Swelling ankles...what is excessive???

hi everyone,

i work at a desk job, and i'm sitting a lot, at the end of the day my ankles are so swollen. last night they were pretty puffy and i looked up the symptoms and pre-eclampsia came up. along with a few other symptoms like headaches, right side pain (which i've had once) and flashing lights (same only had once) i started getting very panicky and paranoid. My husband told me just to see how i was feeling today, he's very smart!!
are there any exercises that anyone does to help eliminate swollen ankles?
should i be getting up and walking around?
am a bit paranoid about pre-ecampsia now i'm only 22 weeks. Anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks so much
jenjen

Hi Jen

I have swollen ankles & feet that started Saturday, i'm 27 weeks and a bit worried about PE also.
Swollen ankles i've been told are very common and normal for pregnancy and doesnt necessarily mean you have PE. I find if i elevate my legs and feet at night they are heaps better in the morning.... have you tried sleeping with a pillow under them at night? it's so comfy too. I'm doing this from now on until i give birth.

If concerned get your BP checked out. If mine get any worse that is what i'll be doing.... also the hot weather (depends where you live?) also doesnt help with swelling.... and drink more water i was told.....

Thanks, i slept with the pillow under my feet last night, you're totally right very comfy. My mother-in-law is a nurse and am seeing her tomorrow so will ask her. thanks for your feedback :)

I had swollen feet early on and they got worse as I got further along. Regardless of how puffy they got my doc told me it was completely normal. He wouldn't even give me time off work when I only had two days of work left and could pretty much only walk with barefeet (not exactly nice around the office).

I was really worried about PE but I never got it. My BP stayed normal throughout and at my age I was a high risk for high BP & I thought the swelling so early would lead to it. It never did.

As soon as you get home put your feet up above your head. Lie down on the couch with your feet on the armrest & you will find it helps heaps. At first my swelling went down overnight but later on it didn't.

If you are worried go get your BP checked - even if it's just at a bulk billing clinic (I think some chemists check it too).

A work friend had PE & she said you'd know it if you got it. She had swollen feet, swollen hands & her face blew up like a balloon. She also put on a stack of weight overnight like 10 or 15 kgs - something ridiculous - all from the extra fluid.

Ok with my DS I too had swallen feet.. I did end up with a too higher BP and was induesed but this didnt happen until much further on, but it does start with swallen feet... If you press your feet and you make a dimple which takes a fair bit of time to return to normal then go to the doctor to have it checked out... Which if you are worried about it you should do anyway... But just remember that stressing out will give you a high BP aswell so try your best to carm yourself before you go... Plus see if there is anyway you can put your feet up while at work as if your feet are elavated this helps to reduce the swelling...

Best of luck and remember to relax...