Idiopathic Edema/OSA Connection in Women

[catbirdgirl]

I suspect food allergies in my case- I had gone back to eating wheat about the time it started, thinking that avoiding it was having no effect. We shall see, I'm going to probably phase it out again.

[WearyOne]

Well, an update of sorts.

I had a cardiolite stress test last Friday and everything is fine with that! Started on a low-dose water pill and that's helping some. Had some blood tests and they all came back fine, including kidney and liver functions.

My doc is on vacation this week, but when he gets back, I think I'll ask for an echocardiogram, just to rule out things in that area. I would also like a Holter monitor, which would also show if anything weird is going on cardiac-wise while I'm asleep. (My AHI and leak numbers are great, but I still feel tired and sleepy most of the day.)

Oh, someone mentioned wheat. I'm going to cut out wheat (gluten) again. I had started that for about a week and then something happened that got me off track.

To be honest, I bet it's my weight anyway. Just another reason to lose it!

Pam

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[jennmary]

I have had pretty bad edema in my lower legs and feet for about 3 years. I have tried the whole water pill thing....didnt help much. Sometimes it gets so bad that I lose feeling in my feet. I have had thyroid checked...nothing. Although sleep doc did say it is seriously enlarged. Blood tests showed thyroid function was fine. We also did metabolic testing, cholesterol, and 12 hour fasting blood sugar test. Everything was normal. My BP is low-normal.
We can find no reasonable reason for the edema. I am on allergy meds for all my allergys and they are under control.
I am 26. I sleep with my feet elevated and when I wake up they are no better. I havent worn a dress or capris in 3 years because I dont want people seeing what my brother calls cankles. I have been on CPAP for about 2 weeks now.....and still havent seen an improvement in my legs.

[WearyOne]

My doctor thinks it's probably venous insufficiency, which is where the little valves that keep the blood from flowing backwards as it's pumped back up to your heart aren't working properly. But with some other symptoms I have sometimes, he wanted to check on cardiac reasons for it as well. Those "lovely" knee-hi compression stockings do help my ankles, but not the pitting in my legs.

jennmary, I know what you mean about not wanting to wear anything that shows your ankles! Although it doesn't sound like mine are near as bad as yours, I am the same way. (You said you lose feeling sometimes--do they hurt very much?)

Funny thing is, they seem WORSE since I started CPAP about 4 months ago than before! Oh, well.

Pam

[christinequilts]

I sleep with my feet elevated and when I wake up they are no better. I havent worn a dress or capris in 3 years because I dont want people seeing what my brother calls cankles.

JennMary- Oh, how do I relate to not wanting anyone to see my ankles/feet/calf's back when my were so swollen. I hated that I couldn't find shoes that fit and was so limited in what I could wear. I went through all the testing, water pills, sleeping with feet elevated (the only way they could have been higher is if I slept hanging by feet )- nothing helped. Not until I got on the Singulair, and then it took time when I first went on it to make a difference, but I'm glad it finally helped me figure out what was causing it (corn maltodextrin, in my case). Now I'm still amazed at my ankles- I don't think they were ever this thin in my entire life & its a good think I didn't get rid of my 'skinny shoes', like I had been intending to. Now they only swell up if I get some corn derivative by accident, and its noticeable within 30-45 minutes, though I have other allergic reaction symptoms first. What's even worse is some of my doctors still don't believe me when I tell them- they would still rather believe its 'something else', even though they can't tell what that might be-lol. I am going to a major teaching hospitals allergy dept next month to try to figure out what is going with with my allergies & immune system overall, and I'll keep all you gals updated on anything related the ankle/foot/calf swelling that might help.

[catbirdgirl]

yep. much better with no wheat and I FINALLY got my period and I think that's going to help too.

[Auricula]

I hope you will have your heart valves checked. I have moderately severe aortic stenosis, which progressed from mild in just a year. I've been told that there is no treatment; you just have to wait until it's bad enough to have replacement surgery. If you don't have a cardiologist see if there is a preventive cardiologist in your area. Good luck with your testing and let us know what you learn.

[kteague]

I too have dealth with severe edema since the mid 80s. While not entirely solving the problem, I have found that no processed foods, activity, and limited sitting at the computer all done at the same time helps mine. Don't ask me how often I pull that off.

Mine began after an exposure to a toxic chemical, and my health took a nose dive after that. Never got tested for food allergies, but may do that at this point.

These days I've seen 2 seemingly correlated factors. When my digestive system is not functioning optimally (trying to be delicate here), my swelling is much worse. Also, the more my sleep improves, the better my legs are.

Kathy

[Snoredog]

have you ruled out lactose intolerance?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lactos ... ce/DS00530

[WearyOne]

I hope you will have your heart valves checked. I have moderately severe aortic stenosis, which progressed from mild in just a year. I've been told that there is no treatment; you just have to wait until it's bad enough to have replacement surgery. If you don't have a cardiologist see if there is a preventive cardiologist in your area. Good luck with your testing and let us know what you learn.

I had already planned to ask for an echo to check for valve problems, etc., which is one test that Medline Plus recommends if this problem is suspected. In checking that site, I don't really fit the symptoms of aortic stenosis, though, and some other things they mentioned don't fit either. I've had a resting EKG, an EKG while doing the stress test, and an EKG after the stress test and it was all normal. I had a chest x-ray about a years ago to check for an enlarged heart, and that was normal. (That problem ended up being thyroid disease.) My doctor also says my heart sounds normal through the stethoscope. (Medline says you can usually hear clicking or other sounds through the stethoscope with this disease.) I don't have a cardiologist at present, but because of my family history, I will probably hook up with one at the place where I had the stress test.

I'd also like to have a Holter monitor for at least 24 hours, 48 preferably. I'd really like to see how my heart rate is doing while I'm asleep now that I've been on cpap for almost four months. It was kinda high in the sleep studies, at least higher than I think is normal for when you're asleep.

I had allergy testing for pollens, weeds, etc.,, but was not tested for food allergies. I am on the gluten-free thing now just to see it that helps, but I never thought about lactose intolerance.

Some days are definitely better than others, the last few days with very little ankle swelling, but still have that pitting stuff on my lower legs.

For those trying the gluten-free route, Van's makes some really tasty gluten-free flax waffles (flax is really good for you with omega-3), and LifeStream has a great gluten-free blueberry waffle!! I've tried some Quinoa pasta, and also rice pasta, and they're surprisingly good!

Pam

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CPAPopedia Keywords Contained In This Post (Click For Definition): CPAP