RE: Swelling in extremities

[Guest guest]

What is vasculitis? I too have SWOLLEN Ankles sometimes painful, and gained

weight like fluid retention but do not have a lot of shortness of breath........

HELP! My dr is trying to figure this out. Ace bandages wrapped DO help.

LeAnn Cayer & Furbrats Blossom & Meriko

Heart Bandits American Eskimo Dog Rescue

Oklahoma Referral Chapter

Railroad Coordinator

www.heartbandits.com

[Guest guest]

Dear LeAnn,

I guess in the simplest terms, vacuities, is inflammation of the veins or

arteries. This is a new one I'm just finding out about. Mine started with

a lump in my upper thigh near the inside of my leg. At first it didn't

bother me much, but then I noticed it hurt to touch it. (Not that I spend a

lot of time touching myself there.lol. But I have two little dogs that are

notorious for jumping in my lap with all their weight on one little foot.

They always seem to find the sorest spot on me at that time.) Anyway, about

a month later my leg started swelling especially around my ankle. When I

went to the doctor he ruled out congestive heart failure, since I have that

heart condition that can cause CHF really easy, he always checks that first.

Next my doctor was concerned about a blood clot since I'm not exactly an

active person these days. I had 3 ultra sounds on that leg from the thigh

to the ankle and all of them were normal. The only thing was I almost died

when they put the ultra sound device on my leg. I know from past experience

that this shouldn't' hurt me in the least, and it was so painful I literally

jumped off the table and screamed at the same time. I scared everyone in

the room to death. The first tech I got was a jerk and could have cared

less it was painful. The 2nd tech was a sweet heart and went slow and only

pushed as hard as she had too. It still hurt but wasn't horrible.

When I went over this with my pain doctor he said the vein is bothered by

inflammation and it caused edema to form in the leg and settle in the ankle.

My blood flow in the vein is great, which is good news. Do you have any

pain along the line of the veins or arteries in your leg that swells? I

don't' get shortness of breath with the leg pain either, but if the edema

does get too bad I have some problems breathing. I also have chronic

asthma, so that probably makes it worse for me.

I don't know how else they diagnose vasculities. Does anyone else out there

have any ideas? I hope this helped some. Like I said this is still new to

me, so I could be wrong on a lot of it. I just wanted to let you know what

my latest doctor has told me. I plan to have it checked out at the

Cleveland Clinic in August so maybe I'll know more then.

Take care and I hope you feel better soon. I've also found that a cold gel

pack on my thigh during the day or evening seems to help with the swelling

and the pain. Sincerely, Fran, still surviving in Florida

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/31/2004 9:11:28 AM Eastern Standard Time,

nabilzing@... writes:

I have been having horrible problems with swelling in my lower legs, ankles,

feet, wrists and hands. The area is sooooo tender, I don't even know how to

explain it.

I also can't walk around too long without my ankles swelling up. It looks

like I have goose eggs taped on to the outside of my ankles after just a short

time. I am on a water pill and I don't think fluid had anything to do with

it. I think it is just one of the symtoms of the PA. It happens to my

knees as well.

Janet