Full body swelling or edema? Ideas on relief

[maggie3]

I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on these symptoms and way to relieve

I experience what feels like full body swelling, like my skin is slightly puffy, and also gives me a slightly decreased sensation of touch (numbness) on my entire body. Its sooo weird and uncomfortable. I have also noticed that my entire body will show those little cellulite like dimples, which makes me think it could be water retention or stagnant lymph (I am a small person/was very active and this started almost immediately when I got sick and was still in really good shape). My face and jaw are also always slightly swollen and I am basically bloated 24/7, no matter what or if I eat, its like I am full or water or something. I have tried so many different lymph drainage techniques and nothing makes a difference.

Things I have tried so far
-infrared sauna
-oral lymph drainer
-dry brushing/abhyanga (aryuvedic oil massage)
-lymphatic drainage and regular massage
-mini trampoline
-chiropractic work
-hot/cold shower

I also eat super clean whole food diet and drink lots of water.

This is absolutely the worst symptom I have, it makes me feel soooo darn uncomfortable in my own body, like I just want to crawl out of my skin.

Any thoughts on this or ideas for relief? Does anyone else experience this?

 

[Gingergrrl]

I've never experienced this issue where it affected my entire body like you describe, but I've experienced it in my chest and abdomen. In my case, at the time, it was due to "third spacing" in which the fluid was not going where it was supposed to within the body due to allergic reactions from mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). I don't know that this pertains to you but wanted to mention just in case.

 

[Thegriz]

Not sure if this is what you have but I am very bloated all over. Arms and legs swollen my specialist says it can be third spacing due to blood pooling basically leaking out of my veins. This is due to having pots. Compression garments are reccomend for me.

 

[maggie3]

I've never experienced this issue where it affected my entire body like you describe, but I've experienced it in my chest and abdomen. In my case, at the time, it was due to "third spacing" in which the fluid was not going where it was supposed to within the body due to allergic reactions from mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). I don't know that this pertains to you but wanted to mention just in case.

Hmm thats interesting, ya I do not think I have MCAS, but it definitely feels like there is a fluid build up in my body that I just cannot get any relief from

 

[maggie3]

Not sure if this is what you have but I am very bloated all over. Arms and legs swollen my specialist says it can be third spacing due to blood pooling basically leaking out of my veins. This is due to having pots. Compression garments are reccomend for me.

Ya my arms are mildly swollen (in addition to everything else). Whenever I bring this sort of thing up with my health care provider it gets ignored most of the time. But its so uncomfortable and I need some relief so just not sure what to do about it.

 

[Thegriz]

Only suggestion I have is start ruling out treatable issues such as checking for any type of dysautonomia. Checking for MCAS. It really helped me to see a me/cfs specialist, but if you can't get in to one of those investigating common comorbid issues can help sometimes.

 

[YippeeKi YOW !!]

Ya my arms are mildly swollen (in addition to everything else)

@maggie3
With me, it was first my left leg/ankle/foot/toes. Then it was also the right one. Both with accompanying slight numbing.

It isnt present all the time, usually only when I've been 'up' for several hours, but very sedentary for a long period of time. I've tried compression knee-hi's, which are a real bitch to get on and off, and while they're uncomfortable enough to assume that they must be doing something good, I'm not really sure yet that they do.

But I keep using them because frankly I acn't think of anything else.

I'm as befuddled as you are about the full-body bloat, and it sounds miserable. Wish I had smething more to offer, but you might find that the compression socks, by organizing the flow in your legs, does help with the rest.

A word of caution: I have slender legs, even when swollen, and using the measurements that the sellers had posted, I first ordered the small size, whose measurements seemed to allow for additional bloat clearance, then returned them for the mediums, then returned them for the large, which I finally was able to get on and off without herniating. So go at least one, maybe two, sizes up when you order. These things are really punishing otherwise.

I hope you find an answer soon. I know how miserable even bloated, swollen legs and feet can be, I can;t begin to imagine the full-body version.