Home > Ailments > Bloating > Bloating Q&A > 87 year old has severe fluid retention in legs
87 year old has severe fluid retention in legsPosted By Gb0949 (Phoenix, Usa) on 02/29/2012
Any suggestions on how to get the fluid build up out of her legs? She has a history of heart disease, so my concern is congestsive heart failure if she doesn't get rid of water. Doc says she can only have 32 oz of water perday, but does not have her on any dieretic like she did before because her sodium levels dropped when she had her on some RX that was "supposed" to help her. It did NOT reduce the build up in the legs, so she isn't taking anything for it.
They are keeping her legs wrapped 24 hours a day, no air gets to them. I had her using a blend I made with essential oils, Aloe Vera as the carrier for it and they were looking good. Then she went to doc and he wrapped her legs in some type of "wrap dipped in something" but never told her what. Her legs then started to "leak".. Every step she took she left a water trail. Now she also has an opening in the lower leg that was closing up, but since it's been wrapped it's leaking water and literally soaking the ace bandages, and socks she wears to the point of having to take them off and washing them, and again leaving water puddles everywhere she walks.
I've tried everything I know. My concern is the size of her legs and that they are wrapped 24 hrs a day and they don't seem to be getting better like they were when she was using the natural stuff I was giving her.
Today the doc said if she does NOT lose weight (she is frail already but gained 20lbs in water weight) she is putting her back in hospital, which is the worse place she could be as far as I'm concerned. She does have diabetes as well, but it's under control, UNLESS she is in the Hospital and it always seems to go high there and they want to give her insulin. She has never been on insulin except when she is in a hospital.
Any suggestions at all to reduce that water retention in the next couple of days? Need help as soon as possible.
New to this website so not sure how to get the messages when you answer. Hope I can get them soon.
Thank you for your help and advise.. looking forward to getting some input.
Replied by Debbie (Melbourne, Australia ) on 02/29/2012
08/25/2008: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Tina:
The simple ACV remedy is a rather mild remedy for fluid retention. However the ones most people used is a mixture of ACV with baking soda, such as 2 tablespoon of ACV with 1/4 (or 1/2) teaspoon of baking soda in a half glass of water.
A stronger remedy that is easily found is in the green tea about a glass, although this may lead to some constipation if taken too much, but it is helpful in reducing certain internal congestions from fats.
A more stronger one that I used is dissolving 250 mg of lithium carbonate in a one liter of water and drink only just 1/4 glass of water 2 or 3 times a day. This at least for me is a powerful diuretic because a small amount of lithium displaces sodium in the body, much like a potassium would.
An electrolyte imbalance may also be the cause of fluid retention in which case, potassium bicarbonate or potassium citrate will help displace some sodium. Although this remedy requires 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon of potassium bicarbonate.
For an emergency remedy against a fluid retention is the taking of a laxative, where I prefer milk of magnesia taken as per instruction of the bottle. Those will cause reduction of fluids by laxative effect instead of the pressure put on kidneys. Most teas are also generally diuretic in effect too. A watermelon tea is also diuretic, if they do have it.
A fluid retention often is the congestion of certain organs sometimes it is the kidney sometimes it is the liver. A granulated lecithin therefore will help reduce some of those congestion.
Another simpler remedy that reduces some kidney congestion is simply an usweetened lemon juice mixed with water as the citric acid component or citrates when it is reacted with baking soda reduces calcium buildup in the kidney and help reduce fluid retention.
In some rare cases of liver congestion a hot castor oil pack on the liver or abdomen may help, or it is used only in small amount of castor oil to cause a laxative. When stools are loose fluid retention is reduced.
In many pharmaceutical applications in reducing fluid retention I have noticed they used digestive enzymes to reduce congestion by allowing these digestive enzymes to digest the congestions, such as liver and other areas. Common digestive enzymes for me is lemon, papaya, and digestive enzyme supplements sold in some health food stores are also convenient. Eating watermelon is also diuretic.
In the long run reducing congestions is most helpful especially from liver cirrhosis and fatty liver buildup and supplementing of lecithin 1 tabelspoon three times a day helps. In event the fluid retention also have varicose veins, then it might be quercetin and curcumin due to excessive blood thickening congestion which leads to fluid retention. Lavender applied to the kidney or lavender tea might help in relieving circulation or inflammation of the kidneys.
Read more remedies in the below link:
Replied by Carly (Seattle, Wa - Usa) on 02/29/2012
It went away when she stopped taking it. The doctors NEVER connected it - I did! Shocking.
You want to look up the side effects of every drug your mom is taking - and hopefully one will stand out as the culprit... and it will be as easy for your mom to correct as my moms was.
Good luck. ~Carly
Replied by Sal (San Jose, Ca) on 03/01/2012
Replied by Trudi (Brookfield, Wisconsin) on 03/01/2012
Replied by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 03/02/2012
1. have you looked into IBT - inclined bed therapy? It works for me even when the head of the bed isn't even 6 inches high, but less.
2. It has been said that the body retains fluid when it is in panic mode when it thinks it will not get enough water. So the tiny amount of water she is being given, might be compounding the problem.
When I was pregnant, my (old-fashioned) doctor said to drink a glass of water and get into bed with feet raised. Within an hour I would have to urinate and the swelling will go down. It worked. If I had to repeat, I would repeat as needed.
Replied by Jan (Palm Bay, Florida, Brevard/ Usa) on 03/02/2012
Replied by Cat (Papamoa, New Zealand) on 03/02/2012
Replied by Francisca (Zug, Switzerland) on 03/03/2012
Replied by Robin (Yellowknife, Nt Canada) on 10/07/2012
Replied by J (Clearwater, Fl) on 06/21/2013
Replied by Fran (Tennessee ) on 08/13/2018
Papaya seeds are miracles, as well as water melon or canary seedsReplied by Timmay Texas (Fort Worth Texas) on 06/25/2013
Yes may be heart and medication... Try something very simple. This got my puffy ankles to go away.... Starting in a week. It was listed here under PHLEBITIS. I buy a bunch of lemons medium to large... Squeeze as much juice out of one whole lemon. With pulp. No seeds. Half teaspoon of baking soda. Let it fizzle up and then fill with 6 to 8 oz water down it. Do it again before bed. I take each squeezed out half lemon and sprinkle a good pinch in each half. Take one and brush my teeth (cheap teeth whitener. In a few days) and brush teeth fo r acouple minutes. Spit rinse. The other squeezed half with a paste of baking soda and lemon juice and do a face scrub... 10 minutes wash off. Lemon and baking soda is spectacular to ALKALIZE INSIDE AN DOUTSIDE THE BODY! Best to your Momma!Replied by Anon (Usa) on 08/15/2018
When I was taking aspirin and coffee together before work every day my legs swelled and I got varicose veins. Stopping them both made it go away. Taking high doses of vitamin e and c improve the feeling of circulation in my legs. Garlic helps, too.
