I just got tired of having more and more complaints, and am wary of being admitted to the hospital so I ignored my lower leg edema until it was not just lower let anymore, but all the way up to my abdomen! Guess what? When I saw my Dr. I ended up in the hospital for massive Cortico-steroids and diuretics. I lost almost 14 lbs over night. I am now on sustaining 5 mg Prednisone and oral Lasik for the edema.

Like I said in my profile, "Don't take Lasik when your bathroom is at the other end of the house!"

@A MyCOPDTeam Member, I hope you took the worthwhile advice of the messages above and went straight to your PCP. I had a similar problem late last summer and early fall, and I of course also ignored it until I no longer could. It will not go away, and can become very progressive. My PCP sent me directly to the hospital, called ahead to warn them and put me on the telemetry floor where I was monitored for 36 hours continuously. The cardiologist came in the 3rd day and told me I had developed a case of mild rt. sided heart failure caused by my COPD. It goes hand in hand, so anyone who notices edema should not ignore it (like I did) since it will only get worse. Med adjustments and diet changes will address this problem, but follow the plan or it will come back. Good luck.

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A MyCOPDT...

You definitely want to see your doctor. Swelling of the legs, feel and ankles is a definite sign that there are problems occurring within your organals that needs to be addressed. Do not wait until it creates problems that cannot be reversed.

I would like to stop the Lasik also, but I don't want to go back to the hospital. They try to kill you there!! Just kidding, but I was the only interesting case on a floor with 5 - count them - 5 residents who were bored. Pretty soon I was inundated with orders from 5 "baby docs" and turned into a pin cushion who could get no sleep due to bathroom trips, meds, nebulizers and vital sign visits.

Long story short, it was a nightmare. I finally snapped when they had my O2 sats up to 98%, when I lashed out at the attending physician. I was processed out within two hours. I keep my sats at 88-92 per my pulmonologist and internist since I am a CO2 retainer.So, again I say: Own your disease, educate yourself and become a partner with your medical team in managing your treatment. We are not doctors, but as owners of a nefarious disease, we are our best advocates. Be well, and --
Breathe Easy!!!!

i ended up in the hosp for what i thought was my breathing but it
was conjestive heart failure --so get it checked out!!!