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It does sound, however, like you've had alterations in your normal state of health. Those are always red flags, even if it's just your body can't process the sodium it used to could...

The do bear watching.

I know they do.... Even though I've often been pudgy, I've always been strong and able to work hard physically, and now it seems like I either get a cramp somewhere or I get tired easily.... muscle tired. Shoveling horse poo my back starts to hurt, mow the lawn or walk and I get leg cramps. And I've had that pulled tendon in the arch of my foot that hurts too, and I've just about had it with this body. The swelling ankles, really my whole lower leg, has been depressing. It's not super exaggerated, I'm normal if I wear tight socks like sup-hose, but as a woman it's just been really discouraging to my ego. I haven't wanted to talk about it.

Honestly, the causes of pitting edema (I didn't know how to look it up before you named it) are all pretty scary or depressing, depending on which emotion I decide to apply to it. BUT, I don't have any of the ~other~ symptoms of any of the major organ failures they discuss. I don't think I have congestive heart failure, liver, or kidney disease, necessarily.

Rolling around in the back of my mind though are two things... and part of my thinks I shouldn't be posting all this in a public forum, but what the heck...

Liver cancer killed my mom and her brother. But not this young, it came later.... twenty years from now. And it wasn't cirrohsis, it was cancer. BUT, the women in my family did have huge ankles late in life. Moreso my grandma and another aunt (the one that ~hasn't~ gotten cancer) than my mom, though. Mom didn't really get swollen ankles ever. When her liver failed, her retention was all abdominal.

Other things I'm thinking about too, that I don't feel like I am at liberty to discuss, but I want Ramius to see.

Edema (pitting and non-pitting edema) information at MedicineNet.com

They do bear watching.

I don't see how bear watching is going to help.