Home Care:

Follow your doctor's treatment recommendations. If you have chronic swelling, ask your doctor about the options to prevent skin breakdown such as a pressure-reducing mattress, a lamb's wool pad, or a flotation ring.

Maintain everyday activities. When lying down, keep your arms and legs above the heart level, if possible, to encourage drainage. However, do not do this if shortness of breath results. See your doctor instead.

Call your health care provider if:

If you notice any unexplained swelling, contact your health care provider.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

Except in emergency situations (such as cardiac failure or pulmonary congestion), your health care provider will obtain your medical history and will perform a physical examination.

Medical history questions documenting swelling in detail may include the following:

• Time pattern
  • When did you first notice this?
  • Is it present all the time?
  • Does it come and go?
• Quality
  • How much swelling is there?
  • When you poke the area with a finger, does the dent remain?
• Location
  • Is it overall or in a specific area (localized)?
  • If swelling is in a specific area, what is that area?
• Other
  • What seems to make the swelling better?
  • What seems to make the swelling worse?
  • What other symptoms are also present?

Tests that may be done include:

• Albumin blood test
• Blood electrolyte levels
• Echocardiography
• ECG
• Kidney function tests
• Liver function tests
• Urinalysis
• X-rays

Treatment may include fluid and avoiding salt, diuretics, or water pills. Your fluid intake and output should be monitored, and you should be weighed daily.

Avoid alcohol if liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis) is causing the problem. Support hose may be recommended.