Seeking Advice About Heart Condition and Swelling Ankles

I don't have much time, so I have to be quick in this email. I have had chronic fatigue and was borderline Fibromyalgia. If I hadn't gone to naturopaths instead of MDs, I would be dead by now my symptoms were so severe. MDs kept wanting to put me on Prozac which I can't tolerate. I would go to a naturopathic doctor if I were you and start their program. The one that helped me the most was Dr. Jodi Berg, in Everett, and the best Acupuncturist in Northgate is Dr. Bejing Men. Dr. Cheryl Wood in Lynnwood Washington is really good as well as her husband.

Also, start a vigorous exercise program under the supervision of a doctor.

Now I am pretty symptom free.It was a long road, but Thank God I'm much better now. It took about 8 years of treatment but at least I got better instead of worse.

Check your diet too. Stay away from white sugar, white flour, junk food, check yourself for food allergies.

1 mom found this helpful

I think that this should be asked of your heart doctor. I have a heart condition and my doctor does not like it when I make a medical decision on my own and swelling ankles might be a very bad thing. I know that he wants to see me if anything is out of the normal range, you might not have to go the hopital but the heart doctor may want to see you.
Dealing with a heart condition is not all that easy, and being comfortable with you doctor makes a differance you should be able to ask the doctor whatever you need to.
Hope that you start feeling better.

Hello L. :)

What you have is serious and should be looked at by a cardiologist (heart specialist). You need to seek one immediately. The swelling sounds very familiar and you may need pressurized stockings.

Pressurized stockings help the blood from your legs up to your heart. The doctor will explain it to you more thoroughly. You may need a prescription for pressurized stockings from an "infectious disease doctor", they deal with persons with cellulitus, etc. I hope you call each one of these doctors I am mentioning.

The EKG is great. It really sounds like you need to be on a blood thinner too, but your cardiologist will help you.

Just in case, IF you have 'atrial fibrillation', the cardiologist will order a 'cardio version' for you. What that is, is the anesthesiologist will give you medication that will put you out, asleep, for about 5 minutes, then they will jump your heart to put it back into a normal heart beat. But from what I experienced with my friends, they were put on a blood thinner, with close supervision, seemed like every week for about 2 months, your cardiologist will set a date for your cardioversion procedure. The cardiologist will shock the heart. It's really a quick procedure. Make sure that you are not eating anything for 8 - 12 hours, the anesthesiologist is serious about that......because, if you eat 6 hours before the procedure, the anesthesiologist will not give you any medication because he/she doesn't want to take any chances of you vomiting and that the vomit going into your lungs.

I thought I'd share a little extra because the heart is an important muscle in our body. I hope that others will consider a cardiologist for themselves as well. So important. What we do today will have a great impact on our heart. Oh. I wanted to mention to you, if you are getting headaches from any new heart medications, call your cardiologist right away and let them know what's going on with you. They should be able to write you out a different prescription or they'll be happy to call in your prescription to your current pharmacy. That's what my friends do.

Work close with all of your doctors and I wish you the best of luck.
I wish you well,
M........Take Care!:)

HI!

I would suggest that you go to www.dentalwellness4u.com and learn about all the symptoms of mercury poisoning. Check out the "OTHER SIDE" of the story about mercury amalgam dental fillings at www.toxicteeth.org. You if want to learn more, e-mail me back.

M.

I would call a consulting nurse or emergency room nurse and ask about this RIGHT NOW (regardless of what time of day it is). Swelling in the ankles is easily visible, but you may have corresponding swelling around your heart (congestive heart failure) that you can't see.
There may be some "acceptable" (or unavoidable) level of swelling that is OK for the time being, but since you and I don't have medical degrees, you should leave that decision to someone who does. Until then, prop your feet up and rest.

Please call your Dr NOW and tell them!!!!!!!!! do not wait!!!!!!!! do it NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! D.

i am 25 and i have had two open heart surgeries. i was told to look for blueness in my fingernails and lips and to watch my blood pressure. if these happened to come in. i also experience the dull very odd feeling in my arm. i was told that it is fine. but as to the swelling, i would go in if the swelling became really bad. i cant remember what the doc said about that but i would have it checked out. dont worry though (harder said than done), it will only make it worse.

I agree with Betty. Ask a consulting nurse but if you feel if-y about it. Go to the ER. My husband suffered a major heart attack a while back, had 5 vessle by-pass surgery and has major heart disease and if there's something slightly off or he feels weird or if something on his body doesn't look or feel right, we're off to the ER. I suggested you elevate your legs often whenever you sit or relax and speak to your doctor about this asap. Good luck and God bless.

Hi L.,

I know I am answering this late, but I hope you will consider this for the future...You have some very serious health conditions that need monitoring by professionals. Whenever you feel the urge to ask a medical question on this website, please talk to your medical professionals instead. I would really hate for you to die, while waiting for return emails telling you to go to the ER. The ER would prefer that you call and ask them. The answer would be much more immediate and could save your life!

Also make sure they check your thyroid levels. Some of your symptoms sound like they may be related to elevated thyroid levels which could cause a "thyroid storm" which impacts your heart. Best of luck and I agree with going in/calling your doc immediately.

L.,
My father-in-law has serious medical conditions and I am his SOLE care taker. Along with all of his medications, he gets swollen feet and legs. Sometimes it's caused by his diabetic neuropathy, sometime from foods like milkshakes (sugar), sometimes excessive salty foods (french frys, processed meats, fast foods), walking too much and medications like steroids. The swelling is serious especially if you have heart issues. If he gets too much swelling in his feet or legs they will weep, burst fissures that bleed. Also this excessive fluid can cause fluid build up in his lungs. Like I said, he has SERIOUS medical conditions especially heart related.
For you, if you are having swelling, go to the doctor or hospital. Only they can determine if it is serious or not. They can also give you something to reduce the swelling to make you more comfortable.
Don't wait until your daughter has to call 911 for help. It's better to go now than when it's too late.
I wish you the best of luck and I will pray for you.
Be well.

Hi L., Although I have not personally experienced your symptoms I heard of many with circulation issues like this helped when the body gets what it needs in water and nutritional support. I know people who have these auto immune diseases and have seen great relief with the patented pharmaceutical grade nutrition we help people with. People often underestimate what perfectly balanced optimal nutrition can do. I know I never knew until the past four years what a difference it could make. I won't give you a sales pitch but what I do is connect people who are looking for answers with others who have experience/results with our products and let them share, talk, and ask questions. i could ask around for someone who has experienced the swelling as well as ones that deal with the auto immune issue. The people who have been helped by these products will typically be glad to get on the phone with others with no financial gain to themselves just to share what they have seen and help others to get those similarly great results. Then you can decide if it is something you want to learn more about or not. I just felt I had to email you as I know that what we have a hold of could help. If you are open to learning more get back with me at ____@____.com

I WOULD CHECK OUT www.webmd.com under "C" for cardiovascular or "H" for heart {FOR INFORMATION ONLY} and listen to your doctor and/or Cardiologist. This is not a "self-treatment" condition. Putting the feet above the heart-line helped my husband's swollen ankles but your Doctors know best what is right for you.
PLEASE listen to them....

C.
Cave Junction,OR.

Hi - I read your post. Sounds like your doctor is doing all the right things. I have similar conditions and had problems like yours several years ago. If I was in your position, I would probably call the doctor immediately if I had a recurrence of the swelling. Good luck with your stress test. They aren't fun, but knowing what's wrong beats all the wondering.

Take good care of yourself.

P.

If your feet swell really bad it may be a good precautionary idea to go to the hospital but I would also add some dietary supplements. First that comes to mind is Omega-3 fatty acids, this is in fish oil, or flax seed oil, you can get this at Island Drug or the health food store on midway. Also, read up on an herb called Hawthorn, it is not an overnight fix but strengthens the heart over time and is very safe. Try to take time to relax each day with a relaxation CD. It is surprising as to how much of a difference that can make. If your doctors say it's ok, take a walk each day, starting with as little as 10 minutes a day and work up to 30 minutes. My last two suggestions are to look for a chiropractor who sells Standard Process Products (you can find this info from the Standard Process website) these supplements work amazingly well. Last,look into something called EFT for the emotional stresses you probably deal with on a regular basis. It has made a night and day change in my own life.

You may indeed need to be on a "Water Pill." If you are on one already, you might need more. Check with the doctor to see if you need a potassium supplement, if you are on a water pill. Some times that is needed.

I would also, as others have suggested...call your doctor immediately. Let him know if the swelling leaves indentations in the area if you press it with your fingers, or if it is just swollen. If water just seems to ooze from your skin, this is an important sign that he needs to know.

Do you have pain in your legs with it, or any signs of inflammation in your legs? Do you have shortness of breath that interferes with activity? Is you skin color normal?

Meanwhile, try to cut back on salty food and keep your legs elevated as much as possible. If you have ace wraps, wait until the swelling is down a bit and then wrap your feet and legs as far up your legs as possible, but not too tightly.

IF you feel things are not right...GO BACK to the emergency room. Have your daughter act as a patient advocate and be IN THE ROOM with you at all times (not with X rays, of course), and take notes about what the doctor does, says and recommends. Keep a time line. Don't be intimidated. You also have the right to ask for all of your medical records for your own personal file at home.

Chris RN

I don't know, but it sounds pretty serious. Let us know how you are doing....please. I will pray for you.