Awkward. . . the anti-NSV

ILiftHeavyAcrylics
ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
So I had my rheumatologist appointment today at 11 am (which is 1 pm in rheumatologist time). I had to get up and drive 4 hours to my appointment and for some reason when I'm in the car that long my legs swell really badly. So normally I go up the night before, stay in a hotel, and see him the next morning, but this time I decided to do my driving the day of appointment. All that water weight ended up making my weigh in 4 lbs over what I weighed day before yesterday! Wow! You can totally see it too, my ankles are really swollen,

Anyway, the Dr looks at my chart and goes "do you know why you've gained 4 lbs since your last visit?" and I had to be like "ummm I'm retaining water, I guess?" and roll my pants legs up to show him how swelled up I am. Talk about the anti-NSV.

I drank 10 glasses of water and nothing with caffeine yesterday hoping to avoid this very phenomenon. Am I the only one whose legs swell when you travel? I know I'm dehydrated today because it's almost 9 pm and I'm still so thirsty. I guess it was the sodium in the restaurant food I got. I was good enough to split my sub over two meals and get it without mayo but I know my sodium was still through the roof. He wrote me a prescription for a stronger fluid pill, so I guess it's not normal.

Replies

  • Shannonigans84
    Shannonigans84 Posts: 693 Member
    Flying really makes me swell, long car rides do too. It goes away by the next day so I've never been concerned.
  • mistresseeyore
    mistresseeyore Posts: 717 Member
    My Mother gained 40 pounds of water weight while she was in the hospital after having surgery. So yeah I would say it can happen. Her doctor put her back on her fluid pills and it's all gone. Talk about 40 pounds in 7 days!
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    Wow that makes me feel better about my measly 4 pounds. Thanks :)
  • newmommynewfitme
    newmommynewfitme Posts: 89
    Don't worry about it , it will be gone tomorrow or the next day! I carry water weight something terrible, ranging from a few pounds to 30 lbs before! It drives me insane . What of pill does your doctor give you ? My doctor has never offered me anything for it , just tells me it will get better once I'm totally off the prednisone .
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I think prednisone would cancel out what I take. It's called furosemide (generic name, not sure what the name brand is) and I was taking 20 mg. He upped it to 40 mg per day and then told me I could take two if I knew it was going to be a bad day. Another one I've taken is Torsemide (spelling?) and it washed the potassium out of my system so I had to stop taking it. Plus any of those meds lowers your blood pressure, potentially dangerously, so it's important that your doctor monitors that.

    When I had my photosensitivity reaction last summer my legs were twice their normal size and I was at the beach so it was really embarrassing. Just another one of the joys of lupus.
  • Dawnomite
    Dawnomite Posts: 37 Member
    Lasix is the brand name.

    I retain fluid a lot too. It's insane. I also usually try to drink way over my 8 cups daily and still can't shed it.
  • heathermnrd
    heathermnrd Posts: 73
    that happened to me when i was first diagnosed with lupus...i gained like 10lbs in 2 days and when i flew to nh my legs and feet blew up. i ended up in the hospital for like 2 days. they said the water retention was from swollen kidneys... a high dose of prednisone did help...i think i was on like 80 mg...
  • nighthawke
    nighthawke Posts: 45 Member
    Pardon my ignorance, but what does NSV mean?
  • libland
    libland Posts: 284 Member
    I wear compression socks when I travel. It really helps to keep down the swelling.
  • jbqueen
    jbqueen Posts: 89 Member
    Pardon my ignorance, but what does NSV mean?

    It stands for "non-scale victory", meaning it's some sort of achievement (for example, inches lost, or finally fitting into a particular size) that isn't expressed as weight loss on the scale.
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    The last time I was on an airplane, I got cankles from it. (Where there is no distinction between your calf and ankle.)

    I usually don't have problems with car rides though.

    I have had some issues with swelling off and on at work though. I have a desk job, and when I sit too long I retain. I showed my doctor what was going on, and after several expensive tests, I was told to "suck it up."
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    When my lower legs swelled up after I walked for five solid days, bookended with 8 hour drives there and back I lay on my back with my legs elevated for a couple of days and it helped immensely.
  • ansonrinesmith
    ansonrinesmith Posts: 741 Member
    I wear over the calf socks anytime I'm wearing jeans. It really keeps my ankles from swelling.
  • Amber82479
    Amber82479 Posts: 629 Member
    I have a lot of swelling issues with my hands and feet... I haven't found a way to keep it from happening though. Any time I sit for long periods or if I'm walking too much, walking in heat/humidity, etc... I drink loads of water, but it doesn't help. The only thing I've found that helps is a mild diuretic.
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