One leg still swollen seven months postpartum, has anyone experienced this?

[Rafrafxo]

I’m really hoping someone who has been through something similar can give me some hope ❤️
Over the last week and a half, my life has honestly felt completely turned upside down. I’ve been driving myself crazy searching for answers and trying to find someone who can reassure me that what I’m experiencing could still be related to pregnancy/postpartum changes.
I’m now 7 months postpartum with my first baby, and I’ve recently become extremely anxious that I could have primary lymphedema that developed during pregnancy. Right now, I’m struggling to see any hope, and it’s really starting to affect my mental health.
During my last trimester, my right leg, ankle and foot became quite swollen. After I gave birth, the swelling in my ankle and foot went away, so I didn’t think too much about it at the time.
Now, 7 months postpartum, I’ve noticed that my right leg is still noticeably larger than my left , it’s more swollen. I honestly don’t know whether this is swelling that never completely went away after pregnancy, or whether something has developed more recently, as I only became aware of the difference recently.
I’ve had an ultrasound which ruled out a DVT, and I was told that the veins and valves in my leg looked normal. I’ve also had a CT scan of my abdomen, which was normal. When I went to A&E, I was essentially told to give it more time.
I’m finding that really difficult because I feel like I don’t have an explanation for why one leg is still larger than the other.
I think what I’m most frightened of right now is lymphedema — the thought that I could permanently have one larger leg, or that it could continue to get worse, has really scared me.
I’ve searched everywhere online, but most of what I find makes me feel even more worried because it doesn’t seem common to have noticeable swelling/difference in one leg this far postpartum.
So I’m posting here because I’m really looking for hope rather than a diagnosis. ❤️
Has anyone else experienced something similar — particularly one leg remaining larger or swollen during pregnancy and still being noticeably different several months postpartum? Particularly one leg swelling as my case is just one leg swelling.
If you have actually been through something like this, I would be so grateful if you could share what happened for you. Did it eventually improve? Did you ever get an explanation? Did it turn out to be something harmless or pregnancy-related?
Please, if you’ve experienced something similar, tell me your story. Right now I’m feeling really low, frightened and overwhelmed, and hearing from someone who has been through this and come out the other side would genuinely mean the world to me.

I’m just desperately hoping that someone can tell me, “I had something similar, and it was okay.” ❤️
Thank you so much to anyone who takes the time to read this or share their experience. xx

Hi OP. My experience isn’t that similar to yours but I wanted to reply anyway in case I can be of any help. Firstly, so sorry you are experiencing this worry at this time of your life when you should be able to just enjoy your baby.

i have primary lymphoedema of one foot mainly and also that leg to a lesser extent. It was diagnosed by a dye scan when I was in my early 20s. When I was pregnant it got worse and when I gave birth it swelled up in a frankly scary way. I was too wrapped up with my baby to worry much as it only lasted a few days and then it went back to “normal” - normal for me, so still somewhat swollen.

What I wanted to say, which isn’t what you are asking but I hope will be helpful, is that lymphoedema is a pain in the arse but is realiy controllable these days. I hope it turns out not to be this and to be temporary (its good that you’ve had CT scan and ultrasound to rule out obvious causes) but if it is, there are lots of treatments available now - support stockings, manual lymphatic drainage, pumps etc) and it can be very well controlled with a bit of knowledge and effort.

What I would advise is that you push for a definite diagnosis. If is it lymphoedema, the sooner you learn how to look after your leg (skin care, support stockings, protection from
bites etc), the better it will be in the long term. I also think it will help your mental health. It’s really scary when you don’t know what is wrong and although a diagnosis of lymphoedema is unpleasant (and I remember how upsetting it was to be told there was no cure, only treatment), if you know for definite you can start to come to terms with it. Or investigations might rule out lymphoedema which would then suggest other causes need to be investigated.

It can be a bit of a slog to get GPs to refer for lymphoedema investigation. Are you in the UK? The Lymphoedema Support Network are a fantastic resource and can advise on services in your area (which are v variable) and how to approach your GP.

Very long post, and I don’t know if that’s any help but I hope so.