I am curious to understand the process. I mean, I like to understand why my body does what it does. I have been having pitting edema off and on for the last four or five months. When I went to the gyno back in Oct., I mentioned it to her and she said it was pretty much normal for PMS. I have been having it again off and on for the last week, but I have been having spotting light flow off and on too. Today it was the worst it has ever been but it looks like AF is here! So I would imagine that it will all go down by tomorrow. I have noticed that on days when I have been up and moving around alot that my ankles and feet look much better than on the days when I don't move around as much. I would look into compression stockings but I doubt that they make them in my size. My theory is that since my hormones are so messed up, the spotting off and on thing, that would affect my edema, making it come and go. What do y'all think? The worst thing was that I got a new pair of sandals and even shaved my legs (and feet) so I could wear them and my feet looked so ugly swolen up that I took them off and put my tennis shoes back on. Wah!!! I wanted to wear those sandals! Thanks for letting me ask questions and for letting me vent.
God bless you and yours
Debbie
Well, J, it doesn't help that I am morbidly obese either ! Well, today my edema is almost gone and I even got to wear my sandals. AF did come (YAY!) finally and I feel like this must be hormonally related. But just in case, I will get much stricter about how much salt I use and about my water intake. Thanks for the link.
God bless you and yours
Debbie
I take generic Midol, which is supposed to help with water retention. You might ask your doc about getting a diaretic. Also, drink more water. Oddly enough, the more water you drink the better edema sometimes gets as long as it's not due to kidney or liver problems. My Dad had edema really bad, but his was a kidney problem. Same with my aunt. She lost several POUNDS once she went on dialisis. She was storing way too much. Hope yours gets better soon!
This might seem simplistic, but we often retain water when we are dehydrated. Hyperglycemia, some medications, hormonal fluctuations - so many things can cause it.
The best treatment (not diuretics) is DRINKING more water. When your body needs water, it holds onto it until it gets more.
Try that for a week or so, and see what happens. If there is a truly medical reason (heart issues, potassiam of sodium issues), talk to your doctor.
Good luck!
__________________ -Dx PCOS April 03
-Tubal ligation July 1999
-Endometrial ablation & D&C March 2004 (heavy flow and polyps) - BEST DECISION I ever made!!
-Symptoms: ovarian cysts, painful irregular periods, male pattern baldness, acne, severe PMS
- Also have Cystic Fibrosis, CF-related diabetes, pancreatitis, asthma, irritable bowel, distal intestinal obstuction syndrome, GERD, ulcers, hiatus hernia, chronic kidney stones, depression, anxiety...
Can anyone explain why we retain water? 
