Hi friends, it's been a while since I have posted. I've made a lot of life changes in the past year or so and I've seen a lot of improvements in my edema. To summarize:
1. About 1.5 years ago I moved to Denver. Dry climate is definitely more comfortable for me but I don't think this is a huge factor or necessary change for people with this condition.
2. Got a job where I can work from home 3 days a week which helps me elevate my feet as much as I need to. I regularly keep my feet up even when I do go into the office. Due to the next couple bullets (#3 and 4) I don't actually feel the need to elevate my feet much anymore.
3. Went vegan and mostly gluten-free starting about 4 months ago (but started making dietary changes about 8 months ago avoiding dairy and processed wheat products). My boyfriend and I watched some documentaries about food and health ("Game Changers" is a good one if you're interested) and decided to give it a try. I had a suspicion that I am lactose intolerant anyway and had mostly given up dairy. Going vegan helped with a lot of my IBS-type symptoms and I think my body absorbs food/nutrients much better now. I also noticed that I retain 3-4 lbs of fluid if I eat a lot of carbs (bread, for example) so I have mostly cut that out as well. In the past 8 months with this dietary changes I have lost 20 lbs and feel that I have much fewer issues with bloating and edema.
4. Got tested for food allergies and celiac. I have a new PCP here in Denver and explained to him what I've been experiencing and my results with my diet. My food allergy panel showed that I have mild allergies to wheat, egg, and peanut but I am not celiac.
5. I am still taking metformin and have been consistently since my last post about it. Due to my results with dietary changes, I am hoping to wean off of metformin in the near future and see if I experience any recurring symptoms of edema or if I am fine without it. I am not currently taking any other medications at all except for birth control (same one I've been on for years, even when my edema was bad, so I don't think it's a factor).
6. I'd also like to note that most of my weight loss and recent progress has been during cold months here in Denver. Not sure how my body will react when summer rolls around again.
At this point, I'm only really seeing my symptoms flare up with alcohol consumption (beer (wheat) and red wine seem to be the worst, I mostly stick to gin and tonics and those seem to have minimal effects).
I'm not sure if food allergies, intolerances, or sensitivities are the cause of anyone else's edema symptoms- but edema IS a symptom of many food-related issues. I would encourage anyone who suspects this to try an elimination diet and get tested for allergies as well.
Hello! It's great to hear from you again. I was just thinking about you this morning and wondering if you had made the move to Colorado yet. Glad to hear you are doing better. I too found that diet plays a role in how I feel and how much I bloat. I did the Keto diet with my husband and I felt great! I was able to eat whole cheese without lactose intolerance. I gradually fell off the wagon this summer with ice cream and such and reintroducing sugar and carbs as made me feel bloated, gassy, sluggish so on my way back to Keto. I have been vegan for about a year prior and that made me feel fantastic as well. Hubby likes meat and won't do vegan but I have found that as long as the diet has no processed food, and only whole foods and good carbs (like blueberries, veggies) that my health is so much better. It did not eliminate the edema for me but this combination with doing yoga and taking the medication, I feel my best.
All of us are different but I do believe diet and exercise is important. It is the way medicine is finally evolving to whole person wellness. We must treat with traditional medicine, alternative medicine and self-care in order to be truly well. Integrative medicine is the way to go for health (not cure) and having a good life. I hope you all are doing better!