Hi everyone,
sorry i haven't been in touch for a while . My mum suffers constantly with oedema. I am not a doctor so can only speak from my own experience. Mum was told she should rest with her legs raised above the level of her hips to reduce the swelling. Based on theory water runs downhill i think. However this does seem to help a great deal , but when she on her feet for any period of time the swelling starts again. She was also prescribed water tablets . Swollen ankles are replaced by constant dashes to the toilet , but at least she's not in so much pain. I know that there are lots of reasons for oedema but in mums case her medication seems to play a large part. Mum takes medication for high blood pressure a side effect of which seems to be fluid rentention , so she then takes water tablets to counteract this. I don't know what other health problems your husband has but it might be worth checking the small print on his medication if he takes any . I'm sure the doctor will be able to advise.
On a practical note , apart from raising & resting her legs mum finds it more comfortable to avoid shoes when in doors . Her slippers are open backed & i found slipper socks with the rubber soles are comfortable for her. A foot spar also seems to help & mum enjoys this , or massaging her feet with moisturiser.Herbalists say that geranium oil is good for swollen ankles. I've not tried this myself but might be worth considering , though perhaps check with gp first. I've also been told that eating garlic & onions help (but a bit smelly) though celery is also surposed to be good for fluid retention (i don't know why , but it can't harm). We thought that if mum reduced her fluid intake it might help but the gp said no.They advised to drink lots of fluid , especially water but to try to reduce things like caffeine, eg tea , coffee , coke. Does your husband suffer from night cramps in his legs ? Mums feet & ankles were so swollen at one point she could hardly walk but are now much better if not completely cured.Though this does seem to depend on how active she has been . One last thing , mum has a terrible habit of crossing her ankles , something i nag her about as this is bad for circulation so doesn't help. I find that by resting her feet on a soft cushion , pillow , or towel etc the physical barrier of the cushion between her feet seems to help remind her not to cross them.
Hope this is some help Joy & the doctors can sort things out.
Take care
Helen