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What Causes Persistent Swelling In Leg With Abdominal Bloating While On A Birth Control Pill?
Question: I have written here before.
My symptoms have progressively gotten worse since XXXXXXX of this year.
Things started going wrong in XXXXXXX when I had an overuse type of injury to my right knee and the next day I went to the ER because it swelled like a grapefruit. ER doc said it would go away so just rest. It never went away and I had persistent swelling of the leg and the knee.
They would not find a reason why that was.
A month later I started having swelling in both legs. I was diagnosed with pitting edema as well. I saw vascular and my EKG and ECG were both normal. My ABI was normal. Blood tests normal. Still cannot figure it out.
I can wake up feeling swollen. My calves, knees, thighs, back of thighs, buttocks all feel swollen.
The swelling gets even worse while exercising to the point where my upper thighs feel they are filled with fluid and feel heavy. They get so swollen to the point where I cannot even feel my muscle working when I lift weights. My shoes I bought a while ago were very loose when I bought them to the point I was mad I bought them. They are tighter than ever now.
I went on a plant based diet to lose weight with roughly 1,800 calories, a 5 day lifting regimen, and cardio session and I gained weight. I was on the Wahl's protocol which is a heavy veggie based diet with proteins and such. I was on this for a month and I gained weight. No cheating.
Fast forward about two more months later and I am starting to feel tingling and numbness in my calves, feet, and buttocks area. One night I could barely feel my feet.
Now I have temperature sensitivity. I woke up feel freezing and it was 71 in my house. It is not cold outside either. My roommate was warm. My arms and legs feel like they are on fire...like a blow torch grazing my skin. It is jarring like when someone punches another in the stomach or electrical shocking type of feeling. I feel that in my neck, throat, and chest. It is painful.
I had an MRI of my abdomen and pelvis. All came back normal. I had a Doppler ultrasound of my legs. Normal.
I have suffered from depression for years and I have enough experience with my mind and body to know it is NOT psychological. I have NEVER experienced this before.
My Neurology department and ER take one look at my file and immediately have a medical record acquired bias of my symptoms all because I have a history of depression.
I am at my wit's end and my symptoms are progressing. I am so uncomfortable and now it is painful! Please I am begging for some help!
Oh and they suggested I get off birth control. I am compliant with that and I have noticed nothing except a large increase in bloating, abdominal pain, more weight gain, and increase in libido. :(
My symptoms have progressively gotten worse since XXXXXXX of this year.
Things started going wrong in XXXXXXX when I had an overuse type of injury to my right knee and the next day I went to the ER because it swelled like a grapefruit. ER doc said it would go away so just rest. It never went away and I had persistent swelling of the leg and the knee.
They would not find a reason why that was.
A month later I started having swelling in both legs. I was diagnosed with pitting edema as well. I saw vascular and my EKG and ECG were both normal. My ABI was normal. Blood tests normal. Still cannot figure it out.
I can wake up feeling swollen. My calves, knees, thighs, back of thighs, buttocks all feel swollen.
The swelling gets even worse while exercising to the point where my upper thighs feel they are filled with fluid and feel heavy. They get so swollen to the point where I cannot even feel my muscle working when I lift weights. My shoes I bought a while ago were very loose when I bought them to the point I was mad I bought them. They are tighter than ever now.
I went on a plant based diet to lose weight with roughly 1,800 calories, a 5 day lifting regimen, and cardio session and I gained weight. I was on the Wahl's protocol which is a heavy veggie based diet with proteins and such. I was on this for a month and I gained weight. No cheating.
Fast forward about two more months later and I am starting to feel tingling and numbness in my calves, feet, and buttocks area. One night I could barely feel my feet.
Now I have temperature sensitivity. I woke up feel freezing and it was 71 in my house. It is not cold outside either. My roommate was warm. My arms and legs feel like they are on fire...like a blow torch grazing my skin. It is jarring like when someone punches another in the stomach or electrical shocking type of feeling. I feel that in my neck, throat, and chest. It is painful.
I had an MRI of my abdomen and pelvis. All came back normal. I had a Doppler ultrasound of my legs. Normal.
I have suffered from depression for years and I have enough experience with my mind and body to know it is NOT psychological. I have NEVER experienced this before.
My Neurology department and ER take one look at my file and immediately have a medical record acquired bias of my symptoms all because I have a history of depression.
I am at my wit's end and my symptoms are progressing. I am so uncomfortable and now it is painful! Please I am begging for some help!
Oh and they suggested I get off birth control. I am compliant with that and I have noticed nothing except a large increase in bloating, abdominal pain, more weight gain, and increase in libido. :(
Brief Answer:
You may try an alternative birth control pill
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking once again on HealthcareMagic.
I have very carefully gone through the entire query. Indeed birth control pills are ill known for the side effect of causing weight gain. Yaz (Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol) is a birth control pill which causes less weight gain and can be tried if you are not in a position to be off birth control pills. Alongside your thyroid levels need to be checked (if not done already) as hypothyroidism is known to cause reduced metabolism and thereby weight gain.
The cause of pitting edema needs to be looked into. A liver function test should give some insight in this regard. Your blood pressure needs to be checked and could have a role to play.
I understand that you are in pain but would be glad if you specify details about the pain and where the it is located. You have multiple ailments and I would be glad if you mention specifically the issues on which I could help you.
Regards
You may try an alternative birth control pill
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking once again on HealthcareMagic.
I have very carefully gone through the entire query. Indeed birth control pills are ill known for the side effect of causing weight gain. Yaz (Drospirenone and Ethinyl Estradiol) is a birth control pill which causes less weight gain and can be tried if you are not in a position to be off birth control pills. Alongside your thyroid levels need to be checked (if not done already) as hypothyroidism is known to cause reduced metabolism and thereby weight gain.
The cause of pitting edema needs to be looked into. A liver function test should give some insight in this regard. Your blood pressure needs to be checked and could have a role to play.
I understand that you are in pain but would be glad if you specify details about the pain and where the it is located. You have multiple ailments and I would be glad if you mention specifically the issues on which I could help you.
Regards
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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