Pat,

(I'm long winded...so, if you're intersted...)

Yes.  My father is on medication.  About 2 months ago they doubled his
medication - it is working, but slowly.  I focus on water retention
because of kidney/heart/liver and thyroid issues.I'm an analyzer so
I'm always trying to see what works for me - or works better.  I have
been evaluated, and my blood pressure/heart  and kidneys are not an
issue at this time.  I do find it odd though that (I have very low
blood pressure and borderline anemic and my sister was too) my sister
- having similar issues as me - 13 months older than me,  as she
indicated, about a year ago or so, now has high blood pressure.
She's focused on her weight, blood pressure, health now more than
ever- (she did before, but as weight loss and trying to lose weight in
lieu of her causes of - other than eating too much - water retention,
slow metabolism, slow digestive, intestinal issues) and I did ask her
about the natural leg and vein supplement (this is not medication and
not a weight loss product - and anything anyone refers should be
researched by any user, and that person deems necessary, should
consult with a physician) and she indicated that it really did ,
immediately - the same night and every day (same as what I noticed),
release excess water - very noticably - like I indicated before, she
has lost 50+ pounds in the last two months - when she has been
struggling for years - she too believes that because of the loss of
excess water, it has made it easier for her to actually lose weight
while dieting and exercizing.  She's very happy with it and her focus
has lead her to getting a physical trainer, she walks at least once a
day, her energy has increased and she's joined some women's spa
group...I don't know the name, but they work out, and receive benefits
toward massages and other healthy body....things..she really enjoys
and has made friends...she seems happy.

My problem with dieting, is that I don't want to have to focus on
what, where or when I have to eat - unfortunately I do because it is a
problem- (my husband  and his family has the opposite problem - can't
gain weight - it's kind of like a nightmare that never stops).  Now I
know what works for me to release water retention quickly - for now,
but my goal is to adjust my diet to reflect natural water loss (I know
protein is a good source) and natural decreased hunger, exercise
(comes last because it doesn't work for me to lose weight if I retain
water or even if I eat less), etc., Maybe, when my kids are in school,
I can spend more time researching the best mix of yummy foods so that
I can adjusting my daily food consumption to include the right balance
of protein to carbs to sweets etc.for my body - so that the weight
will come off because of the decrease in water, hunger, etc - then
yucky excercise (my own personal feeling).   I, for some reason
analyze just about everyting... protein does release water - but I'm
not happy when I'm heavy so a temporaty quick resolution is good for
me for the timebeing - but knowing the right mix/amounts of foods may
be the way so that my weight will stop fluctuating 2-5 pounds
everyday...don't know.

I copied and pasted.  I found some of the comments interesting to
know, expecially under "Low Calore Diets" .  I thought that the
comment regarding suger was also interesting...I definately have a
sweeeeeet tooth and my focus has been on salt.  It seems like a lot of
info...but I thought it was easier to read in this email post then
having to flip to the website.

http://www.water-retention.net/water-retention-causes.html

_____________________________________
Causes of Water Retention
Home

The changes within your body which lead to water retention are
intimately linked to what you eat. They can be set off by any of the
following
Regularly eating too much salt and/or sugar
Not eating enough fresh fruit and vegetables
High levels of wastes or toxins in your body
Taking certain commonly-prescribed medications
Long-term use of very low-calorie diets, which tend to be deficient in
protein and other nutrients
Food intolerances (similar to allergies)
Lack of exercise

Salt and Sugar
Salt affects your kidneys and blood pressure. The sodium in salt makes
your kidneys hold on to water instead of excreting it.
Eating too much sugar raises levels of the hormone insulin. High
insulin levels make it hard for you to excrete sodium, so people who
indulge a sweet tooth can also be prone to water retention.

Fruit and vegetables
Certain fruits and vegetables contain special ingredients which help
to prevent your blood vessels from leaking fluid into your tissue
spaces. To treat or prevent water retention, it is vital to include
them in your diet.
There are also herbal products which have a similar strengthening
effect. These herbs are not the same as the herbal diuretics which
make your kidneys work harder.

Wastes and toxins
Cellulite is a form of fat complexed with retained water. Sometimes it
holds so much water that it is painful to the touch. Metabolic wastes
and toxins such as pesticides which the body cannot easily release
tend to be stored in this fat and water. The only way to get rid of
them is to use foods and herbs which support your body's detox
mechanisms.

Prescribed medicines
Water retention is a little-known side effect of some of the most
commonly prescribed medicines. They make you retain water because they
affect your body's handling of sodium and insulin. The contraceptive
pill is a well-known example.

Low-Calorie Diets
If you have water retention you are very likely to be overweight. But
overweight people tend to go on a low-calorie diet. A low-calorie diet
will unfortunately not get rid of water retention - it can actually
make it worse, especially if you eat less than 1,200 Calories a day
for months or years.
One of the most important nutrients to prevent water retention is
protein. Protein is in short supply in very low-calorie diets. The
most suitable diet for people with water retention is the Waterfall
Diet.

Food Intolerances
Overloading the stomach, drinking alcohol, taking medications and
antibiotics, consuming too much sugar, not getting enough dietary
fibre - all these modern-day habits can affect your digestive ability.
Undigested particles can get into your blood system and stimulate your
immune cells to produce histamine. This histamine is a very big cause
of water retention.

Lack of exercise
People who spend a lot of time immobile, e.g. those in hospital beds,
wheelchairs, or on long-haul flights, even "couch potatoes" can
develop water retention because without regular movement to help it,
your lymphatic system cannot drain excess fluid out of your tissue
spaces.
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Another web source that I found interesting:
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/16/262.cfm

Water Retention

WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Swelling in your extremities or abdomen persists for a week and your
skin dents when you poke it.

* If you're pregnant and experience sudden swelling in your legs or
elsewhere, see your doctor immediately.

What Your Symptom Is Telling You

Your fingers are so puffy, you need soap to pry off your rings. Your
legs are so swollen, your socks leave a rosy ring around your calves.
Zippers aren't budging. Buttons are popping.

These are a few clues that your body is retaining more than its usual
amount of water-a symptom doctors call edema.

Normally, your body's cells are bathed in water. There's water inside
the cells and a certain amount of water around the cells. The amount
of water-both inside and outside the cells-is regulated by hormones,
sodium and the kidneys.

When there's too much sodium in your body-from eating a high-salt
diet, for example-your blood becomes saltier and water is drawn from
your cells to dilute it. Thirst prompts you to drink more water.

Steroid medications can also cause puffiness. These drugs cause the
kidneys to hold on to sodium.

Some people's bodies seem to retain water for no apparent reason,
according to Charles Tifft, M.D., associate professor of medicine at
Boston University School of Medicine. The puffiness may come and go in
cycles, he says, and may be related to hormone fluctuations. It can
affect both men and women. In women it usually occurs in the week or
so before menstruation. During this time, the surge in estrogen
triggers the production of aldosterone. This hormone makes the kidneys
retain water, which tends to collect in the breasts and abdomen. Some
women gain several pounds during this time. Other women simply
experience a shift in the distribution in water with no weight gain.
Slacks and blouses often fit more snugly, however.

Water retention also occurs among women past menopause who take
estrogen replacement hormones.

In late pregnancy, many women find that their legs feel like heavy
water balloons. That's because the enlarging abdomen presses on the
vein that returns fluids back to the heart. Fluids then pool in the
legs.

In some cases, water retention signals something more serious. If your
skin remains plump or your finger leaves an indentation when you poke
your skin, you may have a problem with your heart, kidneys, liver or
thyroid.

Symptom Relief

If you're often puffy, the following steps may bring relief.

Skip the junk food. Too much sodium in your blood can waterlog the
tissues, so reducing your salt intake makes sense, says Dr. Tifft.
Besides avoiding obviously salty fries, pepperoni pizza and
convenience foods, cut down on foods containing hidden salt. These
include some salad dressings, cereals and canned soups. Become a label
reader.

Get your feet pumping. Walking, bicycling and tennis are all
activities that help pump out water and other fluids that can pool in
your legs and ankles, according to Susan Lark, M.D., director of the
PMS and Menopause Self-Help Center in Los Altos, California, and
author of Premenstrual Syndrome Self-Help Book and Menopause Self-Help
Book.

Take the load off your legs. If you have swollen calves, elevate your
legs for a few minutes each day, says Dr. Lark. Lie on the floor on
your back facing a wall with your legs raised and your buttocks and
hips as close to the wall as possible. Your legs should be touching
the wall and extended in a wide "V" formation. Breathe easily. Hold
the position for five minutes. If you're pregnant, lie on your side
with your feet propped up on a stack of pillows.

Ask about your medications. Give your doctor a list of all medications
you are currently taking-both prescription and over-the-counter-and
ask whether any alterations are appropriate. Switching to lower-dose
estrogen in your hormone replacement therapy, for example, could
reduce fluid retention, says Dr. Lark. If you're taking steroids, be
sure to let your doctor know about your water-retention problem.

Dig deeper for clues. If you continue to have general swelling despite
these measures, you may need a blood pressure check and also kidney
and liver function tests, says Dr. Tifft. If tests reveal that your
problem is caused by high blood pressure, you may be given a diuretic,
such as hydrocholothiazide. These drugs force your kidneys to pump
water and sodium out of the tissues into the urine, thus reducing
blood volume and lowering pressure. Initially, these drugs can easily
drain away two pounds or more of fluid daily, but this effect tends to
wear away with time. Diuretics, however, are not "casual weight-loss
tools," says Dr. Tifft. "They have potent side effects and need to be
closely monitored and carefully prescribed. You don't take them to
lose a quick five pounds so you can fit into a dress."

Help for Premenstrual Swelling

If water retention plagues you on a monthly basis, here are several
things that might prove helpful.

Pass up drugstore diuretics. Some over-the counter medications
intended to relieve menstrual cramp pain also claim to help eliminate
premenstrual water weight. Some of these products contain caffeine,
which may work as a diuretic, according to Candace Brown, Pharm.D.,
associate professor of pharmacy and psychiatry at the University of
Tennessee in Memphis. "The down side to caffeine, however, is that it
also promotes breast pain and tenderness as well as irritability,"
says Dr. Brown.

Have some herbal tea. Parsley or uva-ursi tea can help flush out
excess water without any harmful side effects, according to Dr. Lark.
You can find these teas in most health foods stores, she adds.

Check out vitamin B6. Taking up to 250 milligrams of vitamin B6 daily
helps reduce premenstrual water retention, says Dr. Lark. This
nutrient also reduces fluid buildup caused by hormone replacement
therapy during menopause. Vitamin B6, however, can be toxic in higher
doses and should only be taken under the supervision of a doctor. Ask
your doctor whether a vitamin B6 supplement is appropriate for you.

Try calcium. Researchers at the New York Metropolitan Hospital found
that a daily calcium supplement provided relief from premenstrual
water retention in three-fourths of the women who took it. "Your best
bet is to take a 500-milligram chewable tablet twice daily at
breakfast and dinner,"' says Susan Thys-Jacobs, M.D., assistant
professor of medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. Ask
your doctor whether these supplements might prove helpful in your
case.

____________________________

Thanks,
Cheri
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