otherwise DM pt w/ pitting edema

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I was doing a practice assessment on a friend, who is for the most part healthy. Long term IDDM (30+ yrs), on an insulin pump and a low dose "HTN" med to protect kidneys. So, I'm going along doing my thing, not really expecting to find anything abnormal when I discover that she has trace pitting edema on RLE and 1+ on her LLE. (Not ankles though, just distal tibial area -about half way up). I'm surprised, ask her if this is something that she knew about (no) and advise her to talk to her primary, elevate her feet and consider compression stockings. Beyond that I was at a loss to explain it. Anybody have any thoughts about what was/ is going on? Thanks!

Wave

Specializes in cardiac/education.

I am also thinkin' 1+ edema....what's the big deal.....:lol2:

Sorry to bust in on the thread, but how do you tell edema from fat ankles?

Actually, my friend's ankles were normal. The edema started above the ankle entirely and went about 1/2 way up both legs.

I am also thinkin' 1+ edema....what's the big deal.....:lol2:

Nothing really. It was something that I uncovered when I was practicing my physical assessment skills. However, my friend was unaware of having any previous episodes of edema. I just felt that seeing as how I (accidentally) uncovered what amounts to a possible genuine "problem"(but not a serious one though) that I should run it down. Maybe nip it in the bud, so to speak. How else do people learn? Also, she is my a dear friend after all and I want to make sure she is taking care of herself.

So there are two trains of thought for me: 1) make sure that my friend is healthy/no new problems and 2) a mental exercise of disease process, critical thinking/assesment skills.

Spoke to one of my prof's tonight. She said it could possibly be "walking pneumonia" and that my friend should consider getting a CXR. Also said that the (pitting) edema was probably just "varicosity". Have to look both of those up.

P.S. Not trying to propagate my own thread here, just wanted to share.

Specializes in cardiac/education.

Interesting!

But maybe your friend needs to go to a doctor and quit fishing around for you to provide a medical diagnosis.....

But maybe your friend needs to go to a doctor and quit fishing around for you to provide a medical diagnosis.....

I agree. Problem is, as a student, my advice is taken with a grain of salt. I know something is not right, but I don't know that something is actually wrong. Guess we'll just have to wait and see!:D

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