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What Causes Swelling In The Leg And Feet?
Question: Hi. I am 7 days post op. I had my gall bladder removed. It was enlarged (the size of a baking potato) and full of stones. I had laproscopic surgery and am not really having any more than a little bloating and tenderness around my incisions. (3 total) However, my hands, feet and legs are swollen. If I get up and move around, I puff up and my legs, from the knees down (both sides) ache. If I elevate my legs, above my heart for an extended amount of time the swelling goes down..but as soon as I'm up, they start swelling again immediately. I have watched my diet with fatty and salt intake. I'm 42, overall healthy and am not over weight. Why am I swelling 7 days post op? Yes, I called my surgeons office. The nurse said prop my legs all day for 48 hours and call the Thursday morning if there is no change. Help...
Brief Answer:
Post-lap cholecystectomy Swollen hand and legs /Under Evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Brief Ans-Post-lap cholecystectomy Swollen hand and legs /Under Evaluation
Hi,Dear !! Thanks for Your query to HCM.
Read and reviewed your query facts and understood your health concerns.
Dear I don't have any first hand check up data.Still in the given scenario, I would try to explain the probable cause of swollen hands/legs and feet.
On review of submitted facts,
Cause of leg and feet swelling-could be from -
post-operative hypoproteinaemia due to chronic slow bleeding in post-operative period(though your query does not specify any history about time of occurrence of these complaints after operation.
or/ Could be from pre-existing anaemia/hypoproteinemia-which was marginal and has increased in post-op period,
or could be due to post operative huge hematoma compressing on IVC(inferior Vena Cava /
Do's Suggested-
Consults with Attending or Second Surgeon's Opinion and work up with Specialist Physician would be needed to find out the cause of these hand and leg swellings in uneventful post-Chole surgical period.
Get CT abdomen study to detect the hidden chronic bleed leading to post-op anaemia / hypo-proteinemia -
or -chronic hematoma compressing IVC
Cause of swollen hands could be from -thrombophlebitis or from fluid/salt imbalance from post-operative fluid infusions.
Other causes need to be investigated with Consults from Physician and attending Surgeon.
My Opinion in your case-
From the given data, you seem to suffer from -high salt and fluid infusion induced imbalance, or from other causes suggested herein above.
If you give more details, exact cause and its probabilities could be worked out for further investigations later on.
Await this and more details which you can give soon.
Awaiting to get more detailed information soon,after which tentative /or specific replies would be given.
Next appointment-
For any emergency or for Follow up after 2-3 weeks after trial of investigations on the lines suggested,for further review of your health concerns,if need be.
Dear, Hope this reply would help you to resolve your health issues and its worries, with help of your doctors there.
Welcome for any further query in this regard.
If need be, update any health issue 24 x 7 by a direct question to ME, at following HCM link-http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=70229
Dear, if satisfied, Don't forget to close this query with YOUR pleasing and excellent feedback comments to rate this reply, to boost the morale of incoming Emergency patients like YOU, at HCM services.
Keep Me updated,if you want to update more details and ask more update queries ,
You are most Welcome herewith !!
Good Day!!
Wishing Good Healthy Life in time to come!!
Dr.Savaskar M.N. XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist
M.S.Genl-CVTS
Post-lap cholecystectomy Swollen hand and legs /Under Evaluation
Detailed Answer:
Brief Ans-Post-lap cholecystectomy Swollen hand and legs /Under Evaluation
Hi,Dear !! Thanks for Your query to HCM.
Read and reviewed your query facts and understood your health concerns.
Dear I don't have any first hand check up data.Still in the given scenario, I would try to explain the probable cause of swollen hands/legs and feet.
On review of submitted facts,
Cause of leg and feet swelling-could be from -
post-operative hypoproteinaemia due to chronic slow bleeding in post-operative period(though your query does not specify any history about time of occurrence of these complaints after operation.
or/ Could be from pre-existing anaemia/hypoproteinemia-which was marginal and has increased in post-op period,
or could be due to post operative huge hematoma compressing on IVC(inferior Vena Cava /
Do's Suggested-
Consults with Attending or Second Surgeon's Opinion and work up with Specialist Physician would be needed to find out the cause of these hand and leg swellings in uneventful post-Chole surgical period.
Get CT abdomen study to detect the hidden chronic bleed leading to post-op anaemia / hypo-proteinemia -
or -chronic hematoma compressing IVC
Cause of swollen hands could be from -thrombophlebitis or from fluid/salt imbalance from post-operative fluid infusions.
Other causes need to be investigated with Consults from Physician and attending Surgeon.
My Opinion in your case-
From the given data, you seem to suffer from -high salt and fluid infusion induced imbalance, or from other causes suggested herein above.
If you give more details, exact cause and its probabilities could be worked out for further investigations later on.
Await this and more details which you can give soon.
Awaiting to get more detailed information soon,after which tentative /or specific replies would be given.
Next appointment-
For any emergency or for Follow up after 2-3 weeks after trial of investigations on the lines suggested,for further review of your health concerns,if need be.
Dear, Hope this reply would help you to resolve your health issues and its worries, with help of your doctors there.
Welcome for any further query in this regard.
If need be, update any health issue 24 x 7 by a direct question to ME, at following HCM link-http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=70229
Dear, if satisfied, Don't forget to close this query with YOUR pleasing and excellent feedback comments to rate this reply, to boost the morale of incoming Emergency patients like YOU, at HCM services.
Keep Me updated,if you want to update more details and ask more update queries ,
You are most Welcome herewith !!
Good Day!!
Wishing Good Healthy Life in time to come!!
Dr.Savaskar M.N. XXXXXXX Surgical Specialist
M.S.Genl-CVTS
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
Answered by
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