Swolllen feet and ankles

[Knobblybobbly]

Is it the heat???

I’ve never had this problem before.

I’m 40 and over weight. Feel generally a bit crappy all the time. All my bloods, including cholesterol and thyroid, came back fine. My BP is bang on normal. So I guess it’s my weight. Also, my usually very active job is now almost 100% desk based…. So maybe that’s contributing also.

It’s so painful, the swelling. But reduces a bit if I put my legs right up above my heart.

Any other tips?

I can sympathise. I'm 45 and experiencing the same since the hot weather began. My ankles and feet are so painful.
Mine tend to swell worse in the evening and then deflate to their normal size in the morning. Literally half the size they swell to.
It's definitely hot weather related with me too.

Heat, inactivity and being a fat bitch.

Oh by and arthritis

If it is a sudden change, get your GP to check it, just to make sure it's not heart related.

More likely though it is hot weather, hormones, salt, sedentary lifestyle and maybe weight. The best option would be to reduce salt, increase water, increase exercise and get up and move regularly while you are working.

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Heat, inactivity and being a fat bitch.

I'm not overweight so that rules that one out.

That’s good. Can’t blame my weight.

Did you get your kidney function checked?

Yes, and I think one aspect was a bit out of the normal range. Will try and find results and post here.

Here are the only abnormal results on the tests I had. I came down with an awful cold a day after having the blood taken so suspect they low white blood cells due to that.

Urea level quite high but I reckon possibly dehydrated. Could high urea increase risk of swollen feet. Lying in bed and they’re just throbbing.

Serum urea level
Result
7.7 mmol/L
Normal range
2.5 - 6.6

Total white cell count
Result
3.29 10*9/L
Normal range
4.0 - 10.0

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Heat, inactivity and being a fat bitch.

Pretty much sums me up. Really feeling all the physical effects from being overweight this year. Bloody awful.

It sums a lot of us up after this last year! Hopefully when we stir ourselves up and get out exercising we will shape up again.

Did you specifically ask your GP about your ankles? Did they test the circulation in your legs?

Also as we get into our 40s this can be a symptom of changing hormones, especially if it is worse before your period.

Yes uremia could cause those symptoms, but you're only just out of range, and there's loads of lifestyle things you've mentioned that could be it.

Did the GP test any other kidney stuff - creatinine and eGFR?Ideally your eGFR would be up in the 90s, but above 60 is considered normal without any protein in the urine. But it is good to know early about any lowered kidney function at all - since much can be done to stem the decline.

GFR calculated abbreviatd MDRD
Result
79 ml/min
Normal range
N/A

Serum creatinine
Result
71 umol/L
Normal range
50 - 100Ok

Serum creatine kinase level
Result
129 u/L
Normal range
25 - 165
Normal

@BigGreen have posted above those test results. The didn’t test my urine so not sure about protein. No symptoms of UTI at the time.

Not sure if relevant but my mum has type 1 diabetes (and a few of other auto immune conditions) and a horseshoe kidney. I think she technically has kidney disease (she calls it a leaky kidney) but very well managed.

Other than that, no family history that I’m aware of.

I did a lot of binge drinking in my 20’s but in my 30’s none at all. No recreational drugs at all. Never smoked. I would not be surprised if the drinking damaged my kidneys though.

@TheYearOfSmallThings i have some perimenopause symptoms and very recently went on the progesterone only pill. The swelling has actually started alongside taking that, now I think about it. Could that be a cause??

The GP doesn’t know about this swelling. She ordered the tests because I’m feeling so run down and everything hurts. All my joints!

When I got my results they said all normal. The GFR one wasn’t commented on as they said there was nothing to compare it to.

To be honest, my hands and forearms feel a bit swollen too. Not visibly, but the skin feels tight and tingly if that makes sense.

And it’s not even hot today here in Cornwall.

I'd definitely keep an eye on kidney function, yours is mildly lowered (mine too - eGFR hovers between 62 - 72). Definitely get tested yearly so that you can be sure that your function is not declining.

Otherwise I'm not sure what to suggest. I'm in the same boat in that I've had tingling in my toes since last December which no-one can find the cause of. So sending . It's got better since I've given up meat, massively reduced dairy and taken up exercise but that's all quite drastic!! I hope you get some respite soon.

I've lost soooooo much weight and hoped I would escape this hot weather curse but nope! My cankles persevere and insist on ruining my summer outfits. I've got slightly low blood pressure, bmi 23. Some of us are just unlucky not fat bitches

I bought some DVT ankle socks and they relieve this totally. I wear them at night, you'd not meant to but I sleep better with then on.