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I Have Been Experiencing Edema In My Extremities For The Past Few Months And Has Progressively Gotten Worse I Have Tried Low Dose Lasix 20 Mg, And Compression Socks With Little To No Results. My Question Is: What Kind Of Doctor Should I Go To For An Accurate Diagnosis?
Posted on
Tue, 14 Aug 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 14 Aug 2018
Answered on
Tue, 14 Feb 2023
Last reviewed on
Question : I have been experiencing edema in my extremities for the past few months and has progressively gotten worse especially in my ankles and feet. I have a history of colon cancer, RA, and hashimotos with hypothyroidism. I had a hemicolectomy in 2013 with a diagnosis of stage 3 and another surgery in 2017 because of tumor recurrence with a diagnosis of stage 4. I have only lived in this town for a year and my present doctor is not very knowledgeable about anything and physician choices are pretty limited. She wants me to see a endocrinologist for my thyroid. I have done the Stemmer's test which was negative but my swelling is pretty extreme. I have tried low dose Lasix 20 mg, and compression socks with little to no results. My question is: What kind of doctor should I go to for an accurate diagnosis since I will have to travel to see a good doctor? I live in West XXXXXXX Louisiana. Thank you for some good advise.
Brief Answer:
You need to see Cardiologist
Detailed Answer:
There are multiple causes for swelling in the limbs, common ones are heart problems, kidney, low hemoglobin, venous thrombosis and local abdominal causes like compression of ivc by mass etc.
Before going to ahead, you need to get some basic tests done like complete hemogram, renal and liver function test to see urea/ creatinine and serum albumin, ultrasound of abdomen and ultrasound of the both lower limbs to see any clot in veins. Also, need to get Tsh level done to see thyroid status.
If all work up is fine then you need to see cardiologist for echo as cardiac dysfunction is a common cause for swelling.
So initially, you need to see internist (MD, Medicine) followed by cardiologist. Also, it's better to have lasilactone 20/25 instead of plain lasix, only if renal function is normal as it reduces chances of hypokalemia which can occur with lasix alone.
Hope this helps you and get back if you have any doubts.
Thanks.
You need to see Cardiologist
Detailed Answer:
There are multiple causes for swelling in the limbs, common ones are heart problems, kidney, low hemoglobin, venous thrombosis and local abdominal causes like compression of ivc by mass etc.
Before going to ahead, you need to get some basic tests done like complete hemogram, renal and liver function test to see urea/ creatinine and serum albumin, ultrasound of abdomen and ultrasound of the both lower limbs to see any clot in veins. Also, need to get Tsh level done to see thyroid status.
If all work up is fine then you need to see cardiologist for echo as cardiac dysfunction is a common cause for swelling.
So initially, you need to see internist (MD, Medicine) followed by cardiologist. Also, it's better to have lasilactone 20/25 instead of plain lasix, only if renal function is normal as it reduces chances of hypokalemia which can occur with lasix alone.
Hope this helps you and get back if you have any doubts.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Answered by
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