6 mo post op - and swelling

Hi sisters,
If you had 'seen' me a month ago, I would have told you I was doing great - with premarin 1.25 (having adjusted up about 4 wk post-op for hot flashes recurrance) but now I have spent the last 2 weeks with painful edema of feet (right over my sandals) and hands. I called my PCP and got in on 'see me quick' status last Friday. He lowered my premarin to .625 and told me I may have to make a choice about even taking HRT... since I also have a tightness in my chest and feeling like I can't breathe deeply he also scheduled an echogram next week- gave me diuretics and potassium too. We already ran another bloodwork this week (we located a thyroid nodule last fall just prior to my TAH/BSO in December). I still suffer from Swelly Belly - clothes fitting in am (alright a bigger size than pre-op) and squeezing me like crazy at the end of the day - rushing in the door and into my comfies... I am often wiped out tired too.

Anyway the weather here has been in the 90's and that can't help. The doc is not overly sympathetic - "you know, Jan losing some weight wouldn't hurt ..." but I haven't changed my eating habits dramatically enough to have gained over 50# since last summer! Now that school is out (after 1/2 day Monday) I MUST get back to daily walking for 45 ---- if I can lose these swollen , sore feet!

I see him again next Friday, I will check back in and let you know.


I so appreciate this site- I checked the www first for edema and then came here - knowing your archives might help me even more than those doc sites.

Thanks for listening,

Jan

Jan,
I am sorry you are experiencing this uncomfortable edema. Part of your weight gain could be water, but I agree that there must be a reason for a 50lb gain if nothing else has changed.
Some women on synthetic hormones begin to experience more side effects over time because components of the hormones build up and do not clear from the system.
I would strongly consider switching to bio identical hormones like perhaps a low dose of an estradiol patch or a low dose of oral estradiol(estrace). In addition to this you might want to try supplementing with progesterone.
Let us know how you are doing

Becky, thanks for your reply. I did forget to add that I am using the Angel Care progestrone cream (thank you sisters, for telling me about it!) also.

Pulled out my Reflexology book this weekend and am going to reread about the pressure points for kidneys, lymph glands and give them a massage workout a few times. At least today it is not so hot and humid so that may help also.

Jan

Jan,
for a small group of women,progesterone cream can actually cause swelling. For most it has the opposite affect but it is good to be aware of the possibilities in this hormone jungle

hmmm, but would that be likely after using it for almost 5 months? Overall though I am sooo much better than I was before the hist - I have to recall how totally miserable I was then at this point.

I think I am just a bit anxious since I know that edema can signal - AMONG other things - kidney problems, congestive heart difficulties, lymph problems.... I am readying for a 3 week trip to Europe next month and worry about not being able to do all the walking and sitting looking at the Louvre, the Sistine Chapel , Big Ben and sights of Madrid is NOT in my planning!

Sorry to whine....

Jan

update update

Hi everyone,
Just an update. I had complained about the massive ankle swelling and hands that looked like marshmallow man's... well, Friday I went again to the doctor after rounds of tests. I had an echocardiogram done and a chest x-ray - 2 rounds of bloodwork and urinalysis (because I had some protein in urine of test one) Well, results of all came back okay so it is 'just the jungle' that is causing my swelling. The week's worth of low sodium diet and diuretics have helped (maybe too the fact that the severe heat has lapsed also...) I am surviving okay on the lowered dose of Premarin (.625) and my DH says my snoring has decreased (who knows anything about that connection!)

At any rate the echocardio was pretty neat - seeing my mitrial valve and all - took a load off my heart too to be checked out thoroughly. I have gotten back to my walking too so that may help also. The shortness of breath is less severe also - (I still think this is weater/heat induced also!

I am to use the diuretics PRN - so am toting them to Europe with me...

Thanks for everyone's concern here!

Jan