Legs swelling!

Help! my legs are swelling despite me being on two 40 mg of lasix a day.

What do you do for your legs?

Joy

Joy,
I agree with Judy about you needing to contact your doctor. For the short term, you could try sleeping with the foot of your bed elevated. Just shove some books or such in between your mattress & box springs. 8-12 inches can make a lot of difference. Besides that, you could try soaking your legs/taking a bath in Epsom salt. Make sure the bath water isn't too hot or that can make swelling worse. There should be instructions on the side of the box on how to mix it in with the soaking water. I think you can also try soaking towels or washcloths in the salt water mix & wrapping you legs with that, followed by a second layer of warm wrap (saran wrap + blankets is best, but pretty much anything will work).

Decreasing Sodium & increasing Potassium (like bananas, tomatoes, potatoes) can also help if you are retaining fluids. Try to be off your feet as much as possible & prop them up whenever you can, even if it's just on top of a box while seated in your cubicle at work. Also, if you can handle it without it affecting your health, take a few days off of exercising.

I hope you feel better real soon. :)

-frances

My feet feel fine. A little cold at times, but fine.
I'm a teacher so I can't put up my feet when I want. My job requires me to walk constantly around the classroom (first grade).
I'm on potassium for the potassium lose due to the lasix being so strong.
I can't elevate my feet because I have to elevate my head for my GERD.
I did have too many sodas this past weekend: 2 on Friday, 2 on Saturday, 1/2 on Sunday.
I don't drink them that much, but I was so thirsty for them.

Joy

Joy,
Please take care of yourself. I used to teach & know how challenging things can be to try to make modifications. I taught all different levels K-12 in both the wealthy suburbs (ugghh!) and the inner city. It is more challenging to try to build your lesson plans around your physical limitations, but it can be done! :)

You only get one body so please treat yourself with the care you deserve. If you ever want to brainstorm ideas to modify your classroom so you can sit more, I've got a bunch -- I had all kinds of fun experiences as a teacher, including one time with 2 broken ankles. In spite of everything, even my remedial kids surpassed the other classes (including the snooty honors kids -- HA!). I 100% agree that in an ideal world you would be moving about the classroom every day. It promotes attention, makes kids feel more included & reduces the need for discipline. There is an advantage to it. But moving about is not a requirement to being a great teacher. :) ... well, that's my 2 cents. take care. :)

hugs,
frances

Joy,
Gosh, he DOES sound like a tyrant. I would think that ADA laws would require him to let you sit whenever needed, but I know that sometimes it's better to not rock the boat. I can totally relate to having children with ADD/ADHD. I had students at both extremes -- medicated students who were normal little boys pre-meds & bordering on catatonic post-meds / unmedicated students who were totally out of control & who had a very undisciplined life at home which only contributed to their chaotic, inattentive behavior in the classroom.

The worst year, I had a really great behavioral reward system that my co-teacher & I had developed. It was working great. Then the stupid school decides that he needs to be on a new program. He was an out-of-control sociopath for the rest of the year. Tormenting the girls, stealing the boys' lunch money, refusing to cooperate with any instructions whatsoever. Everyone just kept justifying it saying that he couldn't help it, but I wasn't buying it. Finally, 3 weeks before the end of the school year we got the district psychiatrist to come in & evaluate him. Her advice: she recommended implementing the exact same program we had him on at the beginning of the year before the principal & "experts" got involved. Go figure.

I am proof though that there is life after teaching. I couldn't stand on my feet all day like I felt I needed to & I left teaching a month or so into my final year. It turned out that being on my feet for more than 5 minutes or so was causing swelling at the base of my brain (birth defect). I got a job 3 days later & it has not always been easy, but I have really been much healthier for making that decision.

But know that we all support you through all the tough choices you face. I hope the swelling continues to go down.

blessings,
frances

Joy,
That sounds like a great plan you've implemented. I'm a firm believer that children will rise up to your expectations (well, maybe not all the way up, but it does make a difference). I will be hoping & praying that it continues to keep the kids calmer & more focused. I totally get about principal coming by, though. I actually had a game I played with my second graders to have them (unwittingly) tip me off whenever someone would see the principal coming. We would play a game of "Silent Sally" where they would all sit up & look attentive -- and they were all competing with each other -- which in turn would tip me off to start moving around the classroom more. God love the kids -- some days I think they have more sense than the administrators. :)

Hope your swelling keeps improving.

hugs & prayers,
frances

I'm a side of belly sleeper, because of back pain from my OA. I'd find sleeping with my legs propped up to be very uncomfortable.

Joy