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What Causes Excessive Swelling In Feet, Ankles, Legs, Bloating And Cough?
Question: Hi,
I have a lot of swelling in my feet, ankles, legs, hands & eyelids, which causes mucus. That is where it is very visible but I think I have it almost everywhere. I am usually able to walk just fine. I feel bloated often & my stomach sticks out quite far. It is very hard for me to bend over, like to tie shoes or pick up somethingI cough after I blow my nose & also when I am eating & many other times. I was having trouble with getting my food down & sometimes felt like I was choking. I had a sigmoidoscopy which found no problems I saw my doctor 6 months ago & he wanted me to get more exercise, elevate feet above my heart & use less salt. This does not seem to make any change. Both of my legs have a band of red at the ankles. My right leg concerns me more. I am 65, 5' 2" & weigh 190.
I have had an echocardiogram & pulmonary tests.
The echo was good.
The pulmonary test was concluded that I had chronic bronchitis.
I also have fibromyalgia per the Mayo Clinic which causes many different health issues. Also hypothyroidism with goiter, IBS, sleep disorder, high cholesterol, cervical & lumbar spine osteoarthritis
I have a lot of swelling in my feet, ankles, legs, hands & eyelids, which causes mucus. That is where it is very visible but I think I have it almost everywhere. I am usually able to walk just fine. I feel bloated often & my stomach sticks out quite far. It is very hard for me to bend over, like to tie shoes or pick up somethingI cough after I blow my nose & also when I am eating & many other times. I was having trouble with getting my food down & sometimes felt like I was choking. I had a sigmoidoscopy which found no problems I saw my doctor 6 months ago & he wanted me to get more exercise, elevate feet above my heart & use less salt. This does not seem to make any change. Both of my legs have a band of red at the ankles. My right leg concerns me more. I am 65, 5' 2" & weigh 190.
I have had an echocardiogram & pulmonary tests.
The echo was good.
The pulmonary test was concluded that I had chronic bronchitis.
I also have fibromyalgia per the Mayo Clinic which causes many different health issues. Also hypothyroidism with goiter, IBS, sleep disorder, high cholesterol, cervical & lumbar spine osteoarthritis
Brief Answer:
Hypothyroidism,kidney/liver to check out...
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
The swelling you are experiencing in your feet, ankles, legs, hands and eyelids, also called edema, should be further examined to understand what is the cause.
You report to suffer of hypothyroidism, which can be one possible cause unless you are taking a good control of it.
Next, you are mentioning that echocardiogram was good, meaning heart issues have been totally excluded.
If you have chronic bronchitis, that is not causing edema as long as impaired respiratory function is revealed by spirometry testing.
You are not reporting any urine analysis or kidney function test. If you have done these tests, please provide the reports. Otherwise, please ask your doctor to check your kidneys as infections or other kidney diseases can be also causing edema as in your cases. A simple urine analysis, kidney function test, abdominal ultrasound recommended to check it out.
Liver is also another organ to get checked as it can cause edema, especially in your lower extremities. Get a liver function panel done to check it out.
Have you run Doppler ultrasound of your extremities? Is there any blockage noted? If no such test, then, discuss with your doctor to get it in order to evaluate the status of blood vessels.
Hope it helps. Let me know if you have the requested reports to assist you further.
Dr.Albana
Hypothyroidism,kidney/liver to check out...
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
I have gone through your medical history carefully and understood your concerns.
The swelling you are experiencing in your feet, ankles, legs, hands and eyelids, also called edema, should be further examined to understand what is the cause.
You report to suffer of hypothyroidism, which can be one possible cause unless you are taking a good control of it.
Next, you are mentioning that echocardiogram was good, meaning heart issues have been totally excluded.
If you have chronic bronchitis, that is not causing edema as long as impaired respiratory function is revealed by spirometry testing.
You are not reporting any urine analysis or kidney function test. If you have done these tests, please provide the reports. Otherwise, please ask your doctor to check your kidneys as infections or other kidney diseases can be also causing edema as in your cases. A simple urine analysis, kidney function test, abdominal ultrasound recommended to check it out.
Liver is also another organ to get checked as it can cause edema, especially in your lower extremities. Get a liver function panel done to check it out.
Have you run Doppler ultrasound of your extremities? Is there any blockage noted? If no such test, then, discuss with your doctor to get it in order to evaluate the status of blood vessels.
Hope it helps. Let me know if you have the requested reports to assist you further.
Dr.Albana
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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