Swollen ankles, what can I do?

I go through the winter with my neat little ankles all wrapped up, come summer, they start to swell, one more than the other, and look horrible

crazyH

I’ve had that for years, especially if I’ve been on my feet a lot, or sitting a lot - I am on BP medication. I check my BP at home and it’s shows normal or slightly above. But, as others say, see your GP and in the meanwhile, put your feet up.

Same here, sitting on sofa with feet up seems to have helped a lot.

My ankles are always swollen in warm weather. Went to the Dr years ago when they were very bad and he didn’t so much as glance at them. He said, ‘It’s gravity’. End of consultation.

An update: after a restless night I called 111 this morning and explained situation (which is still the same) after answering lots of questions they said a clinician would call me back, which they did almost immediately. After answering the same questions they advised me to either go to A&E, which I just wouldn’t do as not in any pain at all, or walk in centre.

So went to walk in centre for first time and pretty amazed by their efficiency, was seen in about 20 mins.

Told my ankles weren’t very swollen, though clearly oedema, possibly caused by a new dance class I started a couple of weeks ago ( I do a lot of exercise but mainly strength training and low intensity cardio) so the dance class was fast and rather high intensity ( which I hadn’t really thought about) advised to rest/ elevate legs as much as poss and stick to gentle exercise for now, hopefully it will reduce the swelling, and to keep GP appointment incase it doesn’t.

Could you try 111 online bytheway?

bytheway. That is too long to wait for an appointment. You may be able to get one at short notice if someone cancels. Insist, if they are difficult.

6 weeks! That's outrageous.

The thing is I always have low blood pressure (101/65 checked today) and not on any BP tablets. Anyway, legs still the same, no pain just swollen. Tried the legs up against the wall for 20 minutes, no change buy maybe it takes time so will persue this.

Booked appointment with GP, would you believe the earliest appointment I could get is 4th April, 6 weeks away.

As well as the GP, (definitely) temporary relief, if you can manage, is to lie down next to a wall and put your legs up on the wall - a stage further than legs up on leg rest.

If I ever had swollen ankles, I'd be going straight to the GP, (pdq) to find out why! If it were caused by BP meds, I'd insist on another type. Of course, if you don't complain, they'll just keep you on the cheap ones.

Mine started swelling up about a year ago. No answers from the doctor although they did check me for peripheral vascular disease which I didn't have.

There's dependant oedema (where the swelling goes down in the night) and non-dependant where your feet or legs are still swollen in the morning.

I’ve had that for years, especially if I’ve been on my feet a lot, or sitting a lot - I am on BP medication. I check my BP at home and it’s shows normal or slightly above. But, as others say, see your GP and in the meanwhile, put your feet up.

I had a bad fall nearly 3 years ago, fractured 3 vertebrae. My legs and ankles swelled up terribly, the left one has gone down some way, but not altogether, but the right one is still badly swollen, to the extent that I have difficulty putting shoes on that foot. I was prescribed water tablets, but they didn`t do any good, and I`ve stopped taking them now because they were making me incontinent. I take medication for Atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis, high BP, amongst other ailments.

It’s as well to get it checked, doesn’t hurt to be careful

My ankles swell up (right up to my calves by the end of most days). I didn't ever have this problem until I was put on BP tablets 18 months ago. I try to sit with my feet up and also move about every hour or 2 throughout the day

I get swollen ankles as I have underperforming kidneys. Please see a GP.

Sounds like water retention make an appointment to see doctor or practice nurse. In the mean time you need to raise your legs to relieve the pressure on your ankles and feet.

No, I generally have low BP and have had a couple of dizzy spells recently so did take my BP at home and it was unusually low but as this is fairly common for me I wasn’t worried about it. Think maybe it’s time to see GP.

Are on BP meds? As I had to change meds for the same problem. Otherwise as has been said see your GP.

Get a GP appointment as soon as possible.

I don't want to worry you unduly, but it can be a sign of heart problems. Worth mentioning it to your GP next time you can get to see them.