one ankle/leg more swollen than other?

[indigobarbie]

For weeks now I've been immobile due to SPD but continue to try to sit with feet up most of the day and night if required. I haven't been able to lay on either side now for many weeks, always sleeping in a semi upright position as this is what helps the SPD. However, although my MW hasn't said anything about it, I noticed that always my left ankle/leg seem to be more swollen than the right. It is always the one to get swollen first and takes a bit longer to go down too. It does go down but is the bigger of the two, no pains or anything else to report just tenderness on the topside of my foot, I put this down to the swelling. I have gained about 4.5stones so far. My BP has been OK at my checkups.
I'm 38 weeks at the mo, but wondered if anyone else experiences/d this?? Please reassure me xx

[PennyScotia]

I would get this checked out. It's probably just a build up of fluid but I've read that if you notice one leg/ankle is more swollen than the other it could be due to pre-eclampsia. I don't want to panic you as it's probably fine but if it was me I would be inclined to bring it up with my midwife/GP.

It's a good sign that your BP has been ok though. Hope this helps.

[heth1980]

definitley get it checked.......don;t want to panic you but one leg being more swollen than the other can be a sign of DVT and needs looking at asap. Call the hospital.

[bruxeur]

Two risk factors - immobility and pregnancy. Possible DVT. A+E as soon as you can.

[indigobarbie]

HI I just wanted to thank everyone for their responses, I went to hospital and was hooked up to check baby heartbeat and my blood pressure. No protein in wee, and my BP came down to an acceptable level. Swelling was marked as +++ but midwife advised that sometimes the way the baby lies can cause swelling on one side more than the other. She checked me for DVT, thankfully none of that either, but didn't seem overly concerned at the size of my ankles. I did measure my calves and the left one was 1.5in more swollen than the right one. No pre-eclampsia but have to call if anything else worries.
Thanks everyone xx

[midnightsun]

Yes I have this although only discovered it at 37 weeks because I went to the emergency clinic with a pain deep in one calf and was worried it was a DVT. It wasn't but one of the reasons they couldn't exclude DVT immediately as a possibility was because the calf in question was 1cm wider than the other one. It wasn't anything more than a pulled muscle but they took it seriously enough to discuss keeping me in overnight for observation - but in the end let me go home after giving me an anticoagulant injection (preventative) until they could do an ultrasound of my leg in the morning.

So you did the right thing. Always get it checked, never dismiss or ignore something that could be a symptom of something dangerous. Being told "There's nothing wrong, you can go home" might make us feel silly but it shouldn't as it is the outcome that EVERYONE who goes to hospital wants to hear.

[indigobarbie]

midnight, thanks for sharing, you are right it's better to get checked out in any circumstance and thankfully we are aware of when to get checked. When I was in being seen to the lady in the bed next to me was being monitored and they discovered protein in her urine. The midwife asked her if she had exp any of the common pre-eclampsia symptoms, to which I am sure she replied no - she had just not felt right. Good job she went in as her BP was high and they asked her to stay for 24hr monitoring of her urine to get the real level of proteins. It does prove that we have to go with our instincts even though the symptoms may not be there. And very glad of the mumsnet forums and all the ladies on here to share their experiences with others