What could have possibly made this happen?

Question

I stayed in Birmingham, AL for 2 1/2 months and then went back again for another month. However, I noticed that when I was down there I had water retention all the time and swollen ankles and legs. At first I thought I was pregnant because I missed my cycle (I'm perimenopausal and have been celibant for 20 yrs). My travel was by bus coming and going. I also worked a lot seeing after my friend's mom day and night. You may as well say about 16 hrs per day.

However, when I came home it took me a week the first time for my legs and ankles to go back to normal. Unfortunately, when I went back down I started this water retention and being swollen again but not as bad as the first time. I was even swollen when I wore support hose. I also ensured this time that I watched what I ate - salt, etc.

After my journey from AL within three days I was on my way to FL.

We flew and of course the swelling and retention from my trip to AL had not subsided. Amazingly, my first night in FL I drank some peach juice and I started to urinate a lot. I got up several times that night which was so different. By the next day, my extremities were normal and my waist was almost normal. My cycle also came on in which I was just spotting when in AL.

Could it had possibly been that the tap water I was drinking when I was there had sodium. I was told that tap water has minerals, etc in it. Is that true?

Answer 1

It could be from the tap water, cities and towns dump loads of minerals, fluoride, ECT in our drinking water.  

Answer 2

traveling usually only causes swelling when your sitting for a long period of time--so I doubt that's it... could be that there is more humidity in AL than FL--different type of heat & with you having such a long day it takes a toll....~

Answer 3

This is probably a symptom of being perimenopausal.  This same thing happened to my wife about a year before she really started having hot flashes.  

Please also note that bilateral swelling of the lower extremities (edema) can also be a sign of heart disease.  

Answer 4

Yes, tap water does have minerals in it - especially if the water came from a well.

I live in the south, and have heard that when people from the North travel down here, they sometimes retain water. I usually hear that is due to the change in altitude and, more importantly, humidity.

How in the world is that a thumbsdown?

Every bit of it is true and answered her question.