How can I safely manage my ankle swelling and foamy urine?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been feeling really wiped out lately; the fatigue is unreal. I also noticed my ankles are a bit swollen again, and my urine looks kind of foamy. I am terrified, as it means my kidneys are acting up.

My laboratory reports for the last month were stable, but I can not help worrying. The medicines are tough, my face is puffy from the steroids, and I get nauseous some mornings. I have been trying to stay out of the sun and eat clean, but emotionally, it is a lot. I worry about the long-term side effects of these medicines, too. I read about newer treatments that target specific immune pathways. Please tell me;

Is there any way to tell early if it is flaring again before it gets bad?
Would those be an option for me down the line?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and can understand your concern.

I would like you to kindly share pictures of your swollen ankle and other relevant blood and urine reports that you have gotten done. There could be multiple reasons for swelling in the feet. Some of these could be

Pregnancy in females which disrupts your blood circulation.
A kidney disease can cause the accumulation of fluid in your body.
Heart disease or high blood pressure can disrupt your normal blood circulation.
Some medicines, like hormonal medicines or nerve medicines such as Gabapentin and Pregabalin, can cause ankle swelling.
Standing for long hours causes venous insufficiency, which can ultimately cause venous thrombosis and varicose veins.

I would like to see an image of your leg from the top to the feet to understand swelling better. It is also important to see if there is any pitting in the swelling or not.

Also, please tell me if you have a family history of arthritis in your first-degree family relatives. Also, tell me about the latest blood sugar and blood pressure report.

I hope this information helps you.

Feel free to ask further queries.

Thank you.