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Why Are My Feet And Hands Very Swollen?
Question: my feet are very swollen, hands somewhat. I just feel swollen in general
Brief Answer:
investigation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
bilateral leg swelling in an otherwise healthy individual is usually caused by one the following causes:
- venous insufficiency
- heart failure
- severe proteinuria with loss of serum albumin
- hypothyroidism
- sitting or standing for too long
- cirrhosis
Your primary care doctor should be able to exclude most of the aforementioned causes with clinical examination and basic lab tests. Venous insufficiency can be diagnosed with an ultrasound scan of the leg veins. Heart failure can be diagnosed clinically and confirmed with an ultrasound scan of the heart (echo). Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by measuring serum TSH. Proteinuria can be detected with a simple urinalysis. Diagnosing cirrhosis can be trickier sometimes but there are signs and lab findings to suspect it. A basic biochemical panel and clinical examination should provide clues to your doctor.
Until the cause is diagnosed, you can try elevating the legs to reduce the swelling. Putting a pillow under your legs at night should help.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Please get back to me, if you'd like more information or any clarification.
Kind Regards!
investigation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
bilateral leg swelling in an otherwise healthy individual is usually caused by one the following causes:
- venous insufficiency
- heart failure
- severe proteinuria with loss of serum albumin
- hypothyroidism
- sitting or standing for too long
- cirrhosis
Your primary care doctor should be able to exclude most of the aforementioned causes with clinical examination and basic lab tests. Venous insufficiency can be diagnosed with an ultrasound scan of the leg veins. Heart failure can be diagnosed clinically and confirmed with an ultrasound scan of the heart (echo). Hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by measuring serum TSH. Proteinuria can be detected with a simple urinalysis. Diagnosing cirrhosis can be trickier sometimes but there are signs and lab findings to suspect it. A basic biochemical panel and clinical examination should provide clues to your doctor.
Until the cause is diagnosed, you can try elevating the legs to reduce the swelling. Putting a pillow under your legs at night should help.
I hope you find my comments helpful!
Please get back to me, if you'd like more information or any clarification.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you .. you are confirming what I was worried about. I have tumors on my thyroid and will be having an ultrasound within the next few weeks. This has been an ongoing issue for several years and I have been told they are too small to remove.
My panels for thyroid testing have come back absolutely textbook perfect, which I find a little confusing.
I can have the venous insufficiency checked, as well as ask for an echo of my heart and have the proteinuria checked.
Cirrhosis shouldn't be an issue as I have not had a drink in 35 years and prior to that time I was a very moderate drinker.
I have also asked my Dr. to send me to an endocrinologist to test for Hashimotos syndrome.... I am grasping at straws here because I have all the symptoms, except one. I am frustrated with her dismissal of me when I specifically present a swollen lower extremity issue..
thanks you for your input
My panels for thyroid testing have come back absolutely textbook perfect, which I find a little confusing.
I can have the venous insufficiency checked, as well as ask for an echo of my heart and have the proteinuria checked.
Cirrhosis shouldn't be an issue as I have not had a drink in 35 years and prior to that time I was a very moderate drinker.
I have also asked my Dr. to send me to an endocrinologist to test for Hashimotos syndrome.... I am grasping at straws here because I have all the symptoms, except one. I am frustrated with her dismissal of me when I specifically present a swollen lower extremity issue..
thanks you for your input
Brief Answer:
please read my comments about the thyroid...
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
Let me add a few more comments regarding the thyroid. If your hormones are OK then this is unlikely to be the cause. Benign nodules inside the thyroid cannot cause swelling unless the TSH is severely out of its normal range.
Finally cirrhosis is usually an issue for drinkers but other individuals are not always spared. If all your tests are OK and you have no symptom or sign of cirrhosis then this shouldn't be an issue as well.
I agree with your decision to get tested for the veins and heart.
Kind Regards!
please read my comments about the thyroid...
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome!
Let me add a few more comments regarding the thyroid. If your hormones are OK then this is unlikely to be the cause. Benign nodules inside the thyroid cannot cause swelling unless the TSH is severely out of its normal range.
Finally cirrhosis is usually an issue for drinkers but other individuals are not always spared. If all your tests are OK and you have no symptom or sign of cirrhosis then this shouldn't be an issue as well.
I agree with your decision to get tested for the veins and heart.
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
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