h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Great Guide entry, just what i needed, i'm sitting here at 6am 'cos i couldn't sleep because the wretched ballon legs strike again. It really is a *total* pain isn't it?

I've been on Aldactone for years, doesn't seem to be doing much anymore...as someone else said, the legs are relatively normal when i've rested with them up on pillows, but as soon as i start walking/standing/sitting ...booompf: out they go!

I've had umpteen heart tests, apparently that's OK.

I've been on evil antibiotics for months now, since an accident to my left leg caused cellulitis; now, i can understand why that one should swell up, but why the other one also? Maybe it's coming out in sympathy? Also, my tum is swollen, yet i don't eat much.

I'll certainly have a go with pineapple juice, won't do any harm at least & i do suspect i am somewhat dehydrated much of the time (yeah, you guessed, i hate water also, especially tap water, full of chlorine & lord knows what...my in France said "To be honest, you'd be safer drinking than tap water."...but excsss alcohol can screw your liver up & that can also cause oedema!

Any advice/experiences very welcome before i go balloning off into outer space!

zdt

I am not a medical expert but I just suffered from elephant feet, as you know. Three trips to see my friend Ruth at the local Spiritualist Church sorted me out, my feet are back to normal. I also hate tap water, I filter it then add some juice to a glass, lemon squash is nice, I find. I can only manage one glass a day though, then back to

I don't like to hear that you've been on antibiotics so long are you taking live yogurt? Becuase antibiotics kill good bacteria too, and you may have a thrush infection.

I do have heart problems, been on statins and atenolol for years now. I believe they have extended my life since I had all the signs of heart disease, blue lips and fingernails, and ankle swelling (is why I wrote this entry). But this year is the first time my feet swelled like balloons and all the said was knock the anti-inflammatories on the head (which I did) but then with Ruth working on me, I could say which was the best treatment.

Is there a well-woman clinic near you?

I've been on the damn things because during a trip abroad i had a nasty encounter with a piece of wood on my (already bad) leg, which once i finally got to see a they originally claimed might be a thrombosis; they wanted 200 euro to check that out & it would have meant leaving me behind alone in a country where i don't speak the language, not medically insured etc etc.

So we made it back here, went to see my own doc, who said "no way is that a thrombosis, it's cellulitis...deep tissue injury, which unfortunately can take ages to heal & the only thing you can do is take antibiotics; i know you hate them, it's up to you to weigh the side effects against the loss of mobility" (By that stage, i could barely walk, even putting my leg out of bed was agony; needed wheelchair on ferries etc.)

I have to say, it seems to be slowly getting better, ie: don't have great gaping oozing yukky holes in my leg now, but i decided yesterday "enough is enough" & stopped the antibiotics; the tummy problems & yes, thrush, were just getting me down so much.

I know about the yogurt thing, unfortunately, i only like yogurt when it's with a curry & since the antibios were causing me to go to the loo so much, was disinclined to add curry poos to the equation!

I tried the pineapple juice today, got around half litre down me, it may be my imagination, but legs seemed less swollen during the day. Now it's nightime, they seem back to ballons; we'll see how they are in the morning.

How are yours doing now?

zdt

There is a yogurt called "Onken" which has several different flavours, can you try some of that? The strawberry and the passion fruit are both good

Mine are perfect... I drink pineapple juice every day, without fail. I'm not going back on the anti-inflammatories, (although said I could reduce them, not stop taking them altogether) and take paracetomol instead.

Last night I even managed to attend my sister's hen meal in high heels!

Wow!!!Congratulations! I'm pretty much limited to wellies, sandals or slippers (rather affects my choice of outfits...)

P, bless him, massaged my legs tonight, it really seems to have helped a lot. I'm still drinking pineapple juice,it's one of the few fruity things i quite like, naughty little vegetarian aren't i?

Hey, GB, did you see the stars last night? Maybe different where you are, but here was incredible, very clear, there seemed to be a view of the entire universe, could even see the Milky Way. We're lucky of course 'cos no street lighting. P is thinking of setting up his telescope in the porch, which now has new glass roof & some windows, so we'd be able to stargaze even in Winter, apparently he's been able to see Jupiter 's moons quite clearly in the past...wow!

zdt