UNEXPLAINED PUFFINESS...

nuffy · 05-20-2004, 11:19 PM

Hi Girls,
I guess I am a newbie, well new to this site...I went to my RE today and he said that I needed to have some tests done to confirm but that I probaby had PCOS...

I was wondering if any of you girls had an unexplained puffiness that came and went. I have always been somewhat thin (well not as thin as I used to be, but who is?) Anyhoo, I started having this puffiness happening in my neck face, etc. Then it would go away? I asked my docs but no one knew what it was and I supposed just thought I put on a few pounds. I now wonder if that was a symptom of this all along and I can finally put my mind at ease.

Please if anyone has experienced this too or has info on it let me know.

Thanks Nuffy

Amy_53405 · 05-21-2004, 01:08 AM

I have the same problem mostly in my hands now. It used to be my whole body and I was told that was from being IR and not taking any meds. Since i've been on the met about 6mos, the puffiness has gone down tons and my hands only flare up a few times a day. Even my wedding rings fit now. Had to take them off for over a year. Good luck and let me know how the doctor goes....

Hdawg020184 · 05-21-2004, 03:06 AM

I have this too but its caused by high blood pressure.......also when it gets hot i swell, i retain water pretty bad though.....maybe have your BP checked out?

bancher · 05-21-2004, 08:31 AM

check your thyroid too. before i was dx with hypothyroid, my hands and feet puffed up so bad! then they turned blue. the doc said i was pretty sick! good luck!

jenny

nuffy · 05-21-2004, 10:52 AM

Thank you girls!
I swear no one knew what was wrong with me and the puffiness. Amy- I too don't wear my wedding rings anymore..I thought I was just crazy. Although I am not overweight the puffiness came and went...I just had my baby 4 months ago and so far so good but I can feel it starting up again. What do you girls do about it? At one point my entire leg swelled up and I had to have fluid removed from my knee by a rheumatologist. They said I had arthritis but they called it spontaneous enflammatory arthritis but now I am wondering if it was this all along? Any ideas girls? Oh, as for the wedding rings - I also started getting a rash under the ring - like ecema, I had been wearing them for 5 years and it never happened before, so I know my dh wasn't trying to pull a fast one

with fake jewels LOL. I am concerrned about my hair tho. I did not have a ton ever but I have started to lose a lot, they say its because of the pg being over but I think its too much. How do I stop from losing more?

All of this imput is really helpful girls - I am so glad I found this site.

anglewormm · 05-21-2004, 07:02 PM

As suggested, it could be just water retention. You can get otc diuretics or try naturally to relieve with herbal teas, lettuce, etc.

Mine would come and go and come and go and eventually 3 months ago, it just wouldn't go anymore. I was dx'd with hypertention and edema. It is probably the worse dx I have ever had, even more so that PCOS for me. Because it meant that I was not taking care of myself. I am now on a prescribed diuretic which isn't working well right now. Because I am on the lowest dose, I am able to take more (as told by doc), so in the middle of the night I had to take an extra pill. My ankles were so swollen that I couldn't tell the difference between my feet and legs. Anyway, have your bp checked and talk to your doc about edema.

nuffy · 05-21-2004, 08:32 PM

Oh Catherine, I am sorry that you have so much trouble. I guess I have nothing to complain about. Do you take anything for the PCOS or do the low carb diet thing? We (me & DH) Are going on the South Beach Diet starting Monday...seems we always start on monday but end on Thursday

anglewormm · 05-21-2004, 09:02 PM

I am taking met as well as the bp meds. We (dh and I) have not started a low carb plan, because I am focusing on low sodium right now. However, we have cut out most processed carbs, like bread (only once in a while), crackers, and other sugary things. My doc told me to go ahead a eat as much fruit and veggies (even though some have loads of carbs) because my body needs those. So, I guess you could say that we are sort of lower carbing. About sodium, I never even knew how much I was getting until recently. I never, or rather, hardly ever salt things. I grew up in a home where salt was a "sin", because dad had high bp. But when I started looking at the food that I eat, I couldn't believe how much was in it. It isn't even the foods that taste salty. Serving for serving, chili has several times more sodium than potato chips. Interesting. Just last night, we had to do grocery shopping and well, I have decided that if it is already prepared (can, heat and eat, etc) we can do without. It will mean that I have to spend more on food, but in the long run I will know exacly what I am putting into my mouth.

I wish that I didn't have to learn the hard way. I hope that you can get what ever it is figured out.

BTW, my mom says that I should try the South Beach. She said that there is a peanut butter cup cake recipe that she thinks sounded yummy. LOL, I just am not ready to cut out everything yet. I am thinking about looking into it though. Hoping that this summer, being filled with fish and fresh friut and veggies, will help my to lose some weight. I need to get back onto my walking like I used to. I haven't done enough since moving to alaska, but now that I found a wonderful beach to walk on I will be doing a lot more.

ZaraUnruh · 06-10-2004, 04:33 PM

Hi Nuffy,

I'm a newbie to this site and have been dealing with pcos for about 10 years. I thought I was crazy but I've had some major leg swelling as well as the rest of me including my fingers. I was in tears when I could not longer where my wedding rings. Interestingly enough, I developed a rash underneath that was dry and red...something that has never happened. My earrings and navel ring are gold and just fine. Consequently, you cannot distinguish any longer between my leg and ankle and my weight gain is so rapid I cannot lose count. Each doc I've seen just scratches their head. It was originally thought that I had developed intolerances to spironolactone, metformin, ortho-cyclen, and lexapro. I've been on these for several years. Now I'm off everything which exacerbates what is already a horrible problem. Please drop me a line or whoever is reading this and let me know what your doc has said. I have very low blood pressure, I exercise (getting harder to do lately) and I follow a very stringent diet. Help!

Zara Unruh