Swollen Feet

[Scarlett]

Following on from my post about swollen feet, I've now noticed that when the hot weather/humidity lessens, the swelling goes down. Today's hot again and I have these ridiculous fat feet -especially on the top under my toe 'knuckles'.
My question is - why does this happen in hot weather?

[Sqad]

Hot weather causes the blood vessels to open up and leak fluid, the feet are affected because of the effect of gravity...........fluid falls to the most dependent part..........foot.

[Scarlett]

Thanks Sqad- so how come I am affected but nobody else I know is?

[Sqad]

LOL.......I know many people who suffers from this phenomenon.

Why you?....Who knows?

[Eve]

I'm affected, summer can be miserable when hot as the fluid builds in my feet, ankles and legs and is a real pain.

[Scarlett]

What I mean is, none of my family or friends get it. And Eve does and she and I have a lot of the same sort of auto immune medical problems!

[Eve]

I just figure that seeing as we are afflicted with arthritis autoimmune problems that it makes us more prone to this kind of thing.

I had investigations to make sure mine wasn't caused by other things but all cleared and just put down to either related to the rheumatoid arthritis or one of those things. Like the other things we have, I guess it has to happen to someone.

[bednobs]

probably because you do much less walkingmoving around than your friends, or you dont walk in that toe to heel manner that aids circulation

[Scarlett]

Bednobs- that makes total sense!

[bednobs]

also i meant heel to toes

[ummmm]

Went on holiday in May, first time it's ever happened to me. I had to go to the docs for water tablets. The swelling was actually reaching my knees.

[Eve]

That's interesting bednobs, that would apply to me too! I have a special footstool at work for it that has a rocking action to help with the circulation!

That's what mine do Ummmm, right up to my knees. Water tablets have never had much of an impact though and they won't prescribe them longer term for me due to the side effects.

Flying has sent them crazy too, haven't flown for a long time but the last few times they were in agony and were ridiculously swollen after, especially the last time though that was a long haul so not moving much.

[ummmm]

Maltese doc said to take a tablet each morning but don't go out and about for at least two hours as I'll probably need the toilet quite often. The swelling went down but I didn't need the toilet more often.

Mine didn't hurt. It was just uncomfortable when I went up stairs and stuff.

I went into the chemist and asked if they had anything I could take. She said I'd need to see a doctor as they don't sell the meds I'd need over the counter. This was 5:30pm. She phoned the doctor for me who seen me straight away. He gave me a proper check over. 25 euros.

[Eve]

Wow, that's some service! Mine never go completely down and even randomly came on badly one time in the winter time I think it was, probably hence more of the investigations I had.

They get so heavy and tight, especially my feet, and can be painful, got to watch them too as mine are "pitting" in my legs so they dent but as have reduced feeling in them, due to the fluid, and I can't feel properly if something is sticking in to them.

Can be a nightmare in summer, especially as I'm dependant on public transport and have mobility issues anyway. Then I get home and get them cooled and up then I am on and off the loo!

I wish the diuretics would work well and I could take them without the concerns the GPs have but I guess if I had to take them pretty much all of the time it would be a big strain on the kidney etc... maybe, and I've had issues with kidney function as it is.

I have a load of cooling sprays and gels Scarlett, get most of them from the pound/discount shops. They do a nice menthol cold pain gel in Savers and I use the summer cooling sprays generally then the cold pain freeze ones when really bad. Getting them raised is important though to drain the fluid out.

I'm sure I posted a link to some special shoes that I got that helped, on a similar post you made?

[ummmm]

'tight' that was the word I was looking for. If I poked them it would leave a white mark.

I was peed that my new sparkly sandles didn't fit.

[Eve]

Awww! Yeah, it's a beggar for not being able to choose nice shoes! Not that I've been able to wear any heels or anything like that for a while anyway, but anything tight or to hard is a big no, due to my RA too as they are painful from that, but the swelling makes it really difficult to find nice but comfortable and practical shoes, which keep my feet cool.