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Posted 2/26/2006 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
Finally!  This is the first site I've been to and first post with laptop.  It will take some practice.

Anyone else with lower extremity edema (or caretakers of those with same), and how are you dealing with it?

Connie

Posted 2/26/2006 5:03 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Connie,

My husband has Hep C & Cirrhosis of the Liver. He has edema of the feet, ankles and legs. He has to stay off of the salt, keep his legs elavated and stay off of them as much as possible. This works for him when he does these things. His condition is stable at this time. He is feeling much better since he has quit his full time labor job installing fire places and installing chase tops on roofs. Now it's time for the disability. Which I know will be a challenge. And a part time job for me.

Any way it's One Day @ a Time for us.......

When he does have the edema he takes Aldactone and Lasix.

Take Care.......Hugs

donajean :-)

Posted 2/26/2006 5:49 AM (GMT 0)
Donajean, no doubt your hubby feels better since he quit that job. Good luck with the disability! Get a lawyer after the first turndown!

My edema is a bit different, in that it is not fluid retention, but circulatory problems due to the tumor impeding blood flow to the liver. ):

Connie
Posted 2/26/2006 8:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Hep , I have severe edema & the only way I get any relief is low sodium(MY DR. put on 500 mgs. max. Secondly I have to take 200mgs lassix. Thirdley I have to keep my feet up higher than my heart the majority of time. It's really hard to deal with because I am so restricted in activity & what I can eat but if i don't use strict control I also end up with pumanary edema. It's a tough one & very frustrating but I do it one day at a time. With liver failure & heart Failure due to the liver it never goes away. Only controlled to a certain degree. I'm glad you got your laptop up & running Connie. I'm sure that will be a great asset to you. My thoughts & Prayers are with you sweetie. later....
Posted 2/27/2006 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
I know you have to take good care of yourself, Lerie. I do try to restrict sodium, due to hypertension. It's taking some practice with the laptop.

My hip dislocated for the 3rd time at 6 a.m. while I was sleeping. Pain woke me up. I must have been trying to turn over. I had Rescue take me to the hospital ER. They ended up taking me to the O.R. to put me under deep anesthesia and manipulate the joint back in. Thank goodness they didn't admit me, but I am tired and a little out of it tonight.

Connie
Posted 2/27/2006 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie, I am so sorry you are having such a hard time. I wish I was there to give you a hug. I can only imagine the pain you endured with your hip. I hope now you might get at least some relief now. It may be taking time to learn the laptop but once you get the hang of it I'm sure it will be the ideal thing for you. I hope you sleep well tonight. Sweet dreams. My thoughts & prayers are with you always. HUGS> later....
Posted 2/28/2006 7:12 AM (GMT 0)
Oh my goodness Connie,

I am so sorry to hear about your hip dislocating, what a awful way to awaken!! I am glad you got to come back home.

Marks edema has gone down, I had him elevate his legs mostly,and take his meds. We also limit the sodium.

At the nursing home I work at, we elevated the legs and apply the ted hose in the morning, take them off at bedtime. They are also taking diuretics as ordered by their physicians.

It sounds like you are doing what you can do for the edema. The support hose are a good idea, though teds do a better job.

I know it is a big help to have the laptop, have fun playing with it. I like new toys also!

Take care, HUGS!!

Teresa

 

Posted 2/28/2006 11:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, all! I am continuing with the laptop and elevating, and the edema has gone down a lot. I'm not currently using the TEDS, as I was placed in a full leg splint which is pretty tight. I can still wear one on the rt leg if the swelling gets too bad (rt is usually worse than left.) I am seeing the hip specialist at Mayo tomorrow for follow-up. We are having shorts weather here, thank goodness! I don't have pants loose enough to fit over this contraption.

I hurt all over from the "man-handling" while they manipulated my leg to get it back in the socket. Someone held me under my armpits and I even have a bruise on the top of my chest from that. Have another bruise on my inner knee and another just above my rt big toe. I'm feeling all the aches and pains more today than yesterday.

BTW, one of the docs who examined me in the ER said I have ascites. Nobody else has mentioned that before. I've had a belly for years...my PMD had told me it was belly fat when I asked about it over a year ago.

My throat is really sore, too, from the intubation. They weren't going to do that until they learned that I have reflux and also just got over bronchitis. Now I'm wheezing again.

My daughter surprised me yesterday with a visit. She had a friend bring her out to see me. She lives in another county and neither one of us drives. She brought me a pot of mums and stayed for 4 hours, which is the longest visit we've had in a very long time.

I am not understanding how I can go "wireless" on the laptop while being on a DSL high-speed connection. ???? Any ideas?

Connie
Posted 3/1/2006 1:17 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie,I'm certainly glad the edema went down. I sure know how uncomfortable that is for you.I hope you make out well on your appt. tommorow. I hope the weather holds for you too. At least till you can wear something more than shorts! Ohhhhhhhhhh that sounds like you must be so uncomfortable. it sounds like they took the oppertunity to take thier frustrations out on you! lol. I guess you'll be sore for a few days. My heart goes out to you sweetie. Do you know what they will do about the acetis" Will they give you parenthesis? I hope the heck this doesn't cause bronchitis again??/It never rains but it cetainly pours. Time for a real good streak of luck now. You've been thru so much this last while. I'm very happy your daughter went to see you. Sounds like it was a nice visit. I pray she does this more often. I don't know anything about laptops but maybe someone else here does. Would your nieghbor know? Let me know how it goes tommorow. My thoughts & prayers are with you.later....
Posted 3/2/2006 5:05 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, Lerie, and all! Well, the orthopedic surgeon said he is "not a fan of stabilizers," which is the contraption that was placed on me after the hip was put back in place on Sun. However, he also said that nothing is really going to keep my hip from dislocating when it's ready to do so....and it doesn't take much. So it's up to me what I want to wear, and I think I may switch back and forth. The surgeon actually said that he would be willing to consider revision surgery on the hip, if oncology gave their okay. (In Nov. he had said he wouldn't touch it, what with me having inoperable liver cancer.) However, he feels it is better for me to live with the inconvenience of an unstable hip and all that encompasses, rather than taking the risk of infection, more circulatory disorders and problems, and possible spread of the cancer if I have surgery. I also know there is a long recovery from revision surgery, having been through it once.

Nothing more has been said about ascites, if that's what I have. I don't suppose anything would be done unless it was needed. What situation would cause need for paracentesis?

We did get my glasses repaired today. They had been bent badly by someone in the ER.

My helper will be here tomorrow and Friday. I would like to get my hair cut on Fri. while she is grocery shopping. Will have to see how I feel. I am still very tired and sore.

Connie
Posted 3/2/2006 5:27 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Connie,

You do sound uncomfortable, bless your heart. I know it was a very nice surprise to see your daughter. I am glad you had a nice visit!! If you do have ascites it is very important to watch the sodium intake, and the doctors usually put you on diuretics to take the fluid off. The doctors try to avoid paracentesis, because it puts you at risk for infection. From the experiences I have had with Mark, his ascites is severe!!! He accumulates so much fluid that it compresses his lungs along with other organs. They have no choice but to do the paracentesis. They remove anywhere from 6-8 1/2 liters at a time.  They also have him taking Cipro 750mg once a week to prevent infection. His has slowed down for now, thank GOD. They were doing it every 1 1/2 to 2 weeks for awhile. I also try to keep him from over exerting himself, it tends to aggravate it. I hope this helps. You should really consult your hepatolgist about the ascites and fluid. Hope you have a good day!!! HUGS!!!

Teresa

Posted 3/2/2006 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Teresa, thank you for the ascites info. I will try to find out if I really do have it when I next see my oncologist, though I'm not sure when that will be....no f/u appt. is scheduled. I do try to watch the sodium in my diet, just out of common sense. My lower extremity edema has diminished since I've been using the laptop and elevating in bed most of the time. I've been told that this edema is the result of circulatory problems caused by my liver tumor.

I hope that you and Mark are having a good day, as well as all forum friends.

Connie
Posted 3/3/2006 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie! I'm new to the forum. I hope that you and Mark are having a good day. I have edema in my left leg from a large dvt about 5 yrs ago. I elevate my leg, but not as often as I should, my son keeps me busy. When I am in bad discomfort, I use my ted stockings. These are things that docs have told me through the years. You have a different reason for edema, please check with your doc. Lap tops sound very interesting, I'm completly computer illiterate, so I'll have my hubbie do some searching too. I'll pass on what I learn. I hope that your discomfort will go away soon.
Posted 3/3/2006 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie, Unless you acetis developes bacteria I don't think they'll do anything & the rest of the info I would give you I think teresa already summed it up quite nicely. I feel so bad that you are going thru all this & it just seems to be comming at you one thing after another. I do wish I could be there to help you & give you a hug. My heart goes out to you. I don't know if I would have your strenght to deal with all these extras like you have. I hope you get that laptop working soon. Hopefully Cynthias hubby can help.

Teresa I'm so happy that you are able to give others such detailed info, Hope Mark is doing well today.

Cynthia, I'm so very glad you are jumping right in here & joining in the conversations. Support is a 2 way street & you are a very special person. I'm glad you found us.

My thoughts & prayers are with you all. Love & Hugs everybody. later....
Posted 3/3/2006 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Lerie, my laptop is working fine...it just isn't set up for wireless as I don't have a router. My sister is going to try to take care of that when she next comes for a visit, later this month. For now, I am using the laptop with wires/cables. I want to get back on my desktop puter through dialup, but will have to call AOL about that.

I didn't get my hair cut today. I just wasn't up to going out. Still wiped out from the ER visit Sun. and ortho visit yesterday.

Connie
Posted 3/4/2006 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie, Me & the cats don't mind your hairdo till you can get out. we understand. lol. I'm glad your laptop is working. I misunderstood what you were saying & didn't realize it was the wires. You will be wiped out for a few days after all that Sun. Maybe in a few days you'll be able to get out. Don't rush it tho. My thoughts & prayers are with you sweetie. later....
Posted 3/4/2006 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
"Me & the cats don't mind your hairdo till you can get out."
I know my cats don't mind. They have unconditional love, regardless of how I look. I know they are very much aware of when I don't feel well. They stick by me like glue at those times.

Hope you are having a good evening, Lerie, and all.

Connie
Posted 3/4/2006 8:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie, my dogs like that too, won't leave my side when I'm not feeling well. Our pets are such a great comfort to us. I am having a good evening for a change. I hope you are to as best you can at the moment.My thoughts & prayers are with you sweetie.HUGS. later....
Posted 3/4/2006 12:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie, I'm glad you're able to use your laptop and happy to hear that your sister is going to set you up with a (router?) I have three cats and a rescued greyhound. They always stay near me and worry so when I leave the house. Yes, they are a great comfort for me as well. Valerie, I'm so happy to hear that you're having a good night. I hope that everyone will have a good day.
Posted 3/4/2006 4:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Cynthia, I'm hoping you are having a great day too sweetie. Hugs. God Bless. later....
Posted 3/4/2006 9:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, all! I'm back on the desktop puter with dialup. I slept until 3 p.m. today and seemed to wake up with the idea of exactly how to get back online with the pc. I type faster on this, so for mail and some posts, it is better for me. I guess what I need to do is get another DSL box so that both computers are on high-speed. But for now, this will do.

It's sunny and warm here today! :)

Connie
Posted 3/4/2006 10:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Connie,Glad to hear your able to be up at your pc today. That'll be great if you can get both computers running on high speed. It's sunny & ccccooold here.God Bless. later....
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