Swollen ankles & achy feet :( - ThinnerTimes

so_gorjess · 01-30-2007, 10:35 PM

Has anyone(post op obviously, but you're welcome to voice your opinion even if you are pre op) experienced swollen ankles and achy feet? My ankles have been swollen for a while(maybe a week?) and my feet are kind of hurting a bit. It's not like I spend endless hours on my feet so I'm wondering why this is happening. I don't want to tell my dad cause I know he will overreact and next thing I know to the ER I go. Do any of the medically-inclined(hee hee) people in this board have any idea as to what could be causing this and how I can make it go away? BTW I'm also having issues with my period(it's about a month late, no I'm not pregnant.), I don't know if one thing is related to the other or not.

If anything I'd have to wait for my next follow up in March but by then I'd probably lose my legs if there is anything wrong with them. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you guys!

Gina in NY · 01-31-2007, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by so_gorjess

Has anyone(post op obviously, but you're welcome to voice your opinion even if you are pre op) experienced swollen ankles and achy feet? My ankles have been swollen for a while(maybe a week?) and my feet are kind of hurting a bit. It's not like I spend endless hours on my feet so I'm wondering why this is happening. I don't want to tell my dad cause I know he will overreact and next thing I know to the ER I go. Do any of the medically-inclined(hee hee) people in this board have any idea as to what could be causing this and how I can make it go away? BTW I'm also having issues with my period(it's about a month late, no I'm not pregnant.), I don't know if one thing is related to the other or not.

If anything I'd have to wait for my next follow up in March but by then I'd probably lose my legs if there is anything wrong with them. Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thank you guys!

I haven't a clue - but if it were me - I'd put a call into your surgeon's office. They like to know how you're doing and this seems odd, no? I know that there are pills to take if you're retaining water, so I don't think it should be too hard to remedy, but you should call to let them know what is going on and get some guidance.

so_gorjess · 01-31-2007, 07:20 AM

Yea I figured deep in the back of my mind that I should call them. I don't know if they'd be much help though, the last two times I called them because there was something odd or I wasn't feeling well all the nurse said was (first time) just go to the ER and (second time) we(the surgeon and his team) do not deal with post operative complications, I was like...are you kidding me? My dad ended up getting into an argument with her and she gave me an appointment. *Blah* I will give them a call later on today and see what 'but' they throw at me this time.

Dave in NY · 01-31-2007, 08:42 AM

Jess,
I would follow up today. I had this happen on one leg afer one of my surgeries it was a blood clot.

I had a red area and it was warm to the touch. I tell you this not to scare you but to encourage you to involve your medical support tem when you have unusual issues. Your medical team is make up of serveral people not just your surgeon. Have you seen you primary care doctor since surgery or spoken with a nurse in the Bariatric clinic that you went to. Make calls reach out to people in your medical support team. I you have not made a complete list of all of there names and contact info sit down and do it. You have made a major change in your body and you need to share your changes good and bad with your support team.

I had a swell in both lower legs once and it was because i was getting dehydrated and my body was trying to store liquids like a camal. I increased my fluid intake and the swelling went away.

so_gorjess · 01-31-2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave in NY

Jess,
I would follow up today. I had this happen on one leg afer one of my surgeries it was a blood clot.

I had a red area and it was warm to the touch. I tell you this not to scare you but to encourage you to involve your medical support tem when you have unusual issues. Your medical team is make up of serveral people not just your surgeon. Have you seen you primary care doctor since surgery or spoken with a nurse in the Bariatric clinic that you went to. Make calls reach out to people in your medical support team. I you have not made a complete list of all of there names and contact info sit down and do it. You have made a major change in your body and you need to share your changes good and bad with your support team.

I had a swell in both lower legs once and it was because i was getting dehydrated and my body was trying to store liquids like a camal. I increased my fluid intake and the swelling went away.

Hey Dave, thanks for the advice hun! I really appreciate it. I am going to call my surgeon's office right after [their] lunch time cause they never answer their phones before that. Hopefully they won't tell me to go to the ER or tell me they don't deal with complications again, ha!

BTW, I have seen my PCP twice after I had my bypass. He's not much help when it comes to it(considering I'm his first, one, and only gastric bypass patient...ever!). It's funny, he seemed more excited than me when I first told him I had been considering WLS. Then he told me I was his first GBS and I'm like "Oh Boy!..." this can't be good. I had gone to him because I developed a numbness(I talk about this more in depth on another thread) on my left thigh like four months ago and he said it was because I was so heavy that once I lost fifty pounds it would go away on its own. Well, I lost eighty and it's basically the same if not worse.

Eh...we will see what happens. I don't feel like I'm dying or anything, lol, so I'm just going to go with the flow I guess...

lealphachienne · 01-31-2007, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by so_gorjess

Yea I figured deep in the back of my mind that I should call them. I don't know if they'd be much help though, the last two times I called them because there was something odd or I wasn't feeling well all the nurse said was (first time) just go to the ER and (second time) we(the surgeon and his team) do not deal with post operative complications, I was like...are you kidding me? My dad ended up getting into an argument with her and she gave me an appointment. *Blah* I will give them a call later on today and see what 'but' they throw at me this time.

Don't follow up with complications????WTF! I'd report them to the medical board. I kno in Florida, here's a lot of crap shoot surgeons trying to make a buck. If you had heart bypass surgery, you bet your patootie they deal with the post op issues!!!! Why is it just becuase it's our stomach, no one gives a damn or judges us for our decision.

Dyann · 01-31-2007, 11:31 AM

It could be anything from clots, to excess fluid, to low protein and on and on the list goes. Speak with your PCP about this. Sitting bent at the hip also can do it. Make sure you are moving around enough. Let us know how it goes. BTW...that person at your surgeons office should be fired. It was totally inappropriate how she handled your call.

KnighTron · 01-31-2007, 05:47 PM

Hi Jess, I sure am sorry to hear you are having a rough go on your recovery. I had my surgery on 12/8/06 @ the Cleveland Clinic in Fl also. Dr Szomstein did my surgery. I have had no complications at all and I havent felt this good in 10 years. Starting weight was 285.....current is 230, and goal is basically anything under 200. I am very fortunate to have had such a successful recovery period. It sounds like you are also having a bit of hard time with the staff. Again, with me I have never had a problem with anyone up on the 2nd floor.....everyone has always been more than helpful to me. I hope your complications come to an end soon.
Ray

so_gorjess · 01-31-2007, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KnighTron

Hi Jess, I sure am sorry to hear you are having a rough go on your recovery. I had my surgery on 12/8/06 @ the Cleveland Clinic in Fl also. Dr Szomstein did my surgery. I have had no complications at all and I havent felt this good in 10 years. Starting weight was 285.....current is 230, and goal is basically anything under 200. I am very fortunate to have had such a successful recovery period. It sounds like you are also having a bit of hard time with the staff. Again, with me I have never had a problem with anyone up on the 2nd floor.....everyone has always been more than helpful to me. I hope your complications come to an end soon.
Ray

Hey Ray! How funny that your surgery was on december 8th, I happened to be hospitalized during that time at Cleveland too, I had my gallbladder removed that week! I stayed that whole week at the hospital, if you were walking the halls after surgery we probably crossed each other at one point! I've heard that Dr. SZomstein's awesome. I'm not complaining about Dr. Rosenthal though(he did both my bypass and took my gallbladder out), the whole three times I've seen him(for like...five seconds lol...I always end up seeing the other doctors that work with him or for him or whatever, I don't even know any of their names.) he's been extremely nice. I think he did a great job and I will be eternally grateful. I guess having this surgery is like gambling...some people get lucky some people don't. I haven't so far BUT I'm hoping my luck will change. The staff...they're super nice to me when I go in person, both the front desk and the nurses treat me real well. I don't know what happens on the phone lol.