Swollen Feet

[Scarlett]

My feet and ankles have been swollen for days now. I get it in humid weather but it usually goes away over night. It's a gell- like substance on the front of my foot just below where my toes start. If I shake
my foot from side to side I can feel it moving around. My ankles look really fat and have water retention all over. How can I get rid of it? I know if the weather got colder it would subside. Also have UC, arthritis, auto immune.

[woofgang]

Have you taken advice about this from your medical advisors? Have you got any heart/kidney problems?
Simple things you can do are elevate you legs whenever you can and move you feet and ankles when you feet are up. If you have no medical reason not to, then more watery drinks can help to keep you body hydrated and reduce water retention, as can limiting the salt in your diet.

[Sqad]

It's the hot weather.

No big deal.

It is a combination of fluid loss, salt loss, veins not working properly and not moving about as much.

Drink plenty and maintain your normal diet.

[Sqad]

\\\ How can I get rid of it?\\\

Sorry...forgot that bit.

if it isn't causing any problems e.g can't get your shoes on, then i should not bother. Diuretics e.g Frusemaide would clear it if it is causing problems.

[dunnitall]

How much bread and yeast products do you eat? Sometimes it helps to eliminate them from your diet if that's causing the problem....doesn't hurt to try and also to keep your feet up when resting. Damned nuisance when water retention makes life difficult but try to do without medicine unless it's really dire. Best of luck.

[Eve]

I'm the same, feet, ankles and legs, go crazy in the heat!

I have special shoes which have a netting bit round most of the side and top of my feet but are meant to help keep your feet cool, got them from TJ Hughes and they are great! I can get them on without bending and they are quite roomy for when they swell and very comfortable with insoles in. They have a Velcro bar over them but I can get them on my feet with it over and it keeps them on your feet so you're not overworking the muscles and such (tip from podiatry) trying to keep slip on ones on.

They don't get rid of it all but do help. I got some cooling insoles from Aldi too, a while ago though so not sure if they still have them.

I have a special footstool at work which has a rocking action so I can move my feet to help the circulation and do similar at home, getting them up to drain the fluid on cushions (I have a boat cushion to keep them up), as high as comfortable. Generally keeping them cool too.

When I get home I run them under cold water or use a cold spray and get them up. I use cold/pain gel to help if they are causing problems at night and keep a fan on them as has caused issues getting comfortable enough to sleep in this warmer weather. Don't like keeping the fan on all night if I don't have to, but better than not sleeping.

I've been checked out for kidney and heart causes but nothing so probably my RA. Have had a couple of short courses of diuretics, but not much help overall and told not good longer term due to side effects.