Gnott, thanks for clarifying! When I read "feet above head", I tried to picture it, but decided even if it worked I'd have to bow out as I barely get my feet above the ground.

Gnott. - Kicked out of Yoga class. Lol...I bet there's a funny story behind that.

Swollen feet and ankles - can be several reasons for it I understand from CHF to blood clot and others but my dad who had CHF like Gnott used natural diuretics like certain types of tea to good effect. Also as he mentioned increasing fluid intake while seemingly counter intuitive will actually move water out of your body. Anything you can use that is natural and will take another drug off of your list of "necessaries" is a benefit and another possible side effect you can avoid.

Yoga!

Ive never been able to manage it. Always struck me as silly and I end up giggling. It wouldnt be so bad if the instructors or Yoginis werent always in such desperate need of a good meal and held back on the psycho-babble. The few times in my youth Ive tried it (always to impress some women) it never ended well with the yoga or the woman and I was usually asked to leave.

However, people seem to love it and swear it does them good. One of the instructors in Rehab kept after me to give it a try. A friend of hers conducted classes at a local center. My daughter hounded me as well. So I decided to give it another try. Wasnt easy to stifle my amusement, but I hung in and actually completed the class. Still seemed a bit silly, but I did feel better, all in all a decent low-impact work-out and breathing exercises. I was surprised at the benefits and that I was able to exhibit some decorum maybe there is hope that I can become a grown-up after-all.

At the next rehab session I was very pleased to tell the instructor how well it had gone. She looked a little sad and told me in a low voice her friend suggested she tell me it would be best if I didnt come back.

LOL

I have COPD and CHF. My ankles don't swell, but my stomach is swollen. I look like I am 7 months pregnant. Does anyone have problems with belly swelling and if so, how do you combat it? I take 80 mg of lasix daily.
My Cardio doc told me that if I gained 3 lbs overnight or 5 lbs in a week, to increase my lasix.
They had put me on Metolazone, ( to remove excess Fluid), but it messed with my renal function, so I have to just use lasix.

I want to comment on support hose. When I wear my shoes, that are always Easy Spirit, my foot swelling goes down but the ankle side is huge. I think wherever I supported there would be a big bulge above it. That doesn't seem helpful.

I am lying down with my feet raised, Gnott. It helps a bit but doesn't last for me.

Mine are still a bit swollen, but the big swelling went away. I lay on a mat and put my legs on the couch, so they are at a 90 degree angle.
The problem is I have a very hard time getting up from the mat. It's not something I want to do daily. lol

j.h. when you wear your Easy Spirit shoes, have you tried wearing graduated compression ankle socks too? As I mentioned earlier I have 3 different types - ankle, knee, waist. The poor circulation comes from the upper body Down to the feet. Today my knee highs are working so well that my legs and feet remind me of days of old - and that's a stretch.