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Searching for someone in my same shoes.....had open heart and now I have continous lower leg edema.
How long is this going to last and has anyone ever tried the supplemeny Venastat, a horsechestnut extract???????????????
Dear Weasel,
Horse chestnut is good for leg circulation but it's not going to do anything for your edema.
Open heart surgery for what? Do you have CHF? Do you exercise? Are you on Lasix? Controlling salt intake? Are you elevating your legs? One thing that helps with edema is to place the bottom legs of your bed on bricks so that fluid flows upward and does not congregate in your lower limbs or lungs. You definitely need a pneumonia shot.
I saw a woman yesterday with such bad edema her legs were swollen purple! Not something to fool around with! A call to your doctor for appropriate intervention meds is warranted.
May the Blessings Be!
Sherrie
Please do not take any OTC preps without talking to your doctor. They can interfere with the prescriptions and make things worse.
You don't say why you had open heart surgery or anything about your condition. My ankles only swell when I sit a lot and this is just beginning after 9+ years. You must walk in order for the edema to go away. You also should be taking a prescription for water retention, cut down on water (but not to harm your kidneys), and take potassium supplements with the water pill. Lasix is good, but so are others.
Don't forget, discuss all this with your doctor!
What meds are you on? Do you exercise? Does the edema resolve overnight? More information first! ha
Hope to hear from you.
Lynn
I, too, have had problems with edema in my left leg and foot after OH surgery. But, as time goes by, it does lessen. You just don't have the same circulation that you used to in that leg because they removed a vein to use in your bypass as well as using a mammary vein in the bypass(those work much better than leg veins). I've dealt with this for 16 years and I will still have a fat foot and leg some days when I'm retaining fluids. That's one of the reasons for taking a diuretic. Just elevate your legs higher than your heart so you can get the fluid buildup to get back in circulation and it all will look and feel better. Good luck and keep on, keeping on. Sharen, AlaskaGirl
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