Extreme water retention??

nettiklive

Want to hear from people, women in particular, who have experienced something similar. I have already talked to my doctor and she didn't suggest anything useful.

I have been monitoring my weight, calorie intake, exercise, and most importantly overall appearance for a couple of decades now, through two pregnancies and other things, so I'm not a newbie to this and I have maintained my desired weight for long enough that I have an idea of how the process works.
What I didn't understand for a long time however, is how my body at times seems to defy the laws of physics. After having many paradoxical periods of my life where I could not shed a pound on an extremely low calorie intake (yes not healthy I know), and others where I ate without counting anything and have not gained a single pound, and after observing again and again extreme differences in the way my body looks over a period clearly too short to be gaining and losing this much fat, I am finally coming to realize this is only possible due to extreme water weight fluctuations.
I know about weight fluctuations so I don't pay much attention to the scale. But what's bothering me is that mine are so clearly visible on my small frame, particularly in my face and legs which are my trouble spots. I can literally go from looking good to looking extremely puffy and swollen in my legs and face overnight, and I am shocked at some of the differences I see in pictures spaced only days apart. This is expected around my cycle (when it can get really severe, like 7-10 lbs), but it's happening other times too and sometimes the bloating sticks around for weeks to where I freak out that it's real fat gain, in spite of my diet not changing; and then it's suddenly just as quickly gone in a couple of weeks; and then it's there again, and I can't find rhyme or reason. I HATE how I look at the bloated stage and it's severely affecting my self esteem. I drink a ton of water and I'm often extremely thirsty all the time, not sure if it's related (sugar levels normal). I am thinking looking into diuretics but not sure if it's safe or recommended. Attaching some side by side pictures so you can see what I'm talking about - these are only two or so weeks apart (different times)!! I know lighting is a bit different but I don't think THAT different to account for it. That can't be normal right?? WHAT gives???

LyndaBSS

Hi, sorry you're feeling frustrated.

If the swelling were just in your legs, my guess would be edema. That said, I've never heard of facial edema. I suffer from idiopathic edema. I've seen numerous doctors about it and none of them knows the cause.

DO NOT EVER start taking diuretics without a prescription. You need to carefully balance diuretics with your potassium level.

So, I don't know. I think it's time for a visit with your doctor. ❤

playadelcarmen2

I have the same problem. With my legs, it looks like cellulite. It's not, I've noticed the more I'm on my feet the worse it gets. I hope someone has an answer.

peggy_polenta

i would wonder if its cardiac related and maybe you need a cardiac work up. if your heart isn't working properly, it won't push the fluids up and out and swelling in the legs can be an indicator (coupled with other symptoms) or kidney related. i would be reluctant to take otc diuretics in the event that i may be one of these two things.

LyndaBSS

playadelcarmen2 wrote: »

I have the same problem. With my legs, it looks like cellulite. It's not, I've noticed the more I'm on my feet the worse it gets. I hope someone has an answer.

The answer is easy. See your doctor.

kshama2001

nettiklive wrote: »

Want to hear from people, women in particular, who have experienced something similar. I have already talked to my doctor and she didn't suggest anything useful....

Keep pressing your doctor - have you shown her the pictures? If she continues to not be useful, see another doctor.

LyndaBSS

I would suggest a nephrologist. They can check your kidneys for function.

As someone who gained over 60 pounds of fluid due to idiopathic edema, I can honestly say that I don't see a huge difference in your photos. If you do, perhaps some form of therapy could help.

Best wishes. ❤

Five0Six

I strongly agree with all of the above commenters. That looks like more than regular period water-weight.

A few years ago I gained a ton of edema - and it started in my ankles, legs, and face. I found out shortly after that I was suffering from kidney failure. Your case might not be near as severe, but it may point to organ trouble. If you can catch it early, you might avoid a bunch of serious problems down the line.

Also DEFINITELY do not do diuretics, either prescription, herbal, diet-induced, etc without talking to your doctor. That could mess up with your electrolytes and cause major problems. (I once was on too high a dose of a diuretic. My potassium level dropped too low and I wound up in the ICU.)

nettiklive

LyndaBSS wrote: »

I would suggest a nephrologist. They can check your kidneys for function.

As someone who gained over 60 pounds of fluid due to idiopathic edema, I can honestly say that I don't see a huge difference in your photos. If you do, perhaps some form of therapy could help.

Best wishes. ❤

60 lbs?! And they never found a reason?? Was it sudden or gradual?

What happened after? Did it resolve on its own or did you get treatment?

I feel this is something that's not talked about enough. It's just now dawning on me, that this must be the reason for so many of these horror stories I've heard and read, of health issues or meds causing extreme and uncontrollable weight gain. I've seen this happen to people on steroids, a slim athletic 120 lb woman who gained something like 90 lbs in two months with no change in diet or activity, or people with hypothyroid who would be gaining weight non stop every single day despite eating very little. It's always been a nightmare of mine, and I kept wondering how it could be possible to defy cico like that and now it's occuring to me it could all be fluid. I myself gained a stubborn ten or so lbs years ago on BC pills, that wouldn't budge, and then about six months after I went off them, whoosh - they were gone pretty literally overnight. Yet I'm seeing very little info about it anywhere. These issues need to be better known.

LyndaBSS

Right before it happened, I had used an over the counter colon cleanse product. After years of testing, including cardiac, kidney and all kinds of other diagnostic tests, they believe that colon cleanse weakened my adrenal glands.

I was put on two diuretics and a potassium supplement. It's now been over 10 years and I still carry the weight. If I don't take the diuretics, I put on roughly 3 lbs of water per day.

It's been rough. If the balance of potassium flushed doesn't balance perfectly with the potassium supplement, I'm hospitalized.

RelCanonical

nettiklive wrote: »

LyndaBSS wrote: »

I would suggest a nephrologist. They can check your kidneys for function.

As someone who gained over 60 pounds of fluid due to idiopathic edema, I can honestly say that I don't see a huge difference in your photos. If you do, perhaps some form of therapy could help.

Best wishes. ❤

60 lbs?! And they never found a reason?? Was it sudden or gradual?

What happened after? Did it resolve on its own or did you get treatment?

I feel this is something that's not talked about enough. It's just now dawning on me, that this must be the reason for so many of these horror stories I've heard and read, of health issues or meds causing extreme and uncontrollable weight gain. I've seen this happen to people on steroids, a slim athletic 120 lb woman who gained something like 90 lbs in two months with no change in diet or activity, or people with hypothyroid who would be gaining weight non stop every single day despite eating very little. It's always been a nightmare of mine, and I kept wondering how it could be possible to defy cico like that and now it's occuring to me it could all be fluid. I myself gained a stubborn ten or so lbs years ago on BC pills, that wouldn't budge, and then about six months after I went off them, whoosh - they were gone pretty literally overnight. Yet I'm seeing very little info about it anywhere. These issues need to be better known.

Fluid retention can be pretty insane for sure! BC pills actually made me drop my water weight, lol.

lorrpb

LyndaBSS wrote: »

Right before it happened, I had used an over the counter colon cleanse product. After years of testing, including cardiac, kidney and all kinds of other diagnostic tests, they believe that colon cleanse weakened my adrenal glands.

I was put on two diuretics and a potassium supplement. It's now been over 10 years and I still carry the weight. If I don't take the diuretics, I put on roughly 3 lbs of water per day.

It's been rough. If the balance of potassium flushed doesn't balance perfectly with the potassium supplement, I'm hospitalized.

I'm sorry that happened to you. Hopefully someone else can understand why cleanse products are discouraged by many on here.

LyndaBSS

Thank you @lorrpb

EthanJeremiahsMama

I feel your frustration!! My thighs and face are the first to gain weight and any water retention is highly noticeable in those areas. Even while trying Keto for 2 weeks straight — when I would eat high sodium foods it would still show. Now I’m back to eating foods with not as much sodium and it seems to be working for me so far. It’s crazy what water retention can do!

nooboots

I cant really see the pictures properly because theres a pattern on the mirror, but even with that, they dont look too much different

DKLI

I don’t get my period any more but I would get leg swelling during my TOM and taking Ibuprofin for the cramps made it worse, especially when sitting down for long periods of time. I craved salty foods so of course it wasn’t pretty all around.

spiriteagle99

Do you monitor your sodium? Do you monitor your urinary output? You said you feel thirsty a lot, but are you actually dehydrated (i.e. dark urine or insufficient output)?

I'll echo those who said to go back to your doctor. Heart or kidney issues can cause fluid retention and if your weight is going up and down a lot, unrelated to diet or exercise, then you need some answers.