Swollen Legs

Question

I have swollen legs and hepatitis C; Is this the beginnings of sclerosis of the liver?  Do I continue to try to lose weight by walking even though my legs are swollen?

Jennyhepc · Answer

I read your post & started crying. I contracted Hep C back when I was a heroin Iv user. Clean now since 08'. I went through interferon in 2010 & I figured I was in the clear, but the last 3 years I've been experiencing severe swelling in my legs, feet, & hands. My doctor kept sweeping it under the rug & even suggested I had just gained weight, he just gave me lasix. Finally, I'm seeing a GI specialist & she said my Hep C was back, need another liver biopsy to get ready for another round of treatment. Everything is swollen, but my left foot & leg is more swollen. I just want to wear shorts & cute sandals! I pray this swelling is from Hep C so it will go away with treatment.

linnie108 · Answer

Edema

Edema is characterized by a person having swelling in the lower extremities, such as the legs and feet. The retained fluid, caused by the decrease in liver function, navigates downward and may settle into the feet and legs. This swelling can prevent daily movement and even cause complications such as broken skin, infections and muscle deterioration.

linnie108 · Answer

I also have swollen legs and ankles. It is from my Hep-c and I have cirrhosis. my guess is it is from the hep-c, but go to Doctor and make sure. And yes you should still walk/ exercise is good for the liver when you have hep-c. good luck <3

fretboard · Answer

That's not good as I have the same problem going on.  I don't know yet if it's totally because of HepC.  The swelling started in my left leg, and my left seems to have more of a problem than my right.  It's really the pitts, I go to my doctor and he just assumes that because I have HepC then this is what happens and he prescribes me lasix.  He needs to send me to a vascular surgeon or at least run somekind of circulation tests.  Swelling is the symptom to a bigger unidentified problem which needs to be identified.  In my case I'm going to make another appointment as I don't like getting a prescription to take care of the symptoms b/c I want to know what the problem is, I am not cirrhotic.
I was just talking to my clinical trial doctor a couple of weeks ago about this and she is not of the belief that it's totally related to my HepC.  good luck

Bobby1952 · Answer

Go to a specialist and get some tests done. It could be a sign of cirrhosis or some other completely different proble. You won't know until you have the proper tests done. Don't wait it could be the sign of something serious but you won't know until you get the proper tests.