JERSEYGIRL and OP ~ can you share with us how your DBF ate? You mentioned low carb, but is that all? Did he cut down his beef and pork and focus on fish and poultry? I have edema (my calves retain water) but my doctor says that my heart and cholesterol are fine. I am on Metformin and along with healthier eating, that has helped my sugars get back in line (I was pre-diabetic).
Then he just told me not to eat too many eggs; when I told him I only have eggs 1-2 times a week and only eat 2 egg whites + 1 yolk, he said that was fine. My stepmother eat one egg every day of her life and she doesn't have high cholesterol; so maybe we have to have a predisposition for it through family and heredity lines.
My husband's doctor said he needed to work on his cholesterol and so we had to cut back on our animal fats (from high-fat beef, pork, poultry skin, dairy). We now eat very lean beef and pork (only once a week), chicken and turkey without the skin; and fish. If I cook ground meat, I drain off the fat before adding seasoning and other veggies; and we switched to olive oil and use only a tiny bit now.
I know I need to lose more weight for the swelling and I'm working on that. I can't go too low-carb becuz when I do, my hair falls out. I am already taking supplements for that now. Right now, I think I need to work cutting down the 'white' carbs more stringently and replacing them with a few whole grain carbs instead.
We also try to have 1-2 meals a week without meat, like a thick homemade veggie soup, an omelette, etc. I am thinking of increasing that to 3-4 meals (that includes lunch or dinner) to see if that helps too.
OP ~ He has me putting my legs up 2-3 times a day for about one hour (afternoon, mid and late evening). I have to try and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep/rest with my legs up each night; and he said don't let my legs dangle from chairs etc. I also got lower chairs and sofa; and when sitting at my PC, I have to get up and walk around every 15-20 minutes or so.
I also do special exercises to help the 'CIRCULATION' in my lower legs, which many feel contributes to the problem -- by rotating my feet at the ankles in circles to the left and right; and up and down; and calf curls by lifting heels up and down with feet planted on the floor (I got these exercises from a doctor).
I am also trying to watch my salt intake too. My husband opted for changing our diet instead of taking pills too ...