Surgery - feet edema

Started by DrKitty
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DrKitty

Senior Member
15+ Year Member
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I started my Surgery clerkship a week ago, and recently I noticed that after being on my feet for 12-16 hours, my feet become swollen (dramatically). Did this happen to anyone else, is this normal, or should I see a doc?
 
Yeah it's normal. My legs stopped doing it after a week or two, but if it really bothers you you can buy some compression hose at a drug store or Target.
 
DrKitty said:
I started my Surgery clerkship a week ago, and recently I noticed that after being on my feet for 12-16 hours, my feet become swollen (dramatically). Did this happen to anyone else, is this normal, or should I see a doc?
Click to expand...

"Did it happen to you", minor amount.

1. How old are you?
2. What are your orthostatics?
2a. do you have HTN?
3. How heavy are you?
3.a. Do you work out on a regular basis?
4. How much is your salt intake? Incl. how many coke, pepsi, etc. products do you consume (they have tons of sodium)
5. How is your renal fxn? and do you have a larger proportion of H2O intake? What is you FENa? Does it get better @ night?
6. Family Hx of insufficiency (venous)

Most people swell a little, but not a lot? I would bet if you drank more water, worked out more and watched your sodium intake, it would improve dramatically.
But, you could definitely have some renal insufficiency 2/2 HTN. I would have it checked out. You don't want to be walking around w/ a BP of 155/95 and unknowingly causing some end organ damage you will pay for dearly later.
 
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DrKitty said:
I started my Surgery clerkship a week ago, and recently I noticed that after being on my feet for 12-16 hours, my feet become swollen (dramatically). Did this happen to anyone else, is this normal, or should I see a doc?
Click to expand...

Are you a woman, what point in the cycle are you in (Progesterone allows you to hold water), are you on OCPs and have you checked your B-hCG levels recently?
 
Thank you for your input, it's nice to know I am not alone with swollen feet. I will try to refrain from drinking Pepsi and will drink more water 🙂
 
As a surgery resident, I can tell you that this is not uncommon.

Many people who stand for hours at a time get lower extremity edema. In the OR this can be magnified since you may literally just stand and not even walk around for a few hours at a time.

I have compression stockings that I wear if I anticipate being in a really long case. They cost me less than $20 for the 15-20mmHg stockings. Many of my colleagues do the same thing. My feet feel less tired at the end of the day (or next day if I'm on call). It is worth the investment if the swelling is bothersome.

I have noticed that I get less edema now than I did a few years ago---I can't attribute this to anything in particular. I think my body has gotten used to standing for so long and compensates better for it.
 
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