Hi,
When I first complained about my swelling lower legs, at ca 45, my then GP asked me what my mother's and other women's in family legs were like. They were awful. Pain, swelling, the lot. Genetic!
True or not, now at 69, I wear compression stockings every day for all that swelling for years resulted in dermatological condition called varicose eczema.
I know, my lifestyle contributed to it! If I walked more instead of sitting whole days at my computer, and properly creamed my skin regularly, things could be different. Regular brisk walking helps!
Retention comes and goes, in my hands too, and I still have no clue what triggers it. No one ever told me either. From my symptoms, I am guessing it has something to do with small blood vessels and circulation.
That appeared as one from very first changes even before peri. ..later with bloating, food sensitivities, and more and more jazz as years passed by... but I can recall few events before, like long train journey in hot weather, or hot day at work sitting, or bad PMT, after which my lower legs would go into elephant size.. ..
I am on HRT.
How it would be without it? I will never know! But I do not think my retention is HRT related. My mother, my aunt, my grandmother, had an awful one. Mother drank potassium for it..and poisoned herself with it not once. I wear knee-highs.
🤗