any alcohol detox. group/clinic/counseling in your area. You may need medical detox from the alcohol because detoxing from a quart of Vodka a day for ? number of years could very well send you into physical alcohol withdrawal which in itself can be medically dangerous if you are not monitored and treated while detoxing from the alcohol.
Sixth, you need medical help. I know you said you have a cardiologist, but you need someone who is going to investigate your symptoms taking into account all of your diagnoses in order to determine what is going on medically. If you need to see more specialists, then you should. Once you are diagnosed a treatment plan needs to be set up.
Keep in mind that many doctors are not particularly fond of treating actively drinking alcoholics for several reasons. For one thing, if you are drinking a quart of Vodka a day, that alcohol is having somem effect on your body. Therefore, as long as you are actively drinking, it is difficult for the docs to determine which problems are due to the alcohol and which are due to something else. Compliance to the medical treatment is often a problem when one is drinking. Plus the drinking itself is most probably (again, I would say definitely) exacerbating your physical medical symptoms.
Others may be able to tell you more about liver disease and its symptoms. No one can actually give you a diagnoses except a qualified doctor who has examined you and run tests to determine what is causing your symptoms.
The bottom line is, you must stop drinking. It will kill you. (By the way, cutting down for a week is not long enough or sufficient enough to have your symptoms improve). You must also find a doctor who will thoroughly examine you and determine a diagnoses and a treatment plan.
I sincerely wish you the best and I hope you can solve your medical problems before it is too late. You are only 36 years old, way too young to do nothing about your medical problems.
Oh my God you absolutely have to get in to see your doctor or go to an ER and get the process started. Drinking excessively with HepC can have caused you severe liver damage - you HAVE to get to someone and tell them the TRUTH before you just drop dead. It is serious and deadly this game you are playing. I doubt it has anything to with your heart and a cardiologist would not know much about liver issues.
I'm sorry I dont understand what you mean about copying your user name so I certainly hope you can find this site again.
I'm sorry I dont understand what you mean about copying your user name so I certainly hope you can find this site again.
Your doctor can not possibly comprehend the extent of your swelling.
Considering that you are infected with hepatitis c and are drinking excessively I assume that your swollen feet and ankles are liver related.
You have to see your doctor. You must also tell him about your alcohol use.
Good luck,
Mike
Considering that you are infected with hepatitis c and are drinking excessively I assume that your swollen feet and ankles are liver related.
You have to see your doctor. You must also tell him about your alcohol use.
Good luck,
Mike
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