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For months have had complete body edema

Posted By Kim (Lafayette, In) on 07/13/2014

I have been suffering from complete body edema for the past 12 months. Included are my face, arms, abdomen, back, buttox, thighs, calves, ankles, and feet. My legs and feet have severe pitted edema (2+ & 3+). My Dr. has prescribed high doses of Lasix (Furosemide) 80mg twice daily, as well as twice daily doses of Spirinolactone (Aldactone). To date, nothing has helped.

The pain caused by the swelling is severe, and my Dr. tells me to just "wait it out." I have had many, many blood and urine tests, checking kidney function, thyroid, insulin levels, BUN, Creatinine, BMP, etc., and Dr. has called it prerenal azotemia yet does not suggest any remedies. Another Dr. feels I could have liver disease from long-term use of Depakote, which has been stopped in the past month. However, once again, no suggestions of remedies.

I am nearly 5'5" tall and have gone from a healthy size 6, weighing 123 lbs. for over 13 years, to wearing over a size 14, weighing 187 lbs. in past 12 months. Needless to say, the nearly 65 pound weight gain is uncomfortable, and quite honestly, embarassing.

I am currently taking the prescribed diuretics with Potassium supplementation, as well as adding B-6 and B-12 in high doses, multi-vitamins and Calcium+Vit. D. and herbal laxatives. I am on a 1200 calorie/day diet and have been for 6 months, I limit soda intake to 2 cans daily, drink plenty of fluids, eat unprocessed foods, consume little to no sugar, and watch my sodium intake.

I know that all this extra fluid is wreaking havoc on my body, yet I have been unable to find prescribed medications or vitamins that help.

PLEASE HELP!! I am truly miserable with the pain and discomfort, and my self-esteem is shot, weighing 65 pounds more than my normal weight.

Any suggestions to combat this all-over edema would be greatly appreciated!

Replied by Mmsg (Somewhere, Europe) on 07/13/2014

Kim, try eliminating those 2 cans of soda, and try ADDING real sea salt. That helps the cells hold onto water so that the body doesn't have to panic and hold on to the water instead. Also, your caloric intake sounds too little. Don't be afraid of food, just eat when you are hungry and don't when you are not.....Yes, easy to say, hard to do.

Replied by Kt (Usa) on 07/13/2014

Hi Kim, I am going to share what has taken me over two decades to learn, piecemeal. I had to stop eating fresh fruit and vegetables. All have been genetically modified in one way or another. Frozen or canned, without salt, have been picked at their peak and are nutritionally better for me. I have to cook my vegetables until tender.

When I was learning how to weed various hidden sources of MSG out of my food, I found the flowing agent in the salt of canned spinach is what caused me sciatica. The GMO grasses and grains are being fed to critters we eat and get milk or eggs from. Bread is affected too. "Organic" is not better for us. My husband and I went on a free-range, grass-fed diet (meat, milk and eggs) for a few months and we ended up worse off than when we started (i.e., indigestion, kidneys shutting down, UTI's, painful "bladder" and cysts in various places). That was a blessing because it was too expensive to continue.

I had to stop binging on a soda once in awhile (I'm short and can't get away from swelling up with fluid). I had to reduce my portions and go AT LEAST four hours between meals, chugging water to hold me. I was a red meat eater until I learned what the cattle are being fed to get fat. Chickens too but they are not as bad as the beef. That meat can no longer be considered having no carbohydrates. I hope this gives you an idea of what you have to do. I'm sorry, I have to cut this short.

Replied by Mama To Many (Tennessee) on 07/13/2014

Dear Kim,

I am sorry about the edema...that would be very discouraging to the self-esteem, not to mention the pain.

In addition to the other great suggestions, here are a few thoughts...

Dandelion is a great herb for edema. You can make a tea of the leaves or flowers (bought dried) and make a tea. Drink 3-4 cups per day. You can take capsules, but you would need to take quite a few.

Here is a link about using charcoal poultices for edema:

http://www.charcoalremedies.com/charcoal_stories/2011-1

However, I am not sure how you would do this for all over edema. You could try poultices over your liver and kidneys at night. You could try charcoal baths, 3 per week, though it is messy. You could also try charcoal internally, 1 teaspoon daily, 2 hours away from medicine or herbs. You can mix it into 8 ounces of water and drink it. You can do this up to 3 times a day, but it isn't always easy if you are taking a lot of herbs or medicines because you can't take medicines or supplements within 2 hours of the charcoal.

Is any type of exercise possible for you right now? Daily sunshine would also be helpful.

I hope this will be relieved soon. Please keep us posted!

~Mama to Many~

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