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Q: Relief For Swelling?!
asked by: jaemierin on July 22nd, 2007
Active User, very eHealthy
Please help ladies!!!!!!
I can't take the pain of the swelling anymore in my feet and my hands! I thought I was doing everything possible to try and alleviate it, but nothing is helping??!!!
I am drinking lots of water, putting feet up above heart, soaking hands and feet in cold water, putting ice packs on feet and hands.....it's ridiculous. Some days I wake up and my hands are so sore that it feels like I have arthritis in all my finger joints and knuckles! The frustrating part is that the swelling never goes down...not even for an hour or so Crying or Very sad
Anyone have any idea's or things to try to help the pain? I sooo wish I could take some Advil right now!!!! Obviously the heat we've been having here is not helping, but it doesn't seem as if it's going to cool down anytime soon....... Evil or Very Mad Thanks for listening to this one unhappy water retained swollen mama to be!!!!!!

Sorry - edited to say that I forgot to mention that I am 33 weeks pregnant for those that didn't know!!!! Wink


Last edited by jaemierin on July 22nd, 2007 11:38 PM; edited 1 time in total
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Hollyberries
replied on July 22nd, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
How is your BP? when you say it won't go down makes me think of that. If your BP is fine i bet it's just the heat. i just read your other post about not having a A/C. I bet that is HORRIBLE! I'm scared to see my next electric bill Sad It sounds to me like you are doing about all you can. THere might be something else out there that i might not know about. I hope this gets better for you.
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jaemierin
replied on July 22nd, 2007
Active User, very eHealthy
Thanks.....I just saw my doctor a few days ago and each time I have gone in my bp is good. My hr was 110 / 70 at the last app't, and I sem to be as healthy as can be! No complaining here, but I wish there was a miracle fairy to come and cool me down and take away my swelling and pregnancy aches Laughing Laughing Laughing
Yes - I am about to start hunting down complete strangers and asking them if they have a portable a/c unit in their house that they'd like to sell me b/c right about now, I am willing to give my right foot for one!!!!!! I can still find some that fit right into the window, but I have those funny crank windows that won't work and to get central air installed in my house is like $3,000.00, which I definately don't have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hollyberries
replied on July 22nd, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
lol i know how you feel. I was that way last year. We had a little dinky one that only cooled off the one room. I remember bringing out bed into the living room just to get cooled at night to sleep. But the new place we have now came with one. So we lucked out there. How long until your stores get more in?
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jaemierin
replied on July 22nd, 2007
Active User, very eHealthy
Not sure...but knowing my luck by the time they do get some in, it will no longer be all that hot!!!! It's been about 30 degrees here lately with a high humidity of about 70%. Now it may not seem all that hot, but here in Alberta Canada we are used to some nice summers, no humidity and then we bare with the minus 30 degree weather in the winter, so you can imagine our surprise with the constant heat these past few weeks. I think it even got up to 36 here one day....I thought I was going to melt!!!!!
I've checked all major dep't stores and resorted to calling a/c'ing companies as well, but the whole city is sold out and still no one has any in. You'd think they would rush more in to sell, but I guess that would be too easy!!!!! Rolling Eyes
And at my work, there is the a/c on, but you can't even feel it. I just want to cry most days!!!!!!!! Wink
I am sooo jealous that you have a/c......my g/f has central air in her house and it's almost too cold in there.....I told her the other day that I was moving in for the enxt 7 weeks until either this baby comes, or the weather cools down here!!!! Laughing
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Hollyberries
replied on July 23rd, 2007
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Yeah my grandparents have central air, and i freaking love it! LIke i said before i'm deathly scared to see my next electric bill. I bet it's well over 130$ Sad We have had 107 here in south dakota for the last couple days, and every other day has been 95 . I don't look for it to go down much in the next month though. I really really hate the heat! I used to hate snow, and winter. But the last few years i have learned to love it! lol
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Volaremos
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Experienced User
Hey Jeami sweetie,

I cant believe your 33weeks, wow that was fast Very Happy .

So sorry to hear about the swellings & aches. Hope it all goes away soon.

Hugs
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kaerbear
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Most Diplomatic Poster
you couldn't go stay with someone for a while? you have to be careful. i'm in manitoba and i know about the humidity, we've been having the same weather here the past couple of days. i just snuck into the office at 3 am to turn the a/c on in here and cool off for a while. my guy wanted to give it a rest tonight and open the window in the bedroom instead but i am just cooking. i can't take the heat at all since i've been pregnant. my swelling is really bad too, even my legs are swollen. i've got stretch marks up my knees and thighs from it and my hands are so painful i almost cry some days. i really don't know what i would do if we didn't have this one little dinky a/c window unit. i think i would probably go stay with my mom. if you can't stand it anymore maybe you should look into that. or take cold baths and showers. they say with temps like these, sometimes it's not even good to have a fan blowing on you because it is only blowing more hot air on you and can do you more harm than good. i really feel for you hun, wish you could come and sneak into this cold room with me right now!!
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Kia
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Moderator
I know this may be hard but movement is the key.

the longer you keep still the more you will get swelling.
in the hands/wrists this can be done with gentle shaking them - as if to alleviate pins and needles.

also check your posture and sitting position - if you are putting pressure on your sciatic nerve you will get numbness and/or swelling of the feet/ankles.

try to keep as much movement in your hands/wrist and feet/ankles as possible - if all you can manage is sitting propped up with cushions under your knees while you do figure 8's with your toes - then that's fine.
Do the same with your hands and try to get in some gentle stretching exercises if possible.

If you're more mobile - can you go swimming? the water pressure will help reduce the swelling while supporting your body.
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cln1812
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Active User, very eHealthy
Also, try your best to always sit with your feet elevated, don't sit with your feet flat on the floor. Use a recliner or ottoman or something to prop your legs up, especially if you sit at a desk a lot. Drinking plenty of water is supposed to help with the swelling as does trying to limit salt. You don't want to cut salt completely from your diet, but try not to eat overly salty foods either, I eat Chinese food and my weight goes up 3 lb. the next day due to water retention, I swear because I think the soy sauce & MSG is pretty salty. If you're not too uncomfortable, try to get a little exercise, such as walking, or better, yet, swimming.
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monkeygirl22
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
Are you talking about 36 degrees farenheit? My God! That's considered cold here! I'm from Alabama though. The last few days have been nice here in the 80's but for the last few weeks it was very humid and up in the 100's.
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mamaTT
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
monkeygirl22 wrote:
Are you talking about 36 degrees farenheit? My God! That's considered cold here! I'm from Alabama though. The last few days have been nice here in the 80's but for the last few weeks it was very humid and up in the 100's.


She is in Canada, I'm thinking they use Celcius there.
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musikmaker
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Extremely eHealthy
I have been dealing with swelling too. My doctor told me to keep my feet elevated but that never really seems to work either.

I have found that taking cool baths seems to help a little. The bath also helps with the B/H's too!

I am sorta just living with it. By the end of the night my feet turn red and they hurt to even bend my foot. They are not pretty to look at either. They are getting all cracked if I don't keep enough lotion on them.
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jaemierin
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Active User, very eHealthy
Ahhh thanks Ladies...I am going to do anything and everything everyone mentioned here!!! Thanks for all the advice Kia!
Let's see.....I am trying my best to stay active, but my job is physically demanding, so by the time aI get home from work, all I want to do is sit, but it hurts too much, so I actually do keep moving about all day long.
And let me tell you that I think I am one of the cleanest girls I know....I am taking like 3-6 cool showers a day to try and cool down and relieve the swelling!!!! Laughing
There is a pool somewhat close to my house, so I think I may have to go there some afternoons, but it's pretty ridiculously priced - they charge $12.00 just to go for a swim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vol - is that your belly in your aviatar?! It's sooo cute!!! I want to see pictures girl....you've never posted them, so I'd better see some soon!!!!!

Sorry MG - yes, I meant Celcius......I have no idea how to convert into Farenheit...I'm horrible at it!!! I think it's just freakin' hot everywhere - and they say there's no global warming going on....HA!

K - I wish I could go and stay with my family, but theyt all live in another city. Only my Mother-in-law is here but she lives 45 min's outside of the city and in a small basement suite. If it continues to get hotter and not cool down, I already told the hubby that I am going to stay in a hotel for a few days....I just don't think I can take the heat much longer. I am sweating like crazy just sitting here typing this post - and I have always been a cold person where the heat never bothered me. Ahhh, gotta love pregnancy!!!!!! I would kill to be somewhere cold right now Wink
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kaerbear
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Most Diplomatic Poster
hotel sounds like a great idea. one with a pool. Smile

try this exercise. i do it sometimes and it works a little. put your arm straight out in front of you, palm facing away from you and fingers spread a little.then, take your other hand and just pull back on your fingers a bit. that stretches them back towards you a little bit.

the second one is to make a fist with one hand and hold it in front of you. then, with your other hand out, flat, with the palm down, press down on your fist while resisting with your fist. then do the same only with palm up and pressing upward. i hope that makes some kind of sense. i find the second exercise helps when the pain gets up into my shoulder and elbow.

i sure hope you find a way to cool off soon!
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jaemierin
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Active User, very eHealthy
Thanks - i am going to try that right now!!! You guys are getting this crazy humidity too? What the heck? We are not used to humidity.....especially in Alberta, but I don't think that Manitoba gets that much humidity year round either does it?! I travel there for work a few times a year (Winnipeg) - where do you live?
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musikmaker
replied on July 23rd, 2007
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We are having a nice cool front right now. I am loving it Very Happy
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kaerbear
replied on July 23rd, 2007
Most Diplomatic Poster
i'm in winnipeg and it's pretty humid. i can't really compare though because i've lived in manitoba my whole life. i know that with the humidex our temps go up about 4 or 5 degrees at times so it feels a lot hotter than it is. i've asked a couple of the guys i used to work with, one from egypt and one from ethiopia and both said that it's a lot hotter there but here it is way more humid and sticky.
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Volaremos
replied on July 24th, 2007
Experienced User
jaemierin wrote:


Vol - is that your belly in your aviatar?! It's sooo cute!!! I want to see pictures girl....you've never posted them, so I'd better see some soon!!!!!



Hey Jeami, Yeh thats my bump at 18weeks now i am 23 weeks, Wow time files fast hah.
Once i tried to post those pics but never was able to.

Can you tell me some good sites where i can save my pics & post here.

Thanks Vol.
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jaemierin
replied on July 24th, 2007
Active User, very eHealthy
Volaremos wrote:
jaemierin wrote:


Vol - is that your belly in your aviatar?! It's sooo cute!!! I want to see pictures girl....you've never posted them, so I'd better see some soon!!!!!



Hey Jeami, Yeh thats my bump at 18weeks now i am 23 weeks, Wow time files fast hah.
Once i tried to post those pics but never was able to.

Can you tell me some good sites where i can save my pics & post here.

Thanks Vol.


Mary - go to imagecave.com - that's what I use to post my pic's and it works well and is fast. There's actually a sticky posted on the pregnancy forum about it from Kia. She's listed how to set it upa nd how to use it - it's really easy! Wow, I can't believe that you are 23 weeks already - time does go by waaaayy to fast!!!!!!!!!
Let me know if you get your piccies up!
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