Edema Online Support Group

I had my husband take me to the ER last night, due to having swollen feet and ankles for two days, and instead of being supportive of me, he got mad at me. I lost my grandma due to this, of heart failure. With my family history I wasn’t going to take the risk. I was so scared I was in tears off and on all day, and with his attitude, I finally told him, I’m not sure if I can wait till Tuesdsay. I hate going to the ER, but I wasn’t going to take any risks.

Anyways, this is another new health problem to deal with the rest of my life. I have Peripheral Edema. Nothing can be done, I have to watch the salt in take, of course Mr. Denial (my husband), even listening to the ER saying salt isn’t an issue, um, yes it is, and always will be. I’m really going to either watch him like a hawk, or not ever allow him to cook my foods ever again. This is caused by leaky capillaries, inflammation, disease of leg veins or excessive salt, or water in my body. It can be a sign of heart, kidney, or liver disease. They took lots of blood and did tests, and everything is normal thank God. So they released me. I have to also keep my legs elevated if I don’t get up and move around a lot, and I also have to wear support stockings, which I have on now. At least I have answers, and my husband was such an ass the whole time. As we were driving home, he said at least we have answers on what’s going on. I told him, I feel he is embarrassed to be around me. I couldn’t even look at him most of the time coming home. Right now, I’m just tolerating his crap, and have nothing to say to him. He has no clue as to how I lost my Grandma. I had this problem when I was pregnant with my daughter. I could’ve died or neither of us might not be here. Thank God I wasn’t married to him when I was pregnant. I went through a lot, was in and out of the ER a lot. I had a bad pregnancy, and he’d of just made it worst. He's my second husband, not my daughter's father. GBHugs, Donna

Hey Donna!

Are you on any diuretics (lasix, furosimide, ...)? I admire your conviction to avoid salt in your diet--its not just "added salt" used in home cooking. It can also be hidden in prepared food and even occurs naturally. Packaged lunch meats have very high sodium content. Here is a webpage called The Meniere's Page that has good information on sodium levels in foods. The site has links to other, rather radical, health information but the sodium information is main line thinking. Interestingly, the page is credited to "Alec N. Salt, Ph.D." at Washington University in St Louis. You might want to show hubby the page as well since it confirms what you have been telling him.

Dennis

Dennis, Guess I need to come here more often. Sorry I didn't see your post till now. I'll definitely check out the link you posted, which I'll do next. I'm on diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide), it's a water pill. I'm also on Quinipril, generic for Accupril. I'm even avoiding processed foods as much as possible, due to how high the soium level is in them. I have to wear compression socks, but wish I knew what the compression number is on the ones I wear. I need to order cotton ones, which won't be cheep. I'm avoiding sodium big time. Thank you for the link. Donna