Has anyone heard from the OP, privately? I see she hasn't returned, and hope it's b/c she's with her mother and getting care for the "leakage" problem.
My mother had that too...among the other list of ailments..but I took her to Vascular Dr ..for legs & she had bad circulation & a clot. Dr recommended prescription stockings & elevate legs when possible. Less salt more water. She also eventually needed procedures to get rid of clot & took a medication...Xarelto for a while...Hope that helps. Hugs 🤗
Kathy, Alva offers a good explanation of possible causes. I'm not a nurse, and one of the 2 experiences I've had with leakage was with an aunt who had lymphedema, which I learned about at a free lecture sponsored by one of the local hospital chains.
This can be an emergency situation, as others have explained. One of the issues I learned about in the lecture was the possibility, as already mentioned, of bacteria entering the tiny spaces in the skin where the weeping was occurring. It can travel rapidly though the body's system, and cause death, which is what happened to my aunt.
She said the therapist who wrapped her legs used rubber leggings (or something like that) and wrapped her so much she felt like a hockey player. I suspect that there might have been some contamination in the wrappings. I saw her in mid week, called her son out of state, and by the time he got here she was gone.
My father experienced it extensively when he was battling multiple systemic issues, induced into a coma, and intubated until he stabilized. He was sweating and weeping through his skin as if he were in 100 degree weather. But he was in ICU, and was getting treatment.
This is a DOCTOR question, Kathy. You and your Mom should go together to her doctor. If your Mom lives with you I am assuming, at this age, you might be her medical POA? Leaking legs comes from a number of things, but the most common would be right sided heart failure. Left sided often effects the breathing, and if Mom has difficulty breathing without being propped up she may have a bit of both. The heart is a pump. When it gets old it basically begins to fail. There are many ways to treat this but first it must be diagnosed by an MD. There are diuretics that help eliminate fluid, but these also can wash out basic electrolytes we need to live; so labs need to be done if an elder is on them. They also cause frequency and urgency of urination. What you are seeing is LIKELY called "third spacing " or "pitting edema". Can you push in a finger print that then stays there a while on her leg? That indicates there is fluid pooling in the legs that the heart cannot pump. Elevating the legs above the level of the heart can help, a chair with elevated legs. The leaking can leave Mom's skin open and prey to bacteria that can invade, causing infection. This may already be present. Only a doctor can tell you. This infection when and if it happens can go systemic through the blood and can kill. My brother died of this in last may at age 85. See the doctor as soon as you are able and if there are breathing problems you must call the ambulance at once.
Dear "AlvaDeer" - as always, thank you for sharing your experience/knowledge from having been a nurse. You provide lots of good information to everyone and it's appreciated!
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This can be an emergency situation, as others have explained. One of the issues I learned about in the lecture was the possibility, as already mentioned, of bacteria entering the tiny spaces in the skin where the weeping was occurring. It can travel rapidly though the body's system, and cause death, which is what happened to my aunt.
She said the therapist who wrapped her legs used rubber leggings (or something like that) and wrapped her so much she felt like a hockey player. I suspect that there might have been some contamination in the wrappings. I saw her in mid week, called her son out of state, and by the time he got here she was gone.
My father experienced it extensively when he was battling multiple systemic issues, induced into a coma, and intubated until he stabilized. He was sweating and weeping through his skin as if he were in 100 degree weather. But he was in ICU, and was getting treatment.
As Barb wisely and succinctly states, ER, now!
It can be serious, or not quite so much, but at 97, everything’s serious.
If she’s ambulatory she should walk as much as possible, whenever possible.
Dietary changes can make a difference sometimes.
Leg wraps in ace bandages can help sometimes, and so can support hose but you really do need medical input before trying on your own.
Leaking legs comes from a number of things, but the most common would be right sided heart failure. Left sided often effects the breathing, and if Mom has difficulty breathing without being propped up she may have a bit of both. The heart is a pump. When it gets old it basically begins to fail. There are many ways to treat this but first it must be diagnosed by an MD. There are diuretics that help eliminate fluid, but these also can wash out basic electrolytes we need to live; so labs need to be done if an elder is on them. They also cause frequency and urgency of urination.
What you are seeing is LIKELY called "third spacing " or "pitting edema". Can you push in a finger print that then stays there a while on her leg? That indicates there is fluid pooling in the legs that the heart cannot pump. Elevating the legs above the level of the heart can help, a chair with elevated legs. The leaking can leave Mom's skin open and prey to bacteria that can invade, causing infection. This may already be present. Only a doctor can tell you. This infection when and if it happens can go systemic through the blood and can kill. My brother died of this in last may at age 85.
See the doctor as soon as you are able and if there are breathing problems you must call the ambulance at once.