Mike was like your Dad and David...edema in his legs...almost to his groin.
When it got really bad the docs put him on a sliding scale for the diuretics....we weighed Mike every morning. Then the diuretic dose was chosen off the scale....up or down. There is a second danger when they are really filled with fluid, that sodium
does not cross the cell walls to exchange chemicals with each cell. It is called hypo-natremia. Look that one up.
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/basics/definition/con-20031445Sodium labs below say 125 can be important indicators of this condition. Then your dad may need to go in and get his electrolytes balanced via IV drip and he likely needs limit fluids in those cases as David mentioned.
Best to call your doc and give him some data on the status of the edema and the changes in Dad's weight from day to day. I would not take any remedial action on your own without medical direction, of course.
Some folks here recommend the socks...but Mike's doc he didn't see any benefit, so we just used a large triangle pillow we got at Bed Bath and Beyond that had about
a 3 inch rise, in his bed or on the couch, so that his legs were elevated every moment he wasn't up and around...many hours a day.
Mike's crisis with edema was in December 2010....it resolved with the diuretics and IV intervention and he was more comfortable for a while. When it was at its worse, the skin seemed to oooze fluid from his poors. Poor guy.
Your family has done so much to assure a positive outcome....I hope this comes soon. Are your suitcases packed?
Hugs,
Mama Lama