Cassandra, you didn't mention your age or what medications you are taking. Swelling in the legs and ankles is common in people over 50 or 60 but I am thinking you are in your 20's or 30's. some of the medications we take especially prednisone can cause this. Don't just stop prednisone but I would call your doc. This problem could very well involve your heart. Good luck. I am sure your doc can work through it.
Mary.

The short answer is yes. By the end of the Wednesday I start feeling like I'm hanging on by a thread with everything. It gets harder and harder each day of the week that passes. By the time Friday comes around I really struggle to do just about everything except sleep. The leg, feet and ankle swelling hits me by Wednesday too. I am now taking Colcrys for gout and that takes it down quite a bit but the swelling comes back every week about Wednesday and I believe it has to do with being on my feet for long periods at a time. By the late Saturday it is gone again. You might try applying ice in the evenings and elevating your feet above the level of your heart. I usually lay flat on the couch and put my feet on the arm rest of it with an ice pack (wrapped in a thin towel). I leave it on there until the ice is melted or until I need to get up and do something.

I hope this helps. Have you talked to your doctor about it? My neuro suggested that I get circulation pantyhose (knee highs) to help reduce the swelling and I must say it does help a lot but they aren't cheep either.

Good luck and big hugs.
Angie

Cassandra, I have swelling, which I try keeping my legs elevated. I also take prednisone which could be the culprit. I try to stay away from salt. I'm not sure if that is causing the problem. Hope you get the answer. God bless. Cabbage7

I do take prednisone , Imuran and Mestion. I have had my feet up all day and the swelling has went down. I am 41 years old and my Doctor has me take water pills when I start to swell.

Cassandra

I take 2 Furosemide (lasix) every morning but sometimes that doesn't work on my feet/ankles, only my hands and face.

Good luck to you. I hope that it isn't something serious and that there is a quick fix.

Hugs and aloha to you,
Angie

Hi Cassandra,
Absolutely, you should have your PCP - send you to a cardiologist, for some routine testing.
I've had some leg-swelling, due to previously undetected heart conditions, and Furosemide/Lasix did help with this.

However. My legs also swell - when I don't take in enough protein.
Evidently, I also - do not digest protein well - adding to the problem.
Which is called protein-deficiency fluid-retention.

Water pills don't do much, to reduce this particular problem, as the bodily mechanism involved - is different.
The legs & ankles are the primary site, where this happens.
When your body doesn't receive enough protein, the bloodstream starts to take protein away, from places where protein can be found more abundantly (first & foremost, the large muscles of the legs).
When the protein is leached out, from the legs? Fluid - fills the spaces where the protein used to be.
Voila - swollen legs.

Like many health problems, the symptoms grow slowly at first, and then gang up on you.
My symptoms of protein-deficiency: started - just as you described: Becoming more pronounced, as the week went on.
As the problem became full-blown, the legs become very swollen, and even large amounts of Furosemide/Lasix - did not help much.

Protein-deficiency fluid-retention: is not easy to diagnose, until you've had it, and recognize it - for what it is.
My doctors were slightly stumped with the situation, two times.
The condition can take several weeks to become severe; it can also take several weeks to go away.

Over the last year, MG has vastly interfered with my digestive-system. Despite that, it is not hard to take in adequate protein.
(Questions about - why - someone may not be properly digesting protein, that's a problem beyond just getting adequate protein.)
At times, I have used a prescription nutritional supplement called Jevity 1.2, diluted 50-percent with water. I no longer require the prescription Jevity, so right now I'm trying different protein products, from both Whole Foods and GNC (both powders & drinks).

Of course, beef is an excellent source of protein. But I can't digest beef. I can, however - now eat ground turkey or roast chicken, cut up well.
Both are also quite high in protein.
(We buy the all-natural product.)

GreenMarie told me: the digestive system can only handle - maybe 30-grams of protein, at one meal.
That's why smaller, more frequent meals are important.
I take in about 80-grams of low-fat protein a day.
(60-grams is average for men.)
(50-grams of protein a day - is average for women.)
Thank you Marie! It's advice I am following!

So along with the turkey & chicken, and/or a protein supplement - adequate protein can be taken in.

- Ross
(... maybe more info - than you need ... but with MG ... Knowledge definitely helps ...)

Cassandra,

As you can see from the many answers here including Ross's in depth one there can be many reasons for having swollen ankles and legs. The edema should always be evaluated by your physician. She/He can take into account all the reasons you may be having problems and some of them may need a 2nd look. This happened to me recently while on vacation in Colorado and they found some new information that is important and will need folllow up.

For sure in the meantime get those legs up when you can. I have a foot stool in front of my favorite chair and one outside by a chair as well. While swelling and edema is something that happens to many people the reason for each one needs careful evaluation.

I hope you get some help with this and relief and answers soon!

Yes, I agree. Have your doctor investigate the swelling. Heart/lung issues can cause that. I have swelling that comes and goes. I take furosemide as well. It's for intracranial hypertension, but it also helps with some of my swelling(especially in my face).

Hope you get to the bottom of it soon!
Take care,
Carly

And I have another cause for swelling that involves the ankle and knee joints, which is associated with a rash call livedo reticularis and is aggravated (or caused) by IVIG. The rash is associated with lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome a couple more autoimmune diseases which I do not have, at least I do not have the positive blood work (don't have that for MG either). IVIG is a treatment for it. :-) b.

I have constant swelling in both legs and feet. My heart checked out fine. Problem is probably with all the meds I take. Neuro and Endo do not want to take me off meds or give me a "water pill." I have OH Syncope issues, so taking water off my system will just make syncope worse. Just another fact of "Life with MG."
--Kerry