what does your gi specialist say about the swollen legs?? have you had a biospy???

I just had a biopsy, and was told I'd scored 6 out of 18, and need treatment, apparentley to be classed as mild you need to score 4 or less, but I don't know if that will need anything to you as no-one else seems to have heard of this grading system.
I've mentioned the problem to my doctor, and have just been told to keep them up, no one has said it has any cause, or how to help it, I can sit with them up all day and they'll swell. Exercise doesn't help either, that makes them even bigger!

My ankles and feet were swelling really bad during treatment. I've been off for a couple of weeks, and no more swelling! I think it was water retention, but I could be wrong.

i would get a copy of biopsy report (and all blood work,cat scans,ultra sounds)for your own records.then you can compare the #'s. they will have the normal ranges next to your results.also you never know when you will need those medical records.i sm not a doctor ,but you may want to ask doctor if it could be too much salt in your diet.it wouldnt hurt to cut back or out of your diet.if you don't feel comforable w/ this doctor ,maybe you should find a new gi specialist.one more thing kazsta,although hep c is a slow disease,fatty liver can progress.i think i had fatty liver about 10 years ago,today i am stage 4,grade 3 cirrohis. i will pray for you.....mary lou

Hi Guys, thanks for all the advice so far.
I'm not on treatment yet, so it won't have anything to do with that, but thanks for your thoughts new2this, and thanks for the advice heppie, I am going to go and see my GP, and discuss things with him as I get on well with him.
As for the salt, I don't put any salt in my cooking, or on my food, so I didn't think I would have to much salt in my diet?

The swelling concerns me. I think it would your GI doc too. Sometimes fluid buid up is from the damage on the liver with hepatic duct involvement. I think you need to call your Doc tomorrow. He could precribe some lasix to take fluid off.Are you shout of breathe is my question?

Hi yeah, sorry I've not replied to you before now, I'm in agony with my tooth at the moment.
I mentioned it to my GP last time I was there because it's only a recent thing that's started in the last few months, he seemed to think it's my weight but I've never been like this with my weight before, and I have noticed of late that my hands are often swelling too, which is totally new, they weren't swelling before. Also the more I actually move around, the worse my feet are swelling, I can put a pair of trainers on go round the shop, and the trainers will be cutting into me by the time I get back, so I'm never going to loose any weight coz of it.
I do get out of breath, but I'm a smoker, and overweight so I'd probably guess that's why lol!

I purchased a foam pad to keep them elevated at night and it seems to help some.

Hi, kazsta. My ole'man gets swollen feet and ankles too, at night. He's worn socks to bed since he was a kid (weird, I know), now he can't. When the dr. examined him in June he said it was typical of his degree of hep c. They don't double, though. Get on that doctor and if he/she doesn't give or advise you something that provides relief, I'd think about a second opinion! Stay strong, girlfriend. Love, Skeeter.

The swelling in my ankles and calves were bad. The swelling did go up to my thighs but not as bad. I still have on and off bloating in my stomach. My first doctor put me on the diuretics Spironolact and Furosemide (lesix is just another brand of the diuretic.). That helped the swelling in the legs. To get the stomach swelling down my specialist upped the mg of both and that has helped a lot. It took numerous test for gastritis and a stomach ulcer before the specialist ordered a Hep C test. I do believe at the time it is much do to the liver processing as grayeyes4you mentioned.

i have lost a lot of weight in the last 7 months and always used to put my swollen ankles and legs down to being overweight even though i was not grossly overweight. however, i am by no means overweight now and my feet, legs and fingers still swell. i manage my swelling by making sure that i dont sit too long with my feet on the floor, dont cross my legs, dont stand too long and when i do sit in a comfy chair i make sure my feet are up. and i dont mean just up. i mean up higher than the hips. i also sleep with two pillows under my feet and i wake up in the morning with visible bones in my feet for the first few hours. hope it helps:)

I had a period when my ankels were swelling up bad put my main problem is cramping I like to ride bikes and hike getting real hard to do now. I even get cramps in hand when i drive so be carefull if the doc gives you diuretics for the swelling cramps willfollow if you are still active at all.let me reomend a great book called living with hepc.

Hi Guys, an update for you on this!
I had to ring my GP today as my feet and ankles are now so bad I can't fit any shoes on, and it is really hurting to walk, it feels like my feet are going to split open!
Anyhow, he has put me on Ferusomide tablets, and I've got to go see the nurse on Tuesday to have a urine test and my blood pressure tested.
So fingers crossed these tablets help!
Thankis for all your advice guys, you are legends ;-)

thanks for sharing kaz. hope all goes well on tues. have a good weekend and be happy:)

I do thank this room,for the information on cramping and swelling. I didn't know they were connected to the hep.c..
At the age 65 I guessed It had all to do with age.I will speak to my GP about this
,and this site .