- edema

March 16, 2005

,

Before I make any comments on the letter you sent in regarding your denial

of Federal Disability, I wanted to ask you about your edema and the

medication you were taking for it.

Are you aware that many diuretics have warnings about them causing

pancreatitis, and had your doctor discussed this with you? Not knowing what

diuretic you were taking, I don't know whether it's one that is contraindicated,

but I did want to inform you of these warnings.

I had minor problems with edema after becoming diabetic, but my GI would

not permit me to take any diuretics to help it, because of the problems they

cause with pancreatitis. I used leg elevation, a particular type of exercise

and

total abstinence of sodium to get rid of it.

Just thought I would mention this to you, in case your doctor hadn't. It may

be that you may wish to find some other way to solve that problem all

together, especially since the diuretics are also constipating you.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should

not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

wrote:

The other " new " thing is this awful edema in my feet and ankles which are

swollen up to probably two or three times their normal size. I got a

prescription from my PCP for it but I think it's also causing the constipation

because it's trying to get the water out of my system and therefore is taking

the water out of my intestines as well.

(snip) I can only take things that are sort of natural and gentle for the

constipation issue and what they do is " draw water " into the intestinal

area....I

just figured this out a day or two ago so I've stopped taking the diuretic that

was prescribed for the edema. I have an appointment with my PCP this

Friday so will discuss this there. Do any of you have terrible problems with

edema?

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