cruiser1959 Posted March 26, 2017 #1 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Has anyone else had problems with the ankles swelling while on the cruises? My husband and sister in law have and we wondered what causes it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monalis Posted March 26, 2017 #2 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Some people blame the water. But the cause is most likely all the extra salt in the food that is being consumed. Sent from my XT1030 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCteacherlovescruising Posted March 26, 2017 #3 Share Posted March 26, 2017 I have. Some swear the ships water is fine, but I've found when I drink bottled water instead, I don't. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jdfireman Posted March 26, 2017 #4 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Wow Cruise Critic is now Web MD tell the to see professional medical advice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrmende63 Posted March 26, 2017 #5 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Wow Cruise Critic is now Web MD tell the to see professional medical advice Some of us have experience in this field ( and are medical professionals). To OP: It is a little of the water and the salt. However, if you drink the bottled water, generally the swelling is much less. Apple cider vinegar tablets also help with swelling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Briitini Posted March 26, 2017 #6 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Yes!!! I purchased juniper berry essential oil from amazon and mix a few drops with some body lotion and apply it to my feet and ankles 2x a day and I swear it helps!! I don't notice any swelling. I also use arnica gel when I remember to do it. I also put my feet up on the wall as much as possible when in the room (lay on couch and put feet up on wall. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jdfireman Posted March 26, 2017 #7 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Some of us have experience in this field ( and are medical professionals). To OP: It is a little of the water and the salt. However, if you drink the bottled water, generally the swelling is much less. Apple cider vinegar tablets also help with swelling. Yes I know (and I do) that being said I still would totally not take medical advice in a Cruise Form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieN Posted March 26, 2017 #8 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Swollen legs/ankles/feet - THIS WORKED! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1637335 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Organized Chaos Posted March 26, 2017 #9 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Wow Cruise Critic is now Web MD tell the to see professional medical advice Yes I know (and I do) that being said I still would totally not take medical advice in a Cruise Form. If you won't take medical advice from CC, will you take grammar advice? Take it easy. It's just a place where people talk, ask questions, & seek advice from others with a common interest. No one's prescribing meds here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queenofcruise Posted March 26, 2017 #10 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Thank you Organized Chaos,why do people jump in with negative comments, meaness,too much time on their hands,seriously needing to relax....Definitely no cruise planned so they just lurk.. Sent from my SM-T350 using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarea Posted March 26, 2017 #11 Share Posted March 26, 2017 I have. Some swear the ships water is fine, but I've found when I drink bottled water instead, I don't. Same for my wife. No swelling since she started drinking bottled water during the cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare mom says Posted March 26, 2017 #12 Share Posted March 26, 2017 I've experienced this on every. single. cruise. But I've also had it happen on land trips after prolonged flights. And since its not due to the water (I only drink bottled water when away from home), that's not the cause in my case. And since I don't restrict my salt intake at home, I doubt it's because of added salt in the meals. In the end, I don't know what it is that causes it. I just do the usual things to counter it - elevate my feet as often as possible, firm massage of feet and lower legs a couple times per day ( I use Body Shop Peppermint foot lotion), Ibuprofen for its antiinflammatory effects, and try to walk a lot to increase circulation. My friend swears by Epsom salts soaks ( but that only a works if you have a tub). I found that after 3-4 days the swelling decreases, but it often doesn't go away completely until I'm back home. Because of this I try to pack shoes that I know won't be too tight while I'm away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KCruizer Posted March 26, 2017 #13 Share Posted March 26, 2017 I either have terrible swelling that nothing helps (dry brushing, supplements, diuretics, etc.) or I have zero swelling. There is no rhyme or reason. I always drink bottled water, so that makes no difference to me. The one thing that does seem to help is wearing compression socks while traveling to the port. We have driven, taken the train, and flown. The times that i haven't worn compression socks while traveling, I have started swelling the first night on the ship and it just gets continuously worse until I get home. So something must happen while traveling even though the swelling doesn't start until I am on the ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrmende63 Posted March 26, 2017 #14 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Thank you Organized Chaos,why do people jump in with negative comments, meaness,too much time on their hands,seriously needing to relax....Definitely no cruise planned so they just lurk.. Sent from my SM-T350 using Forums mobile app My comment is based on fact. Personal fact. I am a medical professional. I also have had this problem. Doing what I suggested ( not prescribed), I have not had the problem since. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bUU Posted March 26, 2017 #15 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Some of us have experience in this field ( and are medical professionals). My comment is based on fact. Personal fact. I am a medical professional. I also have had this problem. Doing what I suggested ( not prescribed), I have not had the problem since. As a medical professional, you can help us understand the things that can help alleviate the condition (drinking water, vinegar tablets), but not with understanding whether or not the water aboard is a contributor to the problem, as opposed to the change in diet, change in physical activity from the norm, and/or other considerations. We really need a chemical engineer to comment on the water aboard, itself. Even back in 2007, desalination would reduce the salt content of sea water from 35,000 ppm to around 530 ppm. More recent articles I've read claim that cruise ships now get the salt down to 2 ppm. (Tap water at home has generally up to 1000 ppm, but typically is around 500 ppm, so if these claims of 2 ppm are real, then salt in the tap water aboard ship is a red herring.) I would have thought that the CDC reports would report the actual numbers for this, but if they do I cannot find it. Regardless, this may place the salinity of the tap water aboard ship at lower than that of bottled water. We just don't know, and it would be great if we could get a bit more info about this. It would be a shame to spend money on bottled water when drinking the tap water (just more of it) would be a more effective approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrmende63 Posted March 26, 2017 #16 Share Posted March 26, 2017 As a medical professional, you can help us understand the things that can help alleviate the condition (drinking water, vinegar tablets), but not with understanding whether or not the water aboard is a contributor to the problem, as opposed to the change in diet, change in physical activity from the norm, and/or other considerations. We really need a chemical engineer to comment on the water aboard, itself. Even back in 2007, desalination would reduce the salt content of sea water from 35,000 ppm to around 530 ppm. More recent articles I've read claim that cruise ships now get the salt down to 2 ppm. (Tap water at home has generally up to 1000 ppm, but typically is around 500 ppm, so if these claims of 2 ppm are real, then salt in the tap water aboard ship is a red herring.) I would have thought that the CDC reports would report the actual numbers for this, but if they do I cannot find it. Regardless, this may place the salinity of the tap water aboard ship at lower than that of bottled water. We just don't know, and it would be great if we could get a bit more info about this. It would be a shame to spend money on bottled water when drinking the tap water (just more of it) would be a more effective approach. That would be a great thesis project for someone. As, for myself, I will continue to buy bottled water. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bUU Posted March 26, 2017 #17 Share Posted March 26, 2017 That would be a great thesis project for someone. Nah, we have people on CC who have direct access to that data and could share it if they're so inclined. Hopefully, they will do so and we'll become better informed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted March 26, 2017 #18 Share Posted March 26, 2017 I did 2 cruises ago --- first time after many years of cruising and tons of cruises. For me it was the all the salt in the foods. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thrilled2012 Posted March 26, 2017 #19 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Swollen legs/ankles/feet - THIS WORKED!http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1637335 Oh my goodness!! Thank you for that link!! I have just ordered for my upcoming cruise. I am so glad I found this thread. I had no idea that so many other people had the same problem while cruising. It really is so uncomfortable. I'm gonna try this along with apple cider vinegar tabs, bottled water, elevation...and keep my fingers crossed that it works Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray98 Posted March 26, 2017 #20 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Salt in the food. Drinking water that has been desalinated on-board has less sodium content than most municipal water supplies, some of the newer systems are virtually zero. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chengkp75 Posted March 26, 2017 #21 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Salt in the food. Drinking water that has been desalinated on-board has less sodium content than most municipal water supplies, some of the newer systems are virtually zero. Flash distillers, used onboard ships of all types for decades have been producing water at 1ppm or less also for decades. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bUU Posted March 26, 2017 #22 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Flash distillers, used onboard ships of all types for decades have been producing water at 1ppm or less also for decades. Thanks! This message may have been entered using voice recognition. Please excuse any typos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hbgroadends Posted March 26, 2017 #23 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Something else to consider is how active you are at home vs onboard ship. I walk 3-5 times as much on vacation as I do at home in my normal routine, especially onboard a ship where you are walking long distances several times a day between the MDR, theater, lounges, casino, shops, and your stateroom. Also, if you use the stairs between decks rather than the elevator, you might be doing more climbing that you normally do at home. Anyway, just something else to consider. I know the more active I am during the day, the more swelling I've experienced in my ankles. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuiteTraveler Posted March 26, 2017 #24 Share Posted March 26, 2017 If you see your doctor, you may mention it to him/her. Mine gave me a prescription for Lasix -which works like a charm and the ONLY time I need it is on a ship. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SantaFeFan Posted March 26, 2017 #25 Share Posted March 26, 2017 Flash distillers, used onboard ships of all types for decades have been producing water at 1ppm or less also for decades. Thank you, thank you, thank you! A maritime expert knowledgeable on the water producing systems on board cruise ships reveals the truth. Are we listening? Some, of course, will continue to believe what they want to believe - it's the water, not the added salt in the food that virtually all restaurants increase to enhance the taste of the food they serve..Others, like myself, prefer to take the word of an expert rather than opinions of non-experts. I will continue to drink the tap water on board and leave the bottled water for the non-believers to drink. But, that's just a flaw in my character, I guess. ;p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now