I should see a real doctor (I have called my doctor’s office)
The long term solution is to lose 250lb.
I am a disgust blob of flesh and I am properly ashamed of myself.
I am fully responsible for my condition and I have never blamed hormones, genetics, or my big bones.
Now that that is out of the way, my feet and ankles are swollen and have been to some degree or so since the beginning of August. For what ever reason my right foot is slightly more swollen than my other right foot.
Right now my right foot is achy, all most painfully so. I tried to rest but it is bother me too much, so I reluctantly called my doctor’s office, but it’s after 4pm, so I don’t know if they will call me back today (I got voice mail).
Is there any short term home or cheap OTC (less than $13) remedy that would alleviate the discomfort? This swelling is due to my weight and not any infection. I have been going for short walks most days, which help a little bit, but today my back was causing to much pain after doing my laundry.
If any of the following are true, you should go to an ER:
Your foot is turning funny colors (white, blue, purple, red, ucky)
Your foot goes pins-n-needles that don’t go away when you change position
Your calf or foot hurts, cramping, aching or like a charley horse
Your calf has a hot spot
Your calf develops a red line
One calf starts to swell and the other doesn’t
You get short of breath
It hurts to take a deep breath
You feel lightheaded or dizzy (or you faint)
Your heart starts to race
You start sweating for no reason
You cough up blood
Assuming none of that’s a worry, the best at-home treatment for swollen feet is to elevate them as high as you can comfortably get them, on a footstool and/or some pillows. You can also soak them in some salt water - regular salt or epsom salts. And, as you already know, a short walk can help your body push that extra water back up your legs into your circulation where it belongs.
Oh, shush, you. Fat shaming isn’t helpful, not even when it’s your own fat. *Especially *when it’s your own fat. You do NOT have to lose 250 pounds to make a dramatic difference in your health. How much do you weigh? (That’s a rhetorical question, don’t answer if you don’t want to.) See the first two numbers? That’s how much you have to lose to make a real meaningful improvement to your health. 10%. (I link there not because I’m a Weight Watchers shill, although I did have some success there, but because that’s a good easy to read description of some of the benefits to 10% weight loss.)
Now, that may be 40 or 50 pounds. And, sure, it’s not easy. But isn’t that a more manageable thought than 250?
If both feet have swollen, albeit not exactly the same, the chance of a blood clot or infection is pretty small. Has your weight gone up *a lot *recently? If not, it’s probably not that. Do you find yourself getting winded a lot easier than usual? Kidney issues, blood pressure medications and weakening of your heart can all cause dependant edema, which is excess fluid building up in low places. Without knowing the cause, I’m afraid over the counter pain meds are the only thing someone could safely recommend.
If you’re consuming lots of salt, eliminating as much of that from your diet as possible could help. Salt comes in many different forms - processed foods, fast food, “diet” food, etc. I would recommend cooking more at home if you’re not already; even if you’re not cooking super healthy, meals at home frequently have drastically less salt than meals eaten out or from a box.
Also, drink lots of water. That can help the swelling go down as well. You’re right on track with the exercise, too. If possible, you could try walking for even as little as 5 minutes at a time. I had a lot of extra weight due to a pregnancy a few years ago (yes, different situation), and every hour to hour and a half, I’d get up and walk or stand and fidget for five minutes. It helped mitigate swelling immensely.
It was preemptive and it is also true. ISTM lately that more & more people are quick to point out to me that I’m fat and should be ashamed of myself. Happened in Starbucks just last month.
My guess is 420, give or take. I’m 6’4" and that makes my BMI - 51 (same as my age), as you can imagine, it’s hard to find a place where someone my size can get weighed.
Maybe 30 pounds or so, not sure.
Well my weight has been above 350 for more that a decade, so I do get winded easily. I am not using any medication at the moment.
I only have a microwave, so if I can’t nuke it, I can’t cook it. I don’t eat out much, can’t afford it and I don’t like eating by myself in public. Haven’t been to a Burger King or a Mac Donald’s in ages.
My doctor didn’t return my call, so I will try again tomorrow. Putting my feet up help some and then I went for a short walk.
I haven’t been feeling all that good, a general unwellness if you will, so when my feet started to ache to the point of beginning almost painful I sort nearly panic. I even called my mother.:smack::smack:
Yeah, I didn’t think any of the DVT stuff was likely, but being a written medium, best to cover the “when to seek medical attention” part first. Not just for you, but you never know who’s going to google “swollen feet” in three years and pull up this thread. Then we’ll have edematous zombies on our hands!
I had a patient just last month with bilateral (both legs) but uneven swelling, and that was indeed a blood clot just behind his knee. Just because you have edema doesn’t mean you can’t get a blood clot too.
Do see your doctor soon. If you’ve gained more than 10 pounds in the last month, especially, that can be a sign of heart or kidney troubles which are quite treatable if you take them to the doctor.
Hey, our bodies are machines. Most of 'em need a tune up now and then. Hope you feel better soon.
I am not a doctor, but if the ache is due to a muscle sprain or a pulled ligament or something along those lines, you might get some temporary relief by wrapping an elastic (“crepe”) bandage around your foot. It certainly worked for me, so good luck to you if you decide to try it.
The ‘general unwellness’ feeling, get your ass to a doctor!
I had that kind of feeling before I had my heart attack. Just a general I don’t feel well but I can’t say why. Then I felt like I had the flu, tired, achy, hurt all over, felt weak and it hurt to breathe.
Not to scare you, or maybe I should. My sons father had the same feeling, and 3 months after I had my heart attack he dropped dead of one. He was only 39, not overweight and very physically active.
The ankle swelling. How do you sit?
I have a habit of sitting with my left foot on the floor and my right leg propped up. If I don’t shift around and put my right foot down and prop up the left, my left ankle will swell and sometimes it does hurt.
How you self identify, frames your future. The Buddhists are right, we do create our own reality. You should choose your words more carefully. Would you speak this way of your Gran? Even if she had all the same flaws, you’d find a kinder, gentler, and more compassionate, way of accurately describing her. You should aim to be comfortable, being just as compassionate with yourself.
Have you ever considered that it’s not food that’s making you fat? Ultimately it’s the daily diet of self loathing, that drives the need to feed, maybe? But everybody is always all about the food!
If that’s the case, all was lost decades ago and that actually fits the evidence of my life pretty well.
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Have you ever considered that it’s not food that’s making you fat?
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I have always had food issues, going at least as far back as kindergarten, where I ate food out of trash cans (we were **NOT **that poor or hungry, that would come later). I even had a psychiatrist suggest that I would be better off to suck dick instead of sucking down a footlong at Subway.
I have been unhappy way longer than I’ve been fat. Also “[____] shaming” is an old tradition in my family.
It’s clear to me that I overreacted to some minor pain/discomfort. Probably because I am overly emotional, overly sensitive and overly stupidly. Add that to the uncomfortableness itchiness of Psoriasis and some back pain and I kind of sort of panic. I see my doctor in the mourning.
Thank you very much for the replies.
Take care.
I also just wanted to mention that if your doctor wants to run some bloodwork, it might be helpful if you don’t eat/drink anything (Other than water) after midnight, until after you get some bloodwork done. That way, if the doctor wants to get some fasting levels, you’re all set, and you won’t have to wait another day to get it drawn.
You can’t go back and reclaim those decades, but the future is yours if you step up and stop the self loathing.
It’s truly much easier than dieting, you should at least be willing to try. It’s not that hard to get started. Find a pithy saying that speaks to you. Off a poster, from a book, a song, doesn’t matter, just something that fortifies you, speaks to you, makes you feel positive. Make that your new mantra. Replace all little voices of self loathing, with your loudly, often repeated mantra. Just do it. What have you got to lose?
I know from experience, that the biggest change can be accomplished through the very tiniest of steps. I used to be consumed with self loathing, but today I am sunny and bright with life. I am not remarkable in anyway whatsoever, truly. And if I can do it, anyone can do it, I am the proof.
I honestly wish you nothing but good luck, but if you don’t choose to change the self loathing in your life, I don’t see how anything else will change.
I’ve lived off a microwave before. Here are some things that I liked:
Corn on the cob w/leaves on - cut off fuzzy end and stem, soak about 15 minutes, here are microwave cooking times: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1850,158185-243196,00.html (this is faster than even frozen meals, the leaves and fuzz peel right off)
Broccoli - cut up, cook until bright green and soft, put shredded cheese over it, either let sit to melt or zap for about 15 seconds
Long Brown Rice (the basic kind, not quick-rice or any of those) - Microwave according to directions, cut up ham into cubes, add frozen peas (warmed), melt some butter over it and add Parmesan cheese so the PCheese also melts into it.
Frozen Brussel Sprouts - microwave till warm, cut in half, put butter and Parmesan cheese over them.
