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Mild Pitting Edema Noticed on Shins
I'm a 36 yr old female. 5'1" 200lbs. Last night just before bed I noticed some mild pitting edema on both my shins. There's no swelling in my feet or ankles. It's not real bad, you couldn't tell it by just looking, but I just noticed when I took my socks off that the indention the socks made looked slightly more than normal... so I did the finger test, where you press your finger down for a few seconds and it definitely left an indentation for a few seconds. Searching the internet only turns up scary stuff like CHF and the like. I have no other symptoms. I do take nexium everyday and have just started the past week taking a Zantac at night before sleep. 3 yrs ago I did have a complete blood panel workup and everything from electrolytes to liver function, to blood glucose, cholesterol, thyroid... etc were all normal. I have an echocardiogram done yearly in late November (so my last one was Nov 2009) to keep a check on my bicuspid aortic valve, which has always be functioning very well and has never had any changes.
I did take 2 doses of ibuprofen and 1 dose of tylenol (not all at the same time) trying to get rid of a headache yesterday but I feel like I'm grasping at straws just bringing that up. Just wanted to know if this edema could be from my weight, sitting at the computer too much... etc... meaning less scary, treatable, reversible things rather than what you read worst case scenario on the internet. Since I've just noticed it last night I've not had time to see any patterns but it's about the same today as it was last night, but I didn't check it right out of bed. Also wanted to know if there's any significance in that I can only find the pitting on my shins and no where else on my legs?
We lost our health insurance at the end of June, so I can only try losing weight and a low sodium diet at this point. Just feeling really anxious about it today, wanting my fears eased. Thanks for any replies.
I did take 2 doses of ibuprofen and 1 dose of tylenol (not all at the same time) trying to get rid of a headache yesterday but I feel like I'm grasping at straws just bringing that up. Just wanted to know if this edema could be from my weight, sitting at the computer too much... etc... meaning less scary, treatable, reversible things rather than what you read worst case scenario on the internet. Since I've just noticed it last night I've not had time to see any patterns but it's about the same today as it was last night, but I didn't check it right out of bed. Also wanted to know if there's any significance in that I can only find the pitting on my shins and no where else on my legs?
We lost our health insurance at the end of June, so I can only try losing weight and a low sodium diet at this point. Just feeling really anxious about it today, wanting my fears eased. Thanks for any replies.
I'm glad that things have gotten better. I would say that since it has gotten better that it probably isn't anythign to worry about, especially since you're not having other symptoms such as dizziness, difficulty breathing, etc. It definitely could be related to diet - too much sodium, not enough water, etc - could also be from sitting at the computer for extended periods of time. I also dont' know where you live - if it is hot right now, it could be related to the heat.
I have some trouble with edema in my legs, especially during the summer months when it's hot. I also have some trouble if I sit with them down for an extended period of time. When i'm at home, I usually sit in my recline with them elevated and that definitely helps, but if I'm not home (I obviously can't stick my recliner in my back pocket and take it with me!) or if I've sat at the computer for too long during the day, I definitely notice a difference.
Some other things you can try, other than reducing your sodium and increasing your water intake (you would normally think that if you're retaining fluid that you should decrease your water intake, but unless you have kidney problems, that is not the case) - would be to elevate your legs as often as possible. The ideal position would be for them to be higher than the level of your heart, but just getting them up enough so they are not "dangling" will help. you can also try sleeping with them elevated at night - either on a couple of extra pillows, or you can buy a "leg wedge" at places such as bed, bath and beyond and elevate them on that - the wedge is definitely more comfortable and more apt to stay in place than pillows are. Another suggestion is soaking your legs in cool (not cold, but not hot either) water - either soak in a tub or at least fill the tub enough to get your legs in there. The cool water will help the extra fluid to be reabsorbed by your body and if you can do gentle massages on your legs while they are soaking, that's even better.
If you try all these and the problem continues, or you start having other sypmtoms such as what I said above about the dizzines, etc., then I would defintely suggest checking with your doctor and having some testing done to make sure your kidneys, etc., are all functioning properly - and perhaps having another look at your heart valve.
Oh, one last thing - ibuprofen (and all anti-inflammatories) can sometimes cause a rise in blood pressure (they do on me) - since you had take a couple of doses of the ibuprofen, it's possible that you may have had a temporary increase in your BP that caused (or at least added to) the edema. Since your normal BP is good, I wouldn't be too concerned about it, but just try to see if you notice that this happens when/if you need to take more ibubrofen. By the way - I hope your headache is better.
I have some trouble with edema in my legs, especially during the summer months when it's hot. I also have some trouble if I sit with them down for an extended period of time. When i'm at home, I usually sit in my recline with them elevated and that definitely helps, but if I'm not home (I obviously can't stick my recliner in my back pocket and take it with me!) or if I've sat at the computer for too long during the day, I definitely notice a difference.
Some other things you can try, other than reducing your sodium and increasing your water intake (you would normally think that if you're retaining fluid that you should decrease your water intake, but unless you have kidney problems, that is not the case) - would be to elevate your legs as often as possible. The ideal position would be for them to be higher than the level of your heart, but just getting them up enough so they are not "dangling" will help. you can also try sleeping with them elevated at night - either on a couple of extra pillows, or you can buy a "leg wedge" at places such as bed, bath and beyond and elevate them on that - the wedge is definitely more comfortable and more apt to stay in place than pillows are. Another suggestion is soaking your legs in cool (not cold, but not hot either) water - either soak in a tub or at least fill the tub enough to get your legs in there. The cool water will help the extra fluid to be reabsorbed by your body and if you can do gentle massages on your legs while they are soaking, that's even better.
If you try all these and the problem continues, or you start having other sypmtoms such as what I said above about the dizzines, etc., then I would defintely suggest checking with your doctor and having some testing done to make sure your kidneys, etc., are all functioning properly - and perhaps having another look at your heart valve.
Oh, one last thing - ibuprofen (and all anti-inflammatories) can sometimes cause a rise in blood pressure (they do on me) - since you had take a couple of doses of the ibuprofen, it's possible that you may have had a temporary increase in your BP that caused (or at least added to) the edema. Since your normal BP is good, I wouldn't be too concerned about it, but just try to see if you notice that this happens when/if you need to take more ibubrofen. By the way - I hope your headache is better.
Thanks Bob, I might just do that. I may just say check my urine too, that couldn't be too much either...just to be on the safe side. I've not had my urine checked for anything since my last pregnancy 6 yrs ago.
It's gotten so much better since my original post. I don't know what it was. There is barely an indentation when I press now, maybe a little more by bedtime. But when it was there it always remained along that shin bone, no where else... so odd.
I'm getting serious about losing weight and watching my sodium. There's just no excuse for me to not take care of myself.
Thanks again for your advise and comments.
It's gotten so much better since my original post. I don't know what it was. There is barely an indentation when I press now, maybe a little more by bedtime. But when it was there it always remained along that shin bone, no where else... so odd.
I'm getting serious about losing weight and watching my sodium. There's just no excuse for me to not take care of myself.
Thanks again for your advise and comments.
Thyroid tests are pretty inexpensive, so I's say being retested wouldn't hurt. Some edema is idiopathic and just happens. I have never had any "cause and effect" relationship between the edema and health issues, so I just try to wear socks that are not too tight.
Bob
Bob
Thanks so much for your reply. I did do a search for pretibial myxedema, but it said it was non-pitting edema, and mine is definitely pitting. And my thyroid was checked 3 yrs ago and it was perfect... do you think 3 yrs out is too long to still be depending on those blood work results?
I looked up the +2 from your response too and learned about edema grading... I'd say I'm a +1 to +2, depending on where I press.
I looked up the +2 from your response too and learned about edema grading... I'd say I'm a +1 to +2, depending on where I press.
You might want to do a search under "pretibial myxedema." It can be a sign of hypothyroidism, but it can also be idiopathic (no know cause.) I have had bilateral pretibial pitting (+2) edema for more than 20 years with no known cause.
Bob
Bob
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