dh's swollen feet are leaking fluid.

[misdee]

he has odemea(spelling) in his feet and ankles. the skin on his feet became ceacked and inflammed and has been treating it woth hydrocortisone 1% which has been helping. but now the worst foot is leaking fluid.

Oh, poor Peter!

Has he been told this might happen? Can he ring NHS Direct for advice on what to do?

not sure what to do. we knew about the odemea but not the sores and leaking.

This does happen misdee. Your poor DH. Does the oedema look worse? If the surface is broken then all the fliud which makes up the oedema escapes. Try dressing it in dry absorbant non - adhesive dressings if you have any? NA dressings can be brought in the pharmacy, then pad up with surgipads, again in pharmacies I think and secure with bandage. If you are having problems finding it, ask the chemist. HTH.

This isnt unusual with oedema, any small puncture will allow the fluid to leak out and in large volumes too.
Can you elevate his feet (not above heart level) and put something absorbant under the leaky foot?

good idea to get feet higher than his heart - if thats possible

it helps a bit. his dirutics have been increased to try and shift the fluid. he has clinic on monday.

Message deleted

Dressing the area should help protect against infection. Strugstu, why above heart level?

still on the list. has had 3 calls in april and may. nothing this month yet.

i wouldnt recommend above heart level TBH

havent got any dressingsd here and tbh i dont trust my own judgement on hoe tight to do them. will keep an eye out for tempt and hot spreading rash. his feet are so swollen not even his larger slippers fit atm.

he cant get his legs about heart level. they are up on the arm of the sofa atm.

Thats why I was asking DB! You could attach the surgipads (absorbant dressings) with tape if you prefer. Then you don't need to worry so much about doing it up too tight as much.

Possibly new research regarding reducing peripheral oedema????
Im not sure why Strugstu recommended this but id be interested to know.
(im so out of touch these days)

Did a course on management of arterial and venous leg ulcers. Taught by CNS raising the legs higher than the heart helps shift the oedema from the legs (as the fluid always settles at the lowest point)therefore alleviating the oedema as much as possible promotes wound healing (thats why multi layer compression works well on venous leg ulcers)- altho if u have heart problems can increase the strain on the heart and sorry i didnt realise missdees dh was on transplant list.

Whoops! Intersting about the other stuff though.

Oh i see, thanks.
I realy am very rusty since having ds so im always interested in new research etc.

the sores cover the whole of the top of the foot. will see if local chemist is open tomorrow so i can get some pads, but he has promised he will speak to harefield about it on monday.

Misdee, you will need lots of pads as you will be surprised how much volume can be lost from a leaky oedematous foot.

thank you. just told dh what people ahev said and he just nodded at me lol.

misdee - can u ask gp to get the district nurse out tomorrow - although they dont have a huge amount of stock they may be able to put their hands on something- these things are very expensive at the chemist- they will also be able to give u good advice- they do a seven day a week service too.

Misdee, how is DH today?