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What Causes Swollen Feet Despite Being On Diuretic, Consuming Gatoraide And Wearing Compression Stockings?
Question: Feb 7th sent to emergency room because of extremely low sodium. The previous Sept. I was given a diuretic, Hydro Clor Thizide. Two nights in hospital was given two bags of saline and three times pills for potasium. My left foot was swollen then and even discontinuing the drug I was taking, my foot continues to swell even though I have cut my water intake, drink Gatoraide, wear compression stocking. What could be causing this and what kind of doctor should I consult.
Also I had a ultra sound on my left leg checking for deep blood clot, test was negative.
Thank you very much
Also I had a ultra sound on my left leg checking for deep blood clot, test was negative.
Thank you very much
Also I had a ultra sound on my left leg checking for deep blood clot, test was negative.
Brief Answer:
your primary care physician should be able to help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I suppose you've already seen at least one doctor and received diuretic treatment and also excluded one of the most serious and urgent causes, deep vein thrombosis. If your swelling is truly unilateral (absolutely no swelling on the other leg) then your doctor should try to identify local causes.
Venous insufficiency is very common in women over 50 years of age but it usually causes bilateral leg swelling - unilateral swelling cannot be excluded though. Infections, ruptured Baker's cyst, acute arterial events, etc would have given signs to suspect them (pain, fever, redness of different degree depending on the cause). Other causes like drug side effects, swelling caused by local pressure (an enlarged lymph node for example), lymphedema, etc may have a more indolent presentation and natural course. Your primary care doctor should be able to guide you until a specific diagnosis is found. THEN the appropriate specialist can be consulted depending on the diagnosis... For example: a vascular surgeon would be the most knowledgeable specialist for venous insufficiency but a hematologist might be a more appropriate choice for hematologic malignancies and an infectious diseases specialist for rare parasitic infections that cause leg swelling.
Regarding treatment, if nothing has been found after testing and clinical examination and your condition has been termed "idiopathic" (of unknown origin) then elevation and a trial with various types of diuretics is usually employed. Since hydrochlorthiazide didn't work for you, furosemide (with or without a potassium sparing diuretic) can also be tried. Your doctor should take such decisions though.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
If you do have a diagnosis or you'd like to upload the tests I'll be glad to provide more insight.
Kind Regards!
your primary care physician should be able to help
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I suppose you've already seen at least one doctor and received diuretic treatment and also excluded one of the most serious and urgent causes, deep vein thrombosis. If your swelling is truly unilateral (absolutely no swelling on the other leg) then your doctor should try to identify local causes.
Venous insufficiency is very common in women over 50 years of age but it usually causes bilateral leg swelling - unilateral swelling cannot be excluded though. Infections, ruptured Baker's cyst, acute arterial events, etc would have given signs to suspect them (pain, fever, redness of different degree depending on the cause). Other causes like drug side effects, swelling caused by local pressure (an enlarged lymph node for example), lymphedema, etc may have a more indolent presentation and natural course. Your primary care doctor should be able to guide you until a specific diagnosis is found. THEN the appropriate specialist can be consulted depending on the diagnosis... For example: a vascular surgeon would be the most knowledgeable specialist for venous insufficiency but a hematologist might be a more appropriate choice for hematologic malignancies and an infectious diseases specialist for rare parasitic infections that cause leg swelling.
Regarding treatment, if nothing has been found after testing and clinical examination and your condition has been termed "idiopathic" (of unknown origin) then elevation and a trial with various types of diuretics is usually employed. Since hydrochlorthiazide didn't work for you, furosemide (with or without a potassium sparing diuretic) can also be tried. Your doctor should take such decisions though.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
If you do have a diagnosis or you'd like to upload the tests I'll be glad to provide more insight.
Kind Regards!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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